Front license plate bracket

[srellim234]

By law the front license plate is mandatory here in California. As a result, you'd think the dealer would install the bracket before the car leaves the lot for the first time.

I just got my license plates and went out to put them on the car, discovering in the directions that to install the front bracket you actually have to drill holes in the bumper. I expected the bracket to be a simple, "bolt into existing holes" operation when the dealer threw the bracket into the back of the car and didn't offer to install it when we bought the car.

I know it's minor but it's one of those little things that irks me a little. I don't like the idea of drilling holes in my own car, meaning any mistake is my fault, rather than the dealer having the car truly prepared to be street legal in California.

I have no doubt that the dealer would put it on for free if I drive over there, but that's a trip that should have been unnecessary. 20-30 minutes each way plus installation time.

I might just leave it alone until I take it in for the first service and have them intall it then.

Now, how's THAT for a nit-picky complaint?

[matt_a]

That figures...you need the holes and don't have them. I don't need the holes but the car came with them. Here in PA, front plates are not required but they are in MD. I live close to the MD state line, and my dealership got our Versa in from another dealer (in MD). So yeah, we have the stupid holes in our front bumper and we don't need them.

[kc5f]

I agree with you - they should have done it for you. (Did they do a walk-through with you when you bought it? Ours had a checklist they had to cover with us.)

I dislike what my dealer did even worse, however. We don't require front plates, yet mine had a dealer ad plate on the front. So when I took off the mount, there were the holes they had drilled in my otherwise-pristine bumper!

(Well, Matt beat me to it! Matt - what I did to cover mine was cut circles out of a bumper sticker, and it's very hard to tell, now, that the holes are there.)

[srellim234]

They did the walk through. Only checked to make sure the bracket was in the back of the car.

I think it's only a matter of time before the front plate is required everywhere in the U.S. Jurisdictions are making way too much money off of traffic tickets caught by automated intersection and speed trap cameras to let the cars go without the front plate for i.d. purposes much longer.

[matt_a]

kc5f, did you do anything to disguise them at all? Our Versa is white, so the empty holes stuck out like a sore thumb. I took the plastic bracket off, but then I screwd the silver glavanized screws back into the hole. It looks a lot better, but it still bugs me.

[lain]

man i wish I had your probably. ive had my plates for over a month now but i havnt put them on. too lazy. but i have these 2 holes on my front bumper that are annoying and i dont want them there. so interested in a trade of bumpers?! JK but im down. I figure when the cops pull me over and give me a fix-it-ticket then ill put it on...for a day.

[kc5f]

kc5f, did you do anything to disguise them at all?

Since you've also got a white one, you're in luck. I just found a bumper sticker (from my favorite radio station) that had bright white areas on it and cut out circles about 1/2" in diameter. They covered the holes beautifully. You have to be really close to notice. Now, after 35,000 miles, they probably need replaced, but I've still got the original sticker and it'll be easy to cut out more "covers"!

[Clipsed]

honestly, what I would do, is leave it off, if I got a ticket, I would sue the dealer for selling a car that is not street legal.

[matt_a]

Since you've also got a white one, you're in luck. I just found a bumper sticker (from my favorite radio station) that had bright white areas on it and cut out circles about 1/2" in diameter. They covered the holes beautifully. You have to be really close to notice. Now, after 35,000 miles, they probably need replaced, but I've still got the original sticker and it'll be easy to cut out more "covers"!

LOL...that's a good idea! What did you do about the plastic that kind of mounded outward when the holes were drilled?

[srellim234]

I've found that most of the auto parts stores around here (Pep Boys, Kragen, Auto Zone, etc.) carry white plastic license plate mounting screws or bolts in bags of four for $1.99 - $3.99. You could just pop a couple of those in there.

[lain]

I've found that most of the auto parts stores around here (Pep Boys, Kragen, Auto Zone, etc.) carry white plastic license plate mounting screws or bolts in bags of four for $1.99 - $3.99. You could just pop a couple of those in there.

But still in your heart you know those holes still exist.

[srellim234]

honestly, what I would do, is leave it off, if I got a ticket, I would sue the dealer for selling a car that is not street legal.

Nice get-rich-quick scheme but it wouldn't work. By law it's MY responsibility ultimately to make sure the car is street legal and like I said, I'm sure that the dealer would install it for free when I contact them (listening, Scott?). Hopefully they at least offer up front the free install in the future.

My complaint on this issue is much more about customer service than anything else.

