Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

snakeweasel

stickguy said:

so, any opinions?

snakeweasel

Well they are expecting snow here over the next few days. Supposed to start tonight (it's been raining) and go through Thursday morning. The forecasts are all over the place depending on who you follow, I see 3 to 6 inches all the way up to 8 to 12 inches. Anywho I took the opportunity to fill up both cars and get some extra gas for the snow blower.

Now watch us get a light dusting.

roadburner

stickguy said:

question for all you expert DIYers. Finally got plates for my car (only had to drive on an expired temp tag for a couple of days!) so I went to install them today. Opened up the front bracket kit they gave me (PA dealer, and since they have no front tag they don't automatically install on every car).

I knew I should have made them put it on, but I was ready to go and figured I would just do it myself. Turns out, not a good call. For some reason known only to Ford, instead of screws they included plastic rivets to mount the front plate holder. Per the instructions you drill 1/4" holes then mount it using the rivets. However, they seem to be normal ones that require some sort of tool (not included of course, and not something I have or intend to buy).

anyway, the question is, anybody see any reason to not just use self tapping screws designed for that type of application? I had to install the one on my Sonata and that is all it came with and they held fine. Not sure if the rivets are supposed to be stronger than just drilling into the plastic. But I just want to make sure it doesn't fall off (and there will be 4 screws holding it on.

something like these:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B08Z3VM934/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

don't need 25 but I assume I can pop over to autozone and get a smaller package of the same thing (probably for the same price of course),

so, any opinions? And yes, I know that most of you probably think it is a crime against nature to drill into the front bumper and you would run without the front plate but I prefer not to. Plus I need to go get an inspections sticker, and I am almost positive they won't put that on if the plate it not on the car.

does not seem any riskier to me than drilling a 1/4" hole x4 into the bumper than getting the silly rivets installed (if anything, that is more likely to mess something up). Worst comes to worse, I take the screw out and have the rivet holes started!

I have to say it; resist joining the sheeple.
Don't deface your truck with a front plate unless you are forced to do so at gunpoint.

mjfloyd1

What other laws are optional?

imidazol97

Ohio did away with the front plate requirement about a year ago.


Many folks with nice front ends ontheir cars did not put plates on. I suspect'
they carried the plate in the trunk if stopped to show the plate wasn't
being used on a second car by someone to avoid paying the tax
of buying their own plate.

roadburner

mjfloyd1 said:

What other laws are optional?

I'm so ashamed- a prosecutor like myself encouraging automotive insurrection on our highways; I'm now so overburdened with guilt that I know that I must self-report my transgressions to the Ky Bar Association. Perhaps a month in a reeducation camp will cure my malfeasance and convert me into a passive and submissive lemming.
I could go into more detail on other moronic laws that all too many people unquestionably accept, but methinks that the topic would be not approved by the powers that be.

qbrozen

@stickguy , curve? Hahahaa. We’ve obviously already forgotten how I handled the LT1’s front plate.

stickguy

I considered double sided tape. Just not sure how well that holds up.

And I don't consider having both plates on the car being some kind of persecution of my rights. And really have no desire to get stopped for it.

there are already screws in the back bumper for that plate. Maybe I should have just run without any plates? And of course, no inspection sticker because I don't want to get adhesive on my clean windshield.

stickguy

I assumed you had skinny zip ties through the screw holes. Did not realize you went all out and drilled even more holes in it!

I guess that isn't blocking enough of the grill area to impact airflow or cooling?

abacomike

@kyfdx said:
I think it's crazy that you have to drill a hole through the bumper cover to mount a plate.

He needs to “call the guy”!

roadburner

stickguy said:

I considered double sided tape. Just not sure how well that holds up.

And I don't consider having both plates on the car being some kind of persecution of my rights. And really have no desire to get stopped for it.

there are already screws in the back bumper for that plate. Maybe I should have just run without any plates? And of course, no inspection sticker because I don't want to get adhesive on my clean windshield.

