Retractible license plate for states with front plate laws

SaviorXi · 01-17-2013, 11:11 PM

I purchased an aftermarket mtech rep bumper for my 335i Xdrive and it did not come with a front license plate bracket. I love the clean front of the e92 BMW so I didn't want to drill into the new bumper causing holes and block the intercooler. I live in NJ and it is state law to have a front license plate. I drove around for 3 months and after 3 improper display of plate tickets I looked for a solution. I ended up purchasing the show n go retractable license plate frame on ebay for $129.00. The Show & Go license transport allows you to display or stow away the front license "for show" by simply pushing the key chain remote button from inside or outside the car. The system can be installed by anyone with reasonable mechanical skills and hand tools. The radio receiver is easily mounted under the hood, and connects to the vehicle battery and the license transport mechanism which is mounted under the front bumper. No wiring through the vehicle dash is required. The build quality seems good and the install was fairly easy with basic tools. Overall I am pleased and it hopefully will solve my troubles with the LAW.

EJ_3 · 01-18-2013, 01:18 AM

Nice, very 007ish! How does it hold up at high way speeds with the tag up?

JGMODS · 01-18-2013, 02:01 AM

That's awesome!

SaviorXi · 01-18-2013, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manny_World

Nice, very 007ish! How does it hold up at high way speeds with the tag up?

I have not used it on the highway with it up since I purchased it so I can drive with it down and only raise it if I get pulled over. I would imagine it would be strong since the wind force would keep it pinned back to the bumper. Just don't go 80mph in reverse.

SaviorXi · 01-18-2013, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JGMODS

That's awesome!

Thanks. It looks even better since it is mounted to an Mtech Rep painted and perfected from JGmods.

VTECaddict · 01-18-2013, 02:33 AM

Cool concept, but I would scrape that off in no time...

SaviorXi · 01-18-2013, 03:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VTECaddict

Cool concept, but I would scrape that off in no time...

The cool thing is that the location of the bracket is in the notch on the Mtech bumper so if you scrape the bracket you scrape the bumper. It is actually further from the ground than the lower lip center of the bumper.

DC_Oldboy · 01-18-2013, 03:49 AM

Lol I want one now. =) But I don't think it'll work on my M3 bumper with a lip. =/

JYohay · 01-18-2013, 10:50 AM

i had this on my audi S5 back in the day (3 years ago haha).
Alterativly you can mount it to the top of the center lower grill (this is what most people do....search around this is not a new innovation)
that works on all 3 series bumper including M3, Mtech, and OEM.
some people who are performance oriented may not like that it blocks part of the intercooler though.
Be careful with putting it up when you get pulled over.
Cops hate nothing more then when you try to pull a fast one on them.
You dont think they will realize what you did, especially with where you have it located.
If you had it center mounted you may be able to get away with it, but its quite obvious that its a moving bracket when you look at it.

SaviorXi · 01-18-2013, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JYohay

i had this on my audi S5 back in the day (3 years ago haha).
Alterativly you can mount it to the top of the center lower grill (this is what most people do....search around this is not a new innovation)
that works on all 3 series bumper including M3, Mtech, and OEM.
some people who are performance oriented may not like that it blocks part of the intercooler though.
Be careful with putting it up when you get pulled over.
Cops hate nothing more then when you try to pull a fast one on them.
You dont think they will realize what you did, especially with where you have it located.
If you had it center mounted you may be able to get away with it, but its quite obvious that its a moving bracket when you look at it.

Thanks for the insight. I was thinking that I would leave it down and say I forgot to raise it at the car wash. I looked at all possible mounting locations but the center location did not have enough room since my helix inter cooler would have caused the bracket to stick out to far and as you said when in the up position it would block airflow to the inter cooler.

JYohay · 01-18-2013, 01:53 PM

on the audi i never put it up and then on valentines day last year i got pulled over for it and had been drinking so it wasnt the time to play around being a wise ass.
goodluck!

roccob1123 · 01-20-2013, 06:05 PM

Nice man interesting fix for that issue.

stadtjunge · 03-07-2013, 06:39 PM

can you keep us updated on this one? I was reading some of the reviews on Amazon and it seemed to have very mixed reviews.

Have you gone through a car wash with it yet?

SaviorXi · 03-09-2013, 07:58 PM

Mine has been holding up great. Car wash is no problem. I did not used the mounting screws that came with the kit. I used my own nuts, bolts, and washers to ensure security. I also used hose clamp to hold on the rubber sleeve that protects the motor.

stadtjunge · 03-19-2013, 11:45 AM

have you scraped it yet parking or going up steep driveways? It didn't get the best reviews on amazon.

SaviorXi · 03-19-2013, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stadtjunge

have you scraped it yet parking or going up steep driveways? It didn't get the best reviews on amazon.

Nope. I installed it in the bend of the Mtech bumper so if it hits that would mean I ripped my bumper off.

