When do they drill out your front bumper if your state requires a front license plate? At port? At the dealer? Surely not at the factory...

Thanks,

Paul
Dallas, TX

 

Bumpers are typically drilled at the dealership prior to final delivery. If, for example, the purchaser is from a no front plate state, while the dealership is from a front place state, the dealer can save some time and money by not drilling and placing a front plate bracket on the customer's car. If you are concerned, speak with your MA prior to delivery of your vehicle.

 

almost all are done at the dealership. new cars (that dont have a front bracket) almost always come with one in the trunk.

 

In case it's already too late:

http://www.bumperplugs.com/

They have a color match chart there, as well.

 

Tell your MA you don't want the front bumper drilled. They did it for me and my state requires a front plate. I told them I would take responsibility for any potential problems. Also, it looks like Go Mini Go has a new bracket out that utilizes the tow hook point instead of having to drill.

 

had i known i would have mentioned it to my MA :(

 

I got my MCS at Patrick MINI in Schaumburg and in IL its required to have a front plate but at Patrick they'll ask you if you want it or not, i chose not to have a front plate, it looks cooler that way!

 

Greetings, fellow Texan. At my dealership (MOTW), they have an "assistant manager" who calls you when delivery is eminent to set things up. I asked her to please not drill any holes in the bumper. Luckily I asked or they would have drilled and placed one of their dealer temp tags there. There will be two small indentations in the bumper but they are barely noticeable.

 

I picked mine up 2 weeks ago from Mini of Dallas, and they asked me if I wanted the front installed. I said Nope, so they just gave me the hardware. I'm going to see how long I can go before it get's officially mentioned! I love the look without the plate on the front.

 

My friend bought her car (non-MINI) in a Front Plate State, but its registered in a non-Front Plate State. And when the dealer went and drilled holes in her car, she was ape. And the dealer replaced the bumper! Under the thought that they did work on the car that she did not request or sign off on.

 

I got my MINI used and they asked me if I wanted the plate on when I picked up the plates. I said NO! I got home and put on the gominigo plate holder. I like it better than no plate. The police like it better this way too!

 

I asked my MA today to NOT for ANY reason drill holes in my new aero bumper... I think he gets the point.

 

Lubbock TX here = 2tickets for no front plate luckily my euro plate arrives in the morning according to UPS.

 

My MA at South Bay MINI told me that they typically don't install the front license plate unless you ask for it. I hope that's true. I told him I DON'T want one. It's illegal here but I'll take my chances. My truck hasn't had one since I bought it in 2002 and I haven't had a problem. Touch wood!

My mom just bought a Toyota and I was livid when I saw they drilled the bumper. I made a huge fuss and they said it's done at the port. I think they just said that to not take responsibility. Plus they said their lawyers wont let them NOT install one. Jerks. I told them that there are brackets that they can put on without harming the vehicle. I think that folks should have the option. OH, AND when drilling the dork that did it missed and drilled in the wrong spot so now the bumper has to be fixed, by them of course, but still.

What is the point of a front license plate anyway? I think it's lame.

 

Sometimes before you can tell them NO!
That is what happened to me.

 

In NC they do not require a front plate, and it does not appear that Flow Mini in Winston-Salem drills them, but I have already mentioned it since I do not want mine drilled for any reason when I go get it.

A lot of other dealerships around here will mount their dealer plate to the front as soon as the cars come on the lot. I almost had to get a lawyer involved once because I had a paper signed by the dealership saying they would not install a front plate, pin-striping, or dealer logos on a car that my sister purchased... and yet they did all three, and when I told them they would be replacing the bumper and had to remove the other items they said that they did not have to because it is legal for them to install a front license plate frame on any car they sell. Needless to say, when I provided them with the lawyers name and phone number that would be contacting them they got a new bumper ordered quickly.

Drew

 

That's too cool, I'm saving this address just in case....

 

I'm in a front plate state, but I insisted that my Dealer didn't put one on so they wrote it down in huge letters on my order sheet.