US owners, front license plate?

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by rjc32000

Not having a front plate in compliance with law is a bullet-proof reason to be pulled over. Equipment/safety violation gives police the right to stop and briefly detain you. This is, at best, inconvenient. But do you ever have a few drinks after work before driving home without your front plate? Ever have anything in the car (people, things, etc) you would rather not let the police see? Do you value your privacy and right to travel without being stopped and questioned by the government? If you answered yes to any of these, then I think the front plate is a pretty small compromise.

A bunch of manufacturers sell front plate holders that attach to front tow hook and don't require any holes to be drilled. Looks a little wonky to my eyes since the plate isn't centered on bumper, but it does prevent the need to drill.

Great comment. My thoughts exactly, I don't think people think these things through.

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by ASAP

Great comment. My thoughts exactly, I don't think people think these things through.

Not caring about if something is legal or not is pretty common in this forum. Illegal catless downpipes; darker than legal window tint; no front plates where it is required; etc. are all things that forum members will criticize you for if you mention that they are illegal. Being legal and following the law are not priorities in today's society.

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by gmcconn535

Not caring about if something is legal or not is pretty common in this forum. Illegal catless downpipes; darker than legal window tint; no front plates where it is required; etc. are all things that forum members will criticize you for if you mention that they are illegal. Being legal and following the law are not priorities in today's society.

The first thing you mentioned is not something that is particularly scoped out or really cared about by anyone tbh.

The other two are obvious visual strikes that catch attention very quickly. It's not as much about breaking the law as being smart in a way that doesn't get you caught.

[JRV]

Haven't had mine on since delivery 3 years ago. Even the dealer asked me if I wanted it on or off. So here's the thing, in NY and CT it's mandatory to have front and back plates. However, a lot of higher end cars where i am do not have the front plates on. It all depends on how strictly it is being enforced in your area. I've never been pulled over for it and I bet if I drove some rice mobile or a beater without the front plates I would have. Just the way it works around here.
If you have some serious doubts though put the front plates on.

[m4pewpew]

Originally Posted by gmcconn535

Not caring about if something is legal or not is pretty common in this forum. Illegal catless downpipes; darker than legal window tint; no front plates where it is required; etc. are all things that forum members will criticize you for if you mention that they are illegal.

+1

[gago1101]

Do not put one on. If you get a ticket, which could be once every 2-3 years, put the tow-hook plate in to pass the inspection. of course, remove it right after.

[Alpinef82]

This is the best option www.usmillworks.com I have it on my M4

[SteveSpy]

Originally Posted by BlackCobra08

Hey guys, I've got about 2 days to let my dealer know if I don't want them to drill the holes for the front licence plate mount. I know this law varies from state to state and obviously I'd rather not run a front plate but it is indeed illegal here in MN not to have it on. I'm just curious who all is running w/o a front plate in states that it's illegal to do so, if so did you get tickets at all for it or on past cars? Thanks for your input.

I'm in TX, it has been illegal since Sept 2013 but I won't be installing the front plate. It ruins the look completely and I'd rather deal with the $200 fine.

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by MWS55

Im ordering this one for my M4, and the good thing about it is that you can adjust the plate perfectly so it won't block your front censors.

http://www.pedalhaus.com/quickrelease.html

They don't list F8X yet?

[Viking123]

Originally Posted by Alpinef82

This is the best option www.usmillworks.com I have it on my M4

That does look like a good option. Do you have a picture with it mounted?

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by BlackCobra08

Hey guys, I've got about 2 days to let my dealer know if I don't want them to drill the holes for the front licence plate mount. I know this law varies from state to state and obviously I'd rather not run a front plate but it is indeed illegal here in MN not to have it on. I'm just curious who all is running w/o a front plate in states that it's illegal to do so, if so did you get tickets at all for it or on past cars? Thanks for your input.

