Hi I am just fitting new plates to my Yeti and the rear one is no problem it has nylon inserts to take self tappers.

 

However the front one has been fitted with self tappers into the front valance this is never a good idea because it is to easy to strip the thread the screw cuts into the plastic.

 

There are 4 inserts in the panel but they are not threaded and they are too large for the usual self tapper so who knows the correct fitting - I do not want to use tape or self adhesive pads.

 

 

 

 

Regards

 

Mike

 

 

These don't look like factory pre-drilled holes to me, but rather the dealers/fitters attempt to line up the original number plates correctly - hence the 4 holes .

 

I always insist that any new car I have has stuck on front and rear plates. Sometimes the dealer will also just self tap the rear number plates straight into the rear boot metal, so a nice place for rust and water ingress to occur, and something you may be unaware of until it's too late.

 

Trouble is that most dealers (or their fitters), cannot be bothered to install the correct fixing in the factory pre- drilled holes, and it's even worse when they are rushed at the new (1/3 & 1/9) registration days.

 

What is even more annoying is when they use a self tapper without the correct plastic cover - nothing worse than following a £80k Mercedes (or any car) with horrible screw heads showing through the rear plate - no pride in jobs these days I'm afraid.

 

And don't get me going on rear number plates that are not correctly aligned on a brand new car.

Thanks

 

Just had a proper look - at first I thought the hole went straight through but after sticking a screw in the holes I found that it only went in about 12 mm so I tried screwing it in and viola success a firm fit.

 

Regards

 

Mike

This is a pet hate of mine I've had quite a few different model Skodas from different dealers and without exception the back plates are fitted correctly into the designated holes (pre drilled and threaded ), but the front plates have always been screwed straight into the bumper ,IGNORING  the pre drilled threaded holes.

Surely each dealer should have a template to put onto the plate so it lines up correctly.

Doing it randomly and screwing straight into the bumpers could let damp eventually penetrate and cause bubbling of paint / varnish ?

Only noticed when fitting my own plates ,mentioned to dealers but just get a shrug of the shoulders

This is a pet hate of mine I've had quite a few different model Skodas from different dealers and without exception the back plates are fitted correctly into the designated holes (pre drilled and threaded ), but the front plates have always been screwed straight into the bumper ,IGNORING  the pre drilled threaded holes.

Surely each dealer should have a template to put onto the plate so it lines up correctly.

Doing it randomly and screwing straight into the bumpers could let damp eventually penetrate and cause bubbling of paint / varnish ?

Only noticed when fitting my own plates ,mentioned to dealers but just get a shrug of the shoulders

You must be lucky then, as I have had several new cars (different manufacturers), when the dealer ignores the pre-drilled rear plate holes, and self taps straight into the bodywork - although that was when I was much younger and not so clued up. Glad then that I am not alone in hating this practice.

 

And yes you are correct that dealers should have a template.

I think that part of the problem is that most UK plates are fitted without number plate surrounds/ holders that have multiple fixing areas. I'll have a look at SWMBO's later on and see how her front plate holder is fixed.

 

As shown in the pic, if you cant find a fixing on that that matches up to the pre drilled holes, you must be daft.

 

 

EDIT. That's not exactly the same type as the plate holder on SWMBO's which has a flap that locks the plate into the holder securely, but I hope you get the idea.

Double sided sticky for me.

I hate plates screwed into the car.

I think that part of the problem is that most UK plates are fitted without number plate surrounds/ holders that have multiple fixing areas. I'll have a look at SWMBO's later on and see how her front plate holder is fixed.

 

As shown in the pic, if you cant find a fixing on that that matches up to the pre drilled holes, you must be daft.

 

008.jpg

 

EDIT. That's not exactly the same type as the plate holder on SWMBO's which has a flap that locks the plate into the holder securely, but I hope you get the idea.

 

That makes sense Lee, perhaps  Skoda will fit them as standard, but I won't hold my breath.

 

Richard I agreed with you until I had to remove the sticky residue left by a previously stuck plate must have taken me couple hours.

We've had a set of plates nicked off a car, so now I always remove No. plates on the 1st day and use tape fully covering the back and either 4 or 6 screws, depending on how the garage has fixed them.

I now ensure the screws are showing.

My in-car camera has since then, picked up a garage mechanic talking about no-one nicking the plates with all those screws showing.

