$10 No-hole License Plate Mod

[ryankokesh]

My zhp is now officially registered in Illinois. I grew up in Indiana, and love the state for not making me deface my beautiful front bumper with a drab, out of place state plate. It's not a big surprise to me or anything that IL requires a front plate, but it really sank in when the DMV lady handed me the two pre-packaged plates and recited her phrase, "Now Illinois is a two-plate state! One on the front of the car, one on the back. If you don't have one on the front, you are eligible to be ticketed." You could tell she told everyone the same exact speil the same exact way. It had that I've-said-this-so-much-I-emphasize-weird-parts-of-the-sentence ring to it. She went on to explain about the little sticker you put on the back plate, but by that time I for some reason stopped paying so much attention. Probably because I'm not an idiot and can figure out how to put a sticker on a license plate. But, the fact that I didn't really listen was evident when I later asked her why there were two plates but only one sticker...

So anyway, I've always told myself I would never drill into a bumper. I'm morally opposed to this, which I'm sure all of you totally understand. I think it was drilled into me as a child. (see what I did there??) My parents, for example, made the vw dealership replace the entire front bumper on their new passat because it came pre-drilled. That was quite an ordeal...

On the way home from the DMV I stopped at AutoZone and found this bad boy (http://www.autozone.com/autozone/accessories/Bell-Adjustable-license-plate-mounting-bracket/_/N-255s?itemIdentifier=761575):
http://just.razzi.me/photos/440583/19b8856.jpg


It attaches to stuff, say the grill of the zhp bumper, like so:
http://just.razzi.me/photos/440585/19b8856.jpg


I did need to make a stop at Home Depot and spend $1.50 on this hardware that wasn't included with the Bell Mount:
http://just.razzi.me/photos/440584/19b8856.jpg


The plate kind of hits the car, so I temporarily stuck some of this 3M tape on the back of the plate to make sure it doesn't scratch it. I still have to come up with a better solution, because the tape I have is double sided... i just want it to be soft on one side. So for now I just left the backing on.
http://just.razzi.me/photos/440587/19b8856.jpg

http://just.razzi.me/photos/440589/19b8856.jpg

Done! Total cost, about $10.
http://just.razzi.me/photos/440590/19b8856.jpg

[Hornung418]

Meh...I don't see why you just don't mount it with the trim insert, or mount that bracket in the tow-hook bolt. It just seems to be more in the way than if it was mounted normally :dunno

[ryankokesh]

Cause I didn't think of that.

[Hornung418]

So here's what you do:

Take tow-hook to your favorite hardware store and find the corresponding bolt and fit it to your bracket. Then you drill two holes in the sides of your plate and mount it to the bracket. Problem solved :)

[HokieZHP]

Creative but I feel like the plate will end up bending back some and scratching up your bumper on the highway at high speed.

[ryankokesh]

That's why I added the tape to the back of plate.

[zj96sc]

$5 that cracks your mesh insert.

Like where your head is at, just don't think this is going to give you any longevity.

[jreyes19]

hmmm very creative
looks great but would adjust it to what Hornung suggested as to avoid any scratching and or mesh damage

i would do it if i didnt live in florida where we are only required to have one plate in the rear :)

[ryankokesh]

Yeah, that's what I would have liked to do, but it seems you can't just go get a bolt to fit the tow hook hole. Apparently it's a strange thread pattern or something.

[zj96sc]

yeah, its a weird thread:

http://www.bavauto.com/assets/imglib500/72158108670.jpg

probably snag one from a junkyard for a few bucks, saw it off, drill a hole through, go from there. Bet you could finish it up for the same $10.

Regardless, nice thinking out of the box.

[ryankokesh]

Any ideas on how to go about drilling a hole through it? I'd need a tap & die set too, right?

[az3579]

Cause I didn't think of that.

FYI,
I have a license plate trim insert, OEM. It's yours for the cost of shipping, if you feel inclined to go OEM.
Otherwise, I like your idea. :thumbsup

[ryankokesh]

lol, thanks man! I might actually take you up on that. My only concern is cracking the mesh. It really doesn't seem like it will, but I'm kind of afraid now :facepalm

[danewilson77]

They look like ACME threads.

EDIT: And why are we not going to use the tow hook?

[SoarinZHP]

Out of curiosity - why not the official no holes license plate kit?

http://www.gominigo.com/NHLPB-main.html

[ryankokesh]

They look like ACME threads.

EDIT: And why are we not going to use the tow hook?

Huh, never knew what they were called... I've been trying to read a lot about it today and some guy got the screw portion of his c-clamp to fit. :dunno


Out of curiosity - why not the official no holes license plate kit?

http://www.gominigo.com/NHLPB-main.html

I'd love to use that, but it's expensive... I'm trying to be frugul... :(

[danewilson77]

I'd love to use that, but it's expensive... I'm trying to be frugul... :(

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1774715&highlight=license

[SoarinZHP]

Another solution would be to roll without a front plate for a while. Most police won't write a ticket just for the plate. However, if they are writing a ticket for one thing (speeding, rolling stops, etc) you can practically guarantee an added bonus for driving with no front plate...

[ryankokesh]

Yeah, I've considered that. I don't want to temp them though, lol. I have a feeling my tint is too dark as it is.

I looked everywhere at home depot today for a bolt that has similar threads to the tow hook. No dice. Not even close to being any dice.

I did get my clutch stop bolt though...

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[zj96sc]

Try mcmaster

[UdubBadger]

yeah why not either buy the actual plate bracket that goes in the tow hook insert or just get the center plastic one? The point of the offset one is to allow enough air into the lower grille/radiator. The way you did it seems a little counter intuitive because you're not using the oem front plate bracket but you're still blocking the airflow. :dunno

[UdubBadger]

BTW I have an extra OEM one if you want it.

[ryankokesh]

Man, people must keep these things stock piled :)

As much as I want to figure out the tow hook thing myself, I dont think it's going to happen. It's a reaaaally really weird size (M16x3 apparently). McMaster doesn't have it as far as I can tell. I'd probably have to have a shop machine/fab one for me or something. It really doesn't block much air as it is, (looks worse than it is in reality) but I think I might just go oem. bummer.

[UdubBadger]

k you got one or you need mine?

[ryankokesh]

I'll probably take yours if it's really an extra.

[zj96sc]

Just find a junkyard and snag one. I bet those things are a dime a dozen if you know where to look.

edit: the tow hook that is

[UdubBadger]

well its not an "extra" but I don't need it cuz I have the tow hook mounted bracket.

If you want it how does $20 sound to help with my gas tank fundage?

[ryankokesh]

Sounds like a sweet deal. I think I actually found a rod with the correct thread size to make the tow hook mount though, so I'm gonna be looking into that a bit more first...

[UdubBadger]

k

[kayger12]

Another solution would be to roll without a front plate for a while. Most police won't write a ticket just for the plate.

This-- and as others have said, for the once in a blue moon that you get ticketed, think of it as a beauty tax...

[ryankokesh]

Well, coming from an officer.... Lol :)


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[kayger12]

Lol-- just giving the honest opinion instead of the "company" one. :biggrin

[UdubBadger]

Tickets here are $150 for no plate


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[kayger12]

I'd pay $150 a year to keep a plate off my bumper.

[UdubBadger]

I'd pay $150 a year to keep a plate off my bumper.

Yeah but you can get hit with that ticket everyday of the week for $150 each. Not worth the cash to me.


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[kayger12]

With you. If I got hit twice, I'd be mounting up.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

I've been so lucky. One license plate ticket in 12 years. Works out to a beauty tax of $2 a year.


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[kayger12]

^ Worth it and then some.