If you really enjoy drilling holes in a pristine front fascia and then sticking that plate on it, have at it. Not me- that's a very far cry from a rear plate(where the fascia is designed for it).
I'm eternally thankful that I don't have to deal with such bureaucratic idiocy in my state.

explorerx4

A front plate really helps the looks pf most current BMW's.

qbrozen

@stickguy said:
I assumed you had skinny zip ties through the screw holes. Did not realize you went all out and drilled even more holes in it!

I guess that isn't blocking enough of the grill area to impact airflow or cooling?

Oh yeah, I’ll make the plate swiss cheese if it saves me from drilling the bumper. Lol.

No cooling issues. But I didn’t track it.

abacomike

I am considering having my car sealed with ceramic coating by a professional because it sits outside 24/7. Anyone have any experiences with ceramic coating for your car? What should I look for regarding the product to use and approximate cost?

Thanks.

sda

Call a local Ford dealer and ask how much they would charge to install. Could be cheaper than buying a rivet gun or other tools.

henryn

driver100 said:

I liked our Passat, except it needed more power. Well built and nice to drive....Euro handling!

You had a Passat with the 5 cylinder, didn't you? Those were dogs. I had the 2008, with the 2.0T, and that sucker would fly! I also owned a TDI (turbo diesel) for a short while, and a 2017 with the 1.8T (not bad, but not nearly as fast as the 2008).

snakeweasel

@roadburner said:
I'm so ashamed- a prosecutor like myself encouraging automotive insurrection on our highways; I'm now so overburdened with guilt that I know that I must self-report my transgressions to the Ky Bar Association. Perhaps a month in a reeducation camp will cure my malfeasance and convert me into a passive and submissive lemming.
I could go into more detail on other moronic laws that all too many people unquestionably accept, but methinks that the topic would be not approved by the powers that be.

You don't have to go to the KY bar association just go to a KY bar and report yourself to them. They will give you a pass.

snakeweasel

@stickguy said:
I considered double sided tape. Just not sure how well that holds up.

And I don't consider having both plates on the car being some kind of persecution of my rights. And really have no desire to get stopped for it.

there are already screws in the back bumper for that plate. Maybe I should have just run without any plates? And of course, no inspection sticker because I don't want to get adhesive on my clean windshield.

Regarding running without any plates. There are plenty of YouTube videos of people who do it. It usually doesn't end well for them. But they can be entertaining to watch.

henryn

abacomike said:

I am considering having my car sealed with ceramic coating by a professional because it sits outside 24/7. Anyone have any experiences with ceramic coating for your car? What should I look for regarding the product to use and approximate cost?

Thanks.

I considered a ceramic coating. Watched a number of videos on youtube, and listened to to a number of different viewpoints. My conclusion? For me, on my cars, not really worth it. It doesn't last nearly as long as they advertise, yes, longer than a normal coat of wax, but not that much longer, and doesn't protect that much better. I pay $25 to one of the neighborhood kids to wash and wax (by hand) my car and truck, generally every other month. That's $25 each, or $50 net, using my driveway, my water hose, my soap, my wax, my microfiber towels. It takes the kid about 4 hours, and he's very happy with the $50 earned.

stickguy

sda said:

Call a local Ford dealer and ask how much they would charge to install. Could be cheaper than buying a rivet gun or other tools.

I actually did stop at the one around the corner from my house to ask about how they do it. Hoping they would just offer to throw it on out of the goodness of their heart. I actually had another question for the service department so stopped there. My plan failed. But the SW offered to make an appointment and charge me $42. Hard pass on that.

I'll invest a couple bucks for some screws. easy enough.

downside to buying out of the area to save some money. Don't have your dealer right near by when you need something like this.

henryn

And a couple of stray thoughts: I pay $12.96 monthly for SiriusXM for two cars. Billed monthly on my Amex card. That's $6.48 per car.

And I loved, absolutely loved, Dr. Johnny Fever. He was a hero to me.

oldfarmer50

roadburner said:

stickguy said:

I considered double sided tape. Just not sure how well that holds up.

And I don't consider having both plates on the car being some kind of persecution of my rights. And really have no desire to get stopped for it.

there are already screws in the back bumper for that plate. Maybe I should have just run without any plates? And of course, no inspection sticker because I don't want to get adhesive on my clean windshield.

