Day 2 of trying to install a simple license plate frame...FRUSTRATION!
01-18-2018, 03:06 PM
#1
AudiWorld Senior Member
Thread Starter
Day 2 of trying to install a simple license plate frame...FRUSTRATION!
I must say...I've never seen anything like this! 
I have an Audi C/F frame that I'm trying to install on the trunk, the plastic dealer frame was thicker and the %$#@!& plastic bolts barely hold it on tight and was a no-go with my frame, even with the supplied spacers.
So I figure no biggie, I'll just get shorter bolts...fast forward to ACE and I pick up 2 stainless phillips head bolts which look like they'll do the trick, try them in the store's thread matcher and they seem exact.
I get home, the bolts are slightly oversized and the metal inserts held into the plastic base on the car start spinning slightly and look to becoming stripped.
So I put the dealer frame back on, screw it down and it's still not tight...and not level...which will always drive me nuts....you can literally pull it off with your hands if you really wanted to.
So now I either have to source new bolts or possibly cut these %^&*#! cheap-*** plastic bolts down if I want to use the CF frame...and I fear it'll never snug up like it should.
What should have taken a trained monkey 2 minutes now has me going on Day 3 for a solution.
Is anyone else having this much trouble trying to attach a simple license plate frame? What a horrible way to attach a license Audi...just scratching my head over this.
Sorry to vent...I need a drink.
I have an Audi C/F frame that I'm trying to install on the trunk, the plastic dealer frame was thicker and the %$#@!& plastic bolts barely hold it on tight and was a no-go with my frame, even with the supplied spacers.
So I figure no biggie, I'll just get shorter bolts...fast forward to ACE and I pick up 2 stainless phillips head bolts which look like they'll do the trick, try them in the store's thread matcher and they seem exact.
I get home, the bolts are slightly oversized and the metal inserts held into the plastic base on the car start spinning slightly and look to becoming stripped.
So I put the dealer frame back on, screw it down and it's still not tight...and not level...which will always drive me nuts....you can literally pull it off with your hands if you really wanted to.
So now I either have to source new bolts or possibly cut these %^&*#! cheap-*** plastic bolts down if I want to use the CF frame...and I fear it'll never snug up like it should.
What should have taken a trained monkey 2 minutes now has me going on Day 3 for a solution.
Is anyone else having this much trouble trying to attach a simple license plate frame? What a horrible way to attach a license Audi...just scratching my head over this.
Sorry to vent...I need a drink.
01-18-2018, 03:18 PM
#2
M6. Various lengths available here.
https://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B8_S5...License_Bolts/
Home Depot, auto parts stores, Fastenall. Are sources too but you DO need proper length regardless.
Home Depot, auto parts stores, Fastenall. Are sources too but you DO need proper length regardless.
01-18-2018, 03:21 PM
#3
AudiWorld Senior Member
I must say...I've never seen anything like this!
I have an Audi C/F frame that I'm trying to install on the trunk, the plastic dealer frame was thicker and the %$#@!& plastic bolts barely hold it on tight and was a no-go with my frame, even with the supplied spacers.
So I figure no biggie, I'll just get shorter bolts...fast forward to ACE and I pick up 2 stainless phillips head bolts which look like they'll do the trick, try them in the store's thread matcher and they seem exact.
I get home, the bolts are slightly oversized and the metal inserts held into the plastic base on the car start spinning slightly and look to becoming stripped.
So I put the dealer frame back on, screw it down and it's still not tight...and not level...which will always drive me nuts....you can literally pull it off with your hands if you really wanted to.
So now I either have to source new bolts or possibly cut these %^&*#! cheap-*** plastic bolts down if I want to use the CF frame...and I fear it'll never snug up like it should.
What should have taken a trained monkey 2 minutes now has me going on Day 3 for a solution.
Is anyone else having this much trouble trying to attach a simple license plate frame? What a horrible way to attach a license Audi...just scratching my head over this.
Sorry to vent...I need a drink.
I have an Audi C/F frame that I'm trying to install on the trunk, the plastic dealer frame was thicker and the %$#@!& plastic bolts barely hold it on tight and was a no-go with my frame, even with the supplied spacers.
So I figure no biggie, I'll just get shorter bolts...fast forward to ACE and I pick up 2 stainless phillips head bolts which look like they'll do the trick, try them in the store's thread matcher and they seem exact.
I get home, the bolts are slightly oversized and the metal inserts held into the plastic base on the car start spinning slightly and look to becoming stripped.
So I put the dealer frame back on, screw it down and it's still not tight...and not level...which will always drive me nuts....you can literally pull it off with your hands if you really wanted to.
So now I either have to source new bolts or possibly cut these %^&*#! cheap-*** plastic bolts down if I want to use the CF frame...and I fear it'll never snug up like it should.
What should have taken a trained monkey 2 minutes now has me going on Day 3 for a solution.
Is anyone else having this much trouble trying to attach a simple license plate frame? What a horrible way to attach a license Audi...just scratching my head over this.
Sorry to vent...I need a drink.
That’s really weird. Maybe it’s a Cabriolet issue because my wife put my plates on no the Sportback no problem.And scotch will make it better.
01-18-2018, 03:23 PM
#5
AudiWorld Senior Member
Thread Starter
01-19-2018, 05:55 AM
#7
AudiWorld Senior Member
Thread Starter
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01-19-2018, 08:19 AM
#9
AudiWorld Senior Member
I had it worse. I couldn't even remove the frame as one of the top nut on the plastic plate holder was stripped. it was free spinning so I could not even remove the bolt. I had to remove the other 3 bolt, slip a small screw driver in to keep it from spinning to remove the last one. Then I have to remove the plate holder from the trunk lid and turn it 180 so I can put the plate on using just the 2 top screw. I'll have them get me a new plate holder when I go in for service.
Last edited by Wiz33; 01-19-2018 at 08:25 AM.
01-19-2018, 08:28 AM
#10
AudiWorld Senior Member
Thread Starter
I had it worse. I couldn't even remove the frame as one of the top nut on the plastic plate holder was stripped. it was free spinning so I could not even remove the bolt. I had to remove the other 3 bolt, slip a small screw driver in to keep it from spinning to remove the last one. Then I have to remove the plate holder from the trunk lid and turn it 180 so I can put the plate on using just the 2 top screw. I'll have them get me a new plate holder when I do in for service.
And as I mentioned, I like to remove my plate annually to clean behind and attach the new registration tags...let's see how long that lasts.
That said, I went back to Ace and purchased 2 different M6 bolts, one that are black with an allen head and the other shiny with a phillips head...the allen ones were a hair too short and the shiny ones did the trick, after I had to tape the black rubber spacers that came with the frame to the holder to take up the space.
I will go back there now and purchase two more, glue the spacers to the holder and call this job done...finally!