very mundane question but i'll be SO GRATEFUL for an answer...mounting frustration here (in both senses)...

dealer installed bracket for front plate--had to do it; San Francisco & the tickets are costly.

i have now brought home 6 sets of bolts trying to get the plate on there. (took a while to figure out front & rear brackets required different bolts...kept going back & exchanging what probably would have worked on the other end...). tried last ones just now & nothing works...metric & english all just either go nowhere or slide right in...dealer tells me M5's but these are way too big...

FINALLY took the damn bracket off (hated to have to see those brutal holes in my bumper) and now can see that these are UNTAPPED HOLES in the plastic so OF COURSE no bolts threaded in. why couldn't the dealer mention that?

but now i figure M5 machine screws won't cut a proper thread; i need a sheet metal screw or something. so...does anyone know what screw i should use? i'm assuming this is a standard mini bracket though i don't really know that...installed by mini of pleasanton if that helps...

grrrrrrr. all this hassle for something i hate to have to do anyway.

thanks loads in advance for ending my bolt-buying spree.

-diana

 

I don't have a front plate but on my back plate I'm pretty sure that the bracket screws into the car and the plate screws into the bracket. I just used the ones that came with the car. Good luck!

 

try using the front plate tow hook technik

I think there's some in here

Front plate thread

 

You can go with what Fireballed Tuls said or "The Hidden Holes MINI Front License Plate Bracket"

Info & Pics Thanks to OutMotoring



"If your state requires a front plate (which sucks) than you'll most likely need to be a good law abiding citizen and get it on. You don't, however, have to use the lame bracket the dealers install which leaves two (often crooked) holes on the front of your bumper. MINI actually makes one that you screw in (using your supplied screws) from under that lip right above the lower radiator grill. The actual bracket/backing hangs down in front of the lower grill and will definately not work if you have lights like the Alta or others down there. Otherwise, it looks great and cleans up the look of the car It's by far the best and cleanest solution we know of. Best of all, the holes are out of the way so when you want to remove the bracket the holes are a bit less obvious. Fits all MINI models from 2002-2006. Does NOT include decorative chrome frame."


And for the old unsightly holes try ==> Bumper Plugs

Color Match from Bumper Plugs

BMW MINI Cooper Aspen White = Grand Prix White
BMW MINI Cooper Astro Black = Atlas Grey Metallic
BMW MINI Cooper British Racing Green = Rain Forest Green Metallic
BMW MINI Cooper Cosmos Black Met. = Atlas Grey Metallic
BMW MINI Cooper Dark Silver Metallic = Seal Grey Metallic
BMW MINI Cooper Hot Orange = Zanzibar Red
BMW MINI Cooper Hyper Blue = Daytona Blue Pearl
BMW MINI Cooper Indi Blue = Lapis Blue Metallic
BMW MINI Cooper Liquid Yellow = Fly Yellow
BMW MINI Cooper Purple Haze = Iris Blue Metallic
BMW MINI Cooper Pure Silver Metallic = Titanium Silver Metallic (BMW)
BMW MINI Cooper Velvet Red = Carmon Red Metallic

They also have another page filled with colors. Hope this helps ya!

 

I use the No Holes Front License Plate mount. It screws into the front tow hook hole. I hated the though of those holes in the bumper. I believe you can get it at gominigo.com

also, to cover the holes, try searching for bumper plugs or something like that. They just cover the holes VERY nicely.

 

It's a $10 fix-it ticket

http://www.ci.sf.ca.us/site/uploaded...t%20license%22

 

hey all--i appreciate all the advice--but you're not answering the question i asked! too late for alternate front plate strategies--i just want to know what screws i can use w/ the bracket i have! as i said, VERY mundane. but to me, valuable information.

 

take your bracket to the home center and buy approprieate screws to fit the holes.

the plate can be attached bying using 1/4 nuts and bolts in the length you desire. These exactly on the original hole of the license plate so take your plate as well if you have any doubts.

 

As an SFist who used to skirt the front plate law on my Ghia, it is certainly not worth the headache. DPT got me so many times in a few weeks' spread that it was a nightmare to get out from under it, even with an eventual fix-it... and that involved drilling a steel bumper. I did use the tow hook plate mount on the MINI, myself, but I think once you find the right screws for your plate mounting situation, you'll get used to it being there... good luck!