Anyone remove front license plate - pictures?

farjo08 · Wed, Feb-25-2004, 06:31:19 AM

I was just curious if anyone here that was unfortunte enough to have the dealer drill in the front license plate removed it and has pictures showing your solution to the problem.

I have done searches here and at roadfly and unfortunately there does not appear to be a single good solution.

I took off my plate 2 weeks ago to take a look and there are two small holes int the groove on the bumper (so it's not flush). To make matters worse, they look like little nipples since the drill pulls against the bumper when being removed.

I saw one picture where someone used the bumperplugs and drilled bigger holes to mount, but the picture wasn't that clear and they can't be flush with the bumper so it is hard to tell how they really look.

Seeing pictures of other cars here, without the license plate, is starting to annoy me when I look at my car but outside of getting a new bumper or having a body shop fill them (both pretty expensive just to plug to holes) I really have not been convinced on any solutions out there.

So I am just wondering if anyone here actually removed them, could explain what you did and post pictures as to how it looks.

Thanks,
John

ggs · Wed, Feb-25-2004, 01:07:31 PM

Can't really provide a solution, but after listening to you, I think that I'll just take the risk and skip the front plates on my just purchased M3, even though I live in a two plate state....

Sick M3 · Wed, Feb-25-2004, 01:30:36 PM

If you already have holes in your bumper, here's the solution.

http://www.geocities.com/esklut/plugs.html

Once in the site, on the right side is the "Site Shortcuts" drop down menu. Select "Non-Porsche Info". Read the paragraph and click on the words "Color Match". It's hard to see. Gives you a list of colors available for BMW and other cars.

M3Man · Wed, Feb-25-2004, 01:32:33 PM

Mine never had one, and I never put one on.

billy grant · Wed, Feb-25-2004, 03:20:11 PM

Are you sure about the body shop fix? Unless you got an actual quote, I bet it is cheaper than you think.

It's like me and the shark fin on my car. I can't stop looking at it and it never ceases to bother me. Other people don't even notice it. getting plugs might be the best idea.

MMMGood · Wed, Feb-25-2004, 03:23:37 PM

My dealer never drills holes in the front bumpers of the M cars. Not a problem for me...good luck with a solution though.. I don't have any advice unless you just put a cool custom plate on the front...

RSTM3 · Wed, Feb-25-2004, 03:33:57 PM

John,

Did you buy it at Ralph Schomp?

I bought mine there and told them up and down not to install the front plate. Lo and behold I come to look at my car and it has the front plates installed.

I went to the Sales Manager and gave him a piece of my mind.

Well they took car of it and the hole is gone. The bumper looks like nothing was ever mounted. Not sure if they fixed the holes or swapped the front bumper with another CB that was on the lot.

Cabby · Wed, Feb-25-2004, 03:34:39 PM

**Hyolee** · Wed, Feb-25-2004, 03:54:48 PM

oh c r a p

those plugs do look ghey.... lesson learned- don't put plates on the front.

farjo08 · Wed, Feb-25-2004, 04:36:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RSTM3
John,

Did you buy it at Ralph Schomp?

I bought mine there and told them up and down not to install the front plate. Lo and behold I come to look at my car and it has the front plates installed.

I went to the Sales Manager and gave him a piece of my mind.

Well they took car of it and the hole is gone. The bumper looks like nothing was ever mounted. Not sure if they fixed the holes or swapped the front bumper with another CB that was on the lot.

I bought my car when I lived in NY. They didn't ask about the license plate install and I never even thought about it until after I had the car and started seeing them without the plates and how much better they looked. Of course by them, with the time that had passed, it would have been too late to do anything about it, but I know someone who bought an M5 at the same place and they put the plate on saying it was required by law in NY and their policy is that they won't let a car leave the lot without the plate.

Not sure how hard he tried to convince them otherwise, but he is a pretty persausive guy, so not sure how I would have done requesting the same.

