So I removed the front plate bracket....

and ended up with 2 ugly holes drilled in the front bumper. The plastic was all puckered up like the screws had bored into it too much and started turning the plastic out. I ended up having to put the 2 black screws back in to cover up the holes.

What did you guys do, that had this experience? Does anyone sell plugs? The boxster had the same problem and some dealer sold color matched plugs.

Before and after pics....

here's a closeup

If you are never ever going t put the plate back on, my state it is a law, but I would remove the screws, sand the area smooth, and fill the hole with duramix 40/40 sand smooth, add some light flexable body filler, remove the bumper and have painted.

The other thing, would be to call up your dealer and tell him you want the holes filled, see what they can do for you. t can't be that much, we just spent $600 at the local BMW body shop, because some lady ran into the 760li at a movie theater, and it was dented by the rear drivers tire, and the rear bumper was scratched. So i expect maybe $200 to fix it, which is not really that much when you come to terms, 2 black screws, ugly plate, or a smooth front end.

Jim

i remembering from reading one of the threads that there is a company that sells plugs to fill the holes.

www.bumperplugs.com

Luckily, I avoided ever having a plate on my 650, so I didn't have that issue. However, my dealer mistakenly installed the plate bracket on my 745 then had to remove it after I took delivery, leaving me with the same two holes that you're talking about. I went the body shop route, having them filled and painted. It took a little bit of time and was more expensive than plugs, but it looks brand new. (And it didn't hurt that my dealer picked up the tab.)

I was fortunate to get my car without the front plate. However I have the bracket and plate in storage in case I get a fix it ticket. If I end up getting a ticket, I will find a way to velcro it on temporarily but have fake screw heads glued on to give the appearance that it is screwed on.

Originally Posted by chuck92103

I was fortunate to get my car without the front plate. However I have the bracket and plate in storage in case I get a fix it ticket. If I end up getting a ticket, I will find a way to velcro it on temporarily but have fake screw heads glued on to give the appearance that it is screwed on.

Good idea. Screw CVC5200 (front plate law). Never liked it anyway. All it does is give cops a reason to pull you over (probable cause) and for photo radar to catch you.

Originally Posted by lawman800

Good idea. Screw CVC5200 (front plate law). Never liked it anyway. All it does is give cops a reason to pull you over (probable cause) and for photo radar to catch you.

A few cops have seen my car when I was parked and struck up a conversation. One had a 3 series bimmer. Each of them ignored the front plate although they looked right at the front of the car.

Originally Posted by chuck92103

A few cops have seen my car when I was parked and struck up a conversation. One had a 3 series bimmer. Each of them ignored the front plate although they looked right at the front of the car.

No front plate, tinted windows, worn tires, defective wipers, cracked windshield, improper headlight alignment, defective horn, etc. You get one of those, you know you pissed the cop off or you just got pulled over by a dick.

Originally Posted by chuck92103

I was fortunate to get my car without the front plate. However I have the bracket and plate in storage in case I get a fix it ticket. If I end up getting a ticket, I will find a way to velcro it on temporarily but have fake screw heads glued on to give the appearance that it is screwed on.

Great minds think alike. If I ever got caught, I was going to get two-sided carpet tape and velcro the license plate frame to the bumper and screw the license plate only into the frame. (Just hope the paint will hold!) I drove three SL500s for 11 years without ever getting caught. BUT all Mercedes have a little white rectangular tag on the windshield that may look like the DMV receipt and the SL500s had a current body style. So, a cop may have thought the cars were new and not yet licensed from the front. (I am thinking of putting a small rectangular piece of paper in the 6er's windshield.)

just so i understand. everybody is driving around w/out their front plates and nobody has been ticketed??

Originally Posted by coneey

just so i understand. everybody is driving around w/out their front plates and nobody has been ticketed??

Correct, and most won't ever get a ticket. Very low odds at least here in CA.

Haha... back in the Bernie Park days, LAPD sergeants ticketed their own officers in the employee parking lot while the officers were on duty. When the officers got off work and saw their cars, let's just say employee morale took a plummet.

FL is one of those states that does not require a front license plate. I feel so lucky (right cobradav?)

Aside from the occasional hurricane and flooding and alligators in your yard, FL sounds like the place to be. My bud moved there from LA, got his CCW, bought a nice little mansion for $200k and is living it up. He never wants to come back to the PRK (People's Republic of Kaliforniastan).

BTW, love that "Stand your ground" or "Your castle is where you are" law.

Originally Posted by IFly650i

FL is one of those states that does not require a front license plate. I feel so lucky (right cobradav?)

Yep, nice to have that smooooth look and not worry about the fashion police. Another option I just saw was at an auto parts store - double face suction cups