DoctorDeath13

Howdy Folks:
Seeing MB-Bob's good looking front end on the "Official picture thread" got my anger up again in that I made the mistake of not forwarning my dealer that I did not want their tacky (IMHO) advertising plate / mtg brkt on the front of my slick new 320. So this afternoon I pulled the assembly for a damage assessment. I found 2 mtg. holes and 2 plate holes threaded into the bumper just below the top bend line. (Yes, it slightly distorted this bend line 2 places where the mtg holes are. The 2 plate holes are not deep, just enough to upset the paint and leave a white hole at each screw).
I'm thinking that I can get some touch-up paint and 4 plastic round head push pins for a remedy. I'm open to suggestions/comments before I start.
Thanks

awiner

That is basically what I did... However, the touch up paint route didn't go to well. I had a autobody shop locally here paint them for me with multiple coats of color and flex additive and then multiple coats of clear with flex additive. I had a bunch of sets painted in Brilliant Silver and sold quite a few. I guess Brilliant Silver wont help you too much as it looks like your car is Bordeaux Red. If you need anymore info, send me an email !

Here is a close up picture:

DoctorDeath13

Adam:
Your 2 holes being plugged appears logical to the eye, but my dealer went on to use plate screws long enough that I have 2 additional holes that are inline.
diagram= ( X x x X )
I can get plugs, but I'm probably in for an ordeal on the paint match and finish.

awiner

Yes, I have seen exactly what you are talking about. I actually sold 4 plugs to a C320 owner that had this EXACT X x x X pattern. I have also seen dealers who put 6 holes in the bumper. Sometimes the holes are not even lined up which is another dilema.



Email me and I'll give you some pointers that may help.

seehow

When I got my C230 I noticed there is no place in the front to put a license plate. I called the dealer and they said they would have to drill holes in the bumper to put the license plate (ouch!!). He said although California law requires cars to have front license plates, most are opting not to put one.

Does any one know what the fine would be for not having a front license plate in California? I personally love the way the front looks without a license plate.

Vic55

I just got a ticket for no front license plate and I too don't want to drill holes in my bumper. When I got my court notice there was no bail amount so I went to the court and the clerk said I must show proof of correction. I asked her if I could just pay the fine and walk away and she told me that the requirement is correction only or I could speak with a judge. Anybody got any ideas on how to install the plate without the drillling??

vadim

Don't feel too bad, fellahs... In the very country where MBs are made front license plates are mandatory (as in all of Europe). Just bite the bullet, ask your dealer to install a plate supporting bracket (or pad, as was in my case - didn't even have to ask; they are reqd. in DC,MD,VA) and live with it... You'll get used to it. One little advantage of having a front lic. place is that it acts as an extra bumber protector when parking.

C230K

Well in Florida no front plates required, and I hate to have a big plate on the front, slows me down.

gab

in Bay Area, they increased the fine from $25 to $100 for no front plate

awiner

Vic, do you have the license plate mounting bracket ? It should of came with your car. If you do, there MAY be a way to fashion it to mount via the horitzonal plane of the bumper (behind the mesh grill) so that once removed you will not be able to see any holes.

email me for some ideas.

Odont

Has anyone tried bumper plugs to conceal the holes drilled for the license plate? I saw a post regarding this apprx. 1 mos. ago. Where can I get them? Can they be removed without causing damage to the bumber, if necessary?

SoCal240/6

An age old lesson . . . make sure to tell your dealer not to drill those holes! They will not drill them if you ask.

But if its too late, I'd just go to a hardware store, they have all sorts of plastic plugs in all sorts of shapes and sizes. A little touch up paint to match your car, and you're done.

spindrome

Look in the screws section. Get some black "screw caps." Use the same screws and the caps cover the screw heads. They "flip" over them and snap in place. about 50 cents....

AWE

Or use epoxy to fill the hole, feather sand and use touch up paint to color-match.

Works every time!

greg230

buy a euro plate and universal euro plate bracket, mount, and pretend you picked up your car in euro delivery program!

greg

awiner

Short of repainting the entire bumber (Espically on Brilliant SIlver), I don't know how a touch-up "band aid" would look.

shtatc

I have the same problem and went to the dealer to see if they had anything....they found some plugs that fit....these plugs came from the trunk of the c-class sedan( that is what I am assuming). If you look under the trunk lid, there are 3-4 small black plugs - the ones the dealer gave me looked exactly like those. Depending on the size of the screw used for the bracket, these plugs fit right in the hole. The problem is that when they drilled the holes in my bumper, they drilled up near the crease, so the plugs do not fit quite flush. Used touch up paint and some spray clear to finish and looks okay.

shtatc

To add...the bonus....the dealer did not charge me anything for 2 plugs....he tried several different ones. These seem to work. Also, other car companies do make color coded bumper plugs...I know Honda makes them, you can also use those....

toki999

my license plate came today........

and i suddenly felt sad....

no more bar code...on the back....

Donn

The Benz looks soooo good without a front plate. Unfortunately, in California, you get a "fix it" ticket and a $100 fine if you don't have a front plate. Other states have the same stupid law.

My pipe dream is to have an electronically controlled flip-up license plate holder attached underneath the front bumper. When you're pulled over by America's finest you push a button and your front plate rotates from underneath the bumper and locks in place. If you're pulled over for speeding or whatever, you won't get written up for a missing plate. If you are pulled over specifically for not having a front plate look what fun you'd have. "What", you say, "did someone steel my license plate?" You get out of the car, go forward, and to the officers amazement, the license plate is just where it should be. When the coast is clear you push the button again and the plate rotates back underneath the bumper. Or, with a less sophisticated setup, get out of the car and manually release the lock pins and push the plate back to its hidden roost.

If someone could make this item they would make some money and at least a few coupe owners very happy. Why don't some of you retired engineers develop and sell (me) this pipe dream? Or, better yet, give me the prototype for coming up with the idea Perhaps some of the Klemann pulley group could divert their energies to this smaller project.

I know I should probably stop smoking this stuff.

columbus

Yeah, but send me what's left
Seriously, that *would* be sharp. Nothing ruins the beautiful front end of a baby benz like a tired old license plate...
Keep smokin' that $h!t...

young

i think it's a pretty good idea. if you've been smokin' that stuff, and this is a result, then maybe it's time to legalize it...

word of advice: patent it b/c i'm gonna buy one, copy it and install it for less...

NANA

Hey, move to Georgia.... We do not have that law here!!

Boo2

Or you be like me and just budget for the fine. I think the cost is worth saving the look of the car.

WyattEarp

I see you guys having fun on the sidelines. Thanks for the laughs.