When the dealer installed my front license plate they had to drill through the front bumper, in the recessed license plate area.
I was told when I complained about it, that is how the are intended to be mounted. Which I find hard to believe. Can anybody let me know if this in fact Is the correct mounting procedure. If so audi has really drop the ball on this one. TIA

They are 2 available plates that go there. Either the one with an area that a plate can be installed or the one that is plain.
When i bought my car it was sold to me with the one that a plate can be installed. I later bought the plain one. Ill sell you mine for the same price that I bought my plain one if you are interested. let me know.

I do have the plastic piece that has the recessed area for the plate. But my questions is - why does
the dealer have to take out a drill and drill four hole through it so you can mount the plate. I would
think it should come with mounting holes already in place.

A hole is a hole then, in that case.....

They gotta drill a hole. I was astonished as well. I live in a state where the front plate is required. At least they have a special front that accepts the plate that looks right. I've seen worse.

Thanks. I really just can't believe it.

Mine came wit the plain plastic panel -- no place for a license plate.

When I bought the car, I got them to give me the other version of the plastic panel with the indentation intended for mounting a license plate (but only after they bitched about the fact that it should really cost me an addtional $250 -- That's what the parts department sells it for. I live in California and and I pointed out to them that it says right on the MSRP window sticker "License plate holder: FREE." The fact that these jokers threatened to sell me this thing for an addtional $250 after I had just purchased a $50k vehicle from them, is a joke).

Anyway, I intentiaonlly didn't have them install it. I just carried it out of there. I want to continue to run the plain panel/no plate -- at least until I get stopped for not having a front license plate here in CA.

If you wanted to get fancy, I suspect you could probably rig up a way to attach the license plate to the proper/indented panel FIRST (with very short screws and small nuts), and THEN attach the panel to the car (the panel is held to the car with 4 screw fasteners).

But unfortunately, it sounds like it's too late for you. They've alreaady drilled directly into the bumber.

The other problem with the indented panel is that the indentation leaves just enough room for a US license plate -- but no room for a license plate frame. Somebody's not thinking ahead at Audi.

I have a bug shield as well. Who wants a giant frame with someone else's advertising on it anyways?

I got pulled over for no plates, and now I have to show proof of fixing it.

I actually bought some "toggle bolts" and attached the plate to the lower grill.

So I can remove them any time I want without any leftover holes, and put them back on if I get pulled over again.