If you really enjoy drilling holes in a pristine front fascia and then sticking that plate on it, have at it. Not me- that's a very far cry from a rear plate(where the fascia is designed for it).
I'm eternally thankful that I don't have to deal with such bureaucratic idiocy in my state.

My C4 had a removable panel covering the plate bracket so everybody was happy. I think the C5 did too. I always wondered why all cars didn’t do that since drilling holes is stupid.

roadburner

@abacomike said:
I am considering having my car sealed with ceramic coating by a professional because it sits outside 24/7. Anyone have any experiences with ceramic coating for your car? What should I look for regarding the product to use and approximate cost?

Thanks.

About the best advice I can give is ask around as the coatings are only as good as the person applying it. Maybe check with some other high end dealers.

stickguy

I never did my own ceramics but have watched it done on Youtube a bunch of times. Does not look any more complicated than a wax job (actually reminds me of sealing granite countertops). Put a little on a microfiber, do a criss cross pattern, then buff it off. Avalon king seems to be popular brand. But pricey.

you can just pay a detail guy to do it, but that will vary quite a bit (as do normal details).

abacomike

I think I’ll make some calls to detailing shops that apply ceramic coatings. My brother paid $350 for his new GLE450. But the Jacksonville area is not as costly to have things done compared to Broward and Palm Beach Counties.

Any other suggestions?

stickguy

other than the obvious one of trade it in on something new if the paint is wearing out already?

Just kidding. A good detail including a good paint cleaning (wash and clay) then a good wax and ceramic topping should keep it looking like new for years to come.

they also make some spray on ceramics if you want to do it yourself. Not quite as durable but still gets it looking good.

roadburner

@snakeweasel said:

@roadburner said:
I'm so ashamed- a prosecutor like myself encouraging automotive insurrection on our highways; I'm now so overburdened with guilt that I know that I must self-report my transgressions to the Ky Bar Association. Perhaps a month in a reeducation camp will cure my malfeasance and convert me into a passive and submissive lemming.
I could go into more detail on other moronic laws that all too many people unquestionably accept, but methinks that the topic would be not approved by the powers that be.

You don't have to go to the KY bar association just go to a KY bar and report yourself to them. They will give you a pass.

When I was a judge I had no patience with bureaucratic madness. It eventually put me at odds with the Judicial Conduct Commission.
When some poor soul appeared in front of me with some vehicular paperwork violation, I would say(in a thick German accent) “So… you did not have ze proper papers?” If the guy/girl had fixed the issue I dismissed the charge and would not sock him/her with court costs, which I thought were extortionate. And I said so on the record. Of course that really got under the JCC’s skin. They also didn’t like me telling repeat offenders that if I saw them again I would send them to a jail where sunlight had to be piped in and where their most prized possession would be soap on a rope- and that they would remain there until their decaying flesh dropped from their bleached bones.
Eventually the JCC hit me with a complaint over 3/4” thick. I hired the top attorney in KY for handling disciplinary matters and at the end of the day I didn’t even get a private reprimand.

driver100

abacomike said:

@kyfdx said:

I think it's crazy that you have to drill a hole through the bumper cover to mount a plate.

He needs to “call the guy”!

That's what I would do!

driver100

oldfarmer50 said:

roadburner said:

stickguy said:

I considered double sided tape. Just not sure how well that holds up.

And I don't consider having both plates on the car being some kind of persecution of my rights. And really have no desire to get stopped for it.

there are already screws in the back bumper for that plate. Maybe I should have just run without any plates? And of course, no inspection sticker because I don't want to get adhesive on my clean windshield.

If you really enjoy drilling holes in a pristine front fascia and then sticking that plate on it, have at it. Not me- that's a very far cry from a rear plate(where the fascia is designed for it).
I'm eternally thankful that I don't have to deal with such bureaucratic idiocy in my state.

My C4 had a removable panel covering the plate bracket so everybody was happy. I think the C5 did too. I always wondered why all cars didn’t do that since drilling holes is stupid.