[Clipsed]

I would fight it, because, well, I was not born blessed financially, although my homies nephew was. When he was born 13 lbs. he was not able to be born naturally, and even a c-section proved tough, and when the doctor pulled him out by his arm, he shattered it. Well his moms mom and dad being a judge and lawyer sued the hospital, AND the doctor, now the kid has 15.1 MILLION! Well I for one am not going to be held responsible for the mistake of the dealer who is legally responsible to sell a car to meet state regulations. That is why regulations are in place.

[kc5f]

LOL...that's a good idea! What did you do about the plastic that kind of mounded outward when the holes were drilled?

I took a large drill bit and reamed the hole by hand just enough to make the edges flush with the rest of the bumper. I thought about putting some putty or something in, first, but it looked good enough for me as it turned out, with just the sticker.

(I'm referring to the jagged edge of the hole, here. If they actually deformed your bumper you may need a larger piece of bumper sticker!)
Modified by kc5f at 11:02 AM 8/28/2007

[Clipsed]

that is one of the most ghetto things that I have heard of, BUT HEY IT WORKS!!! lolz

[kc5f]

I'll have to tell my daughter you said that - I'm sure she'd never have expected anybody to refer to me like that! Now I guess I ought to get pictures for the gallery and work up a how-to article for EV's writing contest...!

[Clipsed]

[KimberKenobi]

nonono, wait until they put the bracket on crooked...



and then refuse to believe you that it is crooked...

[Vahagn23]

Even though my dealer was a liar lol they still installed plates on both sides of the car for me, with those plate covers too lol

[scott@westcovinanissan]

All dealers, to my knowledge, are required to do what is called a PDI or Pre Delivery Inspection, at that point the tech would make sure the car is ready to be sold. In most cases that would include the installation of a front plate holder if applicable. PDI's should be done on all new cars as well as dealer traded cars. If I where you I would go back to your dealer and ask them to put the plate holder on the car as it should be. Most dealers would have no issue with doing this for you.

ScottWCN

[srellim234]

Scott- this might be a little embarassing for you but you guys are the ones that sold me the car. The next time I'm over that direction I'll swing by.

[Clipsed]

MAN and I think so high of WCN!

[scott@westcovinanissan]

Please don't think less of WCN I'm going to talk to the general sales manager about getting this taken care of...

srellim234 please give me until tomorrow and I should have an answer for you. Ill do everything I can to get this rectified

and Clipsed I have had it with you and your little comments no one asked the peanut gallery here

[Clipsed]

I don't think less of WCN, I love WCN, great service!

but wtf?

and Clipsed I have had it with you and your little comments no one asked the peanut gallery here

[srellim234]

I hope that last exchange between you two was more tongue-in-cheek than serious. I don't want to start a fight.

As I said in my first post, I have no doubt that WCN will take care of it. WCN has already built up a very good reputation among people I know in the Covina area that are aware of them. I actually bypassed 3 dealers that are closer to me to buy from them.

It's just an inconvenience that this wasn't done as part of the PDI. In this instance the PDI only checked that the bracket was in the car, not that it was installed. Might be something to correct during future PDIs if it hasn't been corrected already.

Scott, I'll try to give you a holler tomorrow. I just talked to my parents over in Covina and I have some errands to run for them on Friday morning. I can bring it by the dealership around 11:30 or so as long as I'm out of there by 2.

[Clipsed]

well I know Scott personally and he is a great guy, I also know quite a few people over at WCN and love their customer service. I am hoping that Scott was being sarcastic, but over the internet it is hard to tell sometimes when people are serious, and when they are not. That is why I am questioning what he meant and intended, as I had no intentions of degrading the dealership. If I did not like their dealership, I would not have traveled the distance I did to buy the car, much less, to take it in for warranty service. Just want to know what Scott was thinking when he posted.

[scott@westcovinanissan]

Sorry about that Wayne didn't look at the post very well before posting... I was only playing, I just really needed a change to use those three icons that Star Wars one is classic...

[Clipsed]

haha, well next time show a lil enthusiasm so I dont think the worst! hahaha.

[srellim234]

Customer service above and beyond the call of duty, which West Covina Nissan is becoming famous for.

I stopped by today about the front license plate bracket. WCN not only took the car in immediately and mounted the front bracket (straight, too, I might add), they threw in a chrome license plate frame (the one with the "Versa" in script lettering) and they washed the car, all for free.

My thanks to Edgar, Scott and all the staff at WCN for their service to me, the customer.

[Clipsed]

they always wash the car which I LOVE, I LOVE WCN, and I see they have commercials out now, and are sponsoring ABC 7 news.