Bumper Holes/License Plate Bracket

[nynhex]

I've seen a couple posts around the board but figured I'd drop mine. I just picked up my car and I asked them NOT to do PDS on the car and they ended up doing it anyways. The dealership doesn't have any MS3s without holes drilled/front plate brackets installed so it doesn't seem like they are going to do much for me.

Has anyone used bumper plugs or something else to cover the unsightly holes? In TX we can ride with our plate in the dash (though I never have and never get ticketed). The car looks so much cleaner without the plate and I'd like to see what plugs/method you used.

Thanks in advanced, guys!

 

[Caedmon7777]

I've seen a couple posts around the board but figured I'd drop mine. I just picked up my car and I asked them NOT to do PDS on the car and they ended up doing it anyways. The dealership doesn't have any MS3s without holes drilled/front plate brackets installed so it doesn't seem like they are going to do much for me.

Has anyone used bumper plugs or something else to cover the unsightly holes? In TX we can ride with our plate in the dash (though I never have and never get ticketed). The car looks so much cleaner without the plate and I'd like to see what plugs/method you used.

Thanks in advanced, guys!

I just picked up my Speed 3 yesterday and I got them to do the check and I got mine without the holes drilled in the front or the back and I am in Texas as well.

 

[CorkSport]

See if you can get some vinyl which matches the bumper and cut two small covers for the holes.

-Derrick

 

[Dubcnea]

i had the idiot dealer in phoenix (ya know, where no front plate is required...they were the only dealer that put their plate on the front anyways) try to fix mine. they tried to putty and repair. ehhhhh. ended up with orange peel effect all over the bumper. just crumby work. then eventually replaced the bumper. this was, of course, after they tried to tell me that the hatch bumper would work on my sedan after i told them repeatedly that it would not. i had to show them.

moral: tell them you'd like it replaced with a car coming in. they can just swap them out for you.

 

[nynhex]

i had the idiot dealer in phoenix (ya know, where no front plate is required...they were the only dealer that put their plate on the front anyways) try to fix mine. they tried to putty and repair. ehhhhh. ended up with orange peel effect all over the bumper. just crumby work. then eventually replaced the bumper. this was, of course, after they tried to tell me that the hatch bumper would work on my sedan after i told them repeatedly that it would not. i had to show them.

moral: tell them you'd like it replaced with a car coming in. they can just swap them out for you.

They have a few black micas at the dealership but the PDS has already been done when they pulled them off the truck. My salesman is not being very helpful, any thoughts on what I can do without raising hell and causing a ruckus?

 

[Dubcnea]

not really. to get them to do SOMETHING...you must raise hell and cause a semi-ruckus. if they really don't...go full ruckus. serious. you just paid them $20-some thousand...they can help u out.

 

[nynhex]

not really. to get them to do SOMETHING...you must raise hell and cause a semi-ruckus. if they really don't...go full ruckus. serious. you just paid them $20-some thousand...they can help u out.

I talked to my salesman and told him I was not happy about it and he said to bring the car in and he'd have the paint/body guy try to fill/paint them. As none of their cars are un-drilled.

At least he's willing to do something I suppose (shrug).

 

[Dubcnea]

cool. just fyi, that's what they did with mine. be picky as hell. check for orange peel effect. if it's crap, make them clean it. if they 'can't'...looks like they owe you a bumper.

 

[Caedmon7777]

I talked to my salesman and told him I was not happy about it and he said to bring the car in and he'd have the paint/body guy try to fill/paint them. As none of their cars are un-drilled.

At least he's willing to do something I suppose (shrug).

I would have rather have them replace the whole bumper.

 

[nynhex]

cool. just fyi, that's what they did with mine. be picky as hell. check for orange peel effect. if it's crap, make them clean it. if they 'can't'...looks like they owe you a bumper.

That's the route I'm going to take, I'm going to make them do it right. Every other car I've bought in TX either didn't come pre-drilled or I requested it not to and the dealer complied.

And yes 24k+ car I better be getting what I want standard with the car.

I'll give them a chance to fix it and if not, move it up the chain and have the bumper replaced. I'll keep you guys posted.

