Front licence plate options

funkle · 08-29-2014, 11:20 AM

The no-holes tow hook mounts seem to be the typical choice, but I'm thinking of going center mount mostly for the protection it provides in park by braille incidents that are so common here. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Maybe this with a bumper plate holder? I realize it's not sexy. But neither is bumper rash,

NickyC · 08-29-2014, 03:04 PM

Do authorities crack down on no front plates in your state? I haven't run a front plate on any of my cars in over 20 years of driving here in Missouri, and I've received a grand total of two tickets in that time. Front plates just ruin the look of a car imho.

funkle · 08-29-2014, 03:16 PM

It is required in ca. I got ticketed once about 15 years ago for it. It's a fix-it ticket. I don't think the cops in sf will get me for it, but the meter maids will. Cops in the burbs might pull you over though. Also, I don't want to give them an excuse to pull me over if I've had a couple glasses of wine at a restaurant.

dschultz · 08-30-2014, 05:46 AM

I have the skene mount. Works great. However I took the plate off at the track a while back and now just carry it around with me in the trunk... The two little aluminum mount tabs are kind of ugly. Been meaning to paint them black to make them less obvious.

inTgr8r · 08-30-2014, 08:00 AM

Doesn't help parking by Braille but I have a magnetic mount.
Usually just keep in in the trunk.

funkle · 08-30-2014, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

Doesn't help parking by Braille but I have a magnetic mount.
Usually just keep in in the trunk.

Could you tell me which mount you used? Nice looking car

inTgr8r · 08-30-2014, 10:21 AM

It's one I made myself.
It's a right angle bracket on the plate with rare earth magnets.
Then you need a steel backing plate or more magnets on the backside of the bumper.

funkle · 08-30-2014, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

It's one I made myself.
It's a right angle bracket on the plate with rare earth magnets.
Then you need a steel backing plate or more magnets on the backside of the bumper.

Where are the magnets which are attached to the car? On the underside of the bumper? Would you mind posting some pics? Looks like a very slick system. Is it pretty secure?

dorifto88 · 08-30-2014, 11:23 AM

Personally I use suction cups

NickyC · 08-30-2014, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

Doesn't help parking by Braille but I have a magnetic mount.
Usually just keep in in the trunk.

Wow, your car is amazing sir. Absolutely gorgeous.

inTgr8r · 08-30-2014, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkle

Where are the magnets which are attached to the car? On the underside of the bumper? Would you mind posting some pics? Looks like a very slick system. Is it pretty secure?

On the under lip, inside the bumper.
I pulled the bumper off to do it.
Yes it's very secure, I left it on accidentally on one track session and it was fine.

I'll see if I can dig up a couple of pics

inTgr8r · 08-30-2014, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickyC

Wow, your car is amazing sir. Absolutely gorgeous.

Thanks , it's a never ending journey

funkle · 08-30-2014, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

On the under lip, inside the bumper.
I pulled the bumper off to do it.
Yes it's very secure, I left it on accidentally on one track session and it was fine.

I'll see if I can dig up a couple of pics

It looks like either your oil cooler grill is larger, or the Canadian plate is smaller than US. My plate overlaps about half of the lower lip whereas yours fits entirely within the opening.

I did find this tutorial

inTgr8r · 08-30-2014, 09:29 PM

Actually mine overlaps the cross bar below the intake opening, it's just that mine is painted black.

ajw45 · 09-01-2014, 10:57 PM

FWIW, I was thinking of adding the OEM front plate mount as well and the shop tells me they are on backorder from Germany....

Twisted Six · 09-02-2014, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

It's one I made myself.
It's a right angle bracket on the plate with rare earth magnets.
Then you need a steel backing plate or more magnets on the backside of the bumper.

VERY smart Ian! Rare Earth mags are super strong. I am considering the electric withdraw version in the same place your plate sits. I'll have to make a cut-out for the sliding tray however. But should look stealth when done. I'm going to try to figure out san inside cabin switch that lights up when the tag is concealed in case I forget to activate it when needed.

funkle · 09-25-2014, 08:04 AM

I got a ticket for no front plate yesterday while parked. $110, which drops to $10 with proof it was fixed. Guess it's time to put the front plate on

XMetal · 09-25-2014, 09:42 AM

99% of the time, it's the meter maids who hand out front plate tickets

I started putting on front plates on my cars a few years ago because I got tired of dealing with them

MYovichZ4 · 09-25-2014, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkle

Guess it's time to put the front plate on

Here's an interesting front plate mount without drilling.

funkle · 09-25-2014, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MYovichZ4

Here's an interesting front plate mount without drilling.

Looks like a quick method. I may have to do that temporarily. I want to be able to easily take it off to allow full flow to the lower radiator on the track.

MYovichZ4 · 09-25-2014, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkle

Looks like a quick method.

I figured quick was good to save $100 on the ticket.

