Front License Plate Bracket Install???
 

I have a 2006 R500 and am required to install a front license plate. I bought the OEM bracket and have gone to pull out the plugs from the front bumper and am stumped. I can't get them out. I tried to pull them out (gently) with no luck and I have also tried to unscrew them. No luck there either.

Anyone know how to get the factory plugs out so I can install the license plate and bracket?

Thanks,

Tom

What are these plugs you speak of ? My car never had a plate installed by the dealer, in fact My MB dealer will not install the front plate unless the customer asks for it. My car does not have any holes or plugs in the front bumper. My W204 C-Class was like this too, to the best of my knowledge the front plate bracket must be drilled into the bumper. Your local MB dealer should do this for free for you, at least mine does should I want it. In CA it's about a $20-$50 ticket for no front plate, I'm going to take the chance.

Not sure what state you're located in but if you can get by without the front plate at minimal risk, I wouldn't put one on. Lots of states with a front plate requirement are pretty lax and if you get a ticket it's a minor $ penalty or possibly even a "fix it ticket" where you have x days to put the plate on to avoid the ticket.
When I lived in Texas I never put on the required front plate and never got a ticket but my teen-aged son got a ticket the first month he was driving. He taped the plate on, showed it to the police department and the ticket was voided. After he left the PD he took the plate off and never had another problem.
A shame to mess with that great looking front end.

R KLASSE,

I will get pictures of the plugs I am referring to and post them up tomorrow night.

The OEM license plate bracket has holes that match directly up to them and has tabs that fit the air scoop underneath it. I will get pictures of it as well so you can see what I am talking about.

smiley47,

I know, I am torn between putting it on and taking the risk without it. I will look into the states laws and fines and see what I can find.

Tom

Almost sounds like your car had a front plate on it before and the owner took it off and plugged the holes with aftermarket hole plugs made for that purpose. Not sure how you take them out.

Check out Cek on the C63 AMG forum, he took off the front bracket the dealer installed and bought some plugs to fill the existing holes. Might help you figure out how to get them back off.

Mort,

You may be right. Thanks for the contact (Cek) information. I will get ahold of him and inquire about how I might be able to pull them out without damaging things.

Here are some pictures of what I am talking about:

One more question...

I tried to pull the front grill off in order to get a better look at the backside of the plugs but got stumped. I pulled the four bolts at the top but could not figure out how to get the bottom loose. I felt around where I could and didn't find anything obvious that would be holding it in place.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Tom

The front bumper doesn't have plugs from the factory, it must be drilled to receive the front license plate holder. In your case it appears someone has put plugs in where the plate holder was at one point. Taking the front bumper off sounds pretty drastic, think I would try wrapping a cloth around a screw driver and prying them out. If all else fails just drill them out, they appear to be plastic, just use a smaller drill bit than the size of the plugs so your not making the holes any bigger. The good news is if you scratch the bumper, its going to be hidden by the plate bracket anyways.