i have seen a few z3's around with the number plates set on passenger side of the front bumper rather than in the middle, anyone know how i go about doing this? is it just drill new holes and screw the plate on?
Number plate relocation
- Thread starter Derek
- Start date
I have a bracket kit which I brought home from the U.S. last year. It's brand new and I will sell it if you like.
Tony.
Tony.
Not to hijack the thread but, has anyone removed the clumsy plastic holder simply to stick the plate straight to the bumper in the same place?
I have metal plates so use double sided thick tape anyway.
I have metal plates so use double sided thick tape anyway.
If I may be totally honest, I think the plate looks just right where it is.
Why would you want to make your Z look like an Alpha Romeo?
Why would you want to make your Z look like an Alpha Romeo?
Excuse the yank vee-hickle, but is this the droid that you're looking for?
After having my car next to Lee's one with it decided to move my plate to the side, let's the point of the nose really show, how it should, lucky Americans don't need any front plate in some states...
When you approach the car from the drivers side it looks 'plate free'.
I went a slightly different route.
The standard length plate was just too big.
I ordered the smallest legal size (Demon plates). I believe stick-on plates are not legal and metal plates a grey area and could so without the bother of a pull for the plate...
Under the headlight the bumper is slightly curved and the closer you get the to the edge the more curved it becomes. I didn't want the thick pads which would cope with this issue, preferring a more flush fit.
I experimented with sticky backed velcro to try different placements.
Once happy with where it would go I heated the plate gently and bent it (then left in a makeshift jig for few days on top the shed in the sun to make sure it really took the shape, the plates tend to go back to straight over time otherwise).
Don't bend it without heat, they suddenly crack...I only heated the front side, not back in case it caused bubbling if the reflective surface.
Then applied with the velcro again (heated it slightly and made sure the bumper and plate were clean with panel wipes).
So far so good.
sure did, well remembered
There were small scuff marks from the holder which polished out, and the plate covers the holes.
More photo's on my progress journal at the bottom of my posts
More photo's on my progress journal at the bottom of my posts
Very tidy. Thanks for your replies 
Oddly I was reading on Facebook that one US owner was really excited to have bought one of the euro plate holders and couldn't wait to fit it. Lived in a state which didn't require a front plate as well.
Told him I would have paid him to take mine, but I don't think he saw the funny side of it...
Told him I would have paid him to take mine, but I don't think he saw the funny side of it...
I saw a white 2.5 Z3 at our "local" Walmart last year and without the intrusion of a front number plate it looked a completely different car.
Tony.
Tony.
BMW does not manufacture a backing plate to suit Australian number plates and almost all front plates here are bent to wrap around the curved shape of the Z3 front bumper. When I re-registered car last year I used a number of rubber bushes and longer screws to mount the front plate without bending.
We are mandated by law to mount a front plate matching the rear. My car had the Brit plate glued on and there's no holes to line up my new plate so right now it's sitting on my dash until I can figure something out! JIM