What's up with the front plate holder???
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 795
Likes: 189
From: San Diego, CA
2016 E350 Sport; Mom Wrecked the 2008 E350; sold the 2002 C320
What's up with the front plate holder???
Sooo, I got pulled over this weekend (facelift W211) by a bored highway patrolman. My crimes: No front license plate and front windows tinted too dark. 
Come on, who gets pulled over for this crap nowadays? Especially in a rural highway in the middle of nowhere? (I did, so I guess I'm answering my own question).
It's going to hurt like hell to strip the ceramic tint off my front windows but it's probably going to hurt more to drill my front bumper...
I started shopping online for the front license plate base and as expected, the back part is "V" shaped to accommodate the sharp angle on the center of the bumper. However, I couldn't believe that the front where the plate sits is also curved, meaning the plate has to be bent! What on earth were they thinking when they designed this?!?!?!
Well, I have no option but to install the plate and bend it, I guess but I really hate to have plates without a license plate frame (looks kinda like wearing dress shoes without socks).
Rant aside, I read in an old thread that MB made a pre-bent plate frame to fit on this holder but I can't find any info on it (provided link is now dead). Anyone know where I can find it?
Come on, who gets pulled over for this crap nowadays? Especially in a rural highway in the middle of nowhere? (I did, so I guess I'm answering my own question).
It's going to hurt like hell to strip the ceramic tint off my front windows but it's probably going to hurt more to drill my front bumper...
I started shopping online for the front license plate base and as expected, the back part is "V" shaped to accommodate the sharp angle on the center of the bumper. However, I couldn't believe that the front where the plate sits is also curved, meaning the plate has to be bent! What on earth were they thinking when they designed this?!?!?!
Well, I have no option but to install the plate and bend it, I guess but I really hate to have plates without a license plate frame (looks kinda like wearing dress shoes without socks).
Rant aside, I read in an old thread that MB made a pre-bent plate frame to fit on this holder but I can't find any info on it (provided link is now dead). Anyone know where I can find it?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,748
Likes: 880
From: In the Shadow of the Tetons
2013 ML350 Bluetec
You don't need to spend the dough on a plate frame if you don't want to. 4 nylon bushings, beveled to fit the bumper, will give you a bit of a standoff from the bumper and make a nice flat plate surface. Put whatever trim around it you'd like to.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 432
Likes: 7
From: Albuquerque, NM
09' E350, 01' Maxima SE, 93 Nissan Maxima SE, 1987 Nissan Maxima SE
front plate is depends on where you live, since in New Mexico there's no front plate. I see you're in CA, I know it's required to have front plate. it's the law, and for Tinting, I know CA have very strict law about how much tint and where you place on your car, I used to live in Cali, when I moved there I had to visit the DMV and they inspect my car and told me this and that is not legal since my car was originally from New Mexico and I had to take off the tint.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 744
Likes: 144
From: Bay Area
W218 Stage 2, E85
in CA, i believe front legal tint is 75% but that's literally nothing lol i had 35% and no one pulled me over untill i got pulled over carpooling alone lol i could've fought the tint ticket, long story, but from going all thru the trouble i decided to take off and clear the ticket and now i might go back to 35% again lol never get black interior and tint that much lol
