Z4 E85 Front License Plate mount/ is there a actual OEM??

[jjr]

Hi,
I have been looking for a BMW OEM front license plate mount/bracket and have yet to find one, did BMW have one for the US cars??

I have seen some of the aftermarket and they really do nothing for me and that one that screws into the tow hook socket I think that someone in the know could just unscrew it and walk away and also do not like its location.

TIA,

[schobyb]

Yes, there is a BMW part for this, but you have to drill holes in the front bumper. Yes, someone could steal your tow hook mount, possible but not probable.

[ferrarif1]

BMW sells a black one under part 51118041503 that requires painting. Put a feeler out on the classified board and you are likely to find one from another member that already painted.

[jjr]

Thanks!!!!!

BTW wouldn't the holder be covered with the plate anyway like the rear one? So would painting be necessary??

Originally Posted by ferrarif1

BMW sells a black one under part 51118041503 that requires painting. Put a feeler out on the classified board and you are likely to find one from another member that already painted.

[intoflatlines]

Originally Posted by jjr

Thanks!!!!!

BTW wouldn't the holder be covered with the plate anyway like the rear one? So would painting be necessary??

It's a wedge shaped thing so the sides are visible. It probably wouldn't be the end of the world if you kept it unpainted but it will be noticeable. Here you can see it up front, painted.

[chickdr]

Originally Posted by jjr

Hi,
I have been looking for a BMW OEM front license plate mount/bracket and have yet to find one, did BMW have one for the US cars??

I have seen some of the aftermarket and they really do nothing for me and that one that screws into the tow hook socket I think that someone in the know could just unscrew it and walk away and also do not like its location.

TIA,

Someone could just unscrew the rear plate and walk away if they wanted, right?

I would pick an option that allows the front bumper to remain unscathed...

This is one option to use for the OEM bracket:

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...54&postcount=3

[UntzUntzUntz]

I've got the OEM tow hook on mine. Side plate looks more clean in my opinion.
Sorry phone camera isn't that great but I took this couple days ago.


Oh and if someone steals a license plate tow hook bracket, you probably have a bigger problem. Consider moving lol

[RossBMWZseries]

Originally Posted by jjr

Hi,
I have been looking for a BMW OEM front license plate mount/bracket and have yet to find one, did BMW have one for the US cars??

I have seen some of the aftermarket and they really do nothing for me and that one that screws into the tow hook socket I think that someone in the know could just unscrew it and walk away and also do not like its location.

TIA,

When I bought my car, it came with the OEM front license plate mount/bracket. The next day, I removed it

It's matches my car, sapphire black. PM me if interested, I'm sure we can workout a price

[Arsonism]

Originally Posted by ferrarif1

BMW sells a black one under part 51118041503 that requires painting. Put a feeler out on the classified board and you are likely to find one from another member that already painted.

I have on unpainted that I never intend to use. Classified may yield one that is painted as well.

[bosstones]

I can see if I still have mine. I use a tow hook plate holder. If I still have the OE plate holder, you can have it. I'm in the Chicagoland area.

[Efthreeoh]

OP, sorry for bumping an old thread. Thought I'd chime in. I just got my E86 in December from CarMax and it had a CarMax universal front plate holder attached to the bumper. I like everything on my BMWs to be original equipment so I ordered the E86 license plate holder. When I got it I went to mount it and I didn't like it at all. It mounts the plate up high and covers up the bottom lip of the kidney grills, so I didn't like the way it looked. I stuck with the CarMax universal plate mount. I saw them stacked up on a shelf at the CarMax I bought my car from, so I'm sure you could get one from them if you still need to. I like the CarMax one because it sits behind the plate and make the plate look like it is floating just in front of the bumper.

[jjr]

I picked up one of those tow hook mounts and do not like it! There cheesy to say the least and every time I have the car washed one of the guys usually hits it and then its tilted. Also it not mounted on one of the center holes there is a lot of flex and I'm afraid at speed the plate will bend back and one of the screws will scratch the bumper... The center mounting bolt (between the tow hook and license plate frame) I feel is way to small to really hold anything and I think one of these days it will just break off.

I have it tightened as much as I can as well as used blue lock tight w/ no avail. I believe that the E86 and E85 are two different mounts? Not at all interested in a aftermarket mount. I I wil just wait till I find a OEM one used

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

OP, sorry for bumping an old thread. Thought I'd chime in. I just got my E86 in December from CarMax and it had a CarMax universal front plate holder attached to the bumper. I like everything on my BMWs to be original equipment so I ordered the E86 license plate holder. When I got it I went to mount it and I didn't like it at all. It mounts the plate up high and covers up the bottom lip of the kidney grills, so I didn't like the way it looked. I stuck with the CarMax universal plate mount. I saw them stacked up on a shelf at the CarMax I bought my car from, so I'm sure you could get one from them if you still need to. I like the CarMax one because it sits behind the plate and make the plate look like it is floating just in front of the bumper.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by jjr

I picked up one of those tow hook mounts and do not like it! There cheesy to say the least and every time I have the car washed one of the guys usually hits it and then its tilted. Also it not mounted on one of the center holes there is a lot of flex and I'm afraid at speed the plate will bend back and one of the screws will scratch the bumper... The center mounting bolt (between the tow hook and license plate frame) I feel is way to small to really hold anything and I think one of these days it will just break off.

I have it tightened as much as I can as well as used blue lock tight w/ no avail. I believe that the E86 and E85 are two different mounts? Not at all interested in a aftermarket mount. I I wil just wait till I find a OEM one used

You can see in intoflatelines pic he posted that the OEM plate holder, when mounted correctly (conforming to the bumper profile), the top edge of the mount goes above the bottom lip of the kidney grills. I test-mounted mine and it looked stupid. The CarMax mount is not visible in anyway and keeps the plate off the bumper. Here's what it looked like with the CarMax plate on it.

[jjr]

Interesting

[ZeD4Mr]

I use Skene design. Have the bracket painted black and go as low as possible. It looks nicer than covering the kidney and bumper

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