cpe towplate not fitting UK Bumper. Help!

[mikie]

hello guys im new to this forum, im from the uk and have owned my mazdaspeed 3 for about 5 months now. i recently bought the cpe tow plate and tried to fit it the other day and soon realised that the small threaded shaft that screws into the tow hook hole is too short to reach the tow plate. it is 4inches in length but by looking at it i think it should be at least 5 or 6. is there anyone on here that could possibly measure the part you got so i know i have the correct parts. iv contacted cpe directly and they assure me i have the correct parts but what else could it be? it also says on my tow plate ms3 g2 so i know this part is ok. thanks in advance any help would be great

mikie

[Vader]

There should be a piece that threads into the bumper. Then, an Allen screw that secures the towplate to the bumper.

Do you have pics?

[ZPrice]

Donate and mine fits fine, it is roughly 4 inches from the end of the threads to the top of the hex portion. Screw the large piece into the toe hook threads, then attach the plate to that piece.

Z

[mikie]

Originally Posted by Vader There should be a piece that threads into the bumper. Then, an Allen screw that secures the towplate to the bumper. Do you have pics?

yeah i got both parts but the threaded part is too short. if i thread it into my bumper it sits sunk in from the bumper too much so then my towplate does not bolt together with it. even if the towplate is hard against the bumper

[Vader]

[bigriver]

Is the threaded bolt also threaded on the shaft side so you can adjust the length? I would think the instructions would tell you that though. Are you sure you have a Gen 2? Lol.

[lovehumpin]

It seems like it will be too short, its not. it causes the plate to fit very tightly/closely to the bumper. Make sure you use red loctite to avoid any parts from becoming loose. running ofer that would suck dick, esp. if you're lowered.

[Vader]

Originally Posted by mikie yeah i got both parts but the threaded part is too short. if i thread it into my bumper it sits sunk in from the bumper too much so then my towplate does not bolt together with it. even if the towplate is hard against the bumper

Interesting. Don't have an answer for that. Sorry man.

[lovehumpin]

Vader, you're picasso. Fucking brilliant.

[mikie]

nice pik yeah i defo have a gen 2 if i loosen the threaded part off out of the threads then it wont be tight and also still wont reach

that pik is great i will have another go. i could just be seriously stupid!!!

[lovehumpin]

Originally Posted by mikie yeah i got both parts but the threaded part is too short. if i thread it into my bumper it sits sunk in from the bumper too much so then my towplate does not bolt together with it. even if the towplate is hard against the bumper

Maybe you're over torquing the big piece that fits in the bumper. I know I could have tightened it more, try loosening it a tad. If it feels a bit wobbly, take the piece off and wrap the threads vigoriously with some Teflon tape. Make sure you use some medium strength loctite.


Heres an image if you don't know what teflon tape is...It works wonders, I used to use it on my paintball guns all the time. It should be able to make that piece fit snuggly



If you dont want to use that approach use some metal washers/spacers between the actual tow plate and the assembly that fits into the bumper and slide the bolt in. that bolt should be long enough to spare a couble of milimeters and should give you some clearance from your bumper.


Nig rigging is my specialty

[mikie]

Ok so i just tried this again (in the dark) and theres no way it will bolt together. Its like theres about an inch between the end of the threaded shaft to the towplate and thats with the towplate sitting rite against my bumper so its solid. It still sits far too sunk in. Even if i did use washers with it it still wont reach. Is there a possibilty iv been given the threaded part for the gen 1 mazdaspeed? Is it the same size or smaller does anyone know? Also could it be anything else? Also the small part that is welded to the back of the towplate that meats the threaded bolt is about an inch in length does this sound rite?

[bigriver]

Maybe you need to talk to "Peggy" at cpe tech support.

[wankular]

Could the US MS3 and the UK MPS have different front bumpers? I'm pretty sure the back ones are different.

Is this supposed to sit right against your paint? It doesn't scratch?

[mikie]

iv emailed cpe AGAIN! :/ iv also measured the space between the bumper and where the towplate would sit and its about 5-6 inches and the threaded adapter i have is only 4 inches doing my head in!! ill wait and see what cpe say this time.

thanks for all your help folks, ill let you know how i get on

Originally Posted by wankular Could the US MS3 and the UK MPS have different front bumpers? I'm pretty sure the back ones are different. Is this supposed to sit right against your paint? It doesn't scratch?

this is what im starting to think. maybe the uk spec is slightly wider or something im not sure. i dont think its suppose to sit hard against the bumper. surely it must sit abit away from it. is there any way to find out if they do have different bumpers?

[Vader]

It should not sit hard against the bumper. CP-e should fix this for you... In 2 weeks.

