Hi, this is my first post, and I have a few questions that I hope can be answered. First, Im planning on getting a new mini within the next few months.(first I have to get a job) All of the cars at my dealer have the american style plate on the front that says mini cooper on it. When I order my cooper, could I request a european style plate on the front? Will this cost any extra? The mini that I am wanting is not at the dealer, but Im pretty sure its not that rare of a mini. Will it probably still take 2 months to get over here even though its not that rare? Thats all I really need to know for now, but im sure I will have more questions later on. Thanx for the responses.

 

if you are getting a Cooper, it is already set up for the euro plate by removing the american plate holder. For the Cooper S, not sure, but I think it is easily modifiable, not anything you should need to special order from the factory.

cheers
jon

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2003 Indi Blue Mini Cooper

2001 Black Audi Allroad 2.7T

http://www.rmcb5.com

 

I'd ask the dealership prior to ordering. But there are a few tuner/accessory shops around the net that offer euro plates. Off hand, I don't know the links to those sites, but I'm sure a few other members could help out with that.
P.S.- And welcome to the club.
Cheers,

 

I think you can request to leave off the front plate. Some states require it, some don't. The Cooper front plate adapter is easy to take off.

Just remove the screws that hold the US plate frame and you will find 2 screws holding the adapter on. Remove these screws and pull from the edges of the adapter to loosen the strips of tape holding it on also. Pull outward and down and the adapter will come off.

I ordered 2 different front plates from FancyPlates http://www.fancyplates.com/ (I couldn't decide which I liked best, so I'll switch them when I get tired of one). They have a nice configurator on their site so you can see what you're ordering. Total price with shipping from N. Ireland was $44 or so. The plates arrived in about 3 weeks.
I ordered a frame from SchoolHouseGraphics http://www.shgraphics.com/ for about $25.

You could see what one of the plates looks like but my sig picture seems to have crapped out...



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>>I think you can request to leave off the front plate. Some states require it, some don't. The Cooper front plate adapter is easy to take off.

Many states require front plate. The dealer here was actually cited for delivering MINIs without front plate. Now they deliver all their cars with front plate on it.

Because the plate holder is a dealer installed item and not factory installed, most likely they can leave it off upon request. :smile:

 

Welcome JiBiS! Sounds like you will be getting
cozy with your dealer as you plan out timing
and all the many options.

You state you need a job first... Hey, get a job
at the MINI dealer!

God speed.

 

hey j,

my state requires a front plate, but my dealer gave me the option of putting it on when i took delivery. the dealer left my front plate and plate holder in the boot, in a nice little ziploc freezer baggy. i've been stopped once, and looked at the officer with a "i have no idea what you are talking about" expression, and showed him the freezer bag. he told me to have it put on and left it at that.

personally i like the clean look of not having the front plate on, and plan on driving without it until i am formally cited for it's absence.

good luck!

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ordered 21.oct.02 - delivered 9.may.03 - MCS - DS/B - stripes - prem. - sport - HK
"daniel striped mini"