[hailtothetim]

I did this mod this weekend, looks great. Elegant solution to the standard license plate holders....

[CALuv]

I thought I would post my story (same Bell mounting bracket) since it provides a little insight into a) the stock E92 bumper and b) euro plates (both mentioned in this thread and the latter apparently a point of contention ... is it +1, is it -1 ... who ***ing cares?).

Anyway, first I tried this thread's approach ... no drilling sure sounds nice, especially in light of the recent BP accident. Sooo ... apparently the stock bumper's lower "grille" is quite flimsy and the bracket was bouncing around like ... well, you know. I can only imagine it would look ridiculous driving down the road and oncoming traffic only being able to see the plate text vibrating to the point of being illegible ... and potentially disorienting, and ... *crash*!

Then I tried FrankiE90's approach. Now that's sturdy! My bracket installation is identical but I used a euro-sized plate (pretty much looks like what should appear in my sig/profile). The cheap plastic frame it came with had enough of a margin at the bottom to drill through the plastic at the US plates' standard mounting locations.

I just wish I had known ahead of time about the stock bumper not being a good fit for the no-drilling approach. It was a b**h to get the screws in there with the washers, then get the screw's thread through the bracket, get the nut on there ... add to that a sweltering Texas day ... anyway.

So, for those out there interested ... a) don't do it on the stock bumper (unless they make them sturdier these days ... mine is an 07 ... it has a lot of flex ... check yours) ... b) euro plates work just as well ... just make sure the frame they're in has room for the mounting screws (I used the hex ones from the kit).

Thanks, OP, for the sticky foam pad idea ... I was given a bunch a while back for furniture but I have stone floors so I didn't really care ... they finally came in handy!

I will post a picture in the near future ... I should have washed the car before this undertaking so it's not quite presentable and I know how you guys like purdy pictures ... and b), I know you guys are quite the sticklers about details and my work looks like a kindergarten art project. I'm hoping under the proper light and with a little photoshop I won't get flamed for symmetry, alignment and all that jazz.

Best,
CA Luv

[beneliezer]

wow sorry delete...

[BSME90]

I installed that Bell License plate holder and it started rusting so I ditched it for this.


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[Tiago@VRSF]

link?

[GTiceman]

I did my Bell holder about a week ago and so far so good ... I probably will be doing the swift motorsports motorized mount in the future

[CALuv]

That is sweet! I wouldn't want to drive it like that all the time as it appears that it seriously blocks airflow to the I/C but it would be funny to mess with law enforcement and extend the plate as you get pulled over for no front plate. "What the ....?"

[BSME90]

Originally Posted by CALuv

That is sweet! I wouldn't want to drive it like that all the time as it appears that it seriously blocks airflow to the I/C but it would be funny to mess with law enforcement and extend the plate as you get pulled over for no front plate. "What the ....?"

Funny story, I have actually gotten pulled over for no front plate. As the cop was telling me he didn't see a front plate, I flipped the plate out and told him. He walked in front of my car, saw it, came back to me, apologized, and let me go.

[CALuv]

Originally Posted by BSME90

Funny story, I have actually gotten pulled over for no front plate. As the cop was telling me he didn't see a front plate, I flipped the plate out and told him. He walked in front of my car, saw it, came back to me, apologized, and let me go.

Nice! It's funny but, man, that takes some serious balls ... you better hope cops have a sense of humor in MN because they're bound to figure it out eventually and I know some places (like in Massachusetts where State Troopers graduate from the SS Academy), they would flip out. Cops here in Texas are cool ... they believe in service with a smile ... they don't mind handing out $200-300 tickets because it's a big boost to the local economy and they know it. "Nice doin' business with ya, pardner!" They will even dismiss the ticket in court and just let you pay an "admin fee" equal to the cost of the ticket. They don't want your insurance premium to be affected so that your driving doesn't improve and your money doesn't go elsewhere!

[Bimmermaniac]

I am highly considering this option as well as the flip out option. Do you have a link to this product (the flip out plate)?

