MCS on order, and while I wait, I was wondering if the dealerships drill the front licence plate holder right into the front bumper? If so, isnt this a bit archaic in 2008 to mess up a perfectly good bumper when a bracket should have been designed? I don't put front plate on any of my cars, and in fact want clear bra which would look terrible if this were true........

 

there are brackets available for the front license plate

 

Depends on the dealer.

If your car hasn't arrived yet, just call your MA and ask them to not drill it.

 

Keep reminding your dealer not to drill the holes. If at some time you do need a front plate, you can use the "no holes" bracket from www.gominigo.com.

 

Be sure to tell your MA this in advance. I didn't, thinking that they would ask me before they did such a horrid thing. Wrong.

 

it may be illegal in some states to not have a front license plate but your dealer shouldnt be drilling holes into something that is yours unless you ask them to.

 

Even though the car is "yours", if the state requires it (such as Oregon) They will by law be required to drill the holes and mount the plate. Either that or use the no holes front mount plate but it must be on there when you leave the dealership.

 

I have talked with lots of dealers and many will not ask and install the stock bracket if the state requires a front license plate.

Just so you know some dealers are set on drilling not matter what the owner says. I talked to dealer near San Jose and they are in the middle of a class action lawsuit regarding the fron the license plate. An attorney purchased a car a few years back and the dealer told him the license plate mounting bracket is in the truck and they did not install as they did not want to drill it into the bumper. The attorney said ok no problem. Well, he got stopped and got a ticket for no front plate and the filed the class action for 10 million dollars against the dealer and all dealership owned by the same company. So the GM has stated no car will the dealership without the front license plate.

 

I told my MA that I had a no-drill front plate braket that I would like put on myself before I drive off. Took about 5 minutes to install and I was off and motoring.

 

To respond to your question.....MA = Motoring Advisor which is just the really corny way that MINI refers to their salespeople.

 

The entire bumper has been designed for a front, center mount plate. There are dimples in the bumper and seams that are all hidden by the OEM mounting bracket. Much cleaner look to go ahead and mount it, imo.

 

Agreed.

 

Better yet....shave the lines and remove the dimples...that's my plan. There's nothing clean about a front liscense plate, no matter how or where it's mounted.

 

Except for the legally-required bit, of course.

 

Just cause it's legally required doesn't mean it looks clean

 

FWIW, I had a temporary plate when I left the dealer, on the rear only. They didn't have to mount a plate on the front. It wasn't until I had a permanent registration that I had to put a plate on the front.

 

Class action suit? How ridiculous! Besides, in CA you don't get any plates with a new auto or motorcycle. They come in the mail from the DMV several weeks after completing purchase. I think this "attorney" may have done something more or caused a situation.

 

Agreed....just brought my clubman home and the dealer is in a state where the front plate is required....no front plate or drilled holes on my car. They are not legally required to drill the holes.

 

GO MINI GO is really all you need to know.I called wednesday and ordered my fr plate holder and a glove box tidy and was delivered on friday. The plate holder is all stainless steel.

 

i just filled the holes that the dealer drilled and hit them with some touch up paint. you have to be 2 feet away to tell they were ever there

 

Be sure to tell you MA you don't want it done.

 

mine doesn't drill. daniel plainview on the otherhand....

though its always best to tell them ahead of time anyways (just in case).

 

Mine didn't drill even though a front plate is required in CA. He said they leave it up to the customers to decide what they want to do about a front plate. I got the gominigo bracket, and I'm going to install it tomorrow.

But I know some dealers do, so you probably want to mention it before they get the car.

 

ha... i guess i have a cooler dealer

 

Sometimes they just use a crewdriver. Just make sure they don't use a ammer


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