General Removal of mat studs - any ideas....

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General Removal of mat studs - any ideas....

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Apr 21, 2009
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Ok, so when I ordered my Bravo I asked for a set of mats to be thrown in (as you do), so rather than installing some nice fiat ones, the kind dealers have installed some cheapo mats (oh and only in the front of the car).

So, I have ordered from fiat-accessories.com some nice "Bravo" mats and a bootliner which have arrived promptly today.

Now here's the problem - the original mats fitted by the dealer are secured into the carpet by plastic "studs" to stop them moving around under your feet. Does anyone have any clever ideas on how to remove these from the carpet without tearing it to shreds ?

The problem is that without removing these, the FIAT mats won't sit flat on the carpet.

The studs of mats I've fitted before have spikes and are either in two parts which fold out, they twist into place (have a kinda slot in them to fit) or have two spikes which slide in at a shallow angle.

I've tried gentle pulling/sliding but to no effect. Any ideas on how to get these babies out without resorting to something extreme (like a dremel !)

If it's gonna be too much of a pain in the ass, I'll take the car to the dealer and have them get them out (rather they rip the carpet than me).

Steve.
 
Sorry I have no ideas - but reckon this is outrageous.

You spend an absolutely massive amount of money in a recession and the Dealer has the cheek to pass you off with some cheap tat for mats that stop the proper FIAT ones fitting.

However you solve this I would make a mental note not to buy a new car from this Dealer again. What a stupid way to loose repeat business or recommendation - perhaps they are too busy fixing dodgy mats!
 
Mine came with front-only mats from the factory - I didn't order them. I simply put some cheapo ones in the back.

Shame the 'Bravo' ones don't fit, I will have the same problem and that's ruined my future mat-buying-plans :(
 
Ok, so when I ordered my Bravo I asked for a set of mats to be thrown in (as you do), so rather than installing some nice fiat ones, the kind dealers have installed some cheapo mats (oh and only in the front of the car).

So, I have ordered from fiat-accessories.com some nice "Bravo" mats and a bootliner which have arrived promptly today.

Now here's the problem - the original mats fitted by the dealer are secured into the carpet by plastic "studs" to stop them moving around under your feet. Does anyone have any clever ideas on how to remove these from the carpet without tearing it to shreds ?

The problem is that without removing these, the FIAT mats won't sit flat on the carpet.

The studs of mats I've fitted before have spikes and are either in two parts which fold out, they twist into place (have a kinda slot in them to fit) or have two spikes which slide in at a shallow angle.

I've tried gentle pulling/sliding but to no effect. Any ideas on how to get these babies out without resorting to something extreme (like a dremel !)

If it's gonna be too much of a pain in the ass, I'll take the car to the dealer and have them get them out (rather they rip the carpet than me).

Steve.

I think the "cheapo" mats you got in first place are the original FIAT Bravo mats. And yes, they are cheap and low quality. And only front. But they are Bravo's, how else would they fit and click so smoothly to the floor?

I got my car with the same pair as you, and I have the Sport, just as you.

The ones you order from FIAT Accessories are "special" ones with Bravo plates and I don't think you were ever supposed to get your car with them.
 
An interesting discussion.

I'm starting to wonder if these were originally factory fitted:
1) for cheapo mats they are very good fit (ie. the right shape for the footwell)
2) they have the fixing studs on both the left and right side whereas most mats only have the studs on the drivers side (ie. maybe they're designed in for both LHD & RHD variants)?

Steve
 
What's the chance my dealer to put exactly the same cheapo mats in my car, if they're not factory ones? These are the original Bravo mats IMHO.

I agree, these could be original mats, but if so then...
1) Why do Fiat sell "Bravo" emblem mats ?
2) Why do the "Bravo" emblem mats have different fixings to the original ones?
3) Why are the original ones thin & flimsy whereas the "Bravo" emblem ones seem much thicker & hard-wearing?

At least if the fixings were the same it would make sense :bang:
Steve.
 
I agree, these could be original mats, but if so then...
1) Why do Fiat sell "Bravo" emblem mats ?
2) Why do the "Bravo" emblem mats have different fixings to the original ones?
3) Why are the original ones thin & flimsy whereas the "Bravo" emblem ones seem much thicker & hard-wearing?

At least if the fixings were the same it would make sense :bang:
Steve.

1) To take your money :)
2) That's really strange, I was thinking about getting a pair, but I am not sure now, since I'll not be able to fix them
3) To make you want better ones and [see 1)]

:)
 
just wondering the same thing myself - Ive got some Bravo factory ones but the hole cutouts in these dont line up with the 2 plastic covers in the carpet and Im buggered if I can get these off as well, they turn but dont rise, might have a go later with a little upward force applied (Knife behind cover to lever it up:eek: )
 
Why not just put the new ones over the cheap ones? I know that's not the greatest idea ever, but do you think this may work?

Because he said it makes them have a big bump that gets in the way if he does that.

I would suggest marching straight back to the dealer and asking why the hell they vandalised your brand new car.
 
just wondering the same thing myself - Ive got some Bravo factory ones but the hole cutouts in these dont line up with the 2 plastic covers in the carpet and Im buggered if I can get these off as well, they turn but dont rise, might have a go later with a little upward force applied (Knife behind cover to lever it up:eek: )

@ Juliet Bravo: Thankyou - at least I know it's not just me going insane over this. Will be interested to hear if you succeed.

@Whitebravo: I need to go to the dealers to order a touch-up stick so will get them on the case.

Steve.
 
My sport came with factory fit front mats, secured by the studs in the carpet.
I won some "Bravo" mats on e-bay and as you all say the fixing points are different. :bang:
All I did was to cut the Nipple part of the original floor fixing off and use the fixings that came with the "Bravo" mats to secure the drivers mat. They just screw in.
This has left me with flat fitting "Bravo" mats (no humps).
Initially had a few isues with messing about with the cars original clips, but now they are under the new mats. What the eye doesn't see......etc.
Shame they can't standardize fixing points though.
 
Because he said it makes them have a big bump that gets in the way if he does that.

I would suggest marching straight back to the dealer and asking why the hell they vandalised your brand new car.

No, he said he cannot remove the old ones and put the new ones because of the bumps. That's not what I suggested. I meant putting the new ones over the old ones (no bumps in that case).

What about removing the clips from the cheapo ones and somehow put them on the new ones?
 
Hi there, new forum member here, we've got our very first car 2 months ago – a 10 reg T-Jet 150 Sport – and are generally very happy with the purchase.

Funny that I found this very old thread after trying to fit my original "Bravo" emblem mats got from eBay. I have a Sport model too with the studs and since the original mats were so worn so I decided to replace them. Just like fellow forum members I too found that the fixing holes and the fastener mechanism is different and I could not remove the original studs from the floor. So what I did was that I cut tiny holes in the correct positions and took out the pins from the original mats and installed them onto the new mats. This worked very well for the passenger side mat but for the driver's side I could only install the one on the left hand side as the right hand side hole overlaps with the original's stud position.

What a shame that they changed the layout but anyways I am glad I got it more secured. The new mat set's bottom is at least not slippery so it should hold well even with one stud used for fastening. Time will tell, anyways.
 
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