by "Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
Published 06/14/2017 at 11:58
by "Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
Published 06/14/2017 at 11:58
Tags: DIY
STARS: 3
If you’re like me, you hate front plate holders on cars that weren’t designed to have them. They throw off the look of an otherwise clean design. But then, you can’t just remove the holder because then you’re just left with ugly holes! You’re stuck with the awful thing! Or, are you?
A few weeks ago when I bought the first parts for the Rallyfortwo (btw, going to be big progress on that this week) I also decided to get rid of the thing I disliked the most about Phil, his front license plate.
Part of it was observational, a lesson I learned with Tucker: Over time that holder is going to dig into the bumper and cause irreversible damage. That’s what happened to Tucker, and I regret not doing this to him!
Now, apparently this is already a thing. You can remove your front license plate holder then fill the holes with something called a “Bumper Plug”. There’s even a site that sells them! However, that site has some insane prices for what are effectively painted pen caps.
What if we were to make our own?
Enter your local Lowe’s or The Home Depot. They have these little things called “ Hole Plugs ” which are the same things you’ll get from Bumper Plugs, but insanely cheaper. I picked up two “natural” coloured 1/4" plugs for an out the door cost of $1.07 or so.
Ready? Let’s do this!
Step 1: Remove your license plate holder, any standard screwdriver should do the job.
Observe those sweet holes there.
We’re going to need to drill these suckers out, sadly.
Step 2: Grab a 1/4" drill and slowly drill out the holes. Try to make sure the bit doesn’t create a raised surface like the above picture. I achieved this by drilling slowly at first to create the larger holes, then going full speed to clean them up.
Step 3: Take your hole plugs, stick them in!
If you want, you can paint them in the colour of your car (the hole plugs typically only come in white, black, or sometimes brown) for whatever the price of a cheap touchup pen from Autozone or something, but other than that you’re good to go! If you used the right sized drill the hole plugs will fit in incredibly snug and shouldn’t come out.
Disclaimer: I’m not responsible for any legal issues you get because of this. If you want to do this you shall at your own risk. :)
"Wacko" (wacko--)
06/14/2017 at 12:05, STARS: 1
or just move or buy your car in a area that didn’t have front plates.
Here in quebec we don’t
"PatBateman" (PatBateman)
06/14/2017 at 12:08, STARS: 2
The cops here actively look for cars without front plates to write them tickets. :(
"QCGoose" (chrismcfate)
06/14/2017 at 12:09, STARS: 1
Great solution! Cheap, easy, and looks worlds better.
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
06/14/2017 at 12:09, STARS: 1
I didn’t have that option, sadly. I bought my car from a California dealership that screws those buggers in the second they come off the truck.
"Honeybunchesofgoats" (honeybunche0fgoats)
06/14/2017 at 12:10, STARS: 2
It’s amazing how many bugs Phil murdered between when you removed that plate holder and then you put in the plugs.
Also, high-five for giving cars guy names! Astaire and Alec approve.
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
06/14/2017 at 12:10, STARS: 1
I’m probably going to go with a tow bolt-based license plate holder. Then again, the police around these parts really don’t care too much. I mean, this car is still without any license plate at all and it’s almost been a year!
"MarquetteLa" (marquettela)
06/14/2017 at 12:13, STARS: 2
Where is “here” so that I can avoid?
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
06/14/2017 at 12:15, STARS: 1
There was also two or three weeks of time between the two events too. xD I was trying to bum my old drill off my parents, but yesterday I gave up and paid a visit to Harbor Freight. It wouldn’t have worked anyway since there isn’t an outdoor outlet to plug it into.
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
06/14/2017 at 12:17, STARS: 1
I didn’t even name them guy names just to be different. I named Tucker that name because one of my all-time heroes is Preston Tucker and my first smart is symbolic of me being actually able to achieve any dream I want.
Phil got named that because I realized my car buying experience is just going to be deja vu and buying the same car over and over. :)
"Honeybunchesofgoats" (honeybunche0fgoats)
06/14/2017 at 12:20, STARS: 1
I gave mine guy names because they both look like stodgy old men. But you definitely win for the Groundhog Day reference.
"PatBateman" (PatBateman)
06/14/2017 at 12:21, STARS: 1
Suburbs of Houston. If you’re from out of state, you’re good.
"CalzoneGolem" (calzonegolem)
06/14/2017 at 12:27, STARS: 0
What are these?
