Midcity Engineering Motorized License Plate
 

Several months ago I ordered a motorized license plate for M.E. Shipping was slow but when it came I was excited to install it. Before installing the plate and running the wire I though it best to give the module power and connect it to the CAN bus to try it out. Smart move because it didn't work. The plate would only move in one direction (unless I reversed the wires). I reached out to Noah and did some troubleshooting and determined the module was bad and they agreed to send me a replacement. The replacement came Thursday night so I tested and installed yesterday... everything works great! In addition to using the MB keyfob, you can control the plate using steering wheel controls. I've had one of these motorized plates on another car but that meant I had to use their remote fob or wire in switches. I like that this is integrated into the car.

They were delayed by about 2 weeks in getting my replacement module to me but that's because they were testing out a new module that was smaller (didn't require the relays) and they wanted to send me one that they had tested on a car to make sure it was good. I'm glad that they waited and I got one of the newer modules. Below are pictures of new versus old.

Anyways, I thought it was worthy of a post and a thanks to Noah and the team.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...907605036b.jpg



New module on the bottom

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...82faf1e0ac.jpg

Nice way to add a powered fuse from the inside fuse box. Keeps it clean!

What is the use/practicality of a motorized license plate? Not sure I've ever heard of this. Is it like turn signal fluid?:nix::D

Lol fair enough. I'm sure you understand what it's for, California requires you to have a front license plate which I think is hideous so let's me stay legal while easily hide the plate if I want, but that may not be for everyone.

Honestly money grows on trees so why not lol

When do you hide it? Need it exposed while parked on city streets and need it exposed when driving. What's left?

I suspect it's more a matter of tuck it in until you need it. Getting pulled for something? Deploy the plate.

Isn't it too late then?

Not always... if there's a DUI checkpoint and you don't want to be harassed, if you are driving through a toll booth or through a known speed trap, I work at a nuclear power plant and security likes us to display our plates so I can easily show then hide. There are a lot of car shows in San Luis Obispo, CA so it makes it easy to hide if I'm at a show. I've actually been pulled over before, deployed the plate (on a previous car) and not received a ticket. If you are being pulled over for not having a plate then yes, it's probably a little late. You could always offer up: "I'm sorry officer I thought I had deployed it... it should be deployed now." I'm not trying to hide anything from the police... it's for their safety, as I understand it, that I'm required to have one. This way they can check my plate prior to approaching the vehicle. I will happily comply with that but prefer to not always have it deployed...

All that aside, this thread was just meant to offer up a customer review. If anyone is looking to buy one from MidCity Eng I can attest to ease of install. If anyone has a question about how I ran my wires, I can walk them through it. I did the same when I installed my front and rear Thinkware F770 with battery backup in the trunk.

A Picture is worth a thousand words.....

https://www.midcityengineering.com/d...license-plate/