UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

Just sharing this..when changing your rear number plate and one of the screw head shears( because the person putting the plate on last time decided that tight wasn't enough) , bear in mind that if you don’t have enough of the remaining screw to get hold of with some mole grips and it actually does come out, you will be faced with drilling the old screw out, don't be tempted to try and fracture the screw by moving it side to side, all you will do is deform the body work either side of the screw mount, the mount is a nylon inserted factory steel rivet item, and the only way I found to do this two minute job was to grind off the old head flush centre drill and then drill out taking note of drill depth by measuring the body of rivet this can be done by taking the trim off the back hatch.
Total time of job one hour...or you could just use sticky’s, remembering that the rivets are proud by about 2mm. But it pissed me off so I went for drilling out and new screw

Mike wrote:Just sharing this..when changing your rear number plate and one of the screw head shears( because the person putting the plate on last time decided that tight wasn't enough) , bear in mind that if you don’t have enough of the remaining screw to get hold of with some mole grips and it actually does come out, you will be faced with drilling the old screw out, don't be tempted to try and fracture the screw by moving it side to side, all you will do is deform the body work either side of the screw mount, the mount is a nylon inserted factory steel rivet item, and the only way I found to do this two minute job was to grind off the old head flush centre drill and then drill out taking note of drill depth by measuring the body of rivet this can be done by taking the trim off the back hatch.
Total time of job one hour...or you could just use sticky’s, remembering that the rivets are proud by about 2mm. But it pissed me off so I went for drilling out and new screw

glad to see someone using there nody ! i wouldnt have considered doing it any other way ! having removed enough broken exhaust studs and the like in my years it almost becomes second nature where as someone less experienced would have butchered it ! good outcome mate

what an ordeal for a numberplate screw!

Just a bit, the lad got home from school and thought it was funny till i gave him one of them looks and he thought better when he worked out i wasn't amused, the wife and friends and workmates just think it's funny that i spend so much time on my polo, lots ask why i just don't buy a Golf GTI or something bigger with more power, but i just like my polo cheap to run insure and a ideal little runaround.( prob oldest member on forum too lol)

By the way this guys numberplates are very good and well made, and if you like the style well worth a look and not bad price too, takes about 8 days to get them

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Volkswagen-NUMBER ... m153.l1262

The previous owner has gone to town on mine made a right mess then decided cos they had destroyed the holes that they would created 2 new ones further along the boot :/ now the number plate has a bow to it. There are some special people out there lol

Hi Iggy
Try a few home made plastic washers behind the screws, it sounds like it's bowing over the rivets from the OE fixing points.

I just use strong trim tape