Wed, Feb-25-2004, 06:31:19 AM	#1
farjo08 I Am The Pulse Of The Maggots! Join Date: Oct 2003 Age: 40 Posts: 371 Reputation: 0 Location: Westminster, CO	Anyone remove front license plate - pictures? I was just curious if anyone here that was unfortunte enough to have the dealer drill in the front license plate removed it and has pictures showing your solution to the problem. I have done searches here and at roadfly and unfortunately there does not appear to be a single good solution. I took off my plate 2 weeks ago to take a look and there are two small holes int the groove on the bumper (so it's not flush). To make matters worse, they look like little nipples since the drill pulls against the bumper when being removed. I saw one picture where someone used the bumperplugs and drilled bigger holes to mount, but the picture wasn't that clear and they can't be flush with the bumper so it is hard to tell how they really look. Seeing pictures of other cars here, without the license plate, is starting to annoy me when I look at my car but outside of getting a new bumper or having a body shop fill them (both pretty expensive just to plug to holes) I really have not been convinced on any solutions out there. So I am just wondering if anyone here actually removed them, could explain what you did and post pictures as to how it looks. Thanks, John __________________ 2002 M3 Coupe (Carbon Black / Gray Leather Interior) - Manual Transmission All options except Navigation and Park Distance Control 20GB Phatbox & Universal Transceiver with Homelink Painted Front Reflectors, Blacked Out Kidney Grills, Blacked Out Side Grills, Painted Drivers Side Keyhole Cover, Solaris Invisibulbs, Hoen Xenomatch Fog Lights & Phosphyre Halos (Angel Eyes) Interior Xenon Lighting, M-TEC Pedals, M-TEC e-Brake Handle, Aluminum Steering Wheel Trim, Hardwired V-1 with Concealed Display & Window Tint

Wed, Feb-25-2004, 01:30:36 PM	#3
Sick M3 Drive like you stole it... Join Date: Dec 2003 Age: 54 Posts: 318 Reputation: 0 Location: IH-10, Exit 611	Bumper Plugs If you already have holes in your bumper, here's the solution. http://www.geocities.com/esklut/plugs.html Once in the site, on the right side is the "Site Shortcuts" drop down menu. Select "Non-Porsche Info". Read the paragraph and click on the words "Color Match". It's hard to see. Gives you a list of colors available for BMW and other cars.

Wed, Feb-25-2004, 01:32:33 PM	#4
M3Man M AZING Join Date: May 2003 Age: 29 Posts: 2,921 Reputation: 0 Location: Peoria, Illinois	Mine never had one, and I never put one on. __________________ -Josh Current ///M: 2002 Carbon Black ///M3 Coupe Factory Options: Black Leather, Six-Speed Manual, Bi-Xenon Headlights, Navigation, Premium and Cold Weather Packages. Modifications/Accessories: 21% Tint, Carbon Fiber Interior, AC Schnitzer Pedals, Passport 8500 Hardwired, UUC Short Shifter, UUC Big Boy Clutch Stop, and DDE Angel Eyes, Clear Corner Lenses, Xenon Interior Lights Kit, ///M Headrest Stickers, Hoen Xenon Fog Lights, Solaris Signal Bulbs, Homelink System, ///M3 Trunk Mat, CDV Removal..... To the optimist, the glass is half full. To the pessimist, the glass is half empty. To the engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

Wed, Feb-25-2004, 03:23:37 PM	#6
MMMGood Speed is life..... Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 490 Reputation: 0 Location: OH	My dealer never drills holes in the front bumpers of the M cars. Not a problem for me...good luck with a solution though.. I don't have any advice unless you just put a cool custom plate on the front... __________________ Current: '03 IR M3, HK, Aluminum, Black Leather, Moonroof, 6-speed. '86 Lingenfelter 'Vette '85 VF500F Interceptor, racing fairing, Cobra F1R exhaust. Retired Rides: '86 Honda Shadow 1100VT '00 323Ci '01 Boxster '02 VW GTI VR6

Wed, Feb-25-2004, 03:33:57 PM	#7
RSTM3 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 1,362 Reputation: 0 Location: Death Star	John, Did you buy it at Ralph Schomp? I bought mine there and told them up and down not to install the front plate. Lo and behold I come to look at my car and it has the front plates installed. I went to the Sales Manager and gave him a piece of my mind. Well they took car of it and the hole is gone. The bumper looks like nothing was ever mounted. Not sure if they fixed the holes or swapped the front bumper with another CB that was on the lot. __________________

Wed, Feb-25-2004, 01:07:31 PM	#2
ggs Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 342 Reputation: 0 Location: Naperville, IL	Can't really provide a solution, but after listening to you, I think that I'll just take the risk and skip the front plates on my just purchased M3, even though I live in a two plate state....

Wed, Feb-25-2004, 03:20:11 PM	#5
billy grant Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 344 Reputation: 0	Are you sure about the body shop fix? Unless you got an actual quote, I bet it is cheaper than you think. It's like me and the shark fin on my car. I can't stop looking at it and it never ceases to bother me. Other people don't even notice it. getting plugs might be the best idea.

Wed, Feb-25-2004, 03:34:39 PM	#8
Cabby Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Age: 36 Posts: 534 Reputation: 0 Location: NOVA	__________________

Wed, Feb-25-2004, 03:54:48 PM	#9
Hyolee No M3 moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 12,271 Reputation: 16 Location: back in NY	oh c r a p those plugs do look ghey.... lesson learned- don't put plates on the front.

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