Does anyone know of any third-party/aftermarket front bumper plugs/caps for the screw holes remaining after you remove the front license plate?

I have a 2008 CLK550 Cabriolet and, while I fully recognize it's technically illegal (here in California, at least), want to remove my front license plate. I did the same thing on my last car ('05 CLK500), but was forced to just put the black screws back into the holes, because MB didn't sell caps, and still don't. It looked fine, but not as clean as some trim caps would look, so am hoping to find something aftermarket that works.

Thanks in advance for any ideas/recommendations?

 

i believe there is a website callled bumperplugs.com or something, try searching for bumper plugs on google or something

 

Thanks. Found the site http://www.bumperplugs.com.

It seems to be a Porsche-specific site when you open it up, but they actually produce model-specific colors for a lot of different cars, including Mercedes. I'll order a set and give them a try.

However, I have to say, $24.95 for two small pieces of plastic? Geez! Oh well, the price of looking good, I suppose.

 

So I received my bumper plugs and proceeded to remove my front license plate to install them. Much to my frustration and anger, I found that the dealer had actually drilled all four holes in the bumper for the plate holder, which means I'd need another two bumper plugs. OK, well not ideal, but doable. However, in the process of actually screwing the dealer plaque fake license plate into the holder, they used a long screw and ended up piercing/tearing another random hole in the top area of the bumper that a bumper plug wouldn't even fit into properly. So now I'm hosed, and have to leave the stupid front plate on the car. What a drag.

 

wow and 9 bucks for shipping thats kinda out there for cap for covering a hole.
Is there someone else?

 

I ordered mime from bumperplugs.com Grerat service they fed ex them so I had them in a day. great solution to unsightly holes in the bumper. Paint match was perfect for brilliant silver.

 

...after STFF'ing, I wasn't sure which old thread to resurrect (there's also this other one). Anyway, I searched plenty of forums, and decided I would go the cheap Home Depot route, thinking I can always buy the $25 ones from bumperplugs.com if I want. Here's what I started with:



I bought a number of fasteners and plugs at Home Depot, none more than $0.64, and that's for a pair. In general, they look like this:


I had read one forum where a poster said he had put the plugs in but hadn't painted them yet, but I thought it made much more sense to paint first. One really stoopid mistake I made was being a cheapskate and not trying the smallest ones first, in case they looked okay. I guess I was thinking I wanted to be able to return them for the $0.44

I first tried to flatten the ridge around each of the holes:


I used a number of different things, like screwdriver and chisel handles, tapping with a hammer. I didn't take a pic, but when I got it as flat as possible, it still had those spidery lines in the paint around the hole, so that's what made me pass on the smallest plugs, the .135" but in retrospect, I wish I'd tried them.


Instead, I went with the next size up, the 3/16", which measures the diameter of the "shaft" of the plug. The "cap" on that one is rounded, while the next larger one I got, the .156", has a flat cap, like the "in general" pic above (oddly enough, the .156" is larger than the 3/16", even though 3/16" = .1875"). Something I read on the many forums I checked really rang true: the toughest part is drilling the hole BIGGER so the plug will fit! At least a 3/16" drill bit is one of sizes in my kit! I roughed the plugs up a bit with a sanding block, just putting them on the tip of a pencil which I rubbed against the abrasive. I propped them on a bent paperclip and painted them with touchup paint and clearcoat, then popped them in the holes.

Anyway, here's the after pics:




As you can see, my holes unfortunately are right on the ridge of the bumper, which makes the plugs stand out a bit. I think the rounded caps are a bit better than the flat ones would be, don't you think?


...and BTW, the 3/16" plugs are these:

 

We don't have the front license plate here in Michigan.
I guess I am very lucky!!!

 

Nice DIY write up. Good to see alternative solutions. How long did the whole install take? Are your calipers painted silver? Have any close up pics? Still trying to decide what color to paint mine.

 

took about an hour, including paint-drying time. I did paint my calipers, silver to match the car, no decals (as they're OEM, nothing special). Basically they just look cleaner (which makes me wish I cleaned the inside of my wheels before I put them back on!)

 

does anybody know how much is the ticket if you get pulled over in California for not having a license up front? I am about to register my clk and I really do not want to drill a hole...

 

I think when I got mine a couple months back it was like $30... I think they have since bumper it up to $50.

I got the bumper plugs and drilled the hole... haven't got a ticket since. I guess it just depends on how much of a 8=D--- the cop wants to be

 

$30 is worth it, just don't drive crazy

 

any pics of your plugs? I don't love mine, but they only cost me $0.40 and since my holes are right on the ridge of the bumper, I doubt I'd like the real bumperplugs any better.

 

Awww its not that bad... I got my clk500 from AZ a few weeks ago and about to register it in CA... and I know that it is illegal in CA not to put license play up front... so I am worried.. coz I dont plan on drilling a hole on the bumper.. it is nice and neat!

I also have read somewhere that cops can also issue a ticket even if you are just parking or away from your car? Is this true? If they see your car without a license plate upfront in the parking lot?

 

If it is against the law not to have a plate in the front then they should be able to give you a ticket whenever. It's not a moving violation.

 

hehe... that makes sense... is here a license plate hologram that appears when cops are round? lol.. jk...

thanks for the replies guys!!!

 

I think that's where they're MORE likely to ticket you; Advans has a stealth plate rigged up on his C55....I think he puts it up when parked, down when driving! If I were you, I'd put it on with zip ties or two-way tape; put it on the lower grille below the bumper. Then take it off after inspection and see how it goes.

 

that is a very good idea.. maybe a hook or something to stay still and hidden on the grille... hook it when parked... and unhook when driving... but thats a lot of work! lol... i just added a foot pedal lock to my car... and it takes a few seconds putting it in and putting it out... and now I have to do on the front plate? lol.. its a little too much!

 

You could google "hideaway plate" to see some alternatives

 

Funny...I just bought my CLK500 from CA and it's back into AZ. And now I need to clean up FOUR drilled front bumper holes. I do like the clean look, and now need to make the four holes as inconspicuous as possible.

Does anyone have the 'professional' bumper plug photos or feedback? I will go hit their website now. As far as this thread, great job on the Do It Yourself Tips! Thanks!

 

..as for the plate, I'm surprised Advans never did a thread on his "motorized hideaway plate" which seems like the coolest thing since 007. It's visible, in its "hideaway" mode, in his sig:

Saw this one on YouTube...

Nobody on the forum seems to have posted any pics of the bumperplugs, though this E-Class driver back in 2006 did a similar post to mine, HERE, but no pics of the finished project.

On the bumperplugs website, they have some photos on Porsches; IMHO, they don't look any better than my $0.40 ones, and they're $25 per pair, plus shipping.

 

Here are a couple pics of when I had the bumper plugs installed.

 

I look fwd to seeing those on my PC (on BBerry now) but I LOVE your bumper with its long silver slat in the center lower grille. That's why I want to paint mine.

 

I will be installing the AMG front in a couple weeks so you could take it off my hands...