Front License Plate

[Napoleon85]

Hey everyone. I've been searching the internet for two weeks and haven't been able to find anyone with this problem (or a solution) for a Mazda 2. I have seen many other people saying similar things about the other Mazda models.

I bought my Mazda2 new from a dealer on Monday, February 28, 2010. It was late by the time we completed the deal and when we went to move my plate over, we found that the threaded holes do not match up with the holes on my license plate. The salesman said he would look into this and get back to me. The official answer he got from the service department was that "this is normal" and that we should just drill holes into the bumper and screw the license plate into it.

This concerns me on a couple levels. First off, why would there be threaded holes at all if you were just supposed to drill holes or screw into the bumper? Secondly, I have read multiple stories (some from this forum) of dealers just not wanting to order the part that should have came new with the car. Can anyone confirm whether this is the case or not?

I have also been scouring all of the official pictures that I can find from Mazda and none of them show a front license plate mounted in any way. All of their pictures have the black plastic blank still attached. I noticed in some of the the pictures on this forum the blank is still in place, but a few appeared to have the square-ish plates mounted on what appeared to be a bracket.

I'll try to get some pictures showing exactly what I'm talking about soon, but I have misplaced the charger for my camera batteries so they may be cell-phone pics.

I hope you guys can clear this up for me.

Thanks!
Anthony

 

[SuperProtege5]

I know you may not want to spend money on something that shouldn't have been a problem to begin with, but have you looked at the CorkSport license plate holder that screws into the tow mount on the front bumper?

 

[Napoleon85]

I know you may not want to spend money on something that shouldn't have been a problem to begin with, but have you looked at the CorkSport license plate holder that screws into the tow mount on the front bumper?

The one that puts it off to the side? I would rather not use that if possible ... I'm a big fan of symmetry.

 

[lovmyrx7]

There should be a blank that screws into the threaded holes you speak of, then the license plate to said blank. They're supposed to come with every Mazda 2 from the factory. If they have a problem, or refuse to acknowledge this fact, contact Mazda USA, they'll be more than happy to solve your issue. You just got a new car for God-sakes, I think a plastic cover isn't gonna make the dealer go under...lol.

 

[Napoleon85]

There should be a blank that screws into the threaded holes you speak of, then the license plate to said blank. They're supposed to come with every Mazda 2 from the factory. If they have a problem, or refuse to acknowledge this fact, contact Mazda USA, they'll be more than happy to solve your issue. You just got a new car for God-sakes, I think a plastic cover isn't gonna make the dealer go under...lol.

That's what I thought, but there is no such blank and the dealership is pretending it doesn't exist. I will call Mazda USA on Monday if I can, their phone hours suck.

 

[lovmyrx7]

That's what I thought, but there is no such blank and the dealership is pretending it doesn't exist. I will call Mazda USA on Monday if I can, their phone hours suck.

I dunno what they are thinking then. I've installed 4 already...

Yeah their hours do suck, but hopefully you'll get it taken care of Happy motoring.

 

[drop360]

I just checked out a 2 about an hour ago, and the license plate bracket was in the trunk, packaged just like the floor mats. The salesman actually picked it up and said, "huh, what's this?" It actually had license plate bracket printed on the packaging. So, yeah, it's supposed to be there.

 

[Rockin03mp5]

I just checked out a 2 about an hour ago, and the license plate bracket was in the trunk, packaged just like the floor mats. The salesman actually picked it up and said, "huh, what's this?" It actually had license plate bracket printed on the packaging. So, yeah, it's supposed to be there.

all mazdas that i know have that bracket. my 5 had it in the back with the spare tire, and the 6 had it in the trunk. ive looked at 2s before as well and it was just in the hatch with the floor mats. (thankfully in MI i dont need a front plate)

that salesman sounds either really new, or really stupid.

 

[Racebrewer]

I love car dealers........

Here is my understanding. The piece in the trunk is a blanking plate to cover the recess where the plate goes. It is not intended to mount the front plate.