I would not drill holes, either. I gave up the fight on my E92 and went the tow hook bracket route. Two reasons for me:

1. Not having a front plate gives all the reason any jurisdiction needs to pull you over. If you've had a drink, or any other small thing, this is additional exposure I don't need. A local motorcycle cop did turn around and pull me over once.

2. The City of Portland parking enforcement loves to issue $45 tickets if you are parked on the street without a front plate. I don't park on the street often, but occasionally. As I read the law, the front plate is only required if moving. Judge did not listen the one time I tried to fight this.

I kind of like the asymmetrical look of the tow hook placement. Another possible benefit, if you angle the plate to match the bumper angle, it may deflect lidar beams to the side rather than straight back (this is theory on my part at this point).

[Wah]

I really don't like the tow hook mount. I think it just looks too ricey. I'm going to leave the plate off, but if I am forced to put one on, I will use the skene mount again which puts holes underneath the bumper which can not be seen. Or just 3M tape the thing to the front.

[tooch]

You should just use double sided vhb tape 3M if you must place a front license plate on.

edit: ^^^ just saw that

[PrimeBMW]

4+ years without a front plate and was never looked at let alone looked at twice. Heck when I returned from European delivery I requested the euro plates left on the car. I drove for a week with euro plates only.......drove by 7 cop cars. Nothing.

[ando]

Yes. Painful as it is my CA respectively asks first for each delivery and I say unfortunately yes its got to be on there. He puts it on at the very last moment. There is no actual drilling just two screws that go into a slight dimple. I don't need any extra reasons to be pulled over.

[JS919]

Originally Posted by rjc32000

Not having a front plate in compliance with law is a bullet-proof reason to be pulled over. Equipment/safety violation gives police the right to stop and briefly detain you. This is, at best, inconvenient. But do you ever have a few drinks after work before driving home without your front plate? Ever have anything in the car (people, things, etc) you would rather not let the police see? Do you value your privacy and right to travel without being stopped and questioned by the government? If you answered yes to any of these, then I think the front plate is a pretty small compromise.

A bunch of manufacturers sell front plate holders that attach to front tow hook and don't require any holes to be drilled. Looks a little wonky to my eyes since the plate isn't centered on bumper, but it does prevent the need to drill.

Whoa! A little paranoid?

Back to the OP - I'd go with the don't drill the holes until you get harassed method.
Those funky adapters that go in the tow hook threads look awful. I could see using one if you need to have a plate temporarily mounted every once in a while. If it has to be on there 100% of the time, you might as well just drill the holes and put it where it belongs.

[MWS55]

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

They don't list F8X yet?

No, but i think you can make it fit since you can adjust the height and width! If you did end up asking them, let me know!

[GBPackerfan1963]

Originally Posted by gago1101

Do not put one on. If you get a ticket, which could be once every 2-3 years, put the tow-hook plate in to pass the inspection. of course, remove it right after.

That's what I do after paying my $25 contribution to the California budget.

[GBPackerfan1963]

Originally Posted by JS919

Whoa! A little paranoid?

Back to the OP - I'd go with the don't drill the holes until you get harassed method.
Those funky adapters that go in the tow hook threads look awful. I could see using one if you need to have a plate temporarily mounted every once in a while. If it has to be on there 100% of the time, you might as well just drill the holes and put it where it belongs.

This was mentioned in a previous post of mine. This is what I'm going with on my M4.

[WHITEUNDERARM]

I used to use double sided Velcro tape for my front and rear plates....on long distant trips or when I needed to do some spirited driving I would simply pull them off and keep them in the trunk...granted my car was black so you couldn't really see the Velcro bits.....

[modkrazy]

Don't do it! Having a front plate on your sports car has been scientifically proven to shrink your penis by 3 inches.

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by modkrazy

Don't do it! Having a front plate on your sports car has been scientifically proven to shrink your penis by 3 inches.

Dang!! I have a front plate on both of my BMWs!! Well now I know what happened