Calling All 850 Owners! Please!

Please can you vote in this poll, and maybe give a bit of feedback too?

Some of you might have read another thread of mine saying I was taking my 850 to have the PCV system replaced by my local Volvo dealer. Well, when it was in I asked if they could make me up a new set of number plates (make them up, not fit them).

When I returned, they had fitted them......by drilling new holes in the front bumper (holes were already there), and by drilling in the boot lid (there were no holes there before). As you can imagine, I was pretty damn furious at this, as I know the damage that drilling into the metal of the boot can do (as seen on my 940). Firstly I asked why they had fitted them when I hadn't asked them to, I was told "as there was no plate on the back, we had to fit them to road test the vehicle". Ok, there wasn't a plate attached to the boot, it was infact sitting in the rear window. However even if this had been an issue, why did they not use garage plates? What would they have done if I hadn't of asked for number plates?

So, the next and major question, why did they think it was a good idea to drill into the boot lid? I was told, "we have a PDI template that we have for all cars, and we used that to fit the plates correctly." Is it just me, or does that sound like a load of ****? Am I wrong in thinking, that the early Volvos (not sure about the newer ones) actually had a Bodywork Guarantee that included rust, and by drilling into the metal would infact invalidate guarantee? If this is right, then they wouldn't have a PDI plate template. I asked what sort of "comeback" would I have against them if the boot did start to rust, and I was told "none, the car is too old".

I know that this is an old car (nearly 15 years old), and that it isn't worth a great deal of money, but it is MY car, and I love it. I would never have done something as stupid as drilling the plates on, especially as it has never been done, so what on earth was the Main Dealer thinking?

That is why I have posted this poll, I would like to know how many of your 850s have had their number plates attached using screws in the boot lid...I would presume that it isn't many. I would then like to take this number to the Managing Director of the dealers, and let them now what their staff are doing to customers cars, and even could be lying about their practices.

I will be getting a price for supplying a boot lid, painting, and fitting it and asking for compensation of this amount. Maybe even going to the small claims court if necessary.

Is this a pointless cause? Am I being too petty? Will I just get laughed at?

Let me know what you think guys & thanks for reading!

In all honesty Dunc, the P2 I have has a plastic (****er) tailgate which has holes for, yep, you guessed it, PLASTIC screws, which some dope snapped off!

The front is on with pads, tho the srews (less their heads) are there too!

So it's sort of a hybrid!

I'd kick ass! Why on earth would you drill a hole instead of using pads?

My local spanners fitted a new rear plate as part of my MOT, it had a crack (didn't think that made it illegal) so they put on a new one with pads! (very to the left tho, may fix this today!)

If a small (but good) indy can do it, why can't the stealers?

The letter to the MD is good.... but email Volvo customer care & phone them too to lodge a full complaint, this way it will not go away & then they cannot lie!

Death to thoes that defile our volvos!

all 3 boots that i have in posession have been drilled in the past,. personally i think its stupid like you say for the rust issue,..and have my current ones stuck on

My rear number fell off my 855 yesterday while washing it. Was stuck on with 4 tiny sticky pads.

It does have 2 threaded holes already there presumably from factory.

Your poll is slightly flawed as mine has "both" screwed and pads and so has a lot of other manufacturer’s.
Who did you speak to complain or it might be to dangerous to answer that question?.
As far as contacting volvo i doubt if they will do anything since volvo uk restructured and they will probably refer you back to the dealer.
Personally i would take the plate off, paint and reseal the holes and ask for another plate and tape which i think you will receive.Did you're old plates have holes if not the template they used will be correct.
Putting in a claim for a boot lid etc is overkill and it will just give you an extra headache for nothing.
You have to give them the chance to rectify your compaint if you have one.
Good Luck.

Mine are both stuck on with sticky pads i got off fleabay.

If they were test driving the car why didnt they just put traders plates on it ?, you see cars all the time with no reg plates but the traders plates in their place .

I cant remember wether my tailgate has threaded holes or not :sorry: Sorry

Cheers Dunc

Lee

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cameron

I cant remember wether my tailgate has threaded holes or not :sorry: Sorry

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BruceT

It does have 2 threaded holes already there presumably from factory.

---

As far as I know, every Volvo has the 2 threaded holes build into the boot lid as that is where the American Licence Plate frame attaches to them. I was planning on bolting my own number plate frame using these holes, what I didn't expect was some grease monkey to take a power drill to my car.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmie

Your poll is slightly flawed as mine has "both" screwed and pads and so has a lot of other manufacturer’s.

---

Why is your rear number plate held on with both sticky pads and screws? Surely there is no need for this.

Mine are held on with strips of double sided tape, it’s stupid to drill into metal and not seal it with a rust proofing product. My dad’s just got a new Hilux its only 2 months old and Toyota fitted the rear parking sensors but it’s already showing the early stages of rust cuz they drilled the holes and never sealed the metal, I know I’d be annoyed with that considering its almost 30k worth of truck. Most people don’t take pride in their work now a days and don’t really care of the consequences because its not there property, I can’t adopt that attitude in my job if I did I would have hundreds of thousands worth of failures with every tool I build and I build about 3 a week.
Go back to them claim for new plates but get those holes painted and tape over them no one will ever know and your car wont rust.

