[Dr. Indiana Jones]

Has anyone experimented w repositioning the standard centre location of their front license plate, to expose the front end of the 2-series? Although there are a variety of mechanical (i.e., car battery operated self retracting w a remote) and non-mechanical/stationary methods out there, my concern is that if u opt for a stationary (non-self-retracting option), and say utilize the existing tow nut as an anchor point, the plate is going to block the front right air intake. Also, I'm not sure it really looks better to place the license plate off-centre on a 2-series given those beautiful dual air intakes that presumably should look balanced w/o obstruction (albeit sadly I've seen the way Dealer's locate the placement of the license plate holder - they eye it up and presto - your plate can be off centre by as much as 0.25-0.5 inches). There are supposedly 2 forms of plate holder - one that self centres ?? and the other. One alternative allows u to place the plate holder below the bumper but since my car is a lease, I don't wanna get into trouble w bolting to the frame of the car. Any comments/suggestions? Perhaps I should just leave well enough alone LOL?

Here's some pics of the standard set-up and alternatives:

https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j...95402664317541


https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j...95402664317541


https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j...95402858630248

[overcoil]

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/...ga2dckb4_1.jpg

[Nyorky2428]

I purchased the tow hook adapter and had the plate off-center, but it would make the PDC go crazy no matter how much I adjusted it. I've been going without a front plate for almost a year now, knock on wood, no troubles yet.

[German1967]

No front plate for 8 years in OH with four different cars. Plates ruin the front. Take the risk.

[doccyber]

I tried the off center tow hook bracket system on my Z4 M after I started getting tickets for not having a front plate in California. It seems that even the meter maids are writing up tickets for this. It became annoying. But the car did look weird. I didn't really care for that off center look as it broke symmetry. With my new car I put the holder on in the center and put the the front plate on. Bottom line, it's the law and this way no more tickets.

[crabu2]

Flip up is cool, but I see it getting destroyed ... Snow or curb. You'd really have to be careful to not scrap it on something. Also youtube seems to show it has no limit switches built in.

The towhook plate mount... That's a no go if you have parking sensors... and even if you didn't I think it looks odd off center.

So for me.. If you want to be legal.. Mount it in the center as they normally do. If you want to try your luck, don't mount any plate.

[DF]

I have a tow,hook plate. I got sick of tickets. If you don't park on the street its ok. But I just get annoyed and don't care that much about running a plate

[airansun]

Nobody hassled me much over the lack of front plates on my Miatas. But, I got tickets on my E36 M3 all the time til I put a front plate on it.

Therefore, I made the dealer put the front plate hardware on M240i when I went to take delivery.

In California anyway, lack of a front plate is enough to justify the police pulling you over. Then things progress from there.

[DF]

Originally Posted by airansun

Nobody hassled me much over the lack of front plates on my Miatas. But, I got tickets on my E36 M3 all the time til I put a front plate on it.

Therefore, I made the dealer put the front plate hardware on M240i when I went to take delivery.

In California anyway, lack of a front plate is enough to justify the police pulling you over. Then things progress from there.

And progress it will

[xantdieselx]

I opted for the tow hook mount as well. I think it looks fine and sure beats having 2 holes drilled through my front bumper. Two of the reasons I like it is because it looks different and it aggravates OCD people (except myself of course).

[3.0L]

My front license plate is located on a shelf in my garage.

[harma24]

Why are you concerned about 2 screw holes in the front bumper? They will be covered by the front plate for the entire time you own your vehicle; you will never see them. As 31 states and 3 provinces require a front plate (for new plates), the majority of anyone you may sell your car to will be required to have a front plate as well. Personally, I don't like the asymmetric look of the tow hook, and going without a plate hardly seems worth the risk of getting a ticket (or attracting the attention of the cops in general).

[Deutsche-Broke]

I had a tow hook mount on the previous vehicle.. I had the dealer install the plate mount before I took delivery on the current car. I got dinged for a missing front plate ($84)..

Reading more and small discussion revealed that it's a typical cash grab. The toll cameras need both plates to get you predictably. (Or at least, that what the state DOT says...)

Tax and spend... Works great..

[ORIGIN M.]

Front plates cost you 1-2 miles per gallon because of a lack of aerodynamics. Go figure.

I prefer to drive around like Steve Jobs with no plate at all.

[ORIGIN M.]

Originally Posted by 3.0L

My front license plate is located on a shelf in my garage.

Same here.

[ORIGIN M.]

Originally Posted by airansun

Nobody hassled me much over the lack of front plates on my Miatas. But, I got tickets on my E36 M3 all the time til I put a front plate on it.

Therefore, I made the dealer put the front plate hardware on M240i when I went to take delivery.

In California anyway, lack of a front plate is enough to justify the police pulling you over. Then things progress from there.

Sounds like you live in the wrong state!

[Maynard]

I'm 'ridin dirty' with no plate for now, but seriously considering putting one on for the peace of mind - the only real hassles I've gotten are warnings from the Federal cops here at work (our parking garage is a 'federal facility' and they take it kind of seriously sometimes). I'm leaning towards the 'stow-n-go' since it keeps it centered, but has it removable; also close to just giving it up and going w/ the factory mount (Harma24 summed that argument up well - no pressing reason to not screw it in if you are mounting one). FWIW, the factory frame does have a mounting pin that registers in the bumper cover - you can find a tiny hole on the bottom horizontal area of the nose for this - so if the dealer got it wrong they were really hashing it up. With the tow hook ones, some claim they can work w/ parking sensors, but others seem to never be able to get it to clear. Not a concern for me, but I'm not sold on the off-center look.

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by ORIGIN M.

Front plates cost you 1-2 miles per gallon because of a lack of aerodynamics. Go figure.

That's a bit difficult to believe. Source?

[DF]

Originally Posted by 3.0L

That's a bit difficult to believe. Source?

If by hard you mean impossible. LOL.

[ORIGIN M.]

Originally Posted by 3.0L

That's a bit difficult to believe. Source?

3 miles per gallon.

Use Google and search...

Drag Coefficient & front plate.

[ORIGIN M.]

Originally Posted by DF

If by hard you mean impossible. LOL.

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by ORIGIN M.

3 miles per gallon.

Use Google and search...

Drag Coefficient & front plate.

Be a sport and post the exact link you are referring too.

Meanwhile, the front bumper is already pretty flat where the plate should be mounted. So, installing the plate isn't going to make much difference - it's not like holding it out the window. What is behind the plate (or any other leading edge object), is just as significant as the leading object itself. Ask an aerodynamicist.