Left Coast Geek

I have the US front plate holder for our facelift 2016 E350 w/ the Luxury trim package, but it didn't come with the mounting screws. I realize we'll have to drill the bumper for this, but I want to make sure I get the correct screws. Nearest dealer is an hour each way, so I can't just drop by their parts counter for this, and I want screws that won't corrode.

could someone with a facelift pull one out, and measure it, and photograph it for me ?

Left Coast Geek

or, verify if they are the same as the rear plate screws ? then I can take one of my rear plate screws and find something equivalent.

pierrejoliat

Does your front bumper have small dimples for the screw holes? Are there four dimples or just two?

pierrejoliat

Left Coast Geek

I did not see any dimples when I carefully examined it when we first got it.

so from those pics, looks like I need 2 screws to secure the frame to the car, and 4 for the plate?

pierrejoliat

Yes, the top bracket in the picture uses four small mounting screws and four plate screws, it's off my '12 luxury, the lower bracket uses two large mounting screws and four plate screws, that one's off my son's '15 luxury.
Oh, and my '12 has three dimples for both plate bracket set-ups, my '13 does not, but it's a sport and used the two hole big screw mounting, Sorry about the reflections

Left Coast Geek

the plate holder I have has 3 plastic expando things molded into the back that fit into holes around 1/4", the screws go into these to expand said things. I verified the PN on this plate holder, its the one that EPC says matches our car by both VIN and option codes. Here, let me take a pic...




no sign of any dimples on the front bumper.

Left Coast Geek

so I measured those expander plugs, the skinny part is 8mm or about 5/16", I'm thinking about about 11/32".holes... But I can't find any sort of drilling template for this, and its not at all a flat surface, if the holes aren't in precisely the right place, its not going to sit right. I've poked around WIS, and not found any help on this.

pierrejoliat

Wow, that's similar to the older part other than the expanding things and having a third one, never had an issue on my sport with the two mounting screws,despite many car washes, Ohio got rid of front plates a year ago, so mine was on for the first ten years. maybe they had some come off so they put an extra in the middle? wow, no dimples, must be a facelift upgrade!

pierrejoliat

Anybody out there with a facelift luxury who could chime in with a measurement from grille to top of license plate bracket?

I have the two holes in my '13 sport, but my cars a pre-facelift

Left Coast Geek

I think I can make a cardboard template... the sides of the plate holder have a step for the bottom edge of the bumper.