Hi all -

Down in Texas we have to run both number plates when we race - I mean , we must clearly display both vehicle identification (license) plates, one on the front of the vehicle and one on the rear of the vehicle.

These cars don't come with a front license plate mount.
The dealerships drill right into the virgin bumper plastic...

When I bought my car & I saw that and I was like WTF??!!!11

Here's what I've done:
took an 8" piece of steel and bent it to shape (if I remake this I'm using 10" piece, I lost alot in the bending...), then mounted it to a 8mm bolt that holds the bumper to some steel down there under the radiator. This bolt is on the driver side, about 7 1/2"
back from outside edge of bumper.



Then I rigged up the plate - (this was just spare parts around the garage - I'm going to use a piece of L-shaped steel about the length of the plate I think):



Then bolt the two together... and presto.





Easy peasy -

now time to go patch the old drill holes in the bumper....

- Saylor

 

Nice job. It looks very much like my plate. I bought a bracket on Ebay that cost me about 15 with shipping and yours looks just as good. There was a post awhile back with a link to a company that sells little rubber plugs that would fill your holes nicely. You might try a search and see if you can find it. Nice solution!!

 

Hopefully this issue will be resolved soon. This same thing happened to me, they "pre-drilled" 2 screw holes for the front license into my bumper.

This really ____ed me off, so I wrote a few hand written letters to several Vice presidents. One to Gulf States Toyota, the regional distributor, and also to the Toyota Motor Sales upper management.

I actually got an email back within a few days of mailing the letter to GST and they are looking into it and will hopefully force a policy change. I have not heard anything back from TMS. I dont know if I can force a policy change nationwide, although, a simple sign on the service wall could read "DON'T MAR, DRILL, OR SCREW INTO ANYONES CAR WITHOUT THE CUSTOMERS EXPRESS PERMISSION"

Anyways, I would think that lots of us could drop my contact a note to show how unhappy they were that it also happened to them.




This is the text of my emails.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for the detail - I'll see what we can do about the process.

Gary Kirchhof
Regional Customer Relations Manager
Office - 713-580-3323
Cell - 713-502-5543
Fax - 713-580-5599

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Monday, May 15, 2006 8:34 AM
To: Kirchhof, Gary (GST)
Subject: RE: Your letter to Mr. Cline

I bought the car on Sat. morning. While I was with the finace manager, the car was having its final detail done. I assume the holes were pre-drilled, for whatever reason, during this time period.

I think it was less than a week and I returned to get my metal tags. The secretary had me sign for them and asked if service could put them on. I said no thanks and left. I then saw the 2 drill holes. I never looked at the front bumper, the license spot, that closely before that moment.

I went in and asked a sales person about it, (my sales guy was not in). Basically, He said the dealer has to do it because its texas law. So they always put them on. I was noticibly upset about this and he said he would get with his managment and get an answer for me.

A few hours later, that afternoon, a female manager called me and we spoke. She apologized and tried to explain that they do this. She offered for me to return to service to see what they could do to cover or fix the holes. (I have not done this yet, due to my own time schedule)

I have been very happy with the customer service, everyone has been prompt and helpful, but this issue of screwing into bumpers seems to be STANDARD PRACTICE.
To assume that it should be pre-done without permission should be fixed.

Thanks
Eric

--- "Kirchhof, Gary (GST)" <GKirchhof@gstoyota.com>
wrote:

Eric: just so I am clear - The "TAGS" you are referring to are not the metal plates but instead the paper "tags" is that correct. Also, the drilling took place immediately prior to your first departure with the vehicle and not some time later when your metal license plates came in - is this correct. Just trying to get an accurate picture of the event.
Thanks

Gary Kirchhof
Regional Customer Relations Manager
Office - 713-580-3323
Cell - 713-502-5543
Fax - 713-580-5599

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Friday, May 12, 2006 9:43 PM
To: Kirchhof, Gary (GST)
Subject: Re: Your letter to Mr. Cline

Thank you for the reply to my letter.

Actually, I went to the front desk to pick up my tags. The receptionist then asked if I wanted the service department to put them on the car for me. I declined and went outside to leave. That is when I saw the pre-drilled holes.

The service department did not have a mis-communication, but had previously drilled into the bumper. I am assuming this took place when they had the car
back in the service department to detail and final inspection before I originally drove off the lot earlier in the week.

I expected that the service department would not have done such a thing, thus my request that a policy be created specifically stating such information because
common sense seemed to be missing.

Other than this issue, my experience was very pleasant and I was very pleased with everyone at the Plano dealership.

Thanks again,
Eric

--- "Kirchhof, Gary (GST)" <GKirchhof@gstoyota.com>
wrote:

Dear Mr. xxxxxx

I wanted to reply to your letter concerning your dealer automatically drilling the mounting holes in the front fascia for license plate installation without your explicit authorization. First, let me apologize for your experience and rest assured that
we take your comments seriously. It appears from your letter that you were asked by the service department if you wanted them to install the plates. It appears then that your communication wasn't clearly passed on or understood.

You are correct in that dealers aren't required by law to install plates, front or rear, but instead choose to perform this service as a courtesy to their clientele. Since front and rear plates are required in Texas most customers request/expect their
selling dealer to install the plates. We will consider your policy suggestions in so much as requesting the dealers to at least ask if the plate installation is in fact something the customer wants done. This appears to have been what you experienced, but regrettably and apparently there was an error made.

Thank you for your letter and suggestions
Enjoy your XB

Gary Kirchhof
Regional Customer Relations Manager
Office - 713-580-3323
Cell - 713-502-5543
Fax - 713-580-5599

 

ya I'm ____ed too, and depending on how patching the bumper goes today, I may be even more ____ed off by tonight

- Saylor

 

please let me know how well they fix it. i have not taken mine back in yet

 

Oh -
I wasn't taking it to th dealership, I was gonna DIY...

I said something about it to them before I ever took delivery of the car,, they didn't act like they had any other options.. they said only the solara has a bracket or something...

I may stick 2 LEDs into the drill holes - I was gonna plastic bondo it then use dealer touch up paint - but I dunno..

As far as the plate DIY - I just nudged a curb and since the plate is out front and lower than the bumper, it made a kool scraping sound and I was able to back up off the curb - saving my plastic frontals from scrapeage and doom. Perfect.
- Saylor

 

Heres a link to one of many DIY license relocate threads:
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...=asc&&start=25
Mines at the end...$2 in parts, no cutting/bending/welding required.

And bumper hole plugs:
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...768&highlight=
$.80 at Lowe's.

 

I found the old post I remembered seeing. Try:

www.bumperplugs.com to find plugs for your drilled out bumper.

 

I like where you relocated the bumper. got that JDM look. Good job on the DIY.



My old front end.

 

@ scion of Puyallup they ask , but they let you know Johnny law might get ya, I put mine in the window for now

 

kool they do sell relocators on ebay now too. even the nice chrome plates too. been waiting to see these for awhile. Yours is tight for its own custom look

 

Luckily I was reading the earlier threads about this when I had mine on order, so I told my salesman to not drill the front. He was great and put a sign on the car when it came off the truck "do not drill front bumper". I drove home with the plate in my windshield and put on the diy bracket the next day.