BUMP!
Nobody knows?

 

I had the same frustration after the dealer put them on (as they do as soon as they do their safety inspection with the car arriving from the port). My Salesman told me that they are snapped in with a "catch" at the back...sort of like the ceiling mounts you buy at the hardware store to hang plants.

He also said that it would leave holes the size of a nickel after you took them off.

I don't know how much of this info is accurate, considering it came from a dealer that I think ripped me off! (Leather vs. Leathette)

Hope this helps.
Jealius

 

any more info on this?

 

Not positive about the B6, but based no what Jealius said it is probably similar to the b5.5. If it is, just yank it real good, and the plastic plugs will come out. And you'll have four 3/8" holes left.

 

You just have to break the plastic plugs. Then your front end will have 4 holes in the chrome and look like this...

 

Hollow Expanding Bolts

Hollow expanding bolts with center pins (or rivets since there are no screw threads) hold the frame to the front bumper.

VW factory instructions direct the dealer to remove the entire front center piece, so when the holes are drilled there is no danger of damaging electrical wiring routed behind the grill. The simplist approach would be to carefully tap the center pin in each expanding bolt, all the way through and out of the expanding shaft. This releases the expanded flare at the end of the shaft. Then carefully pry the outer edges of the head up using the flat of a putty knife or the VW trim tool. Once it has been backed out past the expanded flare, the bolt should easily come out. Use a small metal drift pin, or perhaps a nail with the point filed flat, to tap the center pin through.

Pulling the whole frame, hard, could damage the center grill $$$.

 

is it the same for a b5.5... i know this is kinda the wrong forum...

 

plastic rivet or a bolt?

Inspect the head of the plastic "bolt". Not to worry... VW uses expanding plastic bolts in all sorts of locations. They are on my '78 Audi Fox, '93 EuroVan in all sizes and shapes. If there appears to be a center "dimple" or a very fine circle that would be the center pin which spreads the flared legs of the shaft. If the head is smooth and one piece, it is not an expanding plastic rivet. Not sure? Try gently tapping the center with a small flat drift pin, if it moves you're OK. If it dents, it's solid.

 

Maybe you could find some Chrome plugs at the hardware store to fill the holes?

We're stuck with having the front plate as they are required here in Illinois. As crooked as Illinois is, I'm surprised they haven't eliminated front plates to save money and put the savings in the politicians pockets!

 

what should be used to fill the holes in the chrome?

 

Removed Liscence Plate Bracket Yesterday

Did exactly what om3118 mentioned. Used a hex key/allen wrench and pushed on the smaller (inner) plastic ring. Had to use a hammer for the upper 2 bolts. They went all the way in and the bracket became loose. Then I just pulled out the bracket. (I hope the small part that I pushed in will have fallen somewhere on the road as I was driving, or even if its still behind the bumper somewhere, its not causing any trouble)

Now my bumper looks exactly like the what turbopower has shown. 4 holes, but still better than an ugly license plate holder that is not required in Indiana. (Although, sometimes I wish it was required by law, because sometimes I really want to call the police on the a-hole behind me, who is constantly tailgating/driving dangerously)

I have ordered europlates, and I'm hoping that they will cover these holes up, and not require any drilling. I might just get the 3M outdoor double sided industrial strength tape to stick it to my bumper instead.

 

You could get the euro mounting bracket, they may cover he holes.

 

Sorry, forgot to mention that I ordered both the plates AND the mounting frame, and was not sure if it will be of the same height as the standard American plate holder. I know the plate will be wider, but I am guessing it will be not as tall as the American plate - and in that case, the bottom 2 holes might just show..

Oh well, I am speculating too much. Let my plates come, and then I will see what happens and post a picture here.

 

You could replace the grille with this, Volkswagen Passat B6 FWD 2.0T > Exterior > Body > Grille > ES#343807 Chrome Grille Assembly - 3C0853651APWF
Or this Volkswagen Passat B6 FWD 2.0T > Exterior > Body > Grille > ES#1905447 B6 Passat Badgeless Grille Kit - Chrome - 3C853654COE
I also thought that ECS has chrome covered buttons that would fill those holes but I can't seem to find them. Maybe john@ecstuning.com might know where they are located on the site.

 

Yeah, I have contemplated going this route, but I am not sure if I want to take the grill out and replace it myself. I am a serious car repair noob. I can do any and everything with a computer (hardware or software), but that's about it. I have no experience working on cars, and it looks kinda scary. I am afraid that I will f something up, and then have to pay a lot to get my mistakes repaired by some shop.

But, oh well... I guess every noob is like that. I might eventually end up learning stuff from doing it myself

 

I'd like to remove my front plate but Ohio still hasn't passed the no front plate law. We currently are required to have the front plate unlike most of the states around us.

 

Yeah.. But I think its better to have front plates.

Indiana is too damn cheap to provide front plates

If they try to, I am sure people will cause a commotion and blame government for robbing them (even more) of their money for something that doesn't matter (that's personal opinion)..

But that's a whole different can of worms.

 

In fact here is the write up, http://www.passatworld.com/forums/74-club-b6/236257-b6-bumper-removal-write-up.html

 

:thumbup:

 

i know this is an old thread but i need a front tag holder anyone have one laying around ?

 

I'll swap a tag mounted grill for your unmolested grill. I just bought a car from MD

 

I know this thread was old, just want to share my $1 hole cover.
I just moved to a province(In Canada) that don`t require front license plate. I took off the blanket by remove the grill (6 or 8 screw on top, and 2 in the bottom), then use pillar to get the rivet out from the back. Not easy, I feel like I going to break the grill.
Bought 4 smooth head screw in hardware store and glue it to cover the hole.


Not prefect looking, but for $1 only. I also ordered a small roll of chrome vinyl sheet from ebay. will try if that make a better result.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/150755497182?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649