Redfish

iTrader: (2)

I bought my car used a little over a month ago. It's mint, 20K miles.

When I removed the front license plate & bracket, someone (dealer?) had screwed the bracket right into the bumper, dead center. So now there's a screw hole. I'm debating which looks worse, the hole or the license plate. Nice, huh?

SoonToBeTSX'n

What did you expect? That's how they always do it man!

Redfish

iTrader: (2)

Yep.

I remember when I bought my CLS new. I specifically asked them not to put the front plate on. They did. At least it was only bolted in from the bottom, easy fix.

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

It should be bolted from the bottom. The bumper has holes for the bracket. Sounds like your dealer was just stupid. Guess you're stuck with the front plate.

SoonToBeTSX'n

Same thing happened to us when we bought our Mazda 3 in Feb. Told them didn't want it, did it any way. Then I bitched and they said they could try to find another one, it had already taken them 2 months to find this one with what we wanted on it, so I just sucked it up.

gomez_regina

WRONG! It's supposed to be bolted from the bottom...the bracket clips on from beneath. However, when I removed the front plate from my TSX, there was a tiny little black mark on the bumper from where the plate-holder had been rubbing the bumper.

mg7726

your stealership screwed up. fill the hole and use some touch up.

Redfish

iTrader: (2)

Human nature...if there is a hole, a screw must go there...regardless of what's behind it.

CCColtsicehockey

yeah that was how mine was done. so yeah sounds like your dealer was stupid.

excited

Front plates aren't required here. Of course we have snow. No where is perfect.





Excited

Colin

Acura provides a third self tapping screw in the license plate kit to keep the plate from flopping around when only the two bottom bracket tinerman nuts are used. Some stores will use all three, some will not. He bought the car used! It could be that the previous owner complanined that the bracket was loose, so the store put the third screw in? Did anyone ever think of that?

Yui

I bought my 04 new and they had drilled a hole into my bumper for the license plate. It had just been prepped when I called them to ask about availability, so I think it's something that some dealerships do to the new cars. I was kinda upset about it too.

madmanmax3000

Hey guys, same thing happened to me, I bought the car about 18 months ago and just found the hole. I went to the dealership and threw a hissy-fit and they will repaint and patch the bumper for me at no price

Colin

That must have been quite a hissy fit!

CCColtsicehockey

I would have done the same thing if there was one on mine.

Colin

Just remember, the factory give us three screws for the plate bracket, you can't blame the store if they (despite common sense) use them as intended.

ILoveMyHonda

All I can say is bummer man....sorry...but is it me or does our bracket NOT have a third hole in the center, I could be wrong but I don't remember one there....I'm too lazy to check But yeah the original dealer shouldn't have done that.

CCColtsicehockey

it has a location for a middle hole on mine its not even drilled out. its like they are saying hear it is if you really want it but dont do it unless required.

Colin

It does have a hole (top middle), and the kit supplies a small pan head self-tapping screw (the bumper has no receiving bolt). To install all you do is press REALLY hard and screw that sucker right through the bumper cover! Stupid design I know but believe me, we do have people complain that the bracket is loose. When we tell them that we'll have to screw through the bumper they're like "so what?" I guess they don't get it......

dj Dozhe

When I decided to buy the TSX I also decided to move from Missouri to Kansas just so I wouldn't have a front license plate. Only about a 15 mile move, but still I called 2 days ago just to make sure the dealer knew I did NOT want a hole in the front of my car. I'm sorry man that sucks. Maybe there's a way to patch it. Or you could black out the grill and put an Acura symbol over the hole.

Alin10123

I think your dealer screwed up big time. In both my GF's accord and my TSX, it came with a front license plate holder. But all that was there was the dealer license plate. They both unscrewed with two bolts that hold it on from underneath the bumper.

R J Poseidon 6

Since bumpers hardly match anyways, ask for a bumper switch w/one they haven't PDI'd!

gsclifton

iTrader: (2)

Go back to the dealer where you got the car. There should be NO holes in the bumper from the front plate installation. I would demand they repair the bumper free of charge.