 

[nynhex]

Update: They are going to try to fix the bumper on Wednesday so hopefully they do a good job. I'll post pics of the completed job for everyone. Hopefully I don't have to get ugly with them and they make this right.

 

[Caedmon7777]

Update: They are going to try to fix the bumper on Wednesday so hopefully they do a good job. I'll post pics of the completed job for everyone. Hopefully I don't have to get ugly with them and they make this right.

I have a strange feeling that they are going to mess it up not to sound pestemistic.

 

[nynhex]

I have a strange feeling that they are going to mess it up not to sound pestemistic.

I sort of do too, but if they do then I'll force them to replace the bumper as I asked in the first place. The dealer has been pretty fair with me so I'll give them a chance, but I'm already expecting that I'll have to get a bit ugly.

 

[nynhex]

Update:

I came in this morning to the dealer (I'm here as of this writing) to fill the bumper holes and the GM wanted to talk to me. He said that he will not condone breaking the law and said if I want to break the law and fill the holes myself I'm welcome to do so, copping an attitude of course.

I explained to him that I work with law enforcement and TX law says the plate only has to be visible from the front of the car, there's no requirement that it must be mounted on the bumper. I explained that I did not want the bumper drilled and they did anyways. Also that other dealers do not do this. He said, "You should have gone to another dealer".

I got pissed and told him, "Look, I just bought a 25k car and have been referring people to you since I bought it. My experience was pleasant until now, if you aren't going to at least be civil in your conversations give me my f*cking car back and I'll tell all of my friends/co-workers how you treated me.

He changed his tone and told my salesman, "Go ahead and fill the holes, since you told him you'd do it".

I said thank you... Now waiting for the results.

I can only imagine how jacked-up it's going to look. Today is not a good day.

 

[Kalent]

Update:

I came in this morning to the dealer (I'm here as of this writing) to fill the bumper holes and the GM wanted to talk to me. He said that he will not condone breaking the law and said if I want to break the law and fill the holes myself I'm welcome to do so, copping an attitude of course.

I explained to him that I work with law enforcement and TX law says the plate only has to be visible from the front of the car, there's no requirement that it must be mounted on the bumper. I explained that I did not want the bumper drilled and they did anyways. Also that other dealers do not do this. He said, "You should have gone to another dealer".

I got pissed and told him, "Look, I just bought a 25k car and have been referring people to you since I bought it. My experience was pleasant until now, if you aren't going to at least be civil in your conversations give me my f*cking car back and I'll tell all of my friends/co-workers how you treated me.

He changed his tone and told my salesman, "Go ahead and fill the holes, since you told him you'd do it".

I said thank you... Now waiting for the results.

I can only imagine how jacked-up it's going to look. Today is not a good day.

That sucks, he's just being an asshole. It really sucks when the dealers attitude go from being your friend when you are buying the car, to don't give a f*ck about you after you bought it.

Hope it works out for you!

 

[sanblaster]

Got mine from here:

http://www.bumperplugs.com/BPindex.html

 

[Kalent]

Got mine from here:

http://www.bumperplugs.com/BPindex.html

Those aren't bad, thanks for the link. When I get my RHO plate I'm gonna snag some up.

 

[nynhex]

I wonder if they have plugs to match the paint code of my 2010 MS3 Black Micah. The bumper insert is a grey-ish color. I have these little black plugs I bought at the hardware store, I could probably paint them with touch up, clear coat them and insert them for a good match.

I'm not happy with the job they did, it looks like s*** IMO. I complained and they said, "take it to a body shop, it's not our problem it's your car now".

Wow....

 

[nynhex]

Oh btw, here is the finished result.

From a distance yes, you can't see the holes. But when you get up on it it's pretty damned ugly.

I think I'm going with some bumper plugs and painting/clearing them myself.

 

[Kalent]

Oh btw, here is the finished result.

From a distance yes, you can't see the holes. But when you get up on it it's pretty damned ugly.

I think I'm going with some bumper plugs and painting/clearing them myself.

That IS ugly, I'd honestly be contacting the bbb or something along those lines and report that dealer. It's s*** like that that makes people think Mazda is cheap. Seriously they might not be a body shop, but they have mechanics and I'm sure the morons there have SOME experience with body work, that's just plain lazy.