Because it makes too much sense.

stickguy

some other cars have had the mounting plate molded into the front bumper. But I am sure some people still complained about having that. Just put a plate from your college or favorite sports team on it if you don't need to run a front tag.

driver100

Talk about DIY work.
I had two round dresser knobs that kept turning around and even tightening the screw from the back didn't help.
I bought a packet of Super Glues at the Dollar Store....5 one time tubes for $1.25.
I very carefully wrapped the knobs and the glue in paper towels. And applied the glue to the back of the knob.
I pushed the knobs into place and they held.
One problem........3 of my fingers were glued together and I couldn't separate them.
I ran to the sink, got the hot water going, put my fingers under. I thought about my tennis and pickleball playing days were over.
The hot water made it possible for me to separate my fingers.
There was a layer of dried hard glue on my fingers, and I got that off using Comet and one of those sponges with a rough side.
The good news.....those knobs are on the dresser solid as a rock....if an atomic bomb went off those knobs are going to stay on.
Take that JMonroe!

mjfloyd1

Doesn’t fingernail polish remover also remove superglue?

henryn

mjfloyd1 said:

Doesn’t fingernail polish remover also remove superglue?

Yes, it removes superglue, and epoxy, and labels, and ... Acetone is the key ingredient here.

28firefighter

By> @mjfloyd1 said:

Doesn’t fingernail polish remover also remove superglue?

Definitely. Not that I’d know from experience glueing my hands together trying to rescue some beloved toys or anything…

henryn

Being the clumsy type that I am, when I set out to glue something, whether it be superglue or epoxy, I have a paper towel with acetone applied standing by before I start. Experience is a great teacher.

jmonroe1

@driver100 said:
Talk about DIY work.
I had two round dresser knobs that kept turning around and even tightening the screw from the back didn't help.
I bought a packet of Super Glues at the Dollar Store....5 one time tubes for $1.25.
I very carefully wrapped the knobs and the glue in paper towels. And applied the glue to the back of the knob.
I pushed the knobs into place and they held.
One problem........3 of my fingers were glued together and I couldn't separate them.
I ran to the sink, got the hot water going, put my fingers under. I thought about my tennis and pickleball playing days were over.
The hot water made it possible for me to separate my fingers.
There was a layer of dried hard glue on my fingers, and I got that off using Comet and one of those sponges with a rough side.
The good news.....those knobs are on the dresser solid as a rock....if an atomic bomb went off those knobs are going to stay on.
Take that JMonroe!

Throw away vinyl gloves would have prevented that.

Some folks should have “The Guy” on speed dial for ALL tasks. Rotating machinery and tubes of glue should be put of reach of some folks.

jmonroe

driver100

mjfloyd1 said:

Doesn’t fingernail polish remover also remove superglue?

I had heard that....but 2 problems.
MrsD100 wasn't here and I don't know where it is.
They have a huge amount of print on the package, about a mm high...I wouldn't find the instructions in time.

driver100

jmonroe1 said:

@driver100 said:

Talk about DIY work.

I had two round dresser knobs that kept turning around and even tightening the screw from the back didn't help.

I bought a packet of Super Glues at the Dollar Store....5 one time tubes for $1.25.

I very carefully wrapped the knobs and the glue in paper towels. And applied the glue to the back of the knob.

I pushed the knobs into place and they held.

One problem........3 of my fingers were glued together and I couldn't separate them.

I ran to the sink, got the hot water going, put my fingers under. I thought about my tennis and pickleball playing days were over.

The hot water made it possible for me to separate my fingers.

There was a layer of dried hard glue on my fingers, and I got that off using Comet and one of those sponges with a rough side.

The good news.....those knobs are on the dresser solid as a rock....if an atomic bomb went off those knobs are going to stay on.

Take that JMonroe!

Throw away vinyl gloves would have prevented that.

Some folks should have “The Guy” on speed dial for ALL tasks. Rotating machinery and tubes of glue should be put of reach of some folks.

jmonroe

I thought about that but..........I couldn't find any vinyl gloves around....this is the 2nd home, and it was fine work, not sure I could do it with gloves on.

venture

driver100 said:

jmonroe1 said:

@driver100 said:

Talk about DIY work.

I had two round dresser knobs that kept turning around and even tightening the screw from the back didn't help.

