Screw your License plate - XBimmers

Lotus7 · 03-08-2011, 07:13 PM

POST DELETED

MA78 · 03-08-2011, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lotus7

Are you detail oriented?
Do minor, insignificant things Â“bugÂ” you?

If not, please donÂ’t bother reading this thread since itÂ’s intended for the most obsessive, anal retentive, Â“Type-AÂ” X3 owners only.

You had me at Type-A.

Looks great. I called my SA three times to remind him not to install the front mounting bracket. And then I emailed him just to drive the point home.
I love the look of your rear plate. I think I'll have to copy this.

Brutus1 · 03-08-2011, 08:45 PM

Sharp Lotus 7! I too took off the dealer frame and currently have nothing but the license plate on and it doesn't look like I would like. Will have to check yours out and thanks for sharing your idea.

MA78 · 03-14-2011, 01:15 AM

I replaced my screws this afternoon! Will take a picture tomorrow. Thanks Mr. 7!

MA78 · 03-16-2011, 10:00 AM

As promised!

It's a small detail, but I think it looks quite nice.

ho11ywood45 · 03-16-2011, 11:13 AM

Those look great ... I love the look with out a front plate, but its required out here in SoCal.
Where did you get those?

MA78 · 03-16-2011, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ho11ywood45

Those look great ... I love the look with out a front plate, but its required out here in SoCal.
Where did you get those?

They're required here in Oregon too, but I would rather pay the ticket than put holes in my bumper. Been here 2 years and haven't been hassled.

I'm actually from Irvine, so not too far from SD. I never put a front plate on when I lived there either. I got two fix-it tickets, but I just showed a picture of the plates "mounted" to the car to the judge, paid my $30 and was sent on my marry way. Double sided tape is a great thing.

ho11ywood45 · 03-16-2011, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MA78

They're required here in Oregon too, but I would rather pay the ticket than put holes in my bumper. Been here 2 years and haven't been hassled.

I'm actually from Irvine, so not too far from SD. I never put a front plate on when I lived there either. I got two fix-it tickets, but I just showed a picture of the plates "mounted" to the car to the judge, paid my $30 and was sent on my marry way. Double sided tape is a great thing.

I've always wondered what the cops notes say when you get pulled over....Dudes got no front plate 3x now, wonder why it keeps "falling" off.

HAHA, I admire your effort.

Beesting · 03-16-2011, 02:47 PM

I just hope you don't get a bunch of tailgaters trying to check out those fancy bolts...

Alanintx · 03-16-2011, 07:38 PM

Be careful not to buy a thick after-market license frame if you have the rear camera. I had one on my last BMW and it will not fit under the rear-view camera just above the license plate on the F25.

MA78 · 03-16-2011, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alanintx

Be careful not to buy a thick after-market license frame if you have the rear camera. I had one on my last BMW and it will not fit under the rear-view camera just above the license plate on the F25.

I don't have a back up camera, but this is a good point none-the-less.

Alanintx · 03-17-2011, 12:19 AM

Well, now I know I'm not the only one. The previous frame had a big rubber gasket to protect the license and that did not fit at all. Luckily I had a previous stainless one with a lexan cover and it just about fits. Note the way it deals with the screwheads.
It has these chrome-looking (plastic) caps that fit over the screws (at least on the stainless model)

stlgirl · 03-17-2011, 11:52 PM

Very clean and sharp looking.
All of those small details really make a difference.

flash3 · 04-02-2011, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MA78

You had me at Type-A.

Looks great. I called my SA three times to remind him not to install the front mounting bracket. And then I emailed him just to drive the point home.
I love the look of your rear plate. I think I'll have to copy this.

What is this you are referring to, sir?

And where did you get your BMW Lisc Plate cover from?

flash3 · 04-09-2011, 08:07 PM

For those states that don't require the front lisc plates (like here in NC) do they still drill holes in the front of the car to put the BMW crap dealer plate?

Brutus1 · 04-09-2011, 08:12 PM

No they don't.

flash3 · 04-09-2011, 08:14 PM

Thanks for the quick response. Good to know.

Uppie · 04-10-2011, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lotus7

Are you detail oriented?
Do minor, insignificant things “bug” you?

If not, please don’t bother reading this thread since it’s intended for the most obsessive, anal retentive, “Type-A” X3 owners only.

My X3 was delivered with ugly, dealer-advertising license plate frames which were attached with the BMW supplied Phillips Head machine screws, which were equally ugly.

I removed the dealer frames within minutes of getting the X3 home, but the OEM Zinc-plated screws remained. The Zinc plated screws are dull gray and tend to discolor with age as the Zinc oxidizes. They just get uglier and uglier as they age (just like most of us).

A few days later I found some chrome-plated screws of the correct size at an auto parts store and installed them. They looked much better, but looked like the stock screws only shiny. After less then a month of being exposed to Chicago’s salt laden winter streets they started to develop rust spots. In addition, since they were still plain old Phillips head screws, anyone with a $1 screwdriver (including any typical car thief) could remove and change the license plate in seconds. I was not happy with the chrome screws.

I decided to search for, and find some polished, Allen head cap screws made of a salt and water impervious stainless steel alloy of the correct size to fit the X3. These were installed, and to my eyes and taste, they look significantly better than the stock Phillips or the Chrome plated screws. They were installed with stainless flat washers and stainless lock washers so provide an additional level of security from having your license plate lifted, since the likelihood of a thief having a correct sized Allen wrench is much less. They will never rust or oxidize, and won’t “freeze” in the tapped holes when it’s time to remove the plate.

