Front License Plate

[ghost4blind]

I am muddling over how to install the front license plate in a way not to damage the front bumper in any way and still make it look nice. I have seen some tow hook mounting brackets, has anyone installed one of these? pic would be helpful. Also what manufacturer is a good one?

[MattM3SVT]

I think tow hook plate would work great! Here is a pic of one. Not sure what brand is best. This one is usmillworks.

[swanson]

I dont remember where I got mine, but I had one on my 2011 M3 and it looked OK. To me, it was better then drilling the front bumper.

[MattM3SVT]

I'd rather just not run one... and pay the $25 fine if I get a ticket. haha. But i ran my E46 for 6 years with no plate and never had an issue.

[Dougeefresh]

No plate in front in Illinois. It's been a year with stopping in front, behind, and next to cop cars and never had a ticket yet. **knock on wood**

[Rupes]

I think the tow hook plates look ridiculous and unbalanced. Front plates look bad enough as it is, but to have it off center is even worse.

[soniczoom5]

check this out

http://skenedesign.com/FPBracket/index.shtml

[miringrains]

I dont run one in NY. If i ever would get pulled over I would just tell the cop that someone took it off of my car at night and that I need to order new plates.

[ghost4blind]

I know that front license plates are extremely ugly and I would prefer not to install one, however I already received a noncompliant plate violation

Originally Posted by tallskinnymatt

I think tow hook plate would work great! Here is a pic of one. Not sure what brand is best. This one is usmillworks.

This one is from US Mill Work, I tried calling the guy like a dozen times, emailed and left voice mail, to talk to him about quality and which one he would suggest because he has a few available, but no reply so I am a bit annoyed with him.

Originally Posted by soniczoom5

check this out

http://skenedesign.com/FPBracket/index.shtml

This one look like it needs to be drilled into the underside of the bumper above the mesh grill? Which is what I would like to avoid, I am not sure exactly

[jra85]

Originally Posted by tallskinnymatt

I'd rather just not run one... and pay the $25 fine if I get a ticket. haha. But i ran my E46 for 6 years with no plate and never had an issue.

Must be nice. Here was my second and final no front plate ticket in NY: $250 total. Enough to convince me to buy a US Millworks holder, as much as I hate it. What really got me was the $50 "Admin Fee" and the $12.90 "Service Fee" (for on ONLINE payment!).

[ghost4blind]

Originally Posted by JAdamz

Must be nice. Here was my second and final no front plate ticket in NY: $250 total. Enough to convince me to buy a US Millworks holder, as much as I hate it. What really got me was the $50 "Admin Fee" and the $12.90 "Service Fee" (for on ONLINE payment!).

Agreed, I got my first one which was 60$, one more I might as just get the freaking bracket, I will hopefully get away with the first one because I mailed back a contest by mail, and wrote a letter proving that I bought the car the day before I got the violation, and then I may have fabricated a receipt showing that I purchased a front plate bracket

[Edward]

The way I see it, there's a couple ways to go. If you want to frequently be able to remove it so there's no plate at all, the tow hook is unfortunately the only way to go. Just don't rear end anyone with a tow hook plate in, as it is screwed into some pretty solid frame like metal behind the bumper (hence why you can tow your car from it). Could probably really damage your frame by transferring energy through the hook.

I used to run a non drilled braket on my previous E92. It's this little bracket that uses washers and bolts to attached onto the lower center bumper intake mesh. Then the plate comes up above it and displays right where the factory plate mount displays the plate. This is not a piece that is quick to install or remove, so you'd in essence be running it all the time. Kind of a pain also at car washes.

This is why I just mounted my painted factory plate. I just had to stop caring.

[ghost4blind]

Originally Posted by Edward

The way I see it, there's a couple ways to go. If you want to frequently be able to remove it so there's no plate at all, the tow hook is unfortunately the only way to go. Just don't rear end anyone with a tow hook plate in, as it is screwed into some pretty solid frame like metal behind the bumper (hence why you can tow your car from it). Could probably really damage your frame by transferring energy through the hook.

