Front License Plate

[2TT]

Just bought a 5 door yesterday. Nice car I'm very happy with it so far but did not like the front license plate on the front bumper. Figured I'd just remove it no problem right? Wrong, when I backed out the first screw holding the bracket to the bumper I discovered that the screw was drilled directly into my front bumper! Is this normal? I spoke to the dealership and they claim it came like that from the factory so if I want it fixed it's going to cost around $360 to plug the holes and touch up paint. Or they said that they could give me one of their tags to put on. (yupnope) Guess I'll see if I can find a nice plate to put there. Any suggestions?

 

[Joe PR5]

Yes that i how it comes from the factory with 2 holes.. its lame, but thats how it is..

 

[Loose]

No holes on mine

I don't have any holes in mine, and I bet ya it came from the same factory. The front plate is a dealer install job. The car may have been originally been shipped to a state that requires front plates and then dealer swapped to your state. In other words the first dealer may have installed the plate. This is just one of many scenarios. Another is that your dealer did it to put their plate on the front in search of some free advertisment.

Damm dealers!

 

[2TT]

Loose, got one just like yours. Only mine has the lame front license. Looks much better without in my opinion.

 

[burke]

mine had the two holes directly in my bumper too. i took it to the dealer and said i bought the car, and i didnt want that HUGE license plate holder on there advertising their dealership. basically i was pretty stern with them and they installed a whole new bumper.

 

[sndsgood]

yeah mine came that way too, its going to cost a pretty penny for the body shop to fill and paint those holes as well as the stupid holes on back for the dumb badges. on well, gotta spend my money on something.

 

[joepro]

Just bought a 5 door yesterday. Nice car I'm very happy with it so far but did not like the front license plate on the front bumper. Figured I'd just remove it no problem right? Wrong, when I backed out the first screw holding the bracket to the bumper I discovered that the screw was drilled directly into my front bumper! Is this normal? I spoke to the dealership and they claim it came like that from the factory so if I want it fixed it's going to cost around $360 to plug the holes and touch up paint. Or they said that they could give me one of their tags to put on. (yupnope) Guess I'll see if I can find a nice plate to put there. Any suggestions?

Why not just buy a new bumper cover? They cost about 300$ CDN up here...

 

[fam]

Well last saturday I bought my white 5 door Mazda3. No holes, but I live in Ohio and i had to sit and watch as the dealer used a 12v cordless screwdriver as he massacred my bumper. On my last mustang I had to do it myself. The pain goes away after a few years(days) keep your chin up guys!

 

[Loose]

Nice color

Well last saturday I bought my white 5 door Mazda3. No holes, but I live in Ohio and i had to sit and watch as the dealer used a 12v cordless screwdriver as he massacred my bumper. On my last mustang I had to do it myself. The pain goes away after a few years(days) keep your chin up guys!

(thumb)

 

[RonH]

After I made the deal on my 3, they took it to the back to clean and prep it. I told him that if they dared put a dealer plate on my front bumper, the deal is off. No holes in mine.

 

[sndsgood]

the pain will never go away....

 

[msubullyfan]

Another is that your dealer did it to put their plate on the front in search of some free advertisment.

Damm dealers!

Yup, that's exactly what it is. I ordered my P5 and specifically told the dealer not to mount the license plate bracket on my front bumper, but they did it anyway so they could put their dealer plate on the front.

I got a quote to have my bumper painted and got a separate line item for filling in the holes and painting them -- it was only like a $120 adder. So, don't worry -- your Mazda bumper will need painting in a year or so from all the rock chips, so you can get it done then! (crazy)

 

[Da 6]

Well last saturday I bought my white 5 door Mazda3. No holes, but I live in Ohio and i had to sit and watch as the dealer used a 12v cordless screwdriver as he massacred my bumper. On my last mustang I had to do it myself. The pain goes away after a few years(days) keep your chin up guys!

Thats the beauty of registering the vehicle in ohio and temporarly reside in DC
(usa)

but I still have mine on cause the holes issue...on a black car(like my old car)doesn't show as much. couple of our 6 guys had the same problem and got the plastic pop rivets you use to hold trunklid carpet down and touch up paint or the license plate screws from walmart with the chrome tops that cover up the phillips head of tha bolt as another option...Other reason is I got a mazda 6 license plate frame and due to ohio's stickers being on bottom corners it had to go on the front...(fight)

 

[krstofer]

It's ridiculous. NJ has the two plate minimum deal going also. So I just leave the dealer crap on until I get the plates. The other thing they do is put the vinyl dealership sticker on the hatch(trunk). I take that off as soon as I get home.

 

[cloudycloud]

Thank GOD my dealer didn't do something foolish like that to my baby!!!

I told the sale guy VERY directly I didn't want to see the dealership's name on my car anywhere.

Here is delaware only the back plate is required so they could have easily put the front dealer plate on and screwed up the bumper.

Luckily they listened to my request.
Man that would have ruined my day!!!!!!!!

 

[Da 6]

Thank GOD my dealer didn't do something foolish like that to my baby!!!

I told the sale guy VERY directly I didn't want to see the dealership's name on my car anywhere.

Here is delaware only the back plate is required so they could have easily put the front dealer plate on and screwed up the bumper.

Luckily they listened to my request.
Man that would have ruined my day!!!!!!!!

yep would have sucked...I am one of those who had to watch them drill both plates(poke)

 

[2TT]

Why not just buy a new bumper cover? They cost about 300$ CDN up here...

I've been seriously considering that. My concern is will the bumper cover trap moisture/dirt and ruin the paint underneath. Sure I will remove it when I wash and wax so I can get the whole car but what if it rains and I don't get around to washing it for a few weeks. Is the trapped mositure from the rain going to ruin the paint job? If anyone has one on their 3, I would be interested to know how long they have had it on and if they have experienced any problems with the finish.

 

[Loose]

Just get one of these.

Just bought a 5 door yesterday. Nice car I'm very happy with it so far but did not like the front license plate on the front bumper. Figured I'd just remove it no problem right? Wrong, when I backed out the first screw holding the bracket to the bumper I discovered that the screw was drilled directly into my front bumper! Is this normal? I spoke to the dealership and they claim it came like that from the factory so if I want it fixed it's going to cost around $360 to plug the holes and touch up paint. Or they said that they could give me one of their tags to put on. (yupnope) Guess I'll see if I can find a nice plate to put there. Any suggestions?

http://www.japanparts.com/Pic/pic143/017-701.jpg

and if you get that then you can get this...

http://www.japanparts.com/Pic/pic143/017-704.jpg

 

[joepro]

I've been seriously considering that. My concern is will the bumper cover trap moisture/dirt and ruin the paint underneath. Sure I will remove it when I wash and wax so I can get the whole car but what if it rains and I don't get around to washing it for a few weeks. Is the trapped mositure from the rain going to ruin the paint job? If anyone has one on their 3, I would be interested to know how long they have had it on and if they have experienced any problems with the finish.

Well, the bumber cover is where the dealer probably poked the holes in the first place. So replacing that part will not be any different than if the dealer hadn't messed with it in the first place.

 

[Da 6]

yeah if you havn't puled your bumper...ther are 2 plastic tabs that act as reinforcements to hold the holder on...