Colin

Bought the car used.... used are normally sold "as is"

mio

what u got 500 or 55?? i just got a CLS 55 AMG too. lol

Matell

It will come as no condolence to you, but that's the way they're all fitted in Australia. Except it's worse. They cut two rectangular holes and install bolt clips so we have rectangle-centre hole-rectangle. I've taken it up with numerous dealers and even Honda Australia pointing out through photo's how it should be mounted with no luck.

When they brought the Integra(RSX) Type S in I looked to see how its front plate had been mounted and sure enough they'd done it properly ie Extensions between the plate frame that are bolted into the 45degree mounting spot under the bumper.

I've just sucked it up.....but I'm still bitter and twisted over it.....

poltergeist

From what are you basing this statement on? On many Honda/Acura models (as well as most other makes) The licence plate itself or the plate bracket is intended to be screwed directly to the front bumper cover. Honda/Acura designs many of their models this way, supplies the self tapping screws to do it, and directs the PDI tech in the PDI instructions to install the front plate or bracket this way.

If the dealer decides to not install the plate or bracket this way, that's their perogative, but as mentioned above, we get more complaints of the bracket being loose/crooked from not screwing them on than from people that don't want a screw hole in their bumper.

And yes I know of what I speak....I'm a Honda tech.

kyotousa

no screw on mine....mine was bolted to the bottom

Colin

They're all bolted at the bottom, at issue is the third screw at the top. Jeez is this going to be like the leather thread.....

gsclifton

iTrader: (2)

I have bought 4 Honda's and 1 Acura new. None of the plates or brackets were screwed into the bumper cover. That is the most ghetto thing I have ever heard of ....

Perhaps it is a dealer choice and the dealers around are do not subscribe to the "correct" method you describe.

SoonToBeTSX'n

Nah, I'm not wrong. Most of the cars I've seen are drilled. And it looks like a handful of TSX have holes too! I don't have a TSX (yet) so I can't speak from personal experience on it. But I checked my fiance's Mazda this afternoon because you got me wondering, unfortunately it's definately drilled. And my POS Sunfire, also, drilled.

Colin

Yes most newer Honda/Acura product have two bolts under the bumper for the plate bracket. They also have a provision for a third screw through the cover. The Acuras currently like this (from memory) are the TSX, RSX, MDX. The previous gen TL, CL were also like this. The Integra, S2000 had/have bumper plugs and threaded "thingies" in the bumper to accept a 10mm bolt through the bumper. What cars have you had?

madmanmax3000

Pretty sure he means an Acura CL Type S, the Benz is a nice car though, I just got the '06 ML500

dj Dozhe

how come you got an ML instead of a mercedes?

madmanmax3000

I think you're confused, ML500 is a Mercedes... but thats really not the point of this thread.....

Redfish

iTrader: (2)

CLS...yeah, CL Type-S. No Mercedes.

Matell, to agree with you...my '93 Integra had the square holes. I order cover plates from Hoehn Acura & had them painted to match the bumper. I guess if your dealer cuts the holes right, this is an option. Hard to see, but they're there:



Anway, thanks for the sympathy guys. Since I bought the TSX used, there isn't too much I can do. Also, CT requires a plate, so not sure I can win this one with the original dealer.

What kills me is that I like the lower mesh grill look (wanted to buy), but not worth it with the ugly front plate.

dj Dozhe

Actually I was being sarcastic because I don't see the ML as a true mercedes. Mostly due to the fact that it was conceived and creat in the US and isn't sold anywhere else. Do I have a funny accent when I talk out of my ass?

925tsx

same with mine!

hans007

i think the tsx looks far better without the plate on the front. but i've gotten a front license plate ticket before (its like $50 here!) and yeah i guess its stayin on.

Colin

Sadly I was walking through the shop yesterday evening, and one of the mechanics was putting the third screw into a TSX bumper when I walked by. I pointed out that some customers hate that, and he replied" I do the PDI by the book, Hawaii law says we have to run a front plate, and Acura gives us a screw for it, so I put it in." I say, "some people aren't going to run a front plate" He says, "tough, it's the law...."

I guess its a good thing mechanics don't sell cars.... some have no concept of "the customer is always right"

I apologize in advance for the poor guy who buys that car, but I tried!