[mikie]

Originally Posted by Vader It should not sit hard against the bumper. CP-e should fix this for you... In 2 weeks.

im guessing that was a joke ''2 weeks'' but since im in uk it will prob tyake 2 weeks at least. if wat has been said is rite and the ms3 and 3 mps bumpers are different then they will either tell me to fuk off or make one that fits the uk spec mps. hopefully they sort it out for me because the person i spoke to yesterday was pretty useless :/

[SLOWHATCH]

This is strange. When I had mine installed, the piece that threads into the bumper (crash beam) sits in far enough that I could actually leave that piece installed and re install the little bumper piece back in.

Worked so good when I sold my cp-e tow plate I actually forgot to send it with the rest of the stuff lol.

[Nliiitend1]

Originally Posted by wankular Could the US MS3 and the UK MPS have different front bumpers? I'm pretty sure the back ones are different. Is this supposed to sit right against your paint? It doesn't scratch?

Or maybe the tow hook is in a slightly different spot on the 3 MPS vs. the MS3...

[mikie]

Originally Posted by SLOWHATCH This is strange. When I had mine installed, the piece that threads into the bumper (crash beam) sits in far enough that I could actually leave that piece installed and re install the little bumper piece back in. Worked so good when I sold my cp-e tow plate I actually forgot to send it with the rest of the stuff lol.

I could also do this but mine sits way too much in. Could possibly be the small round part welded to the back of the plate is too short

[bigriver]

Post some pics

[mikie]

The only pics i have are on my iphone and i dont know if i can upload from it. I can transfer to my laptop then upload but will do it tomorow. Need some sleep got work in 5 hours

[bigriver]

Use tapatalk app. There is an advanced option screen that lets you upload from your photo gallery on the phone.

[lovehumpin]

yeah in for pics....Lets see them

[mikie]

Ok so i took some pics today at work. Let me know what u think

[Nliiitend1]

I'm thinking that the part that says "MPS" is different enough from (and sticks out further than) the part that is on North American MS3s just enough to make it not work...

Anyone else (I don't have a GenPu so I can't be certain what the NA spec front bumper looks like in detail)?

[Raider]

@rfinkle2 might be able to confirm...

[mikie]

Yeah i would agree. The fact that cpe are not replying to my emails and dont seem to give a fuck is more annoying than not being able to use it

[Raider]

@Grumpyjap has an amazing way of getting them to help people. Hoping he can see this.

[Nliiitend1]

So, can I ask why you purchased a tow plate that is shaped for a North American license plate when you have a front plate that is of the European form factor?

[breakfstincluded]

Originally Posted by lovehumpin Maybe you're over torquing the big piece that fits in the bumper. I know I could have tightened it more, try loosening it a tad. If it feels a bit wobbly, take the piece off and wrap the threads vigoriously with some Teflon tape. Make sure you use some medium strength loctite. Heres an image if you don't know what teflon tape is...It works wonders, I used to use it on my paintball guns all the time. It should be able to make that piece fit snuggly If you dont want to use that approach use some metal washers/spacers between the actual tow plate and the assembly that fits into the bumper and slide the bolt in. that bolt should be long enough to spare a couble of milimeters and should give you some clearance from your bumper. Nig rigging is my specialty

+1 for using it to seal threads on my tippmann

[mikie]

Well i didnt know it wouldnt fit obv, if u are meaning the shape of the plate is different you can get away with square plates in the uk as long as the sizing is ok. The plate i have made for the towplate isnt legal but should be ok. I work in a garage so mot is not a problem and the plate does look legit, just smaller than usual

[Vader]

All specs, from all countries say overall length of car is 177.6" or 4510mm

And all comparo pics, show the bumpers are the same.

[mikie]

Strange :/ anyone any ideas for the best way to takle cpe? Would they start making one that will fit? Suppose it would depend how much interest there was. Is there any way somebody could screw in there tow hook and see if yours stick out as much as mine in the picture?

[lovehumpin]

Originally Posted by breakfstincluded +1 for using it to seal threads on my tippmann

BAH HAHAHA good ole' tippmann 98 customs. A-Bomb intimidator....what what! come@mebro.com

[breakfstincluded]

hehe tippmann 98 custom, creates mod addiction.

Haven't gotten to port and polish yet though XD

[bigriver]

Get Smart: Missed it by that much - YouTube

Get Smart: Missed it by that much - YouTube

Looks like the MPS tow hook goes deeper. Maybe someone can take a pic of their tow hook inside the bumper. I can take one when I get home since I need to adjust my corksport plate holder.

[mikie]

Yeah your rite buddy. Cpe just got back to me and they have confirmed they are the correct parts but the mps bper is slightly bigger than the ms3 does anyone have any idea how i could modify the parts to make it fit?

[bigriver]

Another idea maybe is to find a coupling nut and matching set screw (headless bolt) to extend the length if the shaft.

[mikie]

Sorry im thick as fuk, can u say that again, i need pictures