What to do...Help required...

omri

So here's the deal. Got the VRT paid. Went to the garage across the road who advertised selling the Reg plates. Was in a rush so wasn't really paying attention as I was about to endure several minutes of dental torture.

The guy fixed my irish reg, front and back with a f***** drill. Drilled holes in the lid of the boot with the drill (despite having the two factory made holes for the plate).

Maybe I am exagerating the situation but I'm so pissed off by that botched job. Went to the dealership - they laughed (prolly at me) said it's ridiculous. Rang my insurance they said that's not covered.

What's the best course of action now. I know I should put the playdo in the holes, fit the reg as it should be and forget about it. But I just can't get over the fact how f***** job they did and messed the bodywork, perhaps even voiding warranty on the paintjob or the lid of the boot or I don't know... sigh...

It hurts me more than the scratch on the wheel I did on the 2nd day of driving... :P

R.O.R

A lot of cars have the plates drilled through in to the bodywork - how we always used to do it in my old place. Very rarely fall off and difficult to steal.

As long as you don't plan on taking them off and letting everyone see the unsightly holes, get on with life is my suggestion.

kerten

omri wrote: »

So here's the deal. Got the VRT paid. Went to the garage across the road who advertised selling the Reg plates. Was in a rush so wasn't really paying attention as I was about to endure several minutes of dental torture.

The guy fixed my irish reg, front and back with a f***** drill. Drilled holes in the lid of the boot with the drill (despite having the two factory made holes for the plate).

Maybe I am exagerating the situation but I'm so pissed off by that botched job. Went to the dealership - they laughed (prolly at me) said it's ridiculous. Rang my insurance they said that's not covered.

What's the best course of action now. I know I should put the playdo in the holes, fit the reg as it should be and forget about it. But I just can't get over the fact how f***** job they did and messed the bodywork, perhaps even voiding warranty on the paintjob or the lid of the boot or I don't know... sigh...

It is annoying but not as bad as you think today. Fix it and look forward.

I bought a 2 years old citroen from Citroen dealer in UK as an approved car. Its plates were attached to two random holes drilled to as well.

I attached the Irish plate with strong outdoor double sided tape covering those holes and that's it.

I am pretty sure guys in dealer did the same to many cars but they were too proud to accept that when you point the holes with disgust.

omri

kerten wrote: »

It is annoying but not as bad as you think today. Fix it and look forward.

I bought a 2 years old citroen from Citroen dealer in UK as an approved car. Its plates were attached to two random holes drilled to as well.

I attached the Irish plate with strong outdoor double sided tape covering those holes and that's it.

I am pretty sure guys in dealer did the same to many cars but they were too proud to accept that when you point the holes with disgust.

The UK plates where as should be. He drilled his own holes, the reg wasnt even straight.

punisher5112

omri wrote: »

The UK plates where as should be. He drilled his own holes, the reg wasnt even straight.

If you want it done right do it yourself.

If you want to get holes use previous reg.

Shocking the amount going around nowhere near straight and some real high end cars look awful.

omri

punisher5112 wrote: »

If you want it done right do it yourself.

If you want to get holes use previous reg.

Shocking the amount going around nowhere near straight and some real high end cars look awful.

I don't need to be a mechanic or a handyman to own a car.

The guy should know better, he took the money for the service he provided. I don't care if it was 20, 50, 100 or 200 euros as long as the job was done correctly which is only to be expected if you're a customer.

sky6

You're right to be totally pissed off by inferior work that your paying for.
You could take a case to the small claims court. If they fitted the new plates in a non Manufacturers position and went out of their way to drill holes in the paint work I'm pretty sure you'd have a good case.
Once the weather gets at the edge of the Holes they will start to rust and lift the paintwork.

punisher5112

omri wrote: »

I don't need to be a mechanic or a handyman to own a car.

The guy should know better, he took the money for the service he provided. I don't care if it was 20, 50, 100 or 200 euros as long as the job was done correctly which is only to be expected if you're a customer.

I wasn't attacking you at all.

It's this type of shoddy work though that doesn't surprise me as 99.9% of the time the plate could be backwards or upside down and he would get away with it as so many wouldn't even look or notice.

omri

Not to mention that he did the same thing in the front...

colm_mcm

If you took the uk plates off and found holes from older plates there you’d probably be mildly annoyed at the most. Best thing to do IMO is go back and demand new undrilled plates, then fit them yourself properly.

