Dealers who use self-tappers to fit number plates - why?
Discussion
Jimboka said:
I've never heard of number plate screws causing rusting. Sounds like an Internet myth.
9 times out of 10 the front bumpers are plastic. The rear bootlid etc invariably has a screw point from factory. Never seen the rears randomly screwed into the metal!
My son's car has bubbling around where the rear plate was screwed on by Arnie Sharks finest nuckle dragger when it was new.....9 times out of 10 the front bumpers are plastic. The rear bootlid etc invariably has a screw point from factory. Never seen the rears randomly screwed into the metal!
briang9 said:
Jimboka said:
I've never heard of number plate screws causing rusting. Sounds like an Internet myth.
9 times out of 10 the front bumpers are plastic. The rear bootlid etc invariably has a screw point from factory. Never seen the rears randomly screwed into the metal!
My son's car has bubbling around where the rear plate was screwed on by Arnie Sharks finest nuckle dragger when it was new.....9 times out of 10 the front bumpers are plastic. The rear bootlid etc invariably has a screw point from factory. Never seen the rears randomly screwed into the metal!
Picked up my very first (and only) brand new car back in 2000 (a MK3 MR2) in the dark after work as I was impatient to get my hands on it. Yes, with hindsight this was a stupid idea... looking at it in daylight they must have put the front number plate on in the dark too - way too far over to one side, with self tappers straight into the plastic bumper trim.
I managed to move it half an inch and still cover the previous holes - but it was never centred. (Not relevant here, but all 4 tyres were still up at delivery pressures too..)
Mercedes, BMW and probably other German manufactures do it the way they do because of how plates are fixed to cars in Germany. The plastic plate holder is fixed to the car with screws, then the plate is fitted into the holder. When a car changes owners or is de-registered, the plates have to be removed so it makes sense that they aren't permanently screwed on.
You can see what they look like here: http://www.kennzeichenhalterung.de/
You can see what they look like here: http://www.kennzeichenhalterung.de/
Thread revival but I picked up my 2017 435d from a well known car supermarket two weeks ago and on switching the plates for my own I noticed that their branded plates had been screwed directly into the tailgate using self tapping screws, leaving two unfinished holes under the plate now that I have stuck my own plates on using mounting tape
Really unhappy about this to be honest and have lodged a complaint - what is the risk of further damage in future through rust etc?
Really unhappy about this to be honest and have lodged a complaint - what is the risk of further damage in future through rust etc?
flight147z said:
Thread revival but I picked up my 2017 435d from a well known car supermarket two weeks ago and on switching the plates for my own I noticed that their branded plates had been screwed directly into the tailgate using self tapping screws, leaving two unfinished holes under the plate now that I have stuck my own plates on using mounting tape
Really unhappy about this to be honest and have lodged a complaint - what is the risk of further damage in future through rust etc?
The only thing is to remove the screws and plates, clean up and rust proof and refit with adhesive strips. That sounds crap dealer actions, original supplying dealers don’t do that (IME)Really unhappy about this to be honest and have lodged a complaint - what is the risk of further damage in future through rust etc?
I would be really unhappy about it too. Years ago I purchased a brand new Renault Clio and they had done the same thing, screwed the number plate into the metal tailgate using self tapers. What was doubly annoying was there was actually a factory pair of holes to fit the plastic number plate fixings into.
I don't know what part of their brain thinks it is acceptable to just drill a pair of holes into a customers brand new car and screw a couple of screws into it. Inevitably over time this is going to rust, the first you will know is when the number plate falls over and leaves a massive rusty hole.
Problem is these idiots the garages employ don't care about other peoples property, or "it's just a car"
I don't know what part of their brain thinks it is acceptable to just drill a pair of holes into a customers brand new car and screw a couple of screws into it. Inevitably over time this is going to rust, the first you will know is when the number plate falls over and leaves a massive rusty hole.
Problem is these idiots the garages employ don't care about other peoples property, or "it's just a car"
flight147z said:
Thread revival but I picked up my 2017 435d from a well known car supermarket two weeks ago and on switching the plates for my own I noticed that their branded plates had been screwed directly into the tailgate using self tapping screws, leaving two unfinished holes under the plate now that I have stuck my own plates on using mounting tape
Really unhappy about this to be honest and have lodged a complaint - what is the risk of further damage in future through rust etc?
That sounds like my experience.Really unhappy about this to be honest and have lodged a complaint - what is the risk of further damage in future through rust etc?
Not only did they butcher one of the proper Mercedes fixings, they self tapped their new plate on completely crooked. A short while after buying the car I took it off thinking I could just straighten it up and found the mess hidden by their number plate, so I emailed them back and forth a few times as I'm 40 miles away from their West London site.
Eventually got 'approval' to buy a replacement one from Halfords and they would reimburse me, except I've left it so long now they probably won't honour it (my fault I got busy with other things).
I ended up putting one of those cheap chrome 'frames' on for the time being so at least the plate looks straight and I put the self tappers back in with a smidge of grease as an attempt to stop future rusting and replaced the ripped out stud. All so they could advertise their company...