I used to run a non drilled braket on my previous E92. It's this little bracket that uses washers and bolts to attached onto the lower center bumper intake mesh. Then the plate comes up above it and displays right where the factory plate mount displays the plate. This is not a piece that is quick to install or remove, so you'd in essence be running it all the time. Kind of a pain also at car washes.

This is why I just mounted my painted factory plate. I just had to stop caring.

Is this the bracket you mentioned you were running on your previous e92?
http://skenedesign.com/FPBracket/index.shtml

[miringrains]

How do you get pulled over for no front plate O_O. I live in queens and work in LI and they LOVE giving tickets, but I've never had one for that..

[ghost4blind]

I did not get pulled over, I parked downtown in the city when I went to have dinner and when I got back to my car the violation was on the windshield

[jra85]

Originally Posted by miringrains

How do you get pulled over for no front plate O_O. I live in queens and work in LI and they LOVE giving tickets, but I've never had one for that..

First time was for "speeding" (I was doing ~65 in a 55), but he only ticketed me for no front plate. Second time it was a cop sitting at the LIE onramp that I had been using every day to go home from work. He was probably sitting there just scanning license plates to find something to ticket somebody for (meet the monthly quota?), and I guess he noticed I didn't have a front plate on, pulled me over as soon as I got onto the LIE. He even bragged about how he ticketed a guy in a Ferrari that would take the LIE daily for no front plate four times until the guy finally put a front plate on.

It's probably not a common occurrence and I still see numerous cars on the road registered in NY without a front plate, but I'm done paying $250 fines for it. I have a PBA card too and they couldn't care less.

[Edward]

Originally Posted by ghost4blind

Is this the bracket you mentioned you were running on your previous e92?
http://skenedesign.com/FPBracket/index.shtml

In essence, that was the basic design, though no the exact same brand or bracket.

It works if you want a full time mounted plate that is removeable without the slightest trace.

[AlpineE92M3]

I just use Velcro. You can buy the heavy duty stuff at Home depot. Have done it to my past 3 cars for years, never have a problem with it falling off or anything like that. Easily removable to!

[miringrains]

Originally Posted by JAdamz

First time was for "speeding" (I was doing ~65 in a 55), but he only ticketed me for no front plate. Second time it was a cop sitting at the LIE onramp that I had been using every day to go home from work. He was probably sitting there just scanning license plates to find something to ticket somebody for (meet the monthly quota?), and I guess he noticed I didn't have a front plate on, pulled me over as soon as I got onto the LIE. He even bragged about how he ticketed a guy in a Ferrari that would take the LIE daily for no front plate four times until the guy finally put a front plate on.

It's probably not a common occurrence and I still see numerous cars on the road registered in NY without a front plate, but I'm done paying $250 fines for it. I have a PBA card too and they couldn't care less.

The guy should have just got on the LIE one exit later

I use to have a police chief PBA and that would get me out of murder. As of now, careful driving, a thin blue stripe on my rear license plate, and a nassau county PBA window sticker have kept me out of trouble with the law..

[Beemdog]

Originally Posted by AlpineE92M3

I just use Velcro. You can buy the heavy duty stuff at Home depot. Have done it to my past 3 cars for years, never have a problem with it falling off or anything like that. Easily removable to!

They also have an ultra-heavy duty Velcro type material that uses interlocking plastic "hooks" on both sides-- no nylon felt. This stuff is really strong and is sometimes sold as "Earthquake Tape" for tying things down which could potentially fall over. I use it to secure a Garmin GPS to a flat aluminum bracket on my Ducati. You have to be careful how much you use or it will be very difficult to pry off.

Never had a front plate on any car in CA, so I'm hoping my streak will continue un-ticketed.

[Agent-GHQ]

Originally Posted by AlpineE92M3

I just use Velcro. You can buy the heavy duty stuff at Home depot. Have done it to my past 3 cars for years, never have a problem with it falling off or anything like that. Easily removable to!

Geez can you at least give us the receipe and the step by step? 😆

[MrPrena]

Long before I had the M3, I got pulled over by state trooper/patrol. I was lucky with warning only.

I bought a tow hook plate holder for M3.