Number Plates

[Martinjs]

I’m getting on a bit now so I have bought a few new cars in my time.

I haven’t found a dealer yet that can fit number plates to an acceptable standard. All but one have been misaligned (i.e. not straight), the one that was straight was cracked, so no prize there either.

My dealer in Milton Keynes used to fit number plate holders that the un-drilled plates then fitted into neatly. Presumably to save a few quid they stopped doing that a couple of years ago, instead they butchered the plates by drilling them without supporting the reflective backing and fasten them to the car with ugly screws offset and misaligned as per usual. The screw holes on mine were already allowing moisture to delaminates the number plates after just two months so I have fitted Wurth number plate holders and new plates.
I think they finish the car as it should be.

 

[markjay]

Yes, frames are the way to go, no drilling of the plates, no unsightly screws, and always 100% level

 

[baxlin]

I agree, one of my pet hates, plates not on straight. Makes you wonder what else they’ve not done properly.

One advantage of ‘personal’ plate transferred from car to car - fit them yourself.

 

[SmartAmg]

Agreed, cockeyed plates, is a pet hate of mine too, I've been behind some cars, that were really bad, must have been fitted by Buster Keaton.

 

[Slartibartfast]

Agreed, cockeyed plates, is a pet hate of mine too, I've been behind some cars, that were really bad, must have been fitted by Buster Keaton.

...or Ben Turpin

 

[OneForTheRoad]

...or Ben Turpin

or marty feldman

 

[SmartAmg]

...or Ben Turpin

Doh! That's who I meant.

 

[Slartibartfast]

Doh! That's who I meant.

 

[W1ghty]

Flat Aluminium plates also take the bend really well on the front of some MB’s

 

[Martinjs]

Dealers just don’t get it, a £40,000 motor with wonky plates, bit like selling a new house with a wobbly door handle.

Or a tailored suit with a button in the wrong place, no pride, no care, no quality control.

Rant over.

 

[Slartibartfast]

Flat Aluminium plates also take the bend really well on the front of some MB’s

I just used extra strong (Gorilla) double sided tape on the front of my car. It's not going anywhere

 

[SpikyMikey]

Dealers just don’t get it, a £40,000 motor with wonky plates, bit like selling a new house with a wobbly door handle.

Or a tailored suit with a button in the wrong place, no pride, no care, no quality control.

Rant over.

and if like me you have a particularly sensitive eye, you never unsee it. When we had a new wall-hung boiler installed the heating engineer proudly gave me a guided tour of his handywork: "Nice, but it's on the p!ss", was my only comment. He objected to the slur on his skill until I made him apply his spirit level to the offending article: 4° off vertical

 

[OneForTheRoad]

Anyone know the bolt size for the 4 holes on the rear ???

 

[baxlin]

Anyone know the bolt size for the 4 holes on the rear ???

Won’t they be standard yellow/black/white plastic number plate bolts from Halfords etc, or have I misunderstood the question?

 

[Deleted member 65149]

I couldn’t agree more. During the ten years that I worked for a sports and prestige car dealer selling cars typically in the £20k to £100k range I must have fitted hundreds of number plates. I was always very particular about the placement of the plates and the position of screws when used. Nobody ever commented on how accurately the plates were fitted, but I knew.

 

[OneForTheRoad]

Won’t they be standard yellow/black/white plastic number plate bolts from Halfords etc, or have I misunderstood the question?

Theres a few types .

 

[SpikyMikey]

Anyone know the bolt size for the 4 holes on the rear ???

M5 on an S204; maybe standard size for all - or maybe not

 

[OneForTheRoad]

M5 on an S204; maybe standard size for all - or maybe not

M4 on the c207 . Managed to get some stainless from a pal.

 

[Muckypaps]

Pretend it's an Audi and stick it in the n/s of the windscreen.

 

[SpikyMikey]

Pretend it's an Audi and stick it in the n/s of the windscreen.

The hot Beemer brigade around here do that; why??