Front License Plate Removal Solution
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: S.F. Bay Area, CA
'18 E63S AMG
Front License Plate Removal Solution
Just thought I'd share some of my lame little solutions. When I received my car, the dealer unfortunately had already installed the front license plate frame which involves drilling into the bumper. When I removed the frame, there were these two ugly drilled holes that weren't even straight. I thought about putting the screws back in but the holes were drilled at angles that weren't perpendicular to the surface. Hence when I put the bolts back in, it looked awful.
Anyway, I found these little small nylon plugs at the hardware store that had a diameter just a little bigger than the bolts. This allowed me to bore holes at an angle more perpendicular to the bumper surface so that the plugs would seat flush. After painting the plugs, they just slide in and stay with no glue. This allows me to remount the license frame using the same holes if I have to (in California, we have to have our front license plates although I have only had to do that twice in 25 years).
Anyway, I found these little small nylon plugs at the hardware store that had a diameter just a little bigger than the bolts. This allowed me to bore holes at an angle more perpendicular to the bumper surface so that the plugs would seat flush. After painting the plugs, they just slide in and stay with no glue. This allows me to remount the license frame using the same holes if I have to (in California, we have to have our front license plates although I have only had to do that twice in 25 years).
Last edited by CALBenzo; Aug 6, 2004 at 05:25 PM.
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From: Sacramento
'08 AM Vantage V8 - '03 E500
Elegant solution! When you go to get the fixit ticket signed off (every 12.5 years), just be sure that you're out of sight of the CHP office before you whip that license plate bracket off your front bumper. 
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From: S.F. Bay Area, CA
'18 E63S AMG
Originally Posted by HELL ONA HARLEY
Very clean job there.... Just wondering why you didn't ask the dealer not to drill for the plate in the first place???
I know, I choked. In my euphoria over getting the car, I didn't even think about it. Besides, all my past cars have had a bracket or something that attached the license plate frame. I didn't know that they drill into the bumper to mount it.
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From: bay area
pinto
hey cal, you seem to amaze me everyday! i was just looking to do this to my car but i couldn't find anything on this subject. i hate the fact the dealer did such an ugly job in drilling the bumper. mine was also misalign. cal, where in bay area do you live maybe we could hook-up to share ideas. i'm from the San Leandro area. 
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From: San Diego
2004 E320
Hey Cal, is there anything else behind the bumper that the license plate frame screws into? Or is the frame all supported by the bumper itself? Looking at your pic, it seems like there is nothing behind that hole. BTW: very creative mod!!! Looks great!
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2003 CL55 AMG
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WAY to big for Mercedes appliications. Thise puppies have a head the size of a nickle.
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Originally Posted by awiner
WAY to big for Mercedes appliications. Thise puppies have a head the size of a nickle.
... just a different option to those not familiar with it ... ;-)
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From: S.F. Bay Area, CA
'18 E63S AMG
Originally Posted by W211 Ryda
Hey Cal, is there anything else behind the bumper that the license plate frame screws into? Or is the frame all supported by the bumper itself? Looking at your pic, it seems like there is nothing behind that hole. BTW: very creative mod!!! Looks great!
ryda,
There is a plastic support behind the front bumper that the license frame screws go into. Thus, you can bore out the bumper hole to fit the plug, and retain the screw hole behind it for the license frame (at least this is how it is on mine). When you bore out the hole, you don't need to go in very far, and try and drill in perpendicular to the surface of the bumper.
mbfan,
I'm up in the Oakland hills near Montclair. That would be great to share ideas sometime!
Arnee,
There is something for everything. I probably should have figured there would be. I didn't even search though. Thanks!
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From: S.F. Bay Area, CA
'18 E63S AMG
Originally Posted by Dema
It's quite strange, Oakland dealer doesn't do drilling and it seems Oakland is your dealership.
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From: the sane part of MA
2025 E450 4Matic
a possible fix
I'm looking for a simpler solution (OEM, or a snap ON/OFF bracket) but I've come up with a fix in the meantime. I affix the front plate, and plate frame, to the supplied bracket using 2 bolts thru the existing bottom plate holes. chrome caps are used to cover the bottom bolts, and two caps are superglued over the two mounting holes on top for esthetics. This assembly is then attached to the bumper using velcro. two inch strips work fine, hold fine, and are reusable. I simply peel the velcro strip off the bumper when I remove the plate assy.
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From: S.F. Bay Area, CA
'18 E63S AMG
Originally Posted by tomd
I'm looking for a simpler solution (OEM, or a snap ON/OFF bracket) but I've come up with a fix in the meantime. I affix the front plate, and plate frame, to the supplied bracket using 2 bolts thru the existing bottom plate holes. chrome caps are used to cover the bottom bolts, and two caps are superglued over the two mounting holes on top for esthetics. This assembly is then attached to the bumper using velcro. two inch strips work fine, hold fine, and are reusable. I simply peel the velcro strip off the bumper when I remove the plate assy.
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From: the sane part of MA
2025 E450 4Matic
Holds tight
Not seen in the photos, are the 2 bracket "fingers" extending behind the MB bracket into the slots in the lower grille (standard MB SL bracket config). These fingers support all of the weight of the plate. The Velcro is really only needed to keep the assy from "flopping" forward, and if the velcro ever did fail, the plate would just flop forward at about 30 degrees and (hopefully) never fall off the car. High speed driving actually pushes the assy into the velcro, so it holds tighter. The only issue is repeated washings. This might loosen the velcro adhesive.
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From: the sane part of MA
2025 E450 4Matic
addendum
In regard to the 2nd question. You can't see any part of the Velcro from the outside. And the 2 top dummy caps appear like they are covering bolts that extend into the bumper. Well enough never to have anyone question the "permanancy" of the mounting. But if they were to yank on the plate.......
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From: S.F. Bay Area, CA
'18 E63S AMG
In mine, luckily, there were not any from the screw or the frame. I'm sure, the longer you keep it on, however, the greater the likelihood some may form from the bracket or frame.
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From: Tampa, Florida
2017 E300W
Originally Posted by outtadaloop
. . . can I go to home depot and get them?
Lowes had them too.
Good luck.
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From: S.F. Bay Area, CA
'18 E63S AMG
Originally Posted by TPAbnz
I found them in the fastener aisle in a slide-out chest of "specialty" materials. They come in varying diameters and are made out of nylon.
Lowes had them too.
Good luck.
Lowes had them too.
Good luck.
GL
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From: So. Cal
2004 E500 Sport
Thanks for the great suggestion. I just purchased a used 2004 and the dealer had already removed the plate holder, filled the holes and repainted. Since also live in CA I suspect that at some time I'll be poped for no front plate. LA County Sheriff just sits and waits for cars with no plates