"TheRealBicycleBuck" (therealbicyclebuck)
06/14/2017 at 12:29, STARS: 1
My idiotic cousin lived in the Dallas area for two years while driving a car with expired Oklahoma plates. She threw a fit when she moved back to Oklahoma and her car was impounded for expired plates.
"MarquetteLa" (marquettela)
06/14/2017 at 12:30, STARS: 1
Ah yeah, I don’t think I would want to move to Houston regardless, but this cements it!
"PatBateman" (PatBateman)
06/14/2017 at 12:36, STARS: 0
Nah, Houston is nice. Lots of culture, arts, museums, diverse population... The summer weather sucks, but that’s why we all have air conditioning and access to pools. No shoveling snow in the winter, too.
"MarquetteLa" (marquettela)
06/14/2017 at 12:40, STARS: 1
I’ve visited Houston, I have friends who live there, and I lived in Texas for four years. Not saying Houston isn’t nice, it’s just not for me.
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
06/14/2017 at 12:53, STARS: 2
The latches to open the service flap!
"Brian McKay" (brianmckay)
06/14/2017 at 12:55, STARS: 0
the bonnet
"Brian McKay" (brianmckay)
06/14/2017 at 12:59, STARS: 1
That is truly sad. No way they should be screwing those pieces of black plastic advertising onto the cars immediately after they’re unwrapped and before they’re displayed for sale.
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
06/14/2017 at 13:03, STARS: 0
It’s weird because in my documents from the dealership there was a waiver where I could opt out of having a front plate at my own risk. Though as I was told the dealer just screws them in right away.
"haveacarortwoorthree2" (haveacarortwoorthree2)
06/14/2017 at 13:35, STARS: 0
Never been a big fan of “bonnet,” but I love it when I open the trunk in my car and get the “boot open” message.
"Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura" (sundowne36)
06/14/2017 at 13:37, STARS: 0
YEP.
"CalzoneGolem" (calzonegolem)
06/14/2017 at 14:10, STARS: 3
I’m not sure why but this picture made me laugh and that scared my cat.
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
06/14/2017 at 14:14, STARS: 1
Normally I’d say bonnet, but smart likes you to call it a “service flap” for some reason lol
"m-b-w loves his SUBAROO" (m-b-w)
06/14/2017 at 14:26, STARS: 0
How have you made it nearly a year with no plates?
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
06/14/2017 at 14:30, STARS: 0
I guess the police see it as “the car looks new and it has a piece of paper in the window” and blow it off.
Local police seem much more interested in handing out tickets for not having city stickers anyway. Ironically, this car’s gotten a ticket for not having a city sticker (it has one now) but the officer didn’t give a darn about the lack of plates. :)
"m-b-w loves his SUBAROO" (m-b-w)
06/14/2017 at 14:35, STARS: 0
Dang. That’s surprising that you’ve made it so long! In NC you’d progabaly get a ticket after 30 days. Does the Ca temp tag have an expiration?
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
06/14/2017 at 15:50, STARS: 1
I paid $35.90 shipped to bumperplugs.com for two BMW LeMans Blue color-matched bumper plugs for my car, because I wanted them to be beautifully finished instead of whatever shit job I’d be able to accomplish with touchup paint.
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
06/14/2017 at 15:59, STARS: 0
I’m glad my car is white because I’d probably end up doing the same if it were Tucker. Though, that blue isn’t too hard to get so I probably could get away with a rattle can. Still, it’s too late for Tucker anyway.
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
06/14/2017 at 16:08, STARS: 0
obamanotbad.gif
I drove the Roadmaster for it’s first month with no plates at all, for six months with no front plate after it got ripped off during the rallycross, and for it’s last month with expired registration. Never got so much as a second look from a cop, that car was invisible to them.
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
06/14/2017 at 16:20, STARS: 0
Wait...you rallycrossed a Roadmaster? How have I not seen/remembered this? :D
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
06/14/2017 at 17:30, STARS: 0
I don’t know how you missed it, but here’s the write-up.
http://oppositelock.kinja.com/in-which-i-do-things-that-i-am-not-qualified-for-in-eq-1778749712
"pip bip - choose Corrour" (hhgttg69)
06/15/2017 at 05:19, STARS: 0
but your car was designed in europe which have front plates
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
06/15/2017 at 11:09, STARS: 0
But not American-sized front plates :P