View Poll Results: Do you have your front plates on?
Yes mine are on
55
42.64%
No I don't have my front plates on
74
57.36%
Voters: 129. You may not vote on this poll
Front License Plates - Who has them on? Who has them off?
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 500
Likes: 0
From: Glendale, CA
2004 E320 (W211) & 2005 G35 Coupe
Front License Plates - Who has them on? Who has them off?
How many of you decided not to put on your front license plates? How many of you have it on?
I think the plates totally kill the look of the car from the front, and took mine off and put it on the windshield....who here has them on/off, any problems with the cops?
I think the plates totally kill the look of the car from the front, and took mine off and put it on the windshield....who here has them on/off, any problems with the cops?
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 424
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
ML-350, Maserati Quattroporte
Seems like so many people on these forums like to give other people a hard time. Anyhow, plates need to be on in my state. I never put them on in my S430 and I don't have them on my E. I think it hurts the look. I keep my plate and plate holder in my trunk. May not help but some cops don't care ( I was pulled over twice in my S).
Senior Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 416
Likes: 2
From: Lone Star State.
W211 2005 CDI, X166 2013 350 BT, 997.1 2008 C4S
DWP,
Not that you asked for it but what the hell is your problem? Simple question a fellow member asked and wanted to get some feedback. Instead we had the "pleasure" of reading your condescending remarks. Grow up!
As for the original Q, yes in Texas we must have a front plate unfortunately. I would have loved to have a Euro plate on the front.
Jay
Not that you asked for it but what the hell is your problem? Simple question a fellow member asked and wanted to get some feedback. Instead we had the "pleasure" of reading your condescending remarks. Grow up!
As for the original Q, yes in Texas we must have a front plate unfortunately. I would have loved to have a Euro plate on the front.
Jay
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,439
Likes: 1
From: THE NAPA VALLEY, CA
Build date 2-04 E500
My state requires them but I run without.... I agree they look like **** on the front end... Ever see a front plate on a car in any MB sales brochure????? They must agree also. So far I've never had a second look from the man.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 500
Likes: 0
From: Glendale, CA
2004 E320 (W211) & 2005 G35 Coupe
Thanks guys, I live in Los Angeles, and it is required, and I got them put on, but then unscrewed them off, but there are some hole's from the screws on the front bumper, you can't even see it from about 10 feet away, anyway I can cover up these little holes?
Another thing, is it true you can have your license plate on your dashboard isntead of on the front of your car?
Another thing, is it true you can have your license plate on your dashboard isntead of on the front of your car?
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,586
Likes: 1
From: Sacramento
'08 AM Vantage V8 - '03 E500
Somebody reported in a previous thread on this subject that they purchased some plastic plugs at the hardware store that fit tightly into the holes left after removing the license plate bracket. S/he probably used touch-up paint from the dealer to match the color of the bumper.
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w211/78236-front-license-plate-removal-solution.html
Sorry, but displaying the front plate on the dashboard probably won't satisfy the law, at least in California. California Vehicle Code Section 5200 says: "(a) When two license plates are issued by the department for use upon a vehicle, they shall be attached to the vehicle for which they were issued, one in the front and the other in the rear." The dashboard probably isn't "the front." There may be a DMV regulation which defines "the front" more precisely, but I don't feel like looking it up at the moment. http://ccr.oal.ca.gov , if you care to look.
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w211/78236-front-license-plate-removal-solution.html
Sorry, but displaying the front plate on the dashboard probably won't satisfy the law, at least in California. California Vehicle Code Section 5200 says: "(a) When two license plates are issued by the department for use upon a vehicle, they shall be attached to the vehicle for which they were issued, one in the front and the other in the rear." The dashboard probably isn't "the front." There may be a DMV regulation which defines "the front" more precisely, but I don't feel like looking it up at the moment. http://ccr.oal.ca.gov , if you care to look.
Last edited by DWP; Aug 30, 2004 at 01:01 AM.
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Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
W208 CLK320
I took mine off, and although it is required here: The cops really don't seem to care. I have been pulled over on numerous occasions for speeding, but they have never commented or cared about my lack of a front plate.
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
SLR
The dashboard display is usually used by the rice racers and classic car guys.
The only other option I can think of is to do some kind of install on the lower grill, I'm not really sure off hand if its possible, but if its wide enough, that could be an option.