I bought a packet of Super Glues at the Dollar Store....5 one time tubes for $1.25.

I very carefully wrapped the knobs and the glue in paper towels. And applied the glue to the back of the knob.

I pushed the knobs into place and they held.

One problem........3 of my fingers were glued together and I couldn't separate them.

I ran to the sink, got the hot water going, put my fingers under. I thought about my tennis and pickleball playing days were over.

The hot water made it possible for me to separate my fingers.

There was a layer of dried hard glue on my fingers, and I got that off using Comet and one of those sponges with a rough side.

The good news.....those knobs are on the dresser solid as a rock....if an atomic bomb went off those knobs are going to stay on.

Take that JMonroe!

Throw away vinyl gloves would have prevented that.

Some folks should have “The Guy” on speed dial for ALL tasks. Rotating machinery and tubes of glue should be put of reach of some folks.

jmonroe

I thought about that but..........I couldn't find any vinyl gloves around....this is the 2nd home, and it was fine work, not sure I could do it with gloves on.

Most people would have probably put Locktite on the threads.

oldfarmer50

roadburner said:

@abacomike said:

I am considering having my car sealed with ceramic coating by a professional because it sits outside 24/7. Anyone have any experiences with ceramic coating for your car? What should I look for regarding the product to use and approximate cost?

Thanks.

About the best advice I can give is ask around as the coatings are only as good as the person applying it. Maybe check with some other high end dealers.

Probably look for a detailing shop rather than a dealer. One of the retirement jobs I was considering was moving cars back and forth from dealers to Ziebart who actually did the ceramic coating. The dealer just slapped a service fee on top.

oldfarmer50

henryn said:

mjfloyd1 said:

Doesn’t fingernail polish remover also remove superglue?

Yes, it removes superglue, and epoxy, and labels, and ... Acetone is the key ingredient here.

Yep. You should always keep a few gallons on hand to unglue fingers and to clean out catalytic converters.

ab348

venture said:

Most people would have probably put Locktite on the threads.

We need an analysis of the cost of the tubes of super glue (we already know they were $1.25 from the ill-named Dollar Store) plus a bottle of acetone, versus the cost of a tube of Loctite.

Which reminds me, last night I paid my monthly visit to the Motor Trend streaming channel which remains largely bereft of anything I would want to watch. Quite by accident I discovered that there were two episodes at the end of the latest season of Wheeler Dealers that I did not see nor know about. For whatever reason, they were not promoted on Twitter or FB by Brewer or the channel itself. Something odd going on there, as it seems they have lost interest in the program. Brewer is also selling off a lot of the cars he collected over the years, so who knows.

Back to topic, one of the eps I watched last night involved a 2003 VW Golf convertible, a special edition called a "color concept", bright yellow paint with a black and yellow interior. It was very close to going to the wrecking yard and had a lot of needs, only a few of which they showed being fixed. But in some ways it was a throwback episode to the early years of the show where they used to do quick and dirty fixes to make old cars saleable again. One of the jobs they did was to restore the yellow and black leather seats, as the yellow leather was stained and discolored. They took them to a specialist who stripped the factory finish using acetone, then "re-Connollyised" them with a leather dye. Wonder how long that lasts. Looked good in the moment though. It was also a throwback in that when they sold it they made virtually no profit on it (with true accounting it was probably a loss) - it seemed like they just wanted it gone.

sda

henryn said:

driver100 said:

I liked our Passat, except it needed more power. Well built and nice to drive....Euro handling!

You had a Passat with the 5 cylinder, didn't you? Those were dogs. I had the 2008, with the 2.0T, and that sucker would fly! I also owned a TDI (turbo diesel) for a short while, and a 2017 with the 1.8T (not bad, but not nearly as fast as the 2008).

I had a 2006 2.0t. Black, light beige leather interior, Dynaudio. One of the best stereos I've experienced. That car was a delight and much faster than the 2018 2.0t that I have now. The 2018 does run on regular, however and is a nice car overall.

graphicguy

abacomike said:

I think I’ll make some calls to detailing shops that apply ceramic coatings. My brother paid $350 for his new GLE450. But the Jacksonville area is not as costly to have things done compared to Broward and Palm Beach Counties.

