I went through this headache with my stealership, I ended up walking away empty handed. I live in jersey and they said all cars are immediately drilled upon receipt. I wanted to call bullshit but I just took the car and never looked back.

Sorry to hear that. Hence why I specifically put in my pre-order to have NO front plate and NO dealer sticker.

The holes you are showing are only the mounts for the bottom of the plate holder, there would still be holes drilled into the main part of the bumper cover too, which is what I am guessing he is upset about.

Sorry to hear about your issue. That's one of the reasons why even though I'm technically closer to San Diego I prefer to buy in Phoenix since Arizona has no front plate at all and so most dealers are used to not putting a front bracket in or drilling holes.

I still make it a point though to tell any dealer I'm buying from that holes in the front bumper will make me walk. Ditto for dealer labels on the back. I'm okay with a plate frame since that's an easy swap but they can keep their stickers 'cause I ain't giving them free advertising on my car and at the same time ruining the clean look of it.

I'd talk to the dealer and just see what they'll say but it may be a hard fight since it is a requirement in Cali to have a front plate and you already bought the car so you're bargaining position isn't really good.

You're right it is only for the bottom :sigh:

I just read the instruction manual fairly quickly and saw that you do have to align those holes to the painted part of the bumper, but I don't understand why the OP has a third hole?

My friend's FR-S has the top of the license plate bracket drilled to the grille so I thought that's how it's supposed to be, and the cars I've seen from numerous dealerships in the Bay Area had it like that in the showroom.

Apologies for my confusion!

I'm at work right now, but I'll post some pics of the drilled bumper holes for the plate when I get home. Still waiting for a callback from the dealer.

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Just out of curiousity which dealership did you get your car from?

I bought mine from Stevens Creek Scion and requested them not to wash the car and not to put the front plate on and they delivered on both.

Make the dealer swap out the bumper covering from a new car that's the same color. This happened to my son when he bought a new GTI this summer. He wouldn't take the car till they made the swap after he told them not to drill holes.

You guys are...

In CA they are required by law to drill your front bumper since front license plates are required.

If you did not want one, you should have asked the dealer at which point he would have given you a waiver to sign, essentially saying that you take full responsibility (he is no longer liable)

Is he a bit of a-hole for not telling you? yes. But ultimately, it is your responsibility to know the procedure and the laws of your state and if you wanted it that badly, you would have checked what can be done. Simple as that.

Flame all you want, but if you really wanted it, you would have read up on what needed to be done online. The dealer will not replace your bumper now.

This!

I have had multiple contacts with possible FR-S's but have not gone any farther when they tell me the front bumper had been defiled with a plate. The current order stands as Hot Lava, MT, and no front drilling, or no sale.

Eric G

Please do not swap bumpers with another car and ruin it for the next buyer. The bumpers have a vin sticker and swapping them will cause the vin stickers not to match. I doubt any dealer would let you do that.

My bumper is also damaged but since I will always have a plate on the front its nit a huge deal. If you are in a state where no front plate is required and they mangled it i would be pissed too.

Mario is correct. I told them ahead of time and they made me signed a waiver.

This is not completely true. I bought my frs in California. I didn't even think to make any requests about what to do or not do to the front bumper. When I took delivery, I didn't see any front plate at all, no dealer plate insert, nothing. I asked and they said they never drill holes in a bumper unless requested to do so. Therefore, my California experience is just the opposite. I'm glad because I then went ahead and installed the tow hook conversion for my plate. I get a lot of positive comments about how they like it installed off to the side, etc.

Source: DMV.CA.GOV

My guess is, your dealer put that in the papers you signed before taking delivery. If he didn't, he is cool ...and an idiot. From my personal experiences and from what I've read online, your dealer is the exception, not the rule. Most just slap on the front license plate so they don't have to deal with it and be liable. So option (1) is the default that most dealers go for and (2) happens usually when it's per the owner's request.