Dealer drilled 6 freakin holes into my bumper!!!

[gvan1998]

I know this is a BMW forum, I just want to know what is the correct resolution to this situation.

Basically, I bought my new 2016 C300 back in Sept. of 2015. Maryland requires front tags so the dealer installed the front tag bracket.


Fast forward 6 months later. I was in the process of removing the dealer license plate frame and I noticed that the Front license plate bracket was off center about 3 inches to the left. Basically, whoever installed the front tag bracket, drilled 2 hole into my bumper off center. So I made an appointment with the dealer this morning. I told the SA about the front tag being off center. He states that they will fix it. I specifically told him 2 times that "DO NOT DRILL ANYMORE HOLES TO THE BUMPER." I told him if you have to drill more holes, leave it alone. 30 Minutes later, SA comes back and states "its all fix." I take a look at it and it looks centered. I ask him again about drilling more holes. He replies no additional hole were drilled. So I go home to inspect it and remove the front bracket. HOLY SH***T, they drilled 4 additional holes to the bumper making it 6 total holes. Now the dealer is acting like , all the holes are behind the bracket and you cant see it so what's the big deal. Finally, SA advises me that they will plug all the holes and touch it up.

In this situation, what should I do? Do I ask for new bumper? or have them fix it? or leave it as it is and have them compensate for the damages?

[alexey21]

Originally Posted by gvan1998

I know this is a BMW forum, I just want to know what is the correct resolution to this situation.

Basically, I bought my new 2016 C300 back in Sept. of 2015. Maryland requires front tags so the dealer installed the front tag bracket.


Fast forward 6 months later. I was in the process of removing the dealer license plate frame and I noticed that the Front license plate bracket was off center about 3 inches to the left. Basically, whoever installed the front tag bracket, drilled 2 hole into my bumper off center. So I made an appointment with the dealer this morning. I told the SA about the front tag being off center. He states that they will fix it. I specifically told him 2 times that "DO NOT DRILL ANYMORE HOLES TO THE BUMPER." I told him if you have to drill more holes, leave it alone. 30 Minutes later, SA comes back and states "its all fix." I take a look at it and it looks centered. I ask him again about drilling more holes. He replies no additional hole were drilled. So I go home to inspect it and remove the front bracket. HOLY SH***T, they drilled 4 additional holes to the bumper making it 6 total holes. Now the dealer is acting like , all the holes are behind the bracket and you cant see it so what's the big deal. Finally, SA advises me that they will plug all the holes and touch it up.

In this situation, what should I do? Do I ask for new bumper? or have them fix it? or leave it as it is and have them compensate for the damages?

That looks like shit, I would definitely ask for compensation.

[AM4ZING]

Now that is the definition of Mickey Mouse

[M3 Geezer]

You get what you pay for....shudda bought a bimmer!

[04RC51]

Lemon it!

C'mon BMW........err MB!

[gvan1998]

Originally Posted by M3 Geezer

You get what you pay for....shudda bought a bimmer!

LOL I already have a M4

[04RC51]

Originally Posted by AM4ZING

Now that is the definition of Mickey Mouse

Technically, THIS is Mickey Mouse.

[AM4ZING]

Originally Posted by 04RC51

Technically, THIS is Mickey Mouse.

lmao how much could someone pay you for you to daily that

[BMWFanatic2008]

OP: why did u go back to the dealer to have it "fixed"? How did you expect them to center it without drilling more holes?

[RowanBuds]

They drilled holes into something that is your property. This should be fixed to your satisfaction - not their shit offer of a "plug" based fix. IF you're okay with the plug solution, you should still ask for something along the lines of a service dept. credit. Alternatively you can take the stance that the bumper needs to be replaced, period.

I wouldn't fault you at all for taking the second stance. What if you register the car in Pennsylvania next month, a state with no front plate requirement? You'd then be in a car driving around with an unnecessary, and aesthetically unappealing, plate mount. OR, you drive a car with 6 holes in the front end. Neither acceptable for me. And on a car purchased as a luxury good - hell no.

[s0ul]

This is why I'll take the ticket over front plates. Even with tow hook plates. Plates is no place to be in front of the car.

[visi107]

aren't the holes gonna be covered by the license plate anyway . . . so they'll never been seen

[Relak]

Originally Posted by visi107

aren't the holes gonna be covered by the license plate anyway . . . so they'll never been seen

In the event you don't want to run a front plate you're screwed. I was so peeved about my SQ5 having pre drilled holes I ended up buying a whole new grille. OCD = $$$$

[STOOF]

I dont get it.

1. How did you expect them to center the plate bracket without drilling new holes?
2. If you're keeping the front plate on, you wont see the holes, so why care?

[BwoodBMW]

Originally Posted by STOOF

I dont get it.

1. How did you expect them to center the plate bracket without drilling new holes?
2. If you're keeping the front plate on, you wont see the holes, so why care?

This x 10000

You obviously plan on keeping the plate on because you wanted it centered. There is no way to adjust a bracket.

As long as the holes are hidden behind the plate what's the big deal? Whether it has 4 holes or 8 holes you have holes in your bumper that will need to be fixed if you ever want to run plateless.

[gvan1998]

Whats the big deal is that I gave specific instructions to SA "DO NOT DRILL HOLES TO MY BUMPER." But they gone ahead drilled 4 more additional holes. They disregarded my instructions. I told him that if they had to drill holes to realign the bracket then leave it as it is.

[wkndracr]

A guy at work got a Silverado and the plate was put on way off center, enough that if you centered it, you would see one of the old holes. The dealer replaced the bumper.

[pikkagtr]

I would ask for a full bumper replacement
You asked them to NOT drill anymore holes and they did
This is the same as please don't paint my car neon yellow and they painted it behind the plate
Yes you can't see it but what if you move to a state without front plate requirements and decide to take the plate off?
I would go straight to the GM and ask him if this is something he or she will be OK with if they did it to his/her Benz ???
And if they say it is OK, ask to drill the holes yourself and you'll take that as compensation

[FC4]

I will not take delivery of a car if the dealer drills holes in the bumper for the front plate. Problem solved.

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by gvan1998

Whats the big deal is that I gave specific instructions to SA "DO NOT DRILL HOLES TO MY BUMPER." But they gone ahead drilled 4 more additional holes. They disregarded my instructions. I told him that if they had to drill holes to realign the bracket then leave it as it is.

How in the world did they mount it off center in the first place? The bracket is molded to fit the bumper shape

[docmfg]

Same thing happened to my E46 M3. Dealers use the guys that intake your car (valets) to do things like that hence this shit happens. I noticed my front bracket was off center and had them fix it. They drilled 2 more holes so a total of 4 now. On the E46 there are 2 cuts outs on the underside of the bumper to specifically line up the license plate bracket and am sure the Benz has similar so yes these brackets can be attached centered from the get go. If the holes were drilled correctly you can always use bumper plugs if you decide to go without a plate and won't look as bad but with those extra off center holes it will look like crap.

[Rockapotomuses]

They should give you a new car