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Front license plate falling off

Discussion in 'Model 3' started by KATS, Dec 9, 2020.

  1. KATS

    KATS New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2020
    Messages:
    2
    Location:
    Syracuse, NY
    While I attached the front license plate as directed, the first time I had my car washed in a touchless car wash, the license plate fell off. I am not the first person who has this problem. Any suggestions? Since the car is new, I have asked Tesla to put it on but I still feel uncomfortable.
     
  2. calvin_xl

    calvin_xl Member

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    Apr 11, 2020
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    Location:
    socal
    • Like x 3
  3. ChicagoSox

    ChicagoSox Member

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    Location:
    Illinois
  4. EmOne

    EmOne Member

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2020
    Messages:
    210
    Location:
    Chicago
    I live in IL and have two cars that have been driving a total of 2yrs with no front license plate. I think the cops have other things on their plate (oops) now.
     
    • Like x 1
    • Funny x 1
  5. AxlxA

    AxlxA Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2020
    Messages:
    477
    Location:
    Bay Area
    I've gotten a parking fix it ticket in half moon bay just because I didn't have a front plate. This was half a year ago.

    I've also got the same ticket 10 years ago in St Paul MN on my old car.

    I still don't put the plate on, I'll just pay for the tickets.
     
    • Like x 1
  6. TLLMRRJ

    TLLMRRJ Active Member

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    Location:
    Houston
    • Like x 1
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  7. adhoc

    adhoc Member

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2017
    Messages:
    692
    Location:
    SoCal
    I gave in and did the license plate wrap here in kali...
    but before that, I used the tesla front frame with suction cups
    to display plate in known areas for parking tickets...

    I still have it if anyone's interested in temp display of front plates?
    pretty solid when suctioned on with lil moisture, said to be good to 70mph!

    00q0q_hYyr4AlXyVw_0CI0jO_1200x900.jpg 00U0U_5dUtsCl1Yc9_0CI0lW_1200x900.jpg
     
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  8. KATS

    KATS New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2020
    Messages:
    2
    Location:
    Syracuse, NY
    Thank you all. I find it unbelievable that Tesla hasn't come up with good solution to this problem. I did thoroughly clean the surface with Isopropyl alcohol but the plate still fell off. A Tesla service person is scheduled to come and attach the plate but if it comes off again, I will get the snapplate.
     
  9. Callawayc7

    Callawayc7 Member

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2019
    Messages:
    43
    Location:
    California
    You could use what’s call 3M tape primer 94. That stuff will make the 3M tape stick to anything. But be sure that you never want to remove it because I don’t know if it’s removable without damaging the paint.
     
  10. Marius A

    Marius A Member

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2019
    Messages:
    609
    Location:
    NORWAY
    Uhm, all Norwegian cars must have front plate, and it's not a known problem for it to fall off.
    You probably got a poor adhesive kit or something like that
     
  11. MasterC17

    MasterC17 Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2015
    Messages:
    1,033
    Location:
    USA
    The front plate bracket is curved. If you didn't install it at the proper height, it may not have bonded properly due to the curvature. If installed properly it is NOT going to fall off. I took one off a 3 and the only way to do it without taking the paint with it is to use fishing line, and then a lot of patience with removing the tape residue.
     
  12. Rval82

    Rval82 Member

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    Dec 5, 2020
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    Location:
    Portland, OR
  13. Saturday

    Saturday Member

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    Location:
    Maine
  14. zhu-

    zhu- custom title

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2018
    Messages:
    881
    Location:
    NJ
    Just leave it off. 90%+ of all Tesla's in NJ/NY don't have front plates. I've had no plates on my cars for 8-9 years now and have only gotten one ticket many years ago which was just $65 anyway.
     
  15. 5150

    5150 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2020
    Messages:
    60
    Location:
    San Diego
    I went with this too. Looks good and easy to do. I received a fix it ticket many years ago for not having a front license plate. I don't want to deal with getting pulled over for whatever reason or being fined for whatever amount and going through the whatever process.
     
  16. elptxjc

    elptxjc Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2019
    Messages:
    706
    Location:
    El Paso, TX
    Hey guys, is the front plate Tesla bracket supposed to be drilled to the bumper, or just attached with double-sided tape? Hope the latter. But this reminded me I need to tell my SA to NOT drill the damn bumper, like most dealers do around here. I never have a front plate, but my wife likes to, so if the bracket is attached with double-sided tape, I'd use it. Otherwise, I'd just attach the plate itself with double-sided tape. My best solution would be a plate sticker (basically a sticker of my plate), which I saw once, but can't find any info. Oh well. Thank you.
     
  17. 5150

    5150 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2020
    Messages:
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    Location:
    San Diego
    Tape, thank goodness!
     
  18. Kat Jacks

    Kat Jacks Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2020
    Messages:
    103
    Location:
    Maine
    We use front plates here in ME, but I haven't put the front one on. I figure that it's winter, snow, more frequent washing and the front plate would just be in the way. No problem yet (only 3 months) with plate not being on. The car looks better without it IMO. My friend has the SnapPlate by Living Tesla and he likes it.
     
    • Helpful x 1
    • Informative x 1
  19. dmurphy

    dmurphy Woof.

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2018
    Messages:
    3,319
    Location:
    New Jersey - Morris County
    Guess I’m the other 10% then. Don’t want the undue attention. It’s not the cost, it’s the time factor. I’d rather just attach the dang thing and not worry about it.
     
  20. Gizmo35

    Gizmo35 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 4, 2019
    Messages:
    114
    Location:
    San Diego, CA
    I attached mine just as it came with doublesided tape and have no issues. I pulled on it just now to test and feels like id pull the whole bumper off before the plate so it is pretty solid. It is also the best looking option for the front plate imo. All these other solutions and snap plates and stuff are hideous to me and not symmetrical. People seem to love those other solutions so I might be in the minority here.
     

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