Mounting front license plate.
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From: Lynnwood, WA
ML320
Mounting front license plate.
A relative of mine just bought a '98 E430. It's a beautiful car!When he received the car, the front license plate was not mounted on the front bumper. Since he did not want to bring it to the dealer to install the hardware, we figured we could do it ourselves. One thing stopped us ... there are no mounting holes on the front bumper itself.
So, my question to E-class owners is this, is there supposed to be a hole in the bumper with nuts on the inside? or can you just drill the holes yourself and use regular screws?
So, my question to E-class owners is this, is there supposed to be a hole in the bumper with nuts on the inside? or can you just drill the holes yourself and use regular screws?
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From: Southern California, USA
2003 CL55 AMG
Re: Mounting front license plate.
Originally posted by ghitos73
A relative of mine just bought a '98 E430. It's a beautiful car!When he received the car, the front license plate was not mounted on the front bumper. Since he did not want to bring it to the dealer to install the hardware, we figured we could do it ourselves. One thing stopped us ... there are no mounting holes on the front bumper itself.
So, my question to E-class owners is this, is there supposed to be a hole in the bumper with nuts on the inside? or can you just drill the holes yourself and use regular screws?
A relative of mine just bought a '98 E430. It's a beautiful car!When he received the car, the front license plate was not mounted on the front bumper. Since he did not want to bring it to the dealer to install the hardware, we figured we could do it ourselves. One thing stopped us ... there are no mounting holes on the front bumper itself.
So, my question to E-class owners is this, is there supposed to be a hole in the bumper with nuts on the inside? or can you just drill the holes yourself and use regular screws?
Crazy as it sounds, you drill right into the bumper and use self taping screws. The thought of screwing up a perfectly good bumper with 2 holes makes me shiver.
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From: Southport, CT
99 E320
When I bought my used 99 about a year ago I found the front license plate bracket in the trunk when I went to mount the CD player. I still haven't installed the plate because I don't like the look of it but the bracket has two tabs that clip into two thin sideways slots in the front bumper. It's made of plastic so I can't imagine it can cost that much at the dealer. Just ran outside to check, it is an original Mercedes part.
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From: Lynnwood, WA
ML320
Ray,
You still need to drive two tapping screws through your front bumper in order to mounting the license plate bracket. The two sideways tabs don't hold it on the bumper alone. If you did that, it would fall forward.
You've got the same problem my relative has with his car. He just doesn't want to go to the dealer for something as simple as mounting a license plate bracket. Who knows how much they would charge for something like that ...
You still need to drive two tapping screws through your front bumper in order to mounting the license plate bracket. The two sideways tabs don't hold it on the bumper alone. If you did that, it would fall forward.
You've got the same problem my relative has with his car. He just doesn't want to go to the dealer for something as simple as mounting a license plate bracket. Who knows how much they would charge for something like that ...
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From: Southern California, USA
2003 CL55 AMG
Originally posted by Ray
When I bought my used 99 about a year ago I found the front license plate bracket in the trunk when I went to mount the CD player. I still haven't installed the plate because I don't like the look of it but the bracket has two tabs that clip into two thin sideways slots in the front bumper. It's made of plastic so I can't imagine it can cost that much at the dealer. Just ran outside to check, it is an original Mercedes part.
When I bought my used 99 about a year ago I found the front license plate bracket in the trunk when I went to mount the CD player. I still haven't installed the plate because I don't like the look of it but the bracket has two tabs that clip into two thin sideways slots in the front bumper. It's made of plastic so I can't imagine it can cost that much at the dealer. Just ran outside to check, it is an original Mercedes part.
Those tabs ensure that the bracket is centered. However you still need to rape you bumper and pop 2 holes in it....
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From: Genoa, NV
2014 GLK250 BlueTec & 2009 ML320 BlueTec
Mounting front license plate
I'm lucky, in Florida we don't use license plates in the front!
I would die, if I have to drill two holes on my front bumper.
I would die, if I have to drill two holes on my front bumper.
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Super Member
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: North Bay Area, California
2001 E320
I dislike the front licensed plate so much that when I purchsed my E320 I picked one that had not had the PDI done, so the bracket was not installed.
In California, you are required to have a mounted front license plate, so the dealer had me sign a release of liability form because I didn't want the bracket installed! They also told me that I could bring my car in at anytime and they would install the bracket for n/c.
I have always wondered what the fine is for no plate but hope not to find out the hard way...
In California, you are required to have a mounted front license plate, so the dealer had me sign a release of liability form because I didn't want the bracket installed! They also told me that I could bring my car in at anytime and they would install the bracket for n/c.
I have always wondered what the fine is for no plate but hope not to find out the hard way...
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Joined: Dec 2002
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From: San Francisco, CA
2000 E430 Sport
Re: front plates
Luckily I bought my E430 in NV where front plates aren't required.
In No. California, I learned from experience unfortunately, they'll hit you with a $100 ticket for not having a front plate installed (or $10 if you "fix it" and install it).
I couldn't bear to put the holes in the bumper though...
Sam
_____________
2000 E430 Sport
In No. California, I learned from experience unfortunately, they'll hit you with a $100 ticket for not having a front plate installed (or $10 if you "fix it" and install it).
I couldn't bear to put the holes in the bumper though...
Sam
_____________
2000 E430 Sport
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: North Bay Area, California
2001 E320
Re: front plates
samosborn;
In your post you write:
In No. California, I learned from experience unfortunately, they'll hit you with a $100 ticket for not having a front plate installed (or $10 if you "fix it" and install it).
I was wondering if this is current information or from sometime back. I'd gladly pay a $100 fine if I didn't have to actually mount the front plate. I assumed that if I got cited I would pay a fine and be required to show proof that the plate was then mounted to be in compliance. Paying only a fine would be great...
In your post you write:
In No. California, I learned from experience unfortunately, they'll hit you with a $100 ticket for not having a front plate installed (or $10 if you "fix it" and install it).
I was wondering if this is current information or from sometime back. I'd gladly pay a $100 fine if I didn't have to actually mount the front plate. I assumed that if I got cited I would pay a fine and be required to show proof that the plate was then mounted to be in compliance. Paying only a fine would be great...
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 15
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From: San Francisco, CA
2000 E430 Sport
Info current as of 2001, in the SF Bay Area. You pay $10 if you actually mount the plate after receiving the citation, or $100 if you don't. Amount of fine may be different in other parts of the state or country.
Sam
_____________
2000 E430 Sport
Sam
_____________
2000 E430 Sport
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 669
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From: North Bay Area, California
2001 E320
Re: front plates
samosborn-
Thanks for the update; I assume that if I chose to pay the $100 fine and not mount the plate, I could again be cited in the future and have to pay another fine...
Thanks for the update; I assume that if I chose to pay the $100 fine and not mount the plate, I could again be cited in the future and have to pay another fine...