Specifications for the metric machine screws I used are:

Size: 5 X 0.8 X 16 mm polished Allen head cap screw (5mm dia. 0.8 pitch, 16mm long)
Material: Type A-2-70 (18-8) stainless steel
The (5mm) washers are also made of A-2-70 (18-8) stainless steel

If anyone wants more details, please contact me via PM.

Photos of the current frame set-up and the original zinc, chrome, and the stainless screws are below.

Could you send me info on the chrome screws?
Thanks

Chris

BIMMER UK 76 · 04-10-2011, 10:20 AM

I hate dealer decals and made it clear to my salesman

lord.vater · 04-10-2011, 10:43 AM

wouldnt the cleaner look be the caps on top of the screws? Because TBH, I think that plate frame and screws look damn ugly.

I just spray the dealer plate black or buy the black BMW plate. Very clean
and best of all, no ugly screws showing.

Does your dealer just use screws?

lord.vater · 04-10-2011, 11:10 PM

On ne marie pas les poules avec les renards

03-08-2011, 07:13 PM	#1
Lotus7 Major Drives: xxxx Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: xxxx Posts: 1,041 iTrader: (0)	Screw your License plate POST DELETED Last edited by Lotus7; 02-05-2012 at 08:06 PM.
	Tweet

03-17-2011, 12:19 AM	#12
Alanintx ATAP Drives: 2011 X3 28 Deep Blue/Chestnut Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: DFW Posts: 147 iTrader: (0)	Well, now I know I'm not the only one. The previous frame had a big rubber gasket to protect the license and that did not fit at all. Luckily I had a previous stainless one with a lexan cover and it just about fits. Note the way it deals with the screwheads. It has these chrome-looking (plastic) caps that fit over the screws (at least on the stainless model) Last edited by Alanintx; 03-17-2011 at 12:27 AM.

04-10-2011, 10:20 AM	#19
BIMMER UK 76 Major Drives: BMW F25 X3 20d SE Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 1,080 iTrader: (0)	I hate dealer decals and made it clear to my salesman __________________ BMW F25 X3 xDRIVE 20d SE Black Sapphire \| Oyster Leather \| Fineline Sienna Wood \| 307 V Spokes \| Auto \| Prof Multimedia Package \| xLine Package \| Xenons \| Business Radio \| Sports Steering Wheel \| Sports Seats \| Panoramic Sunroof \| Sun Protection Glass \| Sun Blinds \| Folding Ext. Mirrors + Titanium Grille \| Chrome Exhaust Trim \| Mudflaps

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

03-08-2011, 08:45 PM	#3
Brutus1 Private First Class Drives: 2011 x3 -Alpine white Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 160 iTrader: (0)	Sharp Lotus 7! I too took off the dealer frame and currently have nothing but the license plate on and it doesn't look like I would like. Will have to check yours out and thanks for sharing your idea.

03-14-2011, 01:15 AM	#4
MA78 TK-421 Drives: 2011 X3 35i Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 610 iTrader: (0)	I replaced my screws this afternoon! Will take a picture tomorrow. Thanks Mr. 7!

03-16-2011, 10:00 AM	#5
MA78 TK-421 Drives: 2011 X3 35i Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 610 iTrader: (0)	As promised! It's a small detail, but I think it looks quite nice.

03-16-2011, 11:13 AM	#6
ho11ywood45 New Member Drives: 2011 X3 -- Alpine White Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 22 iTrader: (0)	Those look great ... I love the look with out a front plate, but its required out here in SoCal. Where did you get those?

03-16-2011, 02:47 PM	#9
Beesting New Member Drives: 2011 BMW X3 35i Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 21 iTrader: (0)	I just hope you don't get a bunch of tailgaters trying to check out those fancy bolts...

03-16-2011, 07:38 PM	#10
Alanintx ATAP Drives: 2011 X3 28 Deep Blue/Chestnut Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: DFW Posts: 147 iTrader: (0)	Be careful not to buy a thick after-market license frame if you have the rear camera. I had one on my last BMW and it will not fit under the rear-view camera just above the license plate on the F25.

03-17-2011, 11:52 PM	#13
stlgirl Private Drives: 2011 28i X3 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Saint Louis MO Posts: 90 iTrader: (0)	Very clean and sharp looking. All of those small details really make a difference.

04-09-2011, 08:07 PM	#15
flash3 Captain Drives: X3 28i Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NC Posts: 649 iTrader: (0)	For those states that don't require the front lisc plates (like here in NC) do they still drill holes in the front of the car to put the BMW crap dealer plate?

04-09-2011, 08:12 PM	#16
Brutus1 Private First Class Drives: 2011 x3 -Alpine white Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 160 iTrader: (0)	No they don't.

04-09-2011, 08:14 PM	#17
flash3 Captain Drives: X3 28i Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NC Posts: 649 iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the quick response. Good to know.

04-10-2011, 10:43 AM	#20
lord.vater Enlisted Member Drives: Bavarian tech Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: USA Posts: 31 iTrader: (0)	wouldnt the cleaner look be the caps on top of the screws? Because TBH, I think that plate frame and screws look damn ugly. I just spray the dealer plate black or buy the black BMW plate. Very clean and best of all, no ugly screws showing. Does your dealer just use screws?

04-10-2011, 11:10 PM	#21
lord.vater Enlisted Member Drives: Bavarian tech Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: USA Posts: 31 iTrader: (0)	On ne marie pas les poules avec les renards