Shortly before Winthrop was to arrive at the VDC/Dealer, I pleaded with my MA to not install the front license plate holder (yes; I’m **** about no front license plate, but I digress.) Despite my best efforts, I show up at the dealer only to find the front plate holder festooned to the front bumper <sigh>

While racking up some frequent lurking miles on the M3 forum, I recalled some of the folks there having success with BumperPlugs.com. I jumped over to the site and didn’t see any application for the MINI. I cranked off an email to the folks at BumperPlugs.com asking them if they had a solution for the MINI. I received a response the next day from Eric stating that for $99.00 they would do a special order for me and that would include three sets. A week after I paid, I received my plugs. Here are some pics:

The innocent victim:



BumperPlugs to the rescue!



A little pre-op prep (I drilled out the holes .25” per instructions)




Ta-Da!





I would highly recommend BumperPlugs!

 

how much would it have been for just one set?

 

Not bad.Very good idea.
Were you not able to get the dealer to replace it?I know i would have demanded a new bumper.

 

Those are nice, although seems like a lot of money for what they are. Sure looks great. And your photos are excellent too.

Curious, what State do you live in?

While I like the concept of no front plate, here in San Francisco and the Bay Area the police are pretty aggressive on not having a front plate.

That's because we are getting more and more of the red light cameras and the bridges are using fast trac, cameras that take a front and rear shot of the plates when going through the toll booths.

I don't want to give anyone an excuse to pull me over [and the Highway Patrol will pull someone over simply for not having a plate, on slow ticket days or to meet monthly quotas.]

 

Oh, one sidenote: Figures you tell the dealer not to do something and they do it anyway.

When taking my BMW to the dealer I would say "DO NOT WASH" and even put an 8.5 by 11 piece of paper on the dash saying "DO NOT WASH."

Mine was a black car, so I did not want those crappy nylon brushes or the minimum wage car washer dude touching my beautiful finish.

Got my car back and it had been washed. And there were marks / swirls in the paint from their crappy courtesy wash.

Of course the dealer simply said "OH, sorry about that" thinking all they did was mistakenly wash the car [I did not have proof as to the paint's mint condition before I dropped it off to the dealer.]

You ought to send the dealer a bill for those Bumper Plugs. I know, you can't do that, but it's therapeutic to think you can.

 

If I recall correctly Eric the BumperPlug guy has a MINI and is a member of NAM.

 

That's me!

Thanks for posting the Mellow...stunning shots.

Yes, custom colors (not in stock, not often requested) are a bit more. But stock colors are $24.95/pair, with a unique 14-stage paint process and more care than anyone would put toward these little things.

On the Colors page you can find a color-match chart that shows some Mini colors versus our stock match, which can then be ordered on the Order page.

Otherwise, on the Order page you'll find Cool Blue, Pepper White, Chili Red, and other colors available. And if you do not see your color, email me anytime. If there's enough demand, we add that color to our production schedule.

Thanks for the pictures!

 

go mini go for a no holes license plate holder

 

Sorry for double post....bad connection.

 

The same thing happened to us....We told the dealer numerous times NOT to drill the holes for the front plate....well...it happened anyway The MA had it fixed for us - no charge to us - the aftermarket guy he used did a great job and there is no evidence holes were ever there

However, these hole plugs shown above are pretty neato! A great alternative if the dealer won't fix it for you for FREE!!

Donna

 

Since my state requires a front plate, I think mounting the same where it is intended is an equally elegant solution...no plugs, no bumper seams, no dimples, no wrangling w/ the dealer.....just carefree, legal motoring. I'm very picky about my MINI...and I absolutely insisted they drill!!!!


note: viper stripes extending to the bumper is the one case where I would not drill...in that situation the plate is in the way.

 

My MINI dealer (MINI of Pittsburgh) actually said I shouldn't install it on,because he said it involved drilling permanently into the bumper. So that was nice of them to mention (:

 

Cool I had this Idea as well. Perhaps its patented, Ill create a slimmer LESS COSTLY METHOD did I understand.....99 DOLLARS? for this price I can fill the hole permenately.

 

The directions I gave the dealer was "NOT TO DRILL THE FRONT BUMPER FOR THE FRONT PLATE" when the car arrived. I was lucky, they actually listened !!! When I took delivery, the dealer had me sign a waiver releasing them from any responsibility for not mounting the plate. After two years of worry from running without a front plate, This encouraged myself to designed my own front plate mount on the original OEM bumper(I now run an Aero bumper). After finding out it rode just a "tad" to low (but looked hot) I went with an official "BB cal custom (one of a kind) tow hook holder". In a weird way, I really like it and it doesn't bother me a bit !

I like having the choice to run it or remove it and I'm happy I resolved the worry of running without a front plate !

 

Yes; I was planning on going with this solution (should I need it). Of the 34 years I've been driving in So Cal, I've been popped once for no front license plate, which is simply a fix-it ticket here - I'll continue to play the odds.

Personally, I find that having a license plate welded to the front of car ruins the lines (don't forget, I reside in a state where vehicle vanity runs amuck.)

Having a front plate is like; hmmmm. . . . . I know

 

We've planned for this too.

The hole is around 1/4" when plugs are installed. If you have to remove them, then install a plate, you can. Just get 1/4" or 5/16" grommets at any home center, which have a smaller hole in the center. Pop them into the hole, mount plate, screw will tighten and enlarge grommet in hole. No problem.

 

My instructions to my MA were very clear, if I come to pick up the car and it has the front plate drilled or dealer advertising on the car; you can KEEP it. Well, he got it right, no plate and no cheesy advertising.

 

i use the blank plugs that was used for the front splash gard and painted with the touch up paint and got the same result for free.

 

Do you have any pics?

 

I did the same thing, but my dealer didn't listen. I think my MA about had a heart attack when I told him that I was not going to take the car. He "spoke to his manager" and pulled bumper from a Dark Silver Clubman they got in at the same time and swapped them. I was still really ticked about it, but I did get a chance to drive a stick shift Clubman S for a day.

Happy motoring.

 

Good for you. We're paying top-dollar for a car, we should be able to get it the way we'd like...

 

My MA gave me some crapola stating that there are liability issues and they are forced to install the plate bracket

If that's the case, I'da signed a waiver releasing the dealer of any future litigation,

 

THE ANSWER TO THIS PROBLEM CAN BE FOUND HERE FOR $60.00+ SHIP:
http://www.swiftmotorsports.com/prod...177f200284034d

 

Yeah about that...While it was fun to bang around in a Clubman S, I still had to get up early, go to the dealer get a loaner, and then leave work early, drop off the loaner and pick up my car. Given the premium nature of these cars, this is unacceptable.

Oh and by the way, the service department at my dealer is awful! When I got the car back, there was a brand new squeak coming from the front of the car (they actually told me it was a loose battery tray) and they forgot to replace the little plastic plugs that hold the inner fender in place. So once again, it's back to the dealer, etc.

Anyway, I really don't like the service center at my dealer. Since there are only two dealers on Long Island (not including The Hamptons and NYC)

 

The bumper plug is a decent solution, but I am not crazy about drilling the holes in the bumper to be even larger. I actually have some bumper plugs and have not installed for >1yr for just this reason.

Maybe I can silicone them on or something.