JSW Owners Beware: Rust behind rear plate from screws being too long

[turbotwo28]

Within a month of getting my car I noticed this and even made a thread about the ridiculous plate mounts we have...

Until I can get a custom bracket made for my Volvo plate holder, I'm using zip ties to hold my plate on...

I picked up some paint pens from VW and touched up the area...no rust yet!

Same here zip ties till i actually look for a long term solution. I just have to change them every 9 months or so....

[turbotwo28]

I ended up buying stainless button head screws off ebay -- M6 x 10mm. link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI...m=370548632651

I needed to widen the stock hole a little for them to fit (they've got a flat, non-tapping end). They work great and are not long enough to come close to making contact with the body.

PS- I had my rust taken care of by the dealer I purchased my JSW from.

Is it the screw that's holding the plate on the bracket?

[truwagen]

Is it the screw that's holding the plate on the bracket?

Yes, they have been holding the plate to the bracket for several months now. Two top screws only (have plate cover that covers the bottom two holes). Had to drill the bracket openings a tiny bit first to get these screws to go in -- they're non tapping and a bit too wide perhaps.

Have them holding my front plate on on my Jetta sedan as well.

[truwagen]

Just thought I'd bump this up and also report some new license plate-related rust findings.

Yesterday I replaced my license plate bulbs with some LEDs and noticed that there's paint bubbling around the screw holes. The light covers use a self tapping screw that screws into painted/bare metal. This is of course on a place of the car subject to a lot of road debris/moisture. Not sure why VW thought this was a good idea. On my sedan these screw into plastic!

Seems like these hatches are destined to rust in some climates for one poor design reason or another.

I'm going to keep an eye on this, but may have to utilize VW's corrosion warranty at some point down the line.

[deadibear]

stacked about three small plastic washers on each of the bolts on the back of the plate. I had a issue on my 99 Passat with the plate touching the paint and from then on requested the dealer not put the plates on B4 delivery, I did it myself!! I ask my detail-er to remove the plate Occasionally and clean behind it. I am a lil obsessive that way

[rootrider]

I definitely remove my paint whenever I clay and seal my paint.. and I also remove the plate a few times a year when washing to make sure dirt doesn't build up behind. Preventative maintenance...

[zagato27]

I definitely remove my paint whenever I clay and seal my paint.. and I also remove the plate a few times a year when washing to make sure dirt doesn't build up behind. Preventative maintenance...

Root, if you remove your paint whenever you clay, sounds like you're not using enough lubricant or pressing a might too hard Cheers

[Spi2ll2ios]

Credit to my VW dealer. After raising the issue, they ultimately provided me with paint pens and went to the trouble of finding/making for me plated screws and washers. The screws, while not quite the required head size for mounting the plate (needed washers), had their tips cut or ground off to ensure they didn't touch the car. I can't complain about that.

[rootrider]

Root, if you remove your paint whenever you clay, sounds like you're not using enough lubricant or pressing a might too hard Cheers

haha... had to reread things just to figure out what I really meant. I think I typed that reply out on my phone.. so I get to conveniently blame autocorrect for not knowing that my horrible typing was supposed to result in 'plate' and not 'paint'

[zagato27]

haha... had to reread things just to figure out what I really meant. I think I typed that reply out on my phone.. so I get to conveniently blame autocorrect for not knowing that my horrible typing was supposed to result in 'plate' and not 'paint'

Hmmm, I was thinking it was a "senior moment". After all, you are a "geriatric Member"

[Willy723]

glad you guys bumped this thread up...took delivery of the wires new JSW last week from an out of state dealer, since they shipped it to me they didn't install the plates, after reading this thread I zip tied the rear plate on waiting on the wires new custom plates to be delivered, a trip to sears hardware seems to be in my future for M6 screws in 1/4" or shorter.
Thanks again.

[Code3VW]

Hmmm, I was thinking it was a "senior moment". After all, you are a "geriatric Member"

[rootrider]

Hmmm, I was thinking it was a "senior moment". After all, you are a "geriatric Member"

don't worry.. I have plenty of those too

[Andy P]

Another reason to run SS bolts for the plate.

[don barrigas]

thanx for the heads up buds

[ECS Tuning]

"Flush Line" Stainless License Plate Bolt -

[Outrider6]

"Flush Line" Stainless License Plate Bolt -

Nice hardware, but not of much practical use without mods. VW gives us a plastic license plate bracket that is secured via machine screw to the rear hatch. That part is fine. However, the license plate bracket has unthreaded holes in the plastic, which is what the flushline bolts would go in to. The diameters of your bolt and of the bracket's four license plate holes are not matched, which is a fixable problem, but not ideal.

It would be better if the license plate bracket had a machine threaded metal insert so as to more positively secure the plate. It would be great if you came up with that along with the flush line bolts.