That makes sense Lee, perhaps  Skoda will fit them as standard, but I won't hold my breath.

 

Richard I agreed with you until I had to remove the sticky residue left by a previously stuck plate must have taken me couple hours.

 

This stuff works wonders

This stuff works wonders

 

That was the 1st thing I reached for but didn't do the trick,I was rubbing that hard afraid I was going to get a paint blush, in the end waited for it to dry and put another sticky pad in same place.

OK, so it stopped raining for about three minutes today, just enough time to check how the plate holder had been attached. Guess what? Dumbassery and extraneous holes drilled, that's what :( You can see there are the original holes, with space to fix them on the holder but noooooooooo, the idiots only went and made four more bloody holes

 

It is into plastic, therefore it isn't going to rust, plus you can't see them when the plates are on, so can someone explain excatly why people are getting their knickers in a twist about this.

 

I might agree about it if it was into the rear metal hatch cover, but here................................

 

And a question about the provided holes?

Do these go into a threaded or metal area behind?

If threaded, any idea of the thread?

Reason is because they look ideal for the auxillary lamp mounting brackets I'm currently working on.

It is into plastic, therefore it isn't going to rust, plus you can't see them when the plates are on, so can someone explain excatly why people are getting their knickers in a twist about this.

 

I might agree about it if it was into the rear metal hatch cover, but here................................

 

And a question about the provided holes?

Do these go into a threaded or metal area behind?

If threaded, any idea of the thread?

Reason is because they look ideal for the auxillary lamp mounting brackets I'm currently working on.

I'll have another look later on or in the morning, Graham. I've several different metric sized bolts I can try and see what's there if it helps.

 

@ Truthseeker I believe they are factory drilled, unless the UK dealers have a man who hops across to Germany with his drill now and again

The four large holes are factory original; have them on our Yeti and both Fabia's, mind likewise still to find what fittings they are designed for. Dealers seem to just drill in an extra set of random self tappers

 

TP

 

 

Posted in error

It is into plastic, therefore it isn't going to rust, plus you can't see them when the plates are on, so can someone explain excatly why people are getting their knickers in a twist about this.

 

 

 

Graham as you say the screws would not go into metal but surely if the paint is lifted on a plastic surface it could allow damp to penetrate and cause it to lift and flake?  I've actually had this happen on a A4.

As TP says the holes are factory fitted and appear to be in prime places to secure the front numberplate, also the fact that the rear numberplate holes are also factory fitted and most if not all dealers appear to use them suggest that they were meant for this purpose.

The only explanation I can think of why dealers are not using the pre drilled holes is that the place where the front numberplate sits is slightly arc'd and perhaps they feel their self-tapped holes are in a more secure position than the original factory ones.

And a question about the provided holes?

Do these go into a threaded or metal area behind?

If threaded, any idea of the thread?

Reason is because they look ideal for the auxillary lamp mounting brackets I'm currently working on.

I've just been out and tried; The holes seemed to accept an M3 bolt fine. They appear threaded as there was no jarring or pulling to one side etc. I can't tell if there's a metal plate behind unfortunately as the polystyrene behind the bumper prevented me from feeling or looking around. HTH

Thanks Lee. I'm sure I've got some M3 fine in the box somewhere.

Being off sick should give me a bit more time to have a "play".

 

The "project" can continue!!

 

Killy,

Hope you don't mind, but I've "nicked" your first photo on here?

.....Being off sick ...

[sorry to hear.  Or is it carpals time?  (Still sorry to hear, of course!) ]

The four large holes are factory original; have them on our Yeti and both Fabia's, mind likewise still to find what fittings they are designed for. Dealers seem to just drill in an extra set of random self tappers

My dealer used a pair of these (p/n N90648704):

screws to secure number plate frame. I don't know whether they are supposed to be used there, but they fit very well.

Rear side of bumper looks like this:

For a combined numberplate and auxiliary lamp support, I think a doublingplate behind the bumper is needed.

My dealer used a pair of these (p/n N90648704):

screws to secure number plate frame. I don't know whether they are supposed to be used there, but they fit very well.

Oops, looks like I gave the wrong part number :( N90648704 is for screws which hold front wing liners, they are too thin for the holes in the front bumper. The right screws have large head similar to that of the screws above headlights.