Twisted Six · 10-01-2014, 01:32 PM

Here is what I opted to install.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v...type=2&theater

I had to trim a 1.5"x12" section out of the grille. You don't notice the frame there when just standing. I was kneeling to shoot the video.

08-29-2014, 11:20 AM	#1
funkle Second Lieutenant 27 Rep 223 Posts Drives: '06 Z4 M Coupe Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SF CA iTrader: (0)	Front licence plate options The no-holes tow hook mounts seem to be the typical choice, but I'm thinking of going center mount mostly for the protection it provides in park by braille incidents that are so common here. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Maybe this with a bumper plate holder? I realize it's not sexy. But neither is bumper rash,
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08-29-2014, 03:04 PM	#2
NickyC Lieutenant General 17439 Rep 10,645 Posts Drives: M4 CS. Former G82, x2 F82, F80 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Jacked out of my mind iTrader: (23)	Do authorities crack down on no front plates in your state? I haven't run a front plate on any of my cars in over 20 years of driving here in Missouri, and I've received a grand total of two tickets in that time. Front plates just ruin the look of a car imho.
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08-29-2014, 03:16 PM	#3
funkle Second Lieutenant 27 Rep 223 Posts Drives: '06 Z4 M Coupe Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SF CA iTrader: (0)	It is required in ca. I got ticketed once about 15 years ago for it. It's a fix-it ticket. I don't think the cops in sf will get me for it, but the meter maids will. Cops in the burbs might pull you over though. Also, I don't want to give them an excuse to pull me over if I've had a couple glasses of wine at a restaurant.
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08-30-2014, 05:46 AM	#4
dschultz Private First Class 26 Rep 195 Posts Drives: 07 Z4MC Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (2)	I have the skene mount. Works great. However I took the plate off at the track a while back and now just carry it around with me in the trunk... The two little aluminum mount tabs are kind of ugly. Been meaning to paint them black to make them less obvious.
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08-30-2014, 08:00 AM	#5
inTgr8r Lieutenant General 2426 Rep 11,667 Posts Drives: M2 Comp Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (10)	Doesn't help parking by Braille but I have a magnetic mount. Usually just keep in in the trunk. __________________ '21 M2C Hockenheim Silver '18 718 Cayman S Lava Orange (sold) '13 E92 M3 Santorini Blue (sold) '07 Z4 M Coupe Alpine White (sold)
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08-30-2014, 10:21 AM	#7
inTgr8r Lieutenant General 2426 Rep 11,667 Posts Drives: M2 Comp Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (10)	It's one I made myself. It's a right angle bracket on the plate with rare earth magnets. Then you need a steel backing plate or more magnets on the backside of the bumper. __________________ '21 M2C Hockenheim Silver '18 718 Cayman S Lava Orange (sold) '13 E92 M3 Santorini Blue (sold) '07 Z4 M Coupe Alpine White (sold)
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08-30-2014, 11:23 AM	#9
dorifto88 Major 48 Rep 1,135 Posts Drives: 88 Nissan Pathfinder Join Date: May 2010 Location: cowtown iTrader: (4)	Personally I use suction cups
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08-30-2014, 09:29 PM	#14
inTgr8r Lieutenant General 2426 Rep 11,667 Posts Drives: M2 Comp Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (10)	Actually mine overlaps the cross bar below the intake opening, it's just that mine is painted black. __________________ '21 M2C Hockenheim Silver '18 718 Cayman S Lava Orange (sold) '13 E92 M3 Santorini Blue (sold) '07 Z4 M Coupe Alpine White (sold)
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09-01-2014, 10:57 PM	#15
ajw45 Private First Class 32 Rep 149 Posts Drives: Z4M Coupe Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	FWIW, I was thinking of adding the OEM front plate mount as well and the shop tells me they are on backorder from Germany....
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09-25-2014, 08:04 AM	#17
funkle Second Lieutenant 27 Rep 223 Posts Drives: '06 Z4 M Coupe Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SF CA iTrader: (0)	I got a ticket for no front plate yesterday while parked. $110, which drops to $10 with proof it was fixed. Guess it's time to put the front plate on
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09-25-2014, 09:42 AM	#18
XMetal Colonel 1127 Rep 2,861 Posts Drives: Anything Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 Z4M Coupe [10.00] 2018 Audi S3 [0.00] 2004 X5 [8.50]	99% of the time, it's the meter maids who hand out front plate tickets I started putting on front plates on my cars a few years ago because I got tired of dealing with them
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10-01-2014, 01:32 PM	#22
Twisted Six CarbonFiber Engineer @ ZeroMassMotorsports 40 Rep 1,481 Posts Drives: Z4si-coupe Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: -Laguna Beach Ca. iTrader: (6)	Here is what I opted to install. https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v...type=2&theater I had to trim a 1.5"x12" section out of the grille. You don't notice the frame there when just standing. I was kneeling to shoot the video.
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