The actual front mounting bracket is $75 rom your friendly Mazda dealer.(hand)

Fabbing my own.

John

 

[Napoleon85]

I love car dealers........

Here is my understanding. The piece in the trunk is a blanking plate to cover the recess where the plate goes. It is not intended to mount the front plate.

The actual front mounting bracket is $75 rom your friendly Mazda dealer.(hand)

Fabbing my own.

John

I'm having a hard time believing that they aren't legally obligated to provide you with a way to mount a license plate that is required to be mounted in a certain fashion under state law.

 

[DasMazda2]

I was told the car was designed for Europe and that's why my TX plates don't fit and why there's not bracket. They just drilled two holes into the plastic to my utter horror. Works fine though.

 

[MacAttack7]

I also have holes drilled into mine both front & back. I didn't realize it on the back at first and after I took the screws out I kept trying to fit them back in the metal holes that were originally on the car. I kept trying & trying & couldn't get them screwed back in; then I finally noticed the 2 holes that were drilled into the plastic. Weird.

 

[Jane Jones]

Hi Napoleon--this may be too late for you, but I drilled a hole in the license plate to match the holes in the car, rather than damage the car to match the license plate. A basic electric drill does the job quite nicely. All the pictures I could find on line have the long slim European license plates, so I guess they forgot to change the width for us.

 

[Racebrewer]

Jane comes through with the simplest and most direct solution...... (hand)

I took a strip of 1/2" thick aluminum which I drilled, tapped, and machined to make my own complete with stainless button head screws. At least I didn't powdercoat it. Of course nobody can see it...........

John

 

[SuperProtege5]

I was told the car was designed for Europe and that's why my TX plates don't fit and why there's not bracket. They just drilled two holes into the plastic to my utter horror. Works fine though.

That's a crock of s***, no offense. In order for the car to comply with the US standards, it had to be designed to accommodate United States license plates, which to my knowledge, are a universal size no matter the state.

 

[Rockin03mp5]

As I've already said... they come with an adapter. If your dealer didn't supply you with one, they kinda suck.

 

[MazdaTwo]

As I've already said... they come with an adapter. If your dealer didn't supply you with one, they kinda suck.

There isn't a dealer in Maryland that supplies the bracket. There are holes drilled next to the threaded holes under the front blank. My local parts dept (2 of them actually) said that It would cost $75 to order a proper bracket. If yours came with an adapter, you're lucky.

 

[DrWebster]

I didn't get an "adapter" with my 2, but rather a blank "plug" that snaps in to cover the recess where the front plate goes. My dealer also drilled holes in the front bumper for the plate, but if I want to (illegally) not run a front plate, I can just snap the plug in and it covers the holes.

 

[lovmyrx7]

I think I need to re-clarify as I may have confused some people. There is a "blank" that CAN go where the front plate should be. Some states don't require a front plate, and I guess Mazda just felt like providing one (to certain Mazda 2's it seems.) The plate isn't installed when the car rolls off the truck for a PDI, it is usually in the back of the car along with the floor mats. There are 2 indentations/marks on the front bumper where we the technicians install the MAZDA front license plate. If I actually had one on our lot, I'd take a picture. If the Dealer says "oh it doesn't come with a blank, you'd have to order one for $XX," tell them they aren't correct and it's part of the PDI. If they still have a problem, contact MazdaUSA and let them know, or just talk to the local service manager or Dealer owner. I'm sure a "$70" blank isn't gonna put them in the hole.

 

[SRM2]

If anyone has the actual part number for the front license plate mount so I don't have to get pulled over because I don't want to screw my plate where something much better and more finished looking goes- please let me know. Why else would Mazda put those 2 wellnuts and have the 4 snap spots if that was only for the plastic cover that comes in the trunk (which is kinda misleading by title) to just cover up the 2 screws that don't have an actual purpose? Sorry for rambling on, but I really want to find the correct part for this. MazdaUSA told me on the phone that there is a mount, and it sells for about $77.00 and they said the dealer should be able to get that, but no dealer anywhere seems to be able to come up with a part to order. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thank You.