Number Plate Fitting.....gobsmacked!

[roundyuk]

So my plates are looking a bit rough so I decided to replace on my 2yr old V60...

First off, lovingly fitted with self tapping screws, already almost rusted away...

Then to my horror discovered they've been drilled straight into the body panel

Really?!?! Like, I mean that makes total sense to me considering there are two perfeclty good captive nuts in the body for plate bolts!!?? The plate has also rubbed the hell out of the paint work as it's not been able to stand proud on the foam pad fitted from the factory. More to the point there is rust already under the paint by the holes :-(

Firstly I called Volvo customer services to check what they believe the right "process" should be for fitting plates at PDI; she couldn't give me a straight answer, but essentially said "well I am pretty sure if there are holes there already they should be used" - yeah...no s**t :-D

Called the dealer and asked to speak to the service manager, on annual leave - lady on the phone didn't know how to answer my problem so has "escalated" (whatever that means).

My brother used to work at said dealer, and he wasn't surprised. He'd even questioned the process before with the workshop; but they said they werent allowed to buy in the correct bolts as they were more expensive than jamming in a couple of self tappers.

I am going to push for it to be sorted, even though I'll most likely give it back at the end of the PCP; it's the principle. Hopefully this will teach them to change how they do things - can you imagine if this was a 70 grand V90 that you'd bought outright, I'd be ****ed!!

[skippyfox]

Must admit, self tappers does sound a bit brutal. The rust you are seeing on the paint work is more than likely to be off the self tappers. Not to sure about a V60 but the V90 tailgate is not steel, (just nipped out and did the magnet thing) As you are thinking about handing the car back at the end of your PCP I'd let it go, and look to an other dealer. Spending 70 Grand on a V90.. Must be ticking a lot of option boxes..

MY68 V90 D5 R Design AWD Bursting Blue, Polestar.

[BorderVolvo]

I would think the dealer will have done it so as none of the fixings obscure the digits on the plate......the captive nuts will dictate where the holes in the plate will be?
I've done it this way in the past, as instructed...….the reason being some customers complain if the screws go through the digits !!

…………. then there's the punters that go and unscrew the damn things!?!?!

[roundyuk]

Definitely metal, and the rust is bubbling under the paint (not just dirty water/marks)

Granted I am probably going to hand it back, but I still have a vested interest as I may want to keep it! Just disgusting really :-(

(I meant XC90 lol, yeah that would be a pricey V!)

Even if they didn't want screws through digits, double sided pads would have been better than this dogs dinner!

[harveys]

Originally Posted by BorderVolvo

I would think the dealer will have done it so as none of the fixings obscure the digits on the plate......the captive nuts will dictate where the holes in the plate will be?
I've done it this way in the past, as instructed...….the reason being some customers complain if the screws go through the digits !!

…………. then there's the punters that go and unscrew the damn things!?!?!

But that's why they do black & yellow & white screws just incase the holes fall in the letters.
Just get it out springs to mind.

[Jms153]

Agree with the suggestion about bolts not partly covering letters that look sloppy

In my opinion what is wrong with double sided sticky mounting pads, I’ve been driving for over 30 years and all of my cars used this method. I am sure one had plates that screwed to the captive nuts then sticky pads to hold the plate on, so the plate did not rub on the paint work

[roundyuk]

Well I think Volvo pretty well had it designed ready to roll from the factory.....just a stupid careless dealer IMHO.

[Welton]

The 'proper' way for the dealer to solve this would be replacing the tailgate, the glass, and any bits of trim damaged in the process (£££££) then you might not be happy with the paint finish achieved at the end.

Or - they might agree to 'fix' the issue and simply fill the screw hole and then use the proper fixings and a new plate (£20.00 tops) - probably return the car with a wonky new plate and badly placed screws/digits interface; which you wouldn't like.

Whichever way, I doubt what they do will be as good as you could achieve yourself. I'd save the stress of revisiting the dealer and buy a new plate, the proper fixings, and carefully measure, use a template, measure, check etc until you can arrange the fixing holes neatly and have it all sitting square like a good job.

The little hole they screwed could be treated to a dab of rust correction fluid on the end of a cotton bud and forgotten about.

[DaveNP]

Don't know about the V60 but some tailgates are skinned with Aluminium, so it's metal but not steel but then screwing steel self tappers into it would possibly lead to some weird bimetallic corrosion hence the bubbling of the paint around the holes.
The proper plastic screws are not that expensive if you shop around (especially if they had bought in bulk like a garage would) and in the context of the price of a new V60 probably not as much as the cup of coffee they gave you while they did the paperwork to relieve you of your hard earned.
The cynic in me tends to agree with Welton, I'd be inclined to sort it myself and at least have it on properly and straight.

[zapcity1]

Originally Posted by roundyuk

Well I think Volvo pretty well had it designed ready to roll from the factory.....just a stupid careless dealer IMHO.

Spot on roundyuk. My original dealer used the captive nuts. Unfortunately they rammed the self-tappers into the captive nuts which rusted as you would expect (original dealer plates fitted so never been removed). When I got the car (9 years old), I changed the plates and the self-tappers just sheared, so I'm left with rusted self tappers I need to get out somehow.

If I was buying new (heaven forbid) I'd insist on the car being supplied without plates fitted, and I'd fit myself with tape. Self-tappers are so lazy, especially when fitted straight into paintwork.