Son of a @#$*&!!! I found out my dealer drilled holes on the front bumper
 

I found out my dealer drilled holes on the front bumper for the temporary dealer license plate. This might be superficial for some of you guys but when you wait for a car and have this perfect vision of how it's going to be and they do something stupid like this even when you requested not to it's really quite upsetting.

Does anyone know what's the best remedy for this situation short of filling and repainting the damn thing? Are there plugs available that are body color? It's killing me just thinking about this.

There might be a White 6AT BRZ up for grabs soon with two big screw holes in the bumper.

Did you tell them not to drill it? If you did, and they still drilled it, push them for a new bumper cover.

If not, it's on you and they'll probably end up just selling the car for more to someone who doesn't care.

Yes.

and Yes. I know they will sell it to someone who doesn't care. Unfortunately I CARE :(

http://www.cars101.com/subaru/brz/brz13-front7.jpg
I'm waiting for the actual pic.. but this is s good representation of how it'll look. I don't mind running a front plate but was going to do it via other methods. Not drilling into the bumper!

Hit up an autoparts store and get some plastic fasteners (called christmas trees) with flat heads. Then paint to match.

I was going to suggest the above, or Bumper Plugs, but if it's in the textured part that's a harder match.

See if they can get a new bumper, since that's all a single piece if I remember correctly, and you specifically told them not to drill it. Otherwise, start the hunt for a car again. Sorry about that.

When my wife and I bought the Camry they put a dealer vanity plate on the front. Drilled straight into the bumper, no plastic frame mount or anything. And SC being a no plate state, they had no reason to do so. Anyway, we went back and complained and they had someone come in and fill/spray it. Physically it looks like a perfect match. It feels a bit rough to the touch though.

Tell them you want a new front bumper, or get an FRS one

As others said...negotiate a trunk mat or some other freebie and use the fasteners.

They had drill in hand ready to mangle my bumper when I went running out of the show room practically screaming. The poor people waiting for their legacy test drive must have thought I was crazy...I feel your pain, I was literally seconds from being in the same boat. Oh the scary neon green drill...still gives me shivers...

I will likely take this as a next step and see where I end up. Unfortunately, the GM can probably tell me to go s*ck it seeing as how the supply/demand situation is totally in their favor right now.

I cannot negotiate for a remedy that will require more time for them to spend on the car. I am flying in hundreds of miles and driving it home. Well... I WAS flying in...

I feel like crap. I'm really quite upset about the whole thing. :(

Damn that sucks

This or a rubber plug, something like this.

https://www.sierramadrecollection.co...ducts/3144.jpg

You told them not do to something and they did it anyways. This is a $26k+ investment, and for that money it's not ok for them to do that. Just bring it up, it literally can not hurt to ask. You can always negotiate for the swap to be done at a local (to you) body shop or dealership.

Tell them you're not happy, and under no circumstance tell them that it is "ok" if they don't have time or are not willing to do it. If they say something like that, tell them you'll call them back. You could even tell them you're going to call Subaru of America then call them back, but that's a little pushy and they may not respond well to it.

Then call SoA and see what they say. This is an example of really poor customer service and SoA will likely be willing to do something to help you.

get a new bumper from them! Might take a few weeks though

It's California. I'm pretty sure they're required by law to sell it to you in a condition that allows you to mount a front plate without modification. Even the C5 vettes had that center panel that could be removed to put a plate in (That nobody used).

Nathan

I think they may have to due to CA law. Did anyone in CA get it without the holes successfully?

plenty of dealers in cali are selling em without it mounted and giving people options... my dealer drilled into mine... i hit em up about it and they said that some report tells them to drill it. i was told by the service people i have to hit up the sales people. sounds like im not getting a bumper from ym dealer :/

your vin stickers won't match up if you decide to get a new bumper.

I just had to sign a waiver acknowledging that I needed front plates.

which state are you buying from OP? or better yet which dealer specifically?

A car is the farthest thing from an "investment". :bonk:

I told my dealer not to drill when they called me to tell me that mine came in. I got mine without the bumper drilled in CA. They just gave me the hardware in the trunk and didn't give me shit about it. I guess they just cared about their customer however, if you didn't tell them beforehand, you don't really have much ground. They are "required" to put a mount for a front plate.

Yes.

I don't see why everyone's getting so bent out of shape over the front plate. It doesn't look that bad. In fact, I like that it covers up some of the ugly mustache. I honestly prefer it to the offset look that the Perrin/Grimmspeed relocation kits provide.

http://image.motortrend.com/f/387339...Background.jpg

No, your not being superficial. I changed dealerships because my original said they wouldn't let it leave the lot without the holes. I ended up picking it up at dealer number two and the original dealer emailed me a couple days later saying they decided not to drill ... told them they were to late.

You need a new front bumper skin and a nose mount plate kit from a third party if Ted don't offer it. Buy both and give them a bill and a card for your lawyer

hopefully i will be picking up my slanted front plate bracket soon. they actually make a front plate look good on the car.

[QUOTE=Turbowned;427943]I don't see why everyone's getting so bent out of shape over the front plate. It doesn't look that bad. In fact, I like that it covers up some of the ugly mustache. I honestly prefer it to the offset look that the Perrin/Grimmspeed relocation kits provide.

Agreed!
I was bummed when I looked at my dealer and realized that as they get the cars in they immediately put their silly dealer plate frames on.

But, now I don't mind. It fits. It doesn't look out of place.

Got any pics of an example on an 86?

Honestly, drilling holes in your car is not something you should have to worry about as a customer at their dealership. Small things seem very fickle when you hear about it, but you're buying the car brand new for more than $20,000-- they need to get it right.

Those plugs look like crap. If you are one to care about the holes in the first place those plugs are definitely not going to cut it, lulz

I'd ditch that dealership. If they cant get something as simple as not drilling right, what would you expect them to do with something more serious that happens with the vehicle like the CEL issue?

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15277

just got mine will have pics of it soon

I got mine without holes. The guy told me that the rears are a must but the fronts they leave it upto the owners. Lucky me

Most of them I have seen have been drilled as soon as they go on the lot. Unless you're ordering the car from Scion/Subaru good luck getting one in CA without the holes.

One more reason I am glad I don't live in CA. Honestly though if you told them not to drill the holes you should definitely call SoA and also call the Better Business Bureau. You threaten to make both of those calls and they will likely work with you to get it resolved.

Subaru of America Customer Service: 1-800-SUBARU3 (1-800-782-2783)

Better Business Bureau(Los Angeles): (909) 835-6064

Since the guy I bought my FR-S from was an elementary school friend of mine, I told him to make sure they didn't drill the plate in because I wanted to do a plate relocator. :D

So when I picked it up, he had put electrical tape on the bottom (so it wouldn't scratch the bumper, wedged it in between the bumper and the grill, and then ziptied the top two holes to the bumper. Worked like a charm for a week and a half, and then I relocated the plate. :D

Sorry to hear about your BRZ! :(

Take a look at this: http://www.bumperplugs.com/BPindex.html

They have the OEM colors for FRS: http://www.bumperplugs.com/colors.html

Is Ultramarine the same as the Toyota Blue Ribbon Metallic?

i told me dealer if they drill hole in my bumper that they would have to pay for a new bumper

Dealer didnt drill into mine, per my instructions, and all good until being pulled over by a state trooper today,so yeah ziptieing my plate on the grill indisgust...

x2...front and center looks much better than offset...

i'm with you, it doesn't look that bad, but i dig the look of the brz as much as the 86 and in some ways more. i don't know why people really dislike the brz's bumper, i think it makes it unique. do people hate on the GT-R for it's bumper much?