Any other suggestions?

Mike…I did the ceramic coating on my TLX this past Spring. I’m kind of a fanatic taking care of my car’s paint, even though it’s always garaged. Can’t remember the name of the ceramic product I used, but at the time, it was the most popular one.

I did the whole routine, including claying the paint, even though the car was only a few months old at the time.

Followed application instructions to a “T”. Not all that hard to do, just time consuming. Always do my applications by hand, not using an electric buffer of any kind.

Result? My paint is white pearlescent, which Honda/Acura do a great job of applying. Did the ceramic make it look better? Better than my usual Zaino coating? I really don’t think so. Does it last longer? Again, not that I can tell.

It’s in need of another coat of something, as the sheeting/beading is beginning to fade. But, my car’s coming up on a year old, too.

The Ceramic cost me $60-$70 IIRC. Tried and true Zaino cost ½ that. So, the extra cost isn’t worth the dubious ceramic durability/shine claims.

Matter of fact, this Spring I may even try Collinite. Many swear by the shine properties and durability. But, it’s not a synthetic like Ceramic or Zaino. It’s a Carnuba derivative.

As others have pointed out, it’s more about the person applying it than about the product itself. If you’re hellbent on Ceramic, I’ve read where Turtle Wax’s Ceramic Coating is as good and durable as any other ceramic on the market. Plus, you’d save yourself some coin by using it.

imidazol97

graphicguy said:

Mike…I did the ceramic coating on my TLX this past Spring. I’m kind of a fanatic taking care of my car’s paint, even though it’s always garaged. Can’t remember the name of the ceramic product I used, but at the time, it was the most popular one.

I did the whole routine, including claying the paint, even though the car was only a few months old at the time.

Followed application instructions to a “T”. Not all that hard to do, just time consuming. Always do my applications by hand, not using an electric buffer of any kind.

Result? My paint is white pearlescent, which Honda/Acura do a great job of applying. Did the ceramic make it look better? Better than my usual Zaino coating? I really don’t think so. Does it last longer? Again, not that I can tell.

It’s in need of another coat of something, as the sheeting/beading is beginning to fade. But, my car’s coming up on a year old, too.

The Ceramic cost me $60-$70 IIRC. Tried and true Zaino cost ½ that. So, the extra cost isn’t worth the dubious ceramic durability/shine claims.

Matter of fact, this Spring I may even try Collinite. Many swear by the shine properties and durability. But, it’s not a synthetic like Ceramic or Zaino. It’s a Carnuba derivative.

As others have pointed out, it’s more about the person applying it than about the product itself. If you’re hellbent on Ceramic, I’ve read where Turtle Wax’s Ceramic Coating is as good and durable as any other ceramic on the market. Plus, you’d save yourself some coin by using it.

Interesting and clear analysis. Thanks for posting.

roadburner

Mike, I'll also mention that I used Griot's ceramic wash as well as their ceramic spray wax on the Club Sport and it turned out great.

carnaught

Most of Griot’s products do a great job and are environmentally friendly. My biggest gripe about the external products I’ve used is that they seem to attract dust. I’ve written the company that they need to research making their products magnetically to repel dust.

jmonroe1

@driver100 said:
I thought about that but..........I couldn't find any vinyl gloves around....this is the 2nd home, and it was fine work, not sure I could do it with gloves on.

Like I said, call The Guy.

jmonroe

andres3

kyfdx said:

I think it's crazy that you have to drill a hole through the bumper cover to mount a plate.

How many radiators have been ruined for a completely useless endeavor of adding a front plate? Unintended consequences of dumb laws.

jmonroe1

@oldfarmer50 said:
Probably look for a detailing shop rather than a dealer. One of the retirement jobs I was considering was moving cars back and forth from dealers to Ziebart who actually did the ceramic coating. The dealer just slapped a service fee on top.

I guess ceramic coating is the modern day snake oil and from what I’ve heard, the exorbitant cost that the poor sap is forking over for this new wonderment, it should at least include a free delivery. I guess not. Bring back the free lunch.

jmonroe