01-17-2013, 11:11 PM	#1
SaviorXi Lieutenant 21 Rep 578 Posts Drives: 2009 335i xDrive coupe Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Dirty South Jersey iTrader: (1) Garage List 2009 335i Xdrive Coupe [10.00]	Retractible license plate for states with front plate laws I purchased an aftermarket mtech rep bumper for my 335i Xdrive and it did not come with a front license plate bracket. I love the clean front of the e92 BMW so I didn't want to drill into the new bumper causing holes and block the intercooler. I live in NJ and it is state law to have a front license plate. I drove around for 3 months and after 3 improper display of plate tickets I looked for a solution. I ended up purchasing the show n go retractable license plate frame on ebay for $129.00. The Show & Go license transport allows you to display or stow away the front license "for show" by simply pushing the key chain remote button from inside or outside the car. The system can be installed by anyone with reasonable mechanical skills and hand tools. The radio receiver is easily mounted under the hood, and connects to the vehicle battery and the license transport mechanism which is mounted under the front bumper. No wiring through the vehicle dash is required. The build quality seems good and the install was fairly easy with basic tools. Overall I am pleased and it hopefully will solve my troubles with the LAW. Last edited by SaviorXi; 03-26-2013 at 08:21 PM..
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01-18-2013, 01:18 AM	#2
EJ_3 Colonel 371 Rep 2,838 Posts Drives: e92 335i, e34 525i & e60 530i Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: N Las Vegas iTrader: (13) Garage List 2007 BMW 335i [8.34] 2016 Ram 1500 Sport [8.00] 1994 BMW 525i [10.00] 2007 BMW 530i [8.66]	Nice, very 007ish! How does it hold up at high way speeds with the tag up? __________________ click here for mods
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01-18-2013, 02:01 AM	#3
JGMODS Banned 239 Rep 3,708 Posts Drives: E90 335i Modded Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: US iTrader: (19) Garage List 2007 BMW 335I [0.00] 2007 BMW 335i [6.88]	That's awesome!
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01-18-2013, 02:33 AM	#6
VTECaddict Where'd my VTEC go? 479 Rep 6,067 Posts Drives: 06 330i 6MT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (4)	Cool concept, but I would scrape that off in no time... __________________ AW/Terra \| ZSP \| ZPP \| ZCW \| iDrive \| CA Mods: BC BR coilovers \| Blacklines \| M-tech rear \| dual exhaust \| M3 steering wheel \| BMW SSK \| ZHP shift knob \| High-kick CF spoiler \| NBT Retrofit M3 front control arms \| M3 rear guide rods \| Manzo rear toe and camber links \| Monroe rear shock mounts \| Varrstoen ES1 19x9.5+20 Front, 19x11+25 rear
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01-18-2013, 03:49 AM	#8
DC_Oldboy Q(.)-D Q-(^.~Q) 214 Rep 5,378 Posts Drives: like an old person. Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bothell, WA iTrader: (39) Garage List 2006 BMW 330i [8.48]	Lol I want one now. =) But I don't think it'll work on my M3 bumper with a lip. =/ __________________
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01-18-2013, 10:50 AM	#9
JYohay Banned 42 Rep 2,009 Posts Drives: 2011 X5 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: NY iTrader: (3)	i had this on my audi S5 back in the day (3 years ago haha). Alterativly you can mount it to the top of the center lower grill (this is what most people do....search around this is not a new innovation) that works on all 3 series bumper including M3, Mtech, and OEM. some people who are performance oriented may not like that it blocks part of the intercooler though. Be careful with putting it up when you get pulled over. Cops hate nothing more then when you try to pull a fast one on them. You dont think they will realize what you did, especially with where you have it located. If you had it center mounted you may be able to get away with it, but its quite obvious that its a moving bracket when you look at it.
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01-18-2013, 01:53 PM	#11
JYohay Banned 42 Rep 2,009 Posts Drives: 2011 X5 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: NY iTrader: (3)	on the audi i never put it up and then on valentines day last year i got pulled over for it and had been drinking so it wasnt the time to play around being a wise ass. goodluck!
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01-20-2013, 06:05 PM	#12
roccob1123 Second Lieutenant 15 Rep 218 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 328xi Coupe Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	Nice man interesting fix for that issue.
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03-07-2013, 06:39 PM	#13
stadtjunge Second Lieutenant 33 Rep 249 Posts Drives: 2016 M3 ZCP Join Date: May 2011 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (0)	can you keep us updated on this one? I was reading some of the reviews on Amazon and it seemed to have very mixed reviews. Have you gone through a car wash with it yet? __________________ 2016 M3 ZCP DCT 2016 Touareg TDi Executive
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03-09-2013, 07:58 PM	#14
SaviorXi Lieutenant 21 Rep 578 Posts Drives: 2009 335i xDrive coupe Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Dirty South Jersey iTrader: (1) Garage List 2009 335i Xdrive Coupe [10.00]	Mine has been holding up great. Car wash is no problem. I did not used the mounting screws that came with the kit. I used my own nuts, bolts, and washers to ensure security. I also used hose clamp to hold on the rubber sleeve that protects the motor.
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03-19-2013, 11:45 AM	#15
stadtjunge Second Lieutenant 33 Rep 249 Posts Drives: 2016 M3 ZCP Join Date: May 2011 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (0)	have you scraped it yet parking or going up steep driveways? It didn't get the best reviews on amazon. __________________ 2016 M3 ZCP DCT 2016 Touareg TDi Executive
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