Tape does not always hold on a number plate 100% hence both.On a flat surface tape should be sufficient and its clean and quick.
Have you checked how there stock motors plates are held on,i would be interested in your answer normaly they just tape them now.
They used to always stick on trade plates if the car was not road legal to test drive.
Volvokid ;Toyota :B_thumb:will replace a rusty bumper etc under warranty not like Ford/Volvo.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmie

Have you checked how there stock motors plates are held on,i would be interested in your answer normaly they just tape them now.

---

I did check, and guess what....all stuck on with pads. I did mention this to the parts guy, but he flustered a bit and just went back to saying that the standard PDI template had been used!

The reason why I am being so anal about this is that my boot lid was in perfect condition before, and I don't want it going like my 940's one. BTW, it wasn't me that drilled the holes in the 940 either, it was a Vauxhall Specialist in Perthshire.

Therefore the problem is?.

Mine still has the original dealer plates which are stuck on with sticky pads.

If you clean the area properly (soapy water, rinse then thoroughly dry) before using a good quality sticky pad, then the plate will never come off.

Plus, I'd rather have a plate fall off than my boot start to rust.

Mine's held on with trim tape, the same stuff used to hold door mouldings on.

Lee had also put the plates on with sticky pads, but, at some point the plate had been screwed on, and its going rusty behind the plate, a trip to the body shop is in order :(

I'd reccomend both if you have a louder than average sound system, as the plate will often vibrate, which really ruins the effect if your plates are making more noise on the outside!

I just discovered a set of plastic screws I lifted from a former garage shelf in what is now my sisters shop. I may use these to sure up the existing tape!

Screws on mine, but i think you will have some kind of comeback to the dealer about the damage to your property without getting your consent. i know i would be hauling them over the coals for drilling anything on my car without my say so.

hello there am sorry to hear that you have had screws used on your 850. i sympathise with you about this as your car was taken to a main dealer and these people should be at the top of their game and should know not to do work without consulting customer and they should know that self tappers are meant for minis not luxury volvo vehicles.

Its hard what to say to do about this,if you go in guns blazing shouting this wont achieve anything even though if we were as fit as van danme was there would be no hesitation in kicking ass.

Maybe the labourer put them on trying to impress his mentor? its really hard to give you a realistic action to take.Personally i dont take any rubbish and would contact an area manager and tell them that you dont want any more dealings with this branch because you fell so annoyed at them.
I crashed my pride and joy a few years ago 'toyota mr2' and it needed a chassiss leg so i took it to a bodysop to get fixed and because it was a big crash i asked if i could supply cars myself which he said yes.i turned up the day after to the bodyshop where my car was transported to find the youngster trainee trying to do dognuts and revving the knackers off my car 'auto boxaswel' i went nuts and hit the kid and got a criminal record for it but i think this is wrong.you cause any damage to a vehicle and get found out suffer the consequences.3 days before xmas i got a large garden rockery rock thrown at my volvo 850 severley denting the rear door thank god it didnt hit the rear quarter. the world is mad.

I think its probably a mountain out of a mole hill. Take the plate off put a little bit of primer in the holes and re-attach with zinc or nickel plated screws. Its a 2 minute job and makes your plate much more secure.

Or you could fill the hole with primer and use plastic screws.

If you go shouting the odds you will not get far with volvo in my experience... and my experience is with a 10 month old car when i started shouting. Cant see them getting very excited at a 15 year old one.

Sorry mate but its just the way it goes.......

Looking at the picture that you put up of the "damage" the holes were not made yesterday or the day before.
Have you spoken to anyone at B------s as i dont think you will get very far with that amount of rust,just do as wegal says.
Are you pleased with the other work that they did?

I can understand you must be annoied but they probably thought they were doing a good thing by fitting them for you.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmie

Looking at the picture that you put up of the "damage" the holes were not made yesterday or the day before.
Have you spoken to anyone at B------s as i dont think you will get very far with that amount of rust,just do as wegal says.
Are you pleased with the other work that they did?

---

The first picture I put up was of my 940's boot lid, and I didn't want my perfect 850 boot lid going to same way (picture 2). I have contacted the dealers, but I am awaiting a reply.

The point I am trying to make is that I didn't ask them, or instruct them to fit the new number plates. There was a plate on the front (which they drilled new holes for), and a plate clearly visable in the rear window, so there was no "need" to fit the plates. Would you be happy if someone came along and drilled your boot lid and used normal self-tappers (not stainless steel ones) to attach your number plate, then knocked on your door and said, "I was just doing you a favour"?

It's not as if they didn't have any sticky pads (if they insisted on putting them on), as every other Volvo parked on their forecourt had their number plates attached with them.