License Plate screws won't hold.... Can pull the Plate right off
Thread Starter
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 10,557
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From: Earth
Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
License Plate screws won't hold.... Can pull the Plate right off
Trying to finally put my Plates on my Car (have Dealer ones on still), and realize the screws can be pulled completely out, and shoved in, which explains why my plate has sounded "loose" when I close my trunk, which also in turn has scratched up the area under where the frame's edge rubs against (which you can't see fortunately).
Am I gonna need to get a while new Trunk clip thing now? Warranty better cover this, I'm getting tired of all the little tiny annoyances that keep popping up!
Am I gonna need to get a while new Trunk clip thing now? Warranty better cover this, I'm getting tired of all the little tiny annoyances that keep popping up!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,085
Likes: 59
From: Los Angeles
2009 SL550 Roadster Diamond White, 2008 CLK550 Coupe Obsidian Black
I have the same problem. My top right screw hole is stripped and won't hold the screw. I have these nice Auto Steigler chrome metal plates that I can't put on, I have to leave my non-chrome MB Beverly Hills ones with one screw on top left and one screw on bottom right. It is a pain in the a*s. Idk that a longer screw would even make a difference.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 50
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From: sf valley, california
2006 e55, 2008 r350, 1998 lexus es300
god......what is with these license plate frames? i recently purchased my car and noticed the same thing. the screws in the top holes were just hanging on. i removed the frame to put a new one on and found that they were stripped. i had to put them on the bottom holes. does this happen a lot. i mean.........in comparison.......i have taken out the screws on my eleven year old lexus every time i put the new year on and never had a problem.
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Ft. Lauderdale Area, USA
2015 ML 350
The things that the screws go into on the 03>06s located inside the holes are replaceable in case they are stripped. On the '07> the license plate is affixed to an aluminum plate bracket which itself has been pre-fastened to the trunk lid.
This is a simple fix without resorting to hackery. If all the holes are "stripped", I bet you have the wrong screws.
Last edited by Barry45RPM; Sep 2, 2009 at 05:53 PM.
Thread Starter
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 10,557
Likes: 24
From: Earth
Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
Good to know. I was gonna say, if they had to replace that whole piece (that houses the chrome strip) with a new one, which would obviously mean it would need to get painted (meaning non Factory applied paint, worry toward if it'll match perfectly, etc.) I would probably consider getting the F.L piece with the long chrome strip put on, although I'd have to put some thought into that as I'm not sure I like it better.... At least I'd feel like I got some compensation for the annoyance.
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Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Albuquerque
'10 CL550, '12 GL550
The threaded inserts are metric and the size is M5.
Try correct screw (never a "wood screw" or "sheet metal" screw) before determining the threaded inserts require replacement.
Try correct screw (never a "wood screw" or "sheet metal" screw) before determining the threaded inserts require replacement.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Philadelphia area
2010 ML550, 2010 E350 4M, 1966 Corvette Convt C2
Observation
Seems like all the posters with this problem are from California. Could it be that residents and dealers in that state have the same aptitude with hardware and tools as they have with their State's finances???
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Los Angeles
2009 SL550 Roadster Diamond White, 2008 CLK550 Coupe Obsidian Black
Lol, I would not be surprised. The state deserves to go bankrupt IMO. Took our money all these years and can't run anything correctly. Thank God the fire departments out here know what to do or else the whole place would be ablaze (at least there is something that works well).
Last edited by gaazmon; Sep 2, 2009 at 07:56 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 518
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From: Orange County, CA
E350
Lol, I would not be surprised. The state deserves to go bankrupt IMO. Took our money all these years and can't run anything correctly. Thank God the fire departments out here know what to do or else the whole place would be ablaze (at least there is something that works well).
The whole place IS ablaze!!! (At least a good portion of it...)
Anyway, yes, I share your frustration with the inefficiencies of CA's government... but having it go bankrupt would only mean CA residents have to pay even MORE, right? It seems like no matter what they do, we always pay more...
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 518
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From: Orange County, CA
E350
The correct screws to use for your license plate should be freely available at your MB dealer. If your local MB dealer doesn't have the correct screws available, you can try FJNB (that's where I got my screws for free, and I know they are the correct ones... at least for the later model E-Classes that use the chrome mounting plates).
