Dealers who use self-tappers to fit number plates - why?
Discussion
I've just used double-sided tape to fit new number plates to one of my cars. They're secure and look neat but why do dealers still use self-tappers? I've seen brand new Mercedes with four screws holding the rear plate on, two near the top and two near the bottom. It looks really cheap and shoddy so why do they do it?
I see I'm not alone in hating this practice.
To those who reckon double sided tape doesn't stick well - it does, I almost snapped a stuck-on plate trying to wrestle it off. In the end I resorted to sawing with dental floss to cut through the tape and spent half an hour picking off the gooey bits. The plates had been on the 13 years without falling off.
Use the pre-drilled holes in the bodywork? There were two in the boot lid but none in the front bumper so I'll stick to what I know to be effective on my other cars; tape.
(I still think it's shoddy work to use shiny self tappers, irrespective of how much a car cost).
To those who reckon double sided tape doesn't stick well - it does, I almost snapped a stuck-on plate trying to wrestle it off. In the end I resorted to sawing with dental floss to cut through the tape and spent half an hour picking off the gooey bits. The plates had been on the 13 years without falling off.
Use the pre-drilled holes in the bodywork? There were two in the boot lid but none in the front bumper so I'll stick to what I know to be effective on my other cars; tape.
(I still think it's shoddy work to use shiny self tappers, irrespective of how much a car cost).
PositronicRay said:
Usually self tappers are used into plastics, no rust issue. If the plate has to bend to fit the curve of a bumper then stickers do not last very well.
A stuck on plate lasted 13 years on the front of my Audi's curved bumper and would have lasted longer if I hadn't removed it.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff