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 :/