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When I got my coupe recently the screws in the license plate had been broken off and rusted in. Nothing would make them budge and I ended up using a Dremel to cut the things out that held the screws. Now all I have is four 3/8" holes in the hatch. The mounts I can find at the local auto parts store don't fit. Has anyone been through this and found some way to fix this? I did try some expanding plastic wall anchors but they use #8 screws that are really small, and I'm not in love with that solution.
I think if these are like the early cars the part that fits in the holes are a type of rivnut .They are hexagon holes ,the ruivnuts are made with the same amount of flats on them to hold them in place to stop them turning . The tool used to fit these in to the trunk is apecial mb tool . But you can use a long bolt with nuts and wahers to squeeze the rivnut in to the hexagon holes in the trunk . I have a few of these .You could have had 4 but we are so far away .The dealer is the only place you will be able to buy them from . I could find the number out for you but i am hoping someone else can chirp in and give you the number of the rivnuts and screws.
This is what they look like isyour car a W124 ? The tool you can pick up off Amazon Astro 1427 hand rivet nut tool price $ 32 .80
The screws are there and the parts you need .
A lot of internet searches depending on finding the proper name for the widget you're looking for. In this case the mounting is called a licence plate retainer nut. I was able to find some examples, but every time I looked, it turned out to be for some other model. I've reached out to ECS to see if they can come up with a part number.
I did find that you have to hold the Rivnut (and that's what it is) with a wrench during install, if you don't want to buy the $30 tool. (using a long screw with a nut and washer to squish the rivnut ) The hole in the hatch isn't a hex, and I think this model rivnut is meant for a round hole anyways.
Once I get info on the rivnut, I'll also find some stainless steel screws of the right length. I could just keep my jury-rigged Home Depot plastic wall anchors, but I like the idea of having the original mountings.
I dont know about the holes in your trunk for these rivenuts ,,but on my old 124 they do have flats on like the picture,, it is to match the rivnut and to stop it turning .. And all those in my garage are the same. But may be they have changed them now mine is 31 years old but they do stick to some ideas . All you need then is s rivnut kit .In it there will be a selection of revnuts for you to chose from. .
The ones you have in the trunk now ,,do they have a shoulder on them ?.. The reason for this shoulder is to hold your reg plate off the trunk lid and stop any rubbing on the paint work . And also put this in the back of your mind ,on installing the rivnut ,thats when you get a kit use a little grease on the rivenut to stop any water getting in after you fit them. Most r/nuts i see have seen have no shoulder on them so you might need original rivenuts from the dealers ..This is what i had to do on mine .But then i saw a job lot on Ebay i snaped them up right away .Gave a few sets away to my frinds on the Mercedes forum in the uk ..I would give you a set if you were closer to me not over the puddle ,,as they say ...Trevor
Here's what I ended up doing. The holes in my hatchback, after removing the old rivnuts, are now ~3/8" (9.5mm).
So I ordered m6 rivnuts from mcmaster.com 97217A444, $6.50 for a 10 pack. These rivnuts are for thinner plastic or non-steel material. As I think the hatchback is fiberglass or some such, that seemed a good idea.
You could get a tool from them that has two really thick nuts on a long threaded bolt, but I thought it a little pricey.
So I went to Amazon and bought a "Rivnut Insert Setting Tool" for $14.99
I had looked up the retainer nut in a number of searches, but every time I checked the "does it fit my car?" question, it said it didn't. Those databases aren't the authority, but I just got tired of waiting for an answer from the normal sources, and paying big money for single rivnuts seemed kind of silly.
These cavity fixings come in lots of sizes . Take a look and you might find them on ebay - in the usa ,they are on ebay in uk ..They are rubber encapsulated nuts they have a flange on to keep reg plate away from bodywork so get the size you need . You just push them in the hole put reg plate on and put a screw though the reg plate and tighten up . I know these look long but you will be able to get these in other sizes .
Last edited by optimusprime m1; Dec 9, 2019 at 12:56 PM.
This is the name to look for .These will be far better than metal originals and easy to install . The name for them is -- Cavity Fixing Rubber Panelnut Anti Vibrate in M8 M10 M14 may be more sizes also .
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