05-26-2011, 12:12 PM | #11 |
lawn boy
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: e46m3, f25x3,C5 Z06, C4 Vette, 06 CTD Ram, and a trailer
Location: Maryland
Posts: 14,029
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I'd go with the cheaper one. It doesn't need to built like a tank to hold the tag on the car.
http://www.gominigo.com/NHLPB-BMW.html But yeah, I'm not sure about the offset look. Might as well just drill the holes. |
05-26-2011, 12:14 PM | #12 |
Vicarious Twitterer
Join Date: May 2005
Carmudgeonly Ride: 06 330 cic ZHP
Location: CT
Posts: 7,566
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Mine doesn't have a front plate either - I found it'd cost about 200 dollars for a dealer-mounted solution
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05-26-2011, 12:17 PM | #13 |
lawn boy
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: e46m3, f25x3,C5 Z06, C4 Vette, 06 CTD Ram, and a trailer
Location: Maryland
Posts: 14,029
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05-26-2011, 01:13 PM | #14 |
Relic
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: A very fast golf cart
Location: The Valley of the Sun
Posts: 12,821
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If you don't like front plates, move to a one-plate state.
Otherwise follow the law and use the stock mount. A couple of drill holes in the bumper shouldn't matter...
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05-26-2011, 01:20 PM | #15 |
I like BMWs
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: X5 M50 / M550
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 5,795
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these "solutions" are hideous.
I have not used a front plate for about 5 years now. When the day comes that I am forced to put one on, I'm just going to take the stock bracket out of the trunk and mount it onto the front bumper. While my preference is no plate, if my only option was "factory mount" or "aftermarket solution that looks like shit", I'd gladly drill the holes in the bumper.
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05-26-2011, 01:22 PM | #16 |
Alphanumeric
Join Date: Aug 2005
Carmudgeonly Ride: 981S, 340i
Posts: 9,587
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I bought my s4 avant in CT. Car was beautiful and never drilled. What worked for me, perfectly for about half a year, was radio shack clear locking tape. Pretty much the same stuff as windscreen e-zpass holders. Never came off, through plenty of washes/rains, 8k miles. If it did, you could put a new one. I highly recommend this. Nothing about it looks temporary to the outside observer (as you can mount it center and the tape is hidden behind the plate).
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05-26-2011, 01:23 PM | #17 |
swinging for the fences
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: 987, X7 M60i, e36 M3
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 5,043
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I've basically decided to go sans front plate for my next car. I drove without one for about a year until I had to put it back on for a state inspection.
I kept the front plate in the glove box in case I got harassed by a cop, but it never happened. |
05-26-2011, 01:25 PM | #18 |
Alphanumeric
Join Date: Aug 2005
Carmudgeonly Ride: 981S, 340i
Posts: 9,587
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I can even remember when I first 'taped' my plate. I had just bought the car, about to go in for state inspection... Know a great tint dude, got him to take off my front side tints (illegal in NJ) and he recommended it. His words were "I and the rest of the STi crew have been rocking this for years. It'll be fine."
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05-26-2011, 01:39 PM | #19 |
195
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 24,641
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I don't mind the way the offset plate looks. You get used to it. The problem with the non-robust tow hook mounts is that they don't stand up to snow and/or car washing well.
Personally, as much as I hate front plates, I'd probably just mount the stock mount and forget about it. |
05-26-2011, 02:09 PM | #20 |
Relic
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Bethesda, MD
Posts: 12,486
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A non-drilled front bumper makes the car more saleable.
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