Worse comes to worse, you can go to your nearest Home Depot or Lowes and have them match the correct screw for you. It would help if you had one "correct" screw to match with, but if not, you can just write down the correct measurements... I think mine took a M6 (6mm x 10mm), and then test it out in the parking lot. If it doesn't screw in without effort, then walk back in and exchange it for a different size. (If you are 100% sure your threads are stripped and NO screw works, then get them replaced before finding the proper screws to mount your plate.)
EDIT: I probably should add that while FJNB had a bunch of domehead machine screws that worked fine, but my custom license plate frame only has top holes and no bottom holes, so I had to search for flathead machine screws for the bottom (otherwise my plate frame wouldn't sit flush to the bottom of the plate, and it would look ugly). I got my threads matched at Home Depot, and found flathead versions of the screws I needed, and that was that. Cost me under $1 for 3 screws (just needed 2).
Last edited by chokaay; Sep 3, 2009 at 01:20 PM.
Super Member
Joined: May 2003
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From: Long Island, New York
2018 E400 4matic Wagon
There is a tool called a tap, and it costs just a few dollars, at your local hardware store. If your threads are stripped, you can re-tap the threads by buying the tap and the correct size re-threading attachment. As others have said, Mercedes uses metric threaded machine screws, not self-tapping screws. This is not a big deal, and you don't need a new trunk lid. If your threads aren't stripped, you just need to buy the correct metric sized screws. You should make sure you get stainless steel screws, or you might not be able to remove them later.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Los Angeles
2009 SL550 Roadster Diamond White, 2008 CLK550 Coupe Obsidian Black
Ya, I can see the La Canada Flintridge fires pretty well from here since I can get a good view of the 118 and 210 area. The air really sucks by my work. From what I can literally see, well... I can't see the fires anymore from my house so I'm guessing it's better now. I don't see much smoke from my house either so hopefully things are looking up.
You must be near the Palos Verdes fire.
You must be near the Palos Verdes fire.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 518
Likes: 2
From: Orange County, CA
E350
Ya, I can see the La Canada Flintridge fires pretty well from here since I can get a good view of the 118 and 210 area. The air really sucks by my work. From what I can literally see, well... I can't see the fires anymore from my house so I'm guessing it's better now. I don't see much smoke from my house either so hopefully things are looking up.
You must be near the Palos Verdes fire.
You must be near the Palos Verdes fire.
Luckily I'm not too close to any fire (this time around)... closer to the Costa Mesa/Newport area. But driving around, you definitely can feel the heat and see the huge mushroom clouds coming from the north/east! Hope everyone is OK up there...
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 518
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From: Orange County, CA
E350
Not everyone... but perhaps a number of "lazy" dealers only stock self-tapping screws (for mounting the front plate bracket to the front bumper), and just use the same screws on the back (even though you're not supposed to). That's one of the "perks" for CA being a state that requires front plates (and lately enforcing it more strictly in certain areas)... although I still see a ton of cars driving without their front plates on...
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,085
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From: Los Angeles
2009 SL550 Roadster Diamond White, 2008 CLK550 Coupe Obsidian Black
Back on topic, I think my screws are too short and that is why they are falling out.
I hate having a front plate. I wish we didn't have to.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 518
Likes: 2
From: Orange County, CA
E350
Honestly, on my 2009 E350, I wish we didn't have to have front plates either... but with it on doesn't look THAT bad (unlike some other cars).
But remember there are some cars that NEED a front plate to look "good"... like the Lexus LS600h... without a front plate the bumper just looks way to big and flat in the middle... doesn't look good.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,085
Likes: 59
From: Los Angeles
2009 SL550 Roadster Diamond White, 2008 CLK550 Coupe Obsidian Black
Honestly, on my 2009 E350, I wish we didn't have to have front plates either... but with it on doesn't look THAT bad (unlike some other cars).
But remember there are some cars that NEED a front plate to look "good"... like the Lexus LS600h... without a front plate the bumper just looks way to big and flat in the middle... doesn't look good.
But remember there are some cars that NEED a front plate to look "good"... like the Lexus LS600h... without a front plate the bumper just looks way to big and flat in the middle... doesn't look good.
