I just got a new MT Insight, but there are two holes drilled into the front bumper. I had the car delivered from a dealer in Texas (a state that requires front license plates) to Jacksonville, Florida, and the dealer told me that this was done at the factory. But my old Insight never had such holes drilled into it, and they look too sloppy to have been done at the factory. Does the factory really do this to their cars?
Holes in my Insight
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I bet it has A/C too....
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My 2006 MT came with a front tag holder that could be mounted without drilling any holes. There are alraedy holes for the attachment and the holes are not readily visible.
Sounds like an ignorant dealership tech messed up your car.
Sounds like an ignorant dealership tech messed up your car.
I sent these people an e-mail:
"I recieved my Honda Insight and it of course runs great, but why did you people drill two large holes into the front bumper of my car? I am going to a body shop soon to see if they can be filled in. Will you pay for this?"
and they replied:
"Hello. Those holes are for a front license plate. They are predrilled from the factory. If you'd like, I can send you a front plate license plate bracket. Sorry for the inconvenience."
These are not holes put in by the factory. They are large, sloppily drilled holes with scratches all around them and a volcano-like appearance. ><
"I recieved my Honda Insight and it of course runs great, but why did you people drill two large holes into the front bumper of my car? I am going to a body shop soon to see if they can be filled in. Will you pay for this?"
and they replied:
"Hello. Those holes are for a front license plate. They are predrilled from the factory. If you'd like, I can send you a front plate license plate bracket. Sorry for the inconvenience."
These are not holes put in by the factory. They are large, sloppily drilled holes with scratches all around them and a volcano-like appearance. ><
G
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·Perhaps its time to ask for a new bumper...
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219 Posts
I can verify that my 2006 MT came with no holes. The dealership did include with the car the front plate holder, which does come with mounting screws.
_________________
2006 MT Blue #643
Complete fuel usage log: http://ethicalpaul.com/insight/
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2006 MT Blue #643
Complete fuel usage log: http://ethicalpaul.com/insight/
The dealer I bought from in Texas (I had the car shipped to FLorida where I live) said that since since it is the law in Texas to have those plates and the holes aleady in the car were too weak to hold the front plate they had to put those big holes there. Can someone who bought an Insight in a state that requires front plates please tell me if their dealer put holes in there car as well or if they just geve you the car how it is?ethicalpaul said:
I think he was probably telling the truth. I bought my car from Georgia where a front plate was not required. I received a bracket with it. (not attached) So far, I have been verbally warned in Illinois, but not ticketed. My wife's car came from KY where a front plate is not required. She was adamant about having one. The Toyota Solara had two very small pock marks to drill. I did buy a couple of nylon thread inserts to screw into. The Insights bumper would be the same. You could install a couple of the inserts with washer head stainless screws to fill the holes or install the bracket with a vanity plate.
OR insist that the dealer pay for the repair! But if it was from a state with front plates, GOOD LUCK!
OR insist that the dealer pay for the repair! But if it was from a state with front plates, GOOD LUCK!
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Still, as an uninterested party, I am sad for you if the holes are "large", or if they are uneven, etc.
It also makes me mad when a dealer gives some line of bull such as "they come predrilled from the factory".
If they are really that unsightly, you could try photographing them and sending them to American Honda to see if you can have a little relief. Dealer negligence isn't cool, no matter what state you come from.
_________________
2006 MT Blue #643
Complete fuel usage log: http://ethicalpaul.com/insight/
It also makes me mad when a dealer gives some line of bull such as "they come predrilled from the factory".
If they are really that unsightly, you could try photographing them and sending them to American Honda to see if you can have a little relief. Dealer negligence isn't cool, no matter what state you come from.
_________________
2006 MT Blue #643
Complete fuel usage log: http://ethicalpaul.com/insight/
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66 Posts
The front mounting bracket mounts in four places. Two screws that are up in the grill area, out of sight. And two in front at the top, that screw into the bumper. The bumper does not have pre-drilled holes for the mounting bracket.
It's obvious that the dealer in Texas, or someone else, installed the bracket which was then removed. You might have a problem getting reimbersment for a replacement or repair because even though the holes are not present from the factory, the bracket and its mounting method is standard equipment.
I bought mine in PA, where there is no front plate, and had to ask the dealer to install it because I live in NY where a front plate is required. The holes in the bumper is one thing the salesman brought up. "We can do that, but..."
You could always leave the bracket on and put in a vanity plate of your choice.
It's obvious that the dealer in Texas, or someone else, installed the bracket which was then removed. You might have a problem getting reimbersment for a replacement or repair because even though the holes are not present from the factory, the bracket and its mounting method is standard equipment.
I bought mine in PA, where there is no front plate, and had to ask the dealer to install it because I live in NY where a front plate is required. The holes in the bumper is one thing the salesman brought up. "We can do that, but..."
You could always leave the bracket on and put in a vanity plate of your choice.
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I had the Honda dealership install the factory supplied front plate mounting bracket on my 2006 MT Insight for a "diver down" flag emblem. I live in PA where a front tag is not required.
The front plate holder is a bit shaky...since it is screwed into the two factory drilled holes that are not visible from the front of the car.
Please note that there is no need to drill additional holes in the bumper in order to install the factory front tag holder on an Insight.
I am not trying to be annoying with bolds and underlines, but there seems to be a recurring notion in this thread that additional holes need to be drilled into the Insight's bumper. Not so...someone is confused :?
The front plate holder is a bit shaky...since it is screwed into the two factory drilled holes that are not visible from the front of the car.
Please note that there is no need to drill additional holes in the bumper in order to install the factory front tag holder on an Insight.
I am not trying to be annoying with bolds and underlines, but there seems to be a recurring notion in this thread that additional holes need to be drilled into the Insight's bumper. Not so...someone is confused :?
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I wont argue that it needs to be mounted with four screws, but it is intended to be mounted that way. The bracket has four screw holes and comes with four screws.
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Ok, if someone insists on drilling extra holes in the front bumper that is their decision. It is also totally unnecessary.
My 2 cents...don't mess up your bumper by drilling extra holes. :roll:
My 2 cents...don't mess up your bumper by drilling extra holes. :roll:
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