License plate holes....grrrr

[Koojo]

When I got my car from the dealer, it already had the front front license plate frame installed. after about 8 months of driving, i decided i want to take them off, since it makes the car look worse..and there no need to have plates in the front. But the problem is...they drilled the thing right into the bumper. :zx11pisse If i get rid of the frame, there will be two ugly holes in the front. How do i get rid of those? can I go to the dealer and tell them to fix it or what should I do? I really want them out, but I dont want visibile holes on my bumper. thanks :monkeypis

[primera man]

I guess the only way would be to fill the holes somehow and then get it re-sprayed.
Maybe a painter/panel beater may be able to help out.

I have seen in NZ here they stick bolts back in the holes because the Jap plates are different,but dont do it as it sticks out like dogs balls.

They would attach a small bit of plastic maybe behide the holes somehow and then fill it i guess ?????.

Be intrested my self to see what they would do.

[Koojo]

I heard that some people stick somekind of bumper plugs in or something, and they match the color of the bumper. i dunno though. it be much better if there wasnt anything there though

[primera man]

Never heard of the bumper plugs before. Would be pretty hard to get the right colour match unless you can get them though your Nissan dearler.

If you do get it resprayed(bumper/plugs etc) it's well worth it has it makes the car look a millon dollors again getting rid of all the stone chips etc if you have any, and its not really that expensive.

[Koojo]

Where would I go to get the bumper holes filled in somehow, and resrayed to match exactly the original color paint? Any body shop? Will they match the exact same paint? There is a clear coat over our paint...will they do that also if they respray it? thanks

[b-b00gie]

yep.. any place can do it. the will cover the holes from the inside of the bumper and then fill the holes from the front with Bondo (sorta like wood putty, but for cars)

[Koojo]

will they match the exact color and clear coat to the original factory?

[b-b00gie]

of course

[Koojo]

What about the price? whats the average I should aim for?

[primera man]

It cost me $350.00(NZ) to get the front spoiler/bumper/bonett/both front guards and the pin stripe put back on.

The job was very very well done,cant fault it.

It included stripping everything back to metal and taking 2 small dents out of the bonett and guard.

Well worth it.

[Koojo]

thats about 140 us i think. Wouldnt it cost less to fill in two very small holes and paint a plastic bumper?

[primera man]

It would cost less, but some times they can charge you more if they have to muck around masking up and only making up a small amount of paint.

But just do the bumper if thats all that needs doing.

Shop around for the best deal, but remember you only get what you pay for.

[unite@af]

Yep... A body shop should be able to do it. Be ready for a nice price though. It depends what your bumper is made out of also. Bondo is one way but I would suggest fiberglass if at all possible. Make sure there is a backing on the hole if its been drilled all the way through the bumper.Some auto stores sell hole fillers. They are just small flat peices of plastic that are threaded. The screw in and dont look that bad. Mostly comes in black but you can buy factory touch up paint to color change it and then just clear coat it... I say do it the right way and have a body shop do it...

[Koojo]

I emailed my Infi dealer yesterday, and got this:

Hello. Remember the Vermont requires you have a front license installed on any vehicle registered in this state. However, finding a plastic plug of some sort would be the most effective way of "fixing" those two holes left in the bumper. If you run into trouble finding such a plug, please do not hesitate to reply or contact Richard Goss in our Infiniti parts Dept.

Damn, I didnt know front plates were required here.

[b-b00gie]

yep same here... i took it off anyway... there's this one cop who's on first name basis with me now... "brian, still didnt put on the plate huh?" "nooooope"

so i have to deal w/ the $50 fine every once in awhile

oh well... :evillaugh