DonClaudio99

Just a quick informal poll...how many of you residing in CA do not have a front license plate bracket...I am about to pick up the Silver Arrow tomorrow after a new bumper and front end paint job and am leaning towards having the "virgin" no holes look. Or any recommendations to mount the bracket w/o drilling or ruining the paint?

RAFFIE55

I have taken mine and my wife's off. For some reason cars look better with out the front plate. However, technically we can be busted for it. I have a long time ago on a different car. Especially if you park on public streets with meters. Even the meter maid can give you a fix it ticket.

Dan Wang

I drive around town with out a front license plate. I got nabbed at LAX though for not having one. Cost me $15. This was 3 years ago. I think the law changed and the penalty may be stiffer now.

DonClaudio99

thank you... i understand it is a fix it ticket...i was planning on having the bracket in my car with plate to show if i got pulled...i see a lot of cars and pickups, maybe 10% roughly w/o it...and we are not talking MB's etc

legendtype2

I got 2 at LAX one at a Meter(there was time), another 1 in front of my house(never street parking ever again), once by a cop... I still refuse to put plate on

artist_sl500

Can we just keep it under the seat and then put it on the dash when we think we need to maybe???

scottster77

not acceptable in cali.... either have it on the front or none at all.. but never on the dash....

Bigdot

i dont have one on my SL or Jeep.
never had a problem cruzin the streets

Murtaza

I got a fixit ticket along with speeding last week. ******* cop, i'm going to tape it on to get it corrected then yank it off...

crb49

Don't do it!!!! Haven't done the hatchet job to my last three cars and never had a problem. I do keep the extra plate in my trunk, though. But I'm sure the cop wouldn't want to hear it if I got pulled over.

DonClaudio99

thanks for all the responses...i told the body shop to not mount it and i will go "plateless" with the apparatus in the trunk and try to avoid the speeding issues... i pick up the car up tomorrow.

gqmagic

The dealer can install it in 5 mins.

MercPlease

Front lic plates destroy the look of the car IMO. Ew.. they're so ugly.

DonClaudio99

ah yes...much better...now the 30 day wait begins until the body armor gets installed

vixapphire

curious why you swapped out the silver arrow wheels for the "standard" amg 5-spoke rims... would love to hear what led you to that decision.

(sorry 'bout the off topic post)

DonClaudio99

well long story short
they came that way ..i suspect the previous owner did some damage to them
... i had the front bumper just replaced as i think it was someone who had too many toys and didnt care about things as we may do

other wise the car runs great

i picked up the car in october with 28K miles on it in Plam Springs...now at 36K as a daily driver

still trying to figure out which genius at MB decided to have the light grey tones on the leather on top of the steering wheel and shift knob....i highly suggest getting the blackbird eye schatz shiftknob...wont get dirty and looks awesome

crb49

I've wondered the same thing. The two tone seats have also been a concern. What has been your experience?

DonClaudio99

so far the seats are ok....the steering wheel i clean once a week

just have to wipe it down it every other week as i keep the top down usually all day....covered..and in the garage uncovered at night

i use Meguiars spray liquid clean and conditioner...works well...

crb49

Thanks for the tip. enjoy your plateless roadster. I don't think you'll be sorry about leaving the front end clean. I'm sure it also helps if you're not a young guy with a ricer...Cop magnets. My personal opinion (and experience) is the MB logo gives one some instant cred on the streets.

agentMurdoc

glad you choose not to have a front plate installed. Ruins the car. Every car I have had I removed the front plate... and yes I do live in Cali [SoCal]. Never had a problem with the cops about it. Just don't be an *** giving them probable cause to pull you over and nail you with something.

nantuckt

I also like the clean plateless look, but just got a $65 ticket in NYC. if anyone wants to sell me their bracket I need one. thanks

DonClaudio99

ouch

sorry to hear...what they need to come up with is a velcro or some other sticky non-intrusive method of holding the bracket that can be taken on and off...i'd pay $65 for that

vixapphire

the seats wear fine; no issues with the color. i had the two tone red/black seats in an 01 slk 320 a few years back and it was just as good from a color/wear standpoint.

the leather on the wheel and knob cleans off pretty well from what i've seen on beige/black 2-tone slk's; my primary concerns there are (a) potential yellowing or shreddy wear of the wheel (the leather on the silver arrow's wheel seems much softer than other wheels) and (b) the damn bolster by the door is going to wear out at the seams because of the ingress/egress from the driver's seat.

crb49

I have the same problem on my 129. No matter how careful I am about in and out, it still becomes a problem after time.

bltserv

Hi crb49

How you been ? How is biz ?
Not seen you since Tia Juana`s meet in January.
I worry about my bolsters too. Its a big guy thing we both share.......

Plates:
I have both cars no plates up front. Both are in the trunk.
The CL500 I can clip it on. Not good for speed. But will pass the bozo test.

The SL55 has been raped with the front bumper being drilled by the original
owner. I want to fill in those nasty little holes this summer.
So far not been popped. But have got some hard looks from Irvines Finest.

Seems like LAX is the one place they just get everyone for the ticket.