I told the dealer before I bought my car if they drill holes in my bumper I will ask for the car for free... they did not drill any holes in my car.

For all you California folks, and also those who are cool this is a link to a petition to eliminate the requirement for having the plate in the front. I am sure it will go nowhere, but as the great Wayne G. said "you miss every shot you don't take."

http://www.petitiononline.com/caplate/petition.html

[CALuv]

Originally Posted by Bimmermaniac

I am highly considering this option as well as the flip out option. Do you have a link to this product (the flip out plate)?

I told the dealer before I bought my car if they drill holes in my bumper I will ask for the car for free... they did not drill any holes in my car.

For all you California folks, and also those who are cool this is a link to a petition to eliminate the requirement for having the plate in the front. I am sure it will go nowhere, but as the great Wayne G. said "you miss every shot you don't take."

http://www.petitiononline.com/caplate/petition.html

The consensus I am getting here in TX is that the front plate is primarily useful to law enforcement to be able to clock you with a speed gun as you approach. They need a flat, metallic surface perpendicular to the line of motion. Without one, it is likely that all they can do is pull you over for possibly speeding and give you a warning or two (I got two last time, for alleged speeding and no front plate). I _never_ got away with warnings before. Then again, I never before had vehicles without front plates!

I can't remember for sure but I believe, in TX, no-front-plate tickets are not considered "moving violations" (like speeding) so they may not be as much trouble for your insurance/driving record. I think I'd rather pay $200 every time I got busted for no plate than risk getting clocked.

[Bimmermaniac]

$25 fix it ticket if you get it signed off, which you can with a tow hook bracket and then remove after getting the ticket signed off in CA.

[turboawdfanatic]

My skene design is holding up great....no rust

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=378800

[AlbinoSnail]

interesting

[snipersix]

im getting one on my trip to san francisco on august

[Edward]

So I just bought this and will try to screw on without taking off the bumper or splash guard. I figure that I can do the reverse and put the screw on the inside and tighten the nut from the outside. Once you screw til you get a little bit of resistance, I don't think it will be necessary to have the nut held in place with a wrench. I figure it's easier to fish the bolt in there instead of holding a tiny nut inside the mesh and trying to thread the bolt through it from the outside. I need to pick up a few washers though.

[T Bimmer]

Originally Posted by Edward

So I just bought this and will try to screw on without taking off the bumper or splash guard. I figure that I can do the reverse and put the screw on the inside and tighten the nut from the outside. Once you screw til you get a little bit of resistance, I don't think it will be necessary to have the nut held in place with a wrench. I figure it's easier to fish the bolt in there instead of holding a tiny nut inside the mesh and trying to thread the bolt through it from the outside. I need to pick up a few washers though.

where did you get it? Very Interested, thanks

[CALuv]

Originally Posted by El Bimmer

where did you get it? Very Interested, thanks

The bracket? You get that at AutoZone. Bell/Adjustable license plate mounting bracket. Part # 46230-8.

BTW, please heed my warning ... the stock bumper's honeycomb is not sturdy at all. The license plate will be bouncing around. It's embarrassing to watch.

[Edward]

Originally Posted by El Bimmer

where did you get it? Very Interested, thanks

Autozone

Originally Posted by CALuv

The bracket? You get that at AutoZone. Bell/Adjustable license plate mounting bracket. Part # 46230-8.

BTW, please heed my warning ... the stock bumper's honeycomb is not sturdy at all. The license plate will be bouncing around. It's embarrassing to watch.

What bumper do you have? I have the newest LCI M-sport bumper for coupes and it looks like this mesh has the largest area and would probably be the flimsiest?

I'm still rocking paper plates only because I want to be totally covered when it comes to not having a front plate. I have not yet gotten around to trying out the Bell holder I bought a while back.

[khaye1]

I have the mtech and the honeycomb is sturdy enough...the stock one on the other hand would be too flimsy, as stated by CALuv

[dtiger]

khaye1, thanks for the tip. I'm ordering it from Amazon.

[wakeboarder109]

I did skip a couple pages in the middle but has anyone successfully installed this without removing the front bumper or splash guard?