i took off my front license plate and i noticed the dealer drilled the plate frame into the front bumper! is this normal? i put it back on since i dont want two holes showing.

 

They installed mine the same way...no alternative. They asked me before they did it. Since IL requires a front and back plate, 2 holes is better than $3-digit ticket.
I guess MB should take the blame for this alternative. Surely they know what IL and other states require.

 

Both of Mercedes have plate holders drilled into the front bumper. Texas requires front plates.

 

Yeah I had the same except I discovered they made four holes on a car I bought from out of state. Since my state only requires a front plate if there's a manufacturer supplied bracket, off it went to the body shop to fill the holes and spray the bumper.

Problem solved.

 

Did car come with Plate holder?

 

This is nothing new guys. Happens all over the world, except some states or provinces where front plates are not mandated by regulations.

 

correct, drilling into the front bumper is common. I requested mine to be without so that I could mount it some other way

 

I saw this on the W222 forum. Pretty cool, if you want to go that far: https://www.midcityengineering.com/d...license-plate/