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Thread: Mounting front license plate

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Long Island, NY
    Posts
    352

    Default Mounting front license plate

    I just moved to NY and now have to mount a license plate on the front bumper. My car has the m-technic kit, and I was surprised to find that the holes in the bumper did not allow for mounting the license plate directly.

    I ordered a mounting bracket/trim through the stealer, but they are for the standard OEM bumper and will not fit my car. They are #9 and #12 on the realOEM linked page http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...10&hg=51&fg=15

    When I returned the parts I spent a good 20-30 mins with the parts specialist at the stealer and we couldn't find an obvious part that is for the m-technic bumper to allow mounting of a US license plate.

    Anyone know what I need to do here?
    '94 540I 6spd/205000 miles

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    New Mexico
    Posts
    192

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by bbig119 View Post

    Anyone know what I need to do here?
    What I did when I lived back east, I just registered my car back in my home state (NM), where we just have back plates. Having a plate on the front bumper reins the look. Local law enforcement might give you a hard time, I was in the military at the time. I always had fun with troopers back east, when ever I was pulled over for no front plate and the officer would take a look at my back plate (New Mexico USA) they would ask if I speak English? Si..... then I would show the officer my NM drivers license always with my military ID. Most officers back then (70's & 80's) did not know that New Mexico was part of the United States, hence our NM plates have USA on them for those not in the know......
    M20 525/7 Bore: 84.50mm Stroke 81mm CR 8.5:1, blue printed/dyno & custom chip. Boost @ 6.5psi ~246hp @ 5300rpm / torque @ 269ftlbs. @ 4250rpm

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Seattle, WA
    Posts
    1,036

    Default

    You need #12 here http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...11&hg=51&fg=15

    It is for the M-Tech bumper. You have to drill holes in the center trim strip (part # 51112232451) for that bracket to mount to the bumper carrier. And you'll need parts 18, 19, & 21 to mount the bracket to the bumper. I can't seem to find the part # for part 21 though. It's the plastic insert you install in the bumper underneath the center trim piece that the screw is screwed into.

    Take your center trim piece off & look at the back of it. You'll see two indented circles that are a little over an inch in diameter. That's the area that you drill out in the trim strip so you can mount that steel bracket (part 12 in the diagram) on top of the trim piece.

    I went through all of this with my M-Sport when I bought it. It too has the M-Tech bumper and I bought it from NC where they have no front plates. Where in WA we do have front plates. Was really annoyed to have to drill that trim strip, but that's the only way to do it.
    Last edited by bubba966; 01-11-2010 at 05:03 PM.
    Cosmos Black/Black 1995 540iA M-Sport
    BMW Individual Exclusive Edition, 1 of 65 total, 9/25/95 Build

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Long Island, NY
    Posts
    352

    Default

    Thanks so much for that reply. I've been in contact with the dealer and right now they are telling me that I can just mount the plate #12 in the RealOEM diagram on the bumper. My problem right now is that I don't have much for center trim on the front bumper in the center. I have a molding piece that is narrow to allow mounting of a euro plate spacer:#3
    (http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...39&hg=51&fg=15)

    Should I have something bigger? Otherwise I'll have to drill directly into the bumper or no?
    '94 540I 6spd/205000 miles

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Seattle, WA
    Posts
    1,036

    Default

    You don't do any drilling in the bumper. There's already holes in the aluminum where those plastic inserts to hold the screws go. You only drill through the center trim strip.

    You need a different trim center trim strip part #51112232451. Then get the bracket, screws, washers, & inserts (parts 12, 18, 19, & 21 in diagram). I'll try looking through my paperwork to see if I still have the receipt for the bracket & stuff so I can get a part # for the inserts for you.
    Cosmos Black/Black 1995 540iA M-Sport
    BMW Individual Exclusive Edition, 1 of 65 total, 9/25/95 Build

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Long Island, NY
    Posts
    352

    Default

    Ok thanks. I can't find a picture of the trim piece for the part number you reference although it does come up at RealOEM as what its supposed to be. I'm also unable to find anyone selling it via a google search. Tell me, is it the width of the rest of the trim or is it wider to accommodate the dimensions of the license plate better? I'm assuming that it will greatly enhance the look by having it as opposed to not.

    Just need to see if I can find a place that can sell it to me. I just emailed the dealer with the information you posted. They seem as curious about this as I am. If they can't get it for a reasonable price, I'll call BMA and see if they can help me out.

    Bryan
    '94 540I 6spd/205000 miles

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Seattle, WA
    Posts
    1,036

    Default

    You have a pic of this center trim piece you've currently got on? Wonder if it'd work just fine using the trim piece you've got on there currently. The center trim piece I referenced was stock on my car. And it's listed as the correct US piece for states not requiring a front plate.

    I've not tried the piece you've got as I just went with what I had. It does look quite nice though.

    I had fun ordering up a new one from the dealer when I got Euro trim. The # in the back of the trim wouldn't come up, and none of the pics in their parts diagrams looks remotely like the trim piece does. But my parts guy finally found that part # and ordered it. And when it showed up it was correct. Still have the new one sitting in the bag which is why I can give you the part # for it.

    Oh, and you can order it from Tischer BMW (www.getbmwparts.com). Probably the best place to get factory parts. Though your dealer should have absolutely no problems ordering one either.
    Cosmos Black/Black 1995 540iA M-Sport
    BMW Individual Exclusive Edition, 1 of 65 total, 9/25/95 Build

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Seattle, WA
    Posts
    1,036

    Default

    Ok, found my receipt from buying all of the hardware needed to mount your front plate on your bumper.

    1x #51 18 1 908 062 plate bracket
    2x #51 18 1 852 299 plastic insert
    2x #51 18 1 835 719 bracket mounting screw
    6x #07 11 9 936 412 washers
    4x #07 14 3 448 498 plate mounting screw
    4x #07 12 9 901 656 plate mounting screw "nut"

    And you may or may not need that center trim piece # 51 11 2 232 451

    The inserts are just hammered into the aluminum bumper support where the mounting holes for the bracket line up. Insert the "nuts" into the bracket where the mounting holes are for the license plate are. Use the 2 mounting screws with 2 of the washers to mount the bracket to the bumper into the plastic inserts. Use the last 4 washers with the 4 plate mounting screws to mount the plate to the bracket.

    And you're done.

    If you do decide to get the center trim piece you'll need to either drill out the 2 rather large "knockouts" in the trim piece, or locate the spot where the holes should be made in the trim piece and use a large enough drill bit so that when the trim piece is installed you've got the holes just exposing the plastic inserts for the bracket mounting screws.
    Cosmos Black/Black 1995 540iA M-Sport
    BMW Individual Exclusive Edition, 1 of 65 total, 9/25/95 Build

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Long Island, NY
    Posts
    352

    Default

    Thanks man this is exactly what I was hoping for and also what was seemingly impossible to find online. I sent this info to the dealership in an email and hopefully I'll hear back from them tomorrow about this.
    '94 540I 6spd/205000 miles

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Seattle, WA
    Posts
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    Default

    No problem. Recall having some fun trying to figure all of this out myself 3 years ago. And it should be pretty obvious when you've got all of the parts in hand in front of you if my description of things didn't make 100% sense.
    Cosmos Black/Black 1995 540iA M-Sport
    BMW Individual Exclusive Edition, 1 of 65 total, 9/25/95 Build

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