Exhibit number 1...as fitted by someone who shouldn't be trusted with an electric drill:
Exhibit number 2...the mess behind it:
Such a shame because it is generally in very good condition for a 7 year old car.
donkmeister said:
OldSkoolRS said:
Surely the bigger issue is that some idiot has stuck an AMG badge on it?OldSkoolRS said:
Exhibit number 1...as fitted by someone who shouldn't be trusted with an electric drill:
Exhibit number 2...the mess behind it:
Such a shame because it is generally in very good condition for a 7 year old car.
I just cannot abide sloppy work. Do grandparents not say ‘if a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing well’ anymore?Exhibit number 2...the mess behind it:
Such a shame because it is generally in very good condition for a 7 year old car.
Pica-Pica said:
donkmeister said:
Surely the bigger issue is that some idiot has stuck an AMG badge on it?
Aw, My Gawd!While I wouldn't have stuck one on it myself, I'll leave it on just to annoy the AMG snobs.
OldSkoolRS said:
Pica-Pica said:
donkmeister said:
Surely the bigger issue is that some idiot has stuck an AMG badge on it?
Aw, My Gawd!While I wouldn't have stuck one on it myself, I'll leave it on just to annoy the AMG snobs.
donkmeister said:
It's not snobbery, it's a response to misbadging.
The thread on the MB forum is definitely veering that way I'm afraid. Shame because I've had some useful information and found out about good parts suppliers from there, but the snobs are out in force on there for sure...even some that have the bigger engines C43 (I think) aren't considered 'proper AMGs' by some on there even though MB call them. I haven't left that forum, but logged out until I need some information at some future point. It's fairly endemic on one make forums though, which is why I much prefer being on here.
EDIT: The number plate isn't 7 years old, the car is. Motor vehicle very tall person fitted it earlier this year.
If it annoys you how little care 'technicians' put into attaching numberplate, wait till you work out or witness the level of care and attention they put into the car prep, servicing, repairs, PDI and valeting!
It is infuriating. Front Bumpers of MX-5 are a particularly commonly bodged one - by the time they are a few years old and have been through a few dealers they look like a shotgun accident.
It is infuriating. Front Bumpers of MX-5 are a particularly commonly bodged one - by the time they are a few years old and have been through a few dealers they look like a shotgun accident.
Pleased to say not all 'technicians' do a half-arsed job.
My son is a first year apprentice, and takes care when fitting plates.
Then again he's used to spotting squint ones on the way to work. Earlier this week in fact we followed an F56 Cooper S with a squint back plate, saw it again this morning with no plate at all. How do owners not notice these things?
Me personally, I've used 3m dualock for a few years now. I could stick myself to the side of the house with that stuff, the plates are going nowhere.
My son is a first year apprentice, and takes care when fitting plates.
Then again he's used to spotting squint ones on the way to work. Earlier this week in fact we followed an F56 Cooper S with a squint back plate, saw it again this morning with no plate at all. How do owners not notice these things?
Me personally, I've used 3m dualock for a few years now. I could stick myself to the side of the house with that stuff, the plates are going nowhere.
The thing that infurated me about the damage I found when switching over my plates (to slightly shorter, but still 100% legal plates) was that the car actually has provision for this from factory - there are two holes which support speed fasteners for the rear plate, and two divets where the front plate could be drilled onto, spaced as to ensure that any smaller plates would still cover these holes (for different countries etc.)
All it takes is a bit of measuring up, but whoever took the job on at delivery just haphazardly drilled through the plate into the bumper then called it good.
What's even worse is that they did the holes unevenly, so the LHS hole is further away from the edge of the plate than the RHS hole (stupid EU flag number plates)
The rear isn't too bad as it's the bumper insert that's taken the damage and I have a replacement ready to go on, but the front bumper plate area is body coloured and oblique so basically needs the bumper to be filled and resprayed to hide the damage (or I just need to put full width plates back on, which is probably what I'm going to do in all honesty)
All it takes is a bit of measuring up, but whoever took the job on at delivery just haphazardly drilled through the plate into the bumper then called it good.
What's even worse is that they did the holes unevenly, so the LHS hole is further away from the edge of the plate than the RHS hole (stupid EU flag number plates)
The rear isn't too bad as it's the bumper insert that's taken the damage and I have a replacement ready to go on, but the front bumper plate area is body coloured and oblique so basically needs the bumper to be filled and resprayed to hide the damage (or I just need to put full width plates back on, which is probably what I'm going to do in all honesty)
OldSkoolRS said:
Exhibit number 1...as fitted by someone who shouldn't be trusted with an electric drill:
Exhibit number 2...the mess behind it:
Such a shame because it is generally in very good condition for a 7 year old car.
I just cannot abide sloppy work. Do grandparents not say ‘if a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing well’ anymore?Exhibit number 2...the mess behind it:
Such a shame because it is generally in very good condition for a 7 year old car.
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