But, you would have to check the clearance.
Just an idea.
The only other option I can think of is to do some kind of install on the lower grill, I'm not really sure off hand if its possible, but if its wide enough, that could be an option.
But, you would have to check the clearance.
Just an idea.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,492
Likes: 0
From: Canada
2004 E500 / 2001 C240
I love my front plates.. I have blue neon around it and flames that shoot out on the sides..
No.. I don't really - although here I have to have my front plate on, it is white so it doesn't look so bad.. I am glad I am not in the North West Territorieswhere the plate is a huge bear shape plate.
Check this out:
http://www.plateshack.com/76/NWT/nwt.html
No.. I don't really - although here I have to have my front plate on, it is white so it doesn't look so bad.. I am glad I am not in the North West Territorieswhere the plate is a huge bear shape plate.
Check this out:
http://www.plateshack.com/76/NWT/nwt.html
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,434
Likes: 1
From: So Cal
2010 RRS ; BMW K1200R; 14 E350 ; 14 RRS on order
I don't put either of them on. They way I look at it if they don't see the rear one on they just assume I haven't gottem yet. I have had the car 1 year. Been pulled over twice and the guy hasn't said anything about the plates. In fact one of them said, "you don't have the plates on , the car is pretty new huh?"
To which I just smiled.
I just love the black car with no plates. It works well. Oh and not to mention that I have been through the FastTrack lane on the 91 too many times now which has made up in cost for any ticket I may get for no plates
To which I just smiled.
I just love the black car with no plates. It works well. Oh and not to mention that I have been through the FastTrack lane on the 91 too many times now which has made up in cost for any ticket I may get for no plates
Banned
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,384
Likes: 1
From: House of Imports, MBZ (So. Cali.)
'06 ML500 w/Apperance pkg & '07 SL550 w/AMG pkg
I took my bracket out of the trunk and hide it, so it did not get put on by accident when they did the Pre-Delivery Inspection & initial detail. I leave the temporary reg. sticker in the window & paper plates on the back. So far I have not gotten any heat from the cops, but I keep my car very clean, so they always think it is a new car!!
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
CLK500
front plate ticket
Hi guys, yea i agree, front plates are UGLLLLLLLY. i refuse to kill the look on my '04 clk500. anyways, i got my car new at Autohbahn Motors in Belmont, CA and the blank dealer plates came on the front so i took it off and yes there are tiny holes, but it's ok. Bottom line is that i was parked at an Out of Order meter in SF this weekend and i'm sure he was originally going to write me a ticket until he saw it was out of order so instead he wrote me a TICKET for no front plate ($100 fine). It's a fix it ticket so i have to put it back on, pay the fkn $10 fix it administration fee, and then u can bet within hours, i'll take it right back off.
Anyone agree?
Anyone agree?
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 462
Likes: 0
From: CT and FL
SL500 E320 ML350
Did not have the bracket installed (no holes in bumper). I too keep the front plate and bracket in the trunk. 15 months on the road and no problems from the cops. If stopped the plan is to tell them the plate fell off in the car wash. 
Let's hope my luck holds out. I hate the look of that front plate - looks like a pretty girl with a front tooth missing! 
I notice about 25% of the cars here in CT don't sport front plates. I guess the cops just don't give a s--t! 
Let's hope my luck holds out. I hate the look of that front plate - looks like a pretty girl with a front tooth missing! I notice about 25% of the cars here in CT don't sport front plates. I guess the cops just don't give a s--t!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,123
Likes: 3
From: Chicago, IL
Real Cars
In Illinois, they are required. I haven't had a front plate on my commuter cars for years, never got a ticket. My Supra, I had to put a front plate on because it sticks out like a damned sore thumb and I had gotten a bunch of no front plate tickets.
My mother has had her current C-class since '98, and she's only gotten 1 ticket for no front plate with it. It has some 100k miles of Illinois-front-plate-required driving too... it all depends on how you drive and where you live...
-m
My mother has had her current C-class since '98, and she's only gotten 1 ticket for no front plate with it. It has some 100k miles of Illinois-front-plate-required driving too... it all depends on how you drive and where you live...
-m
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,574
Likes: 3
From: Sugar Land, TX
BMW E39
My state requires it and I don't have one. I've been pulled over once and the cop didn't even walk to the front of the car. My front windows were down too, so he didn't notice the illegal tint.