Stick some touch up paint on the holes in the boot then apply tape over it.

JoeA3

Main dealers here do that all the time in my experience. It’s lazy though, I agree.
Thing is, if the holes were there all along from a previous set of plates you’d probably be none the wiser.
Don’t worry about it affecting warranty, that’s never going to be an issue. It’s purely cosmetic. It bothers you but no one else will notice or care.

omri

Went back to the garage today and that was the most awful experience I had for a long long time. The gents were increadibly aggressive, obnoxious, disrespectful and quite frankly didn't give a damn. Absolutely no issue with them damaging the boot as there was no other way to fix the plate and they couldn't put the white screw cover on the black print of the number (yet yesterday I saw a car with the black screw cover on the actual number) and just went on how the factory made holes were not appropriate. Going to solicitor with this sadly.

morritty

I really doubt you'll get anywhere with that. it's a cosmetic thing, covered by the plate. No one will ever see it

Stallingrad

R.O.R wrote: »

A lot of cars have the plates drilled through in to the bodywork - how we always used to do it in my old place. Very rarely fall off and difficult to steal.

As long as you don't plan on taking them off and letting everyone see the unsightly holes, get on with life is my suggestion.

I surprised to hear you say this. Drilling holes into the metalwork? OK if its a plastic bumper but you're inviting corrosion in an area that is often damp. So what if you can't see it, there is a reason the holes are present from the factory so you don't have to compromise the metal body work to mount the plates.

OP, take them off, apply paint to the exposed metal, tape over the holes and get some strong double sided number plate tape from a motor factors.

omri

This is how it looks.

omri

And the holes.

R.O.R

omri wrote: »

This is how it looks.

Definite write off now. Contact your solicitor immediately.

Stallingrad

Why the snarky tone R.O.R? The OP is right to be pissed off.

As mentioned OP touch up, cover and move on. It won't rust and you'll never see it. Forget solicitors, life is too short.

morritty

Sure, sue the car manufacturer for not clearly marking with maybe a sticker that reg plates should only be screwed into the pre-drilled holes.

omri

It’s not as if I put my hand into the pocket and just like that all the eurodollars appeared without any effort allowing the purchase of the car. Anyway it’s upsetting to me, the way they behaved this morning was even worse. Poor quality of work and customer service. Not even a signle „sorry”. Seems like people are kind and nice before you hand in the money after that they wont give a damn. Mods you can close this thread now I suppose.

carsfan2

I can understand how it is upsetting to have your new car damaged in this way but honestly what do you think you will achieve going to a solicitor?
All I can see is a bill from the solicitor and possibly at the end of a few months if you are very lucky something very minimal in the small claims court.

R.O.R

Stallingrad wrote: »

Why the snarky tone R.O.R? The OP is right to be pissed off.

The way the new plates were fixed on, is a perfectly acceptable way of fixing them on.

The screw holes already there are from the manufacturer, and their main dealers will have the templates to enable the dealer to put the screws through there. Only way for a non-franchised dealer to get the holes in the right place is to use the old plate as a template, drill through the new plate and hope you have the right sized screws to fit the manufacturer holes. Damn sight quicker to get 2 self tappers and drill in to the bumper or boot lid for front/back.

The holes created by doing this won't rust, because they aren't holes when the screw is in there.

I've had many cars and supplied many cars over the years with plates screwed in to the bumper/boot lid. I've never complained, and never had any complaints. I haven't a clue how the number plate is fixed on to my car at the moment, because I really don't care - as long as the plate stays where it's supposed to, and the rest of the car doesn't fall apart due to how it's fixed on, I'm happy.

In over 9 years in my old job, the only vehicle prepped on site that didn't have the plates screwed in was a box body Transit, and that's because we couldn't drill through the bumper bar - stuck on plates eventually fell off after 6 years and needed sticking back on. That's well in excess of 1,000 vehicles with plates screwed on to the bodywork or bumper, without anyone ever mentioning it.

Talking of going to a solicitor because someone fitted number plates to a car in a fashion they weren't that happy about, is going way over the top.

