Aw man! I just got my plates in the mail today and I haven't ordered the no holes license plate holder yet!

Did anyone notice the dimples in their undrilled bumper. I assume they're guide marks for the dreaded Bumperdrill.

I better go sign that petition.

(Did it!)

 

I didn't have a choice with my car. Upon delivery I found the holes already drilled, so...

Funny thing is, I had a woman back into me a couple of months back, and the license and license plate bracket took the brunt of the bump. The bracket had to be replaced, in fact. The bumper still was cracked, though, so I fixed all that when she actually paid me. I don't want a front plate though, and it's a real problem for a lot of the classsic cars. We've got a '64 Porsche 356, and it's always been a problem.

 

A '64 Porsche 356? Sounds like a nice problem to have.

Yeah, I see how a front plate would spoil the pretty lines in the front.

 

Yup...that's them. I've always held (and still do) that R56 looks fine...even better...w/ a front plate mounted. Some cars...maybe not...but R56, yes (imho). Drill it!!!!

If a front and rear plate makes vehicle identification easier/quicker in an emergency/crisis, then I think requiring both is reasonable.

 

Don't drill! I just ordered the no holes license plate holder from gnatster/MotoringSpeed. PM'd him, paid on Tuesday, had the holder on Daphne by Thursday afternoon. She looks great!

 

R50 and R53 had a lower grill section on the bumper that did nothing really, but it did break up the bumper section and make it more interesting. This coupled with the lower vent below the bumper meant there was actually very little real estate in which to gracefully attach a plate (the exception to this was early R50 Coopers that had a body-colored, purpose-built plate holder). R56 has no split grill which is great (and I favor), but the bumper is now a big expanse of........nothing. This is intentional, I think (nevermind the dimples), as it's visually just beggin' for a center-mount plate...there is no other center of interest (or design element as on some cars) to compete with.

I'd never deny someone the right (and with MINIs it's obligatory) to you-ify as they wish....I just want to clearly state that there is compelling design reason to mount the plate where intended (and legally required at this point).

 

It's not a matter of spoiling the lines--it's a matter that they were never intended to have a front plate of the shape we have, and it's very difficult to mount one where it's stable, yet not too low. Try it some time.

No one makes a mount, BTW.

 

I'd mount one of those long, skinny European plates on the front of my MINI, but not the hunk o' metal we call a plate in the States

 

I think front plates look good on cars but that's just me...

 

I might, too--but the gendarmes would nail my butt to the wall.