[CMOBBS]

I have had my MCS for nearly 3 years now. I noticed the back plate getting very dirty after about a year but didn't really do anything about it.

The problem is, the dirt has got inside the plate and it is impossible to clean. I believe there has been a problem with the number plate and the glue has failed allowing water and dirt in. I don't think the shape of the back of the car helps, but this is why we love them so.

I contacted my dealer who said they haven't heard of similar problems and that I would have to pay for a new plate.

Anybody else in the UK had similar problems? My car was bought from Synter in the Midlands in May 2003.

[matt1584]

Got my MCS in Feb with new plates from Sytner in Leicester, 2 weeks later the front plate started to peal and water got inside! Phoned the dealer and they got me new front and rear plates and told me that they have experienced this fault in the plate production process before so they were gratis!!!!!!!!!

[ALD0]

It happens with alot os plates where the Adhesive has not bonded to the plastic-Only kind dealers will change the plates as it is probably classed as wear and tear!

[Veron781]

I have to agree with what has already been said.
I've seen this on a few plates on other makes of car....IMO its worth a try at your dealers, but as it's been 3 years, I think they will more than likely class it as wear and tear, and replace the plates at your cost.

[CMOBBS]

Yer, I know I've left it too late. :-( I'll give it one more try with the dealer, it's good to know other people have had the same problem. Maybe it's time to get a charished plate now anyway and hide the age of my mini!

[Minty]

it normally happens when you jet wash the car, we have seen it a couple of times.

S

[~Marcus~]

My rear plate has big dirty marks inside my plate - going to try and claim under warranty at the 25k service - bet they don't pay

[njh123uk]

I've had the same problem on my one d. I contacted Dick Lovett in Bristol who said number plates aren't under warranty. Guess I'll end up paying for a new set, around £35. Worth it cos the back of the car looks awful even after cleaning.

If the new plates go, then this is a problem with the plates and they should change them free of charge.

Does anyone know if you can get a chrome surround to fit on the Mini One front bumper? The front bumper has a cut out for the number plate and the space looks a bit tight.

[fordcymru]

I`ve experienced this problem with the number plates in the past and even had a car fail it`s MOT because the plate could not be clearly read. So pish the dealer for a replacement set if you can.

[M.O.S]

You could always go to halfords or somewhere like that where you can have your own text put on - get mini2.com!!! Good advertising. I tend to use a pressure washer on mine when its bad, but I havent had peeling. I got a new numberplate after the black letters started to crack - and that was after a year, but they did know before hand.

Good luck with your plates, however, I'd go to halfords and have mini2.com put on them - why should you advertise your dealer when they won't look after you properly - mini2 would never do that!

[Keano]

Same thing happened with mine - dirt got in between the plastic and the number looked awfull!! Just bought and fitted new plates from the dealer a couple of weeks ago easy job - £16.

As M.O.S. says above getting your own web address on it or something would be good but the dealer wont do it. They say it is against the law - which is wrong. The plates have to have where they were made on them but thats it - the rest is advertising. If it has the postcode on then there is no reason that you cant have mini2.com (or other) on instead of the dealer web address.

May as well try to get it under warranty but at the end of the day for the sake of £16 I wouldnt bother making too large a fuss if they say no - IMHO. Good luck!

[adda]

Although it still seems a bit of a grey area, strictly speaking you can't have personal websites etc on numberplates. The British Standard states that the personalisation area is strictly for name and postcode of the supplying outlet.
Anything else is usually sold as a "showplate" with a disclaimer to get around this.

As for your plates de-laminating, this is a common problem often due to poor materials and also the way most of them are constructed these days. Plates used to be made from a piece of reflective with a nice thick piece of acrylic over the top protecting it. They could still de-laminate but it wasnt so common.
On the whole, nowadays the reflective is on top of a plastic backing and only a thin piece of optical film covers the plate, you can literally peel it off. In my opinion this method has nowhere near the durabilty or finish of the traditional Acrylic plates.
Sad thing is like most things these days, most plates aint built to last anymore. You can even get plates with warranties now!
You can still get Acrylic plates though, and if you do you will find they are much better quality, durability and finish IMO!
Look around, you will be amazed at some of the old looking faded tatty plates hangin off nice newish clean cars.