Stallingrad

R.O.R wrote: »

The way the new plates were fixed on, is a perfectly acceptable way of fixing them on.

The screw holes already there are from the manufacturer, and their main dealers will have the templates to enable the dealer to put the screws through there. Only way for a non-franchised dealer to get the holes in the right place is to use the old plate as a template, drill through the new plate and hope you have the right sized screws to fit the manufacturer holes. Damn sight quicker to get 2 self tappers and drill in to the bumper or boot lid for front/back.

The holes created by doing this won't rust, because they aren't holes when the screw is in there.

I've had many cars and supplied many cars over the years with plates screwed in to the bumper/boot lid. I've never complained, and never had any complaints. I haven't a clue how the number plate is fixed on to my car at the moment, because I really don't care - as long as the plate stays where it's supposed to, and the rest of the car doesn't fall apart due to how it's fixed on, I'm happy.

In over 9 years in my old job, the only vehicle prepped on site that didn't have the plates screwed in was a box body Transit, and that's because we couldn't drill through the bumper bar - stuck on plates eventually fell off after 6 years and needed sticking back on. That's well in excess of 1,000 vehicles with plates screwed on to the bodywork or bumper, without anyone ever mentioning it.

Talking of going to a solicitor because someone fitted number plates to a car in a fashion they weren't that happy about, is going way over the top.

Just because you've done it to 1000 cars doesn't make it right. I've changed the plates on every car I've ever owned, I've never seen holes drilled into bare metal nor would I dream of doing so myself. It also only takes seconds to use the old plate as a template for the new plate and have the holes align.

Also if you think by inserting a screw into drilled bodywork you are somehow sealing it from rust you are deluded. Of course the car won't fall apart, but you can't argue physics, in time that hole your drilled will start corroding, and just because it is behind the bumper does not mean it is not there.

Of course a solicitor is not required, but it's a cowboy way of doing things and I'm surprised anyone on a car forum would argue in favour of it.

firstlight

Would drive me mad too,I learned the lesson before,do it yourself if you expect it done properly
I would touch it up as soon as you can

omri

firstlight wrote: »

I would touch it up as soon as you can

I patched it up with the tape for now. New trunk lid at the dealership circa €1200...

JoeA3

+1. It would bloody annoy me, whether it can be seen or not is a moot point. I'd know its there and I'd forever know some ham fisted idiot took a black and decker to my car!

For this reason, for the last few cars, I've asked the dealer to use double-sided tape to fix the plates on and they've duly obliged. The plates have never budged.

colm_mcm

omri wrote: »

I patched it up with the tape for now. New trunk lid at the dealership circa €1200...

Your car will devalue if you go replacing a boot lid. This can be rectified without replacing.

omri

colm_mcm wrote: »

This can be rectified without replacing.

How and where if you don't mind telling?

colm_mcm

omri wrote: »

How and where if you don't mind telling?

Any body shop would be able to do a localized repair on the area behind the number plate without having to respray/replace the whole boot door. They could weld up the hole and blend in the paint if that’s what you wanted. Obviously nobody will ever see it but at least you’ll know all is well behind there!

Honestly though, some rust prevention treatment and tape will be much less expensive.

punisher5112

Bit of isopon and a touch up paint.

You will be happy like colm says knowing it won't rust etc.

kirving

R.O.R wrote: »

The way the new plates were fixed on, is a perfectly acceptable way of fixing them on.

It might hold the plate in place, but it's a dog rough job that noone should be proud of.

R.O.R wrote: »

The screw holes already there are from the manufacturer, and their main dealers will have the templates to enable the dealer to put the screws through there. Only way for a non-franchised dealer to get the holes in the right place is to use the old plate as a template, drill through the new plate and hope you have the right sized screws to fit the manufacturer holes. Damn sight quicker to get 2 self tappers and drill in to the bumper or boot lid for front/back.

In otherwords, laziness.

You don't need the old plate or a special template, a ruler will do the job just fine.

Hoping you have the right screws for the job isn't an excuse in my book if the place is advertising this service. Buy a box of various sizes and do the job right.

R.O.R wrote: »

The holes created by doing this won't rust, because they aren't holes when the screw is in there.

A screw in that hole is not a watertight seal.

Depending on the material of the panel and screw, Galvanic Corrosion could occur and cause rust.