[3rdpillar]

Several times iv taken my cars to main dealers for service to find they have made new plates with "their" dealer name and details on them. As well as replace the dealer stickers in the rearview mirror. Naughty OR nice?

[Keano]

Quote: Originally Posted by 3rdpillar (original)

Several times iv taken my cars to main dealers for service to find they have made new plates with "their" dealer name and details on them. As well as replace the dealer stickers in the rearview mirror. Naughty OR nice?

Definately cheeky.... but it saves you paying out for some new plates in a few months... so nice IMO.

[adda]

yep, i agree, if your not being charged for them, the new plates are a bonus but definitely a bit cheeky addin the stickers to boot!

[M.O.S]

Quote: Originally Posted by adda (original)

Although it still seems a bit of a grey area, strictly speaking you can't have personal websites etc on numberplates. The British Standard states that the personalisation area is strictly for name and postcode of the supplying outlet.
Anything else is usually sold as a "showplate" with a disclaimer to get around this.

As for your plates de-laminating, this is a common problem often due to poor materials and also the way most of them are constructed these days. Plates used to be made from a piece of reflective with a nice thick piece of acrylic over the top protecting it. They could still de-laminate but it wasnt so common.
On the whole, nowadays the reflective is on top of a plastic backing and only a thin piece of optical film covers the plate, you can literally peel it off. In my opinion this method has nowhere near the durabilty or finish of the traditional Acrylic plates.
Sad thing is like most things these days, most plates aint built to last anymore. You can even get plates with warranties now!
You can still get Acrylic plates though, and if you do you will find they are much better quality, durability and finish IMO!
Look around, you will be amazed at some of the old looking faded tatty plates hangin off nice newish clean cars.

Yes you have to display the postcode of the place that made the number plates, but you can put whatever else you want in the personal area - thats how mini put castle mini / stratstone mini. Most highstreet / out of town car outlets such as Charlie Brown's or Halfords? will make you a number plate with whatever you want on it (albeit with their post code) for road use.

[adda]

Just because Halfords does it, does'nt make it right though?
The problem is how the British Standard is being interpreted in certain places.
The Stratstones etc. you mention actually have no choice but to display their names as they are the supplying outlets. If they approach any manufacturer of numberplates to supply them materials or plates it is a condition they must adhere to.
If you still think I'm mistaken have a look here, second page.
http://www.dvla.gov.uk/media/pdf/leaflets/v796.pdf

[M.O.S]

Quote: Originally Posted by adda (original)

Just because Halfords does it, does'nt make it right though?
The problem is how the British Standard is being interpreted in certain places.
The Stratstones etc. you mention actually have no choice but to display their names as they are the supplying outlets. If they approach any manufacturer of numberplates to supply them materials or plates it is a condition they must adhere to.
If you still think I'm mistaken have a look here, second page.
http://www.dvla.gov.uk/media/pdf/leaflets/v796.pdf

Ys you have to display the name etc, but there are no guidelines on what size the text has to be - thats how they are getting round it!

[adda]

Like i said, the problem is the interpretation. yes there is no restriction on text size as long as its legible but the actual British standard states name an postcode ONLY.
No one wants Halfords in big letters on a plate, so yes, its okay for say a discreet 2mm logo
giving name and postcode but that should be the only identifying mark.
The reason places twist it probably, is because its highly unlikely this detail of a numberplate is ever enforced that closely at the moment.

It will be eventually though. This whole standard was brought in, in an attemp to reduce car crime with suppliers having to register and adhere to regulations and obviously from what your saying it isnt being adhered to in the strictest sense across the board.
Expect it to tighten up soon though as VOSA are looking into clarifying all aspects of numberplates in relation to MOT passes and the logo is one of them.

There is a link to another DVLA document below which goes into a bit more detail of the current requirements and if you check the British Standard section at the end it clearly states that there shall be no other markings to the plate
http://www.dvla.gov.uk/media/pdf/lea...mberplates.pdf