[McD]

I've been surfing the web researching the front license plate issue and have come to some conclusions:

First: This is a largely ignored law (in states requiring them), both by the police and the public. (especially by MCS owners )

Second: This law is often used by law enforcement to pull people over when they're looking for an excuse to pull somebody over. (I found several references on the Internet where people from California were pulled over for not having a front plate IN STATES THAT DO NOT REQUIRE A FRONT PLATE! The justification was "reciprocity". Basically, since you're from a state that requires it, they can pull you over even though their state doesn't. ) e.g. [url=http://www.kscourts.org/ca10/cases/2002/10/00-3407.rtf]

My dealer didn't install the front license plate bracket on my MCS.

I've found several threads here about NOT installing them, but I'm considering it. So here's my two questions.

1. Does anybody have pictures of their MCS posted WITH the American style front plate installed? (There's a thread about pictures WITHOUT the plates, but I'm having trouble finding pictures WITH the front plate )

2. Has anybody installed these themselves, or is this something the dealer should do if I decide to use the front plate?

Thanks for any helpful suggestions/comments/pictures.

McD

[MINIAC]

Stock Plate:




Aero Kit Plate (51-11-0-141-384):

[Tonyt3]

I'm not why anyone who didn't need to have a front plate would want one. i think front plates are just about the ugliest thing.... like some monstous zit on a beautiful girls chin. Wished we could get rid of them, but alas they do make a rather song and dance about them here.

[McD]

Miniac,
Thanks for finding the pictures for me. I prefer the MCS without the front plate, but it doesn't look as hideous as everybody says.

Now,
Any suggestions as to drilling the holes? Should I try it or have the dealer do it?
Anybody do this themselves?

Thanks,
McD

[flatsix02]

I would say not do it, you may regret it.... Put it in front of where it should go on your car and then walk away then come and look at it, you may not want to. For a clean install if your going through with it, just do it at the dealer, unless your comfortable at drilling into your car!

-Scott
PS. I have a good front shot of my car in my gallery if you wanna see it w/o the plate. MO-Its illegal to not have them here, nothing wrong yet.
Here:

[MINIAC]

Quote: Originally Posted by McD

Any suggestions as to drilling the holes? Should I try it or have the dealer do it?

There are "dimples" on the bumper marking the drilling points for the stock plate holder. I believe the aero kit plate holder requires different hole locations.

Mounting the plate holder should be part of the dealer prep ... just request they do it.

[McD]

I notice that the front plate holder that the dealer gave me is a stupid size and shape for a US plate. It's too wide and short, so the plate hangs down below the bottom and the sides of the holder show.

Is the plate holder they sell for the Aero Kit a perfect fit for a US plate? The plate holder in the MINI accessories book looks like it's a good fit. But I'm confused by the picture above. The Aero Kit plate that MINIAC posted above looks just like the holder I got from the dealer, it sticks out on the sides.
Help?

[markjenn]

I'd like to find a plate holder that fits a US plate more closely too. Something that mounts in the same way as the MINI plate holder, but is perfectly sized to a US plate.

BTW, I debated long/hard whether to put the front plate on or just chance not running a front plate, but in the end, I decided it was stupid to give the cops an extra excuse to pull me over. And, as front plate holders go, the MINI one is about as easy to install and non-destructive as you could hope for. You drill two tiny pilot holes in the dimples on the front bumper, clip it in at the top, and put in the two smallish screws. Bolt the plate to this and you're done. MINI even includes some white screw covers that hide the screws used to hold the plate on. Nice touch.

If you ever want to take it off, the holes are pretty small and barely noticeable, and you could cover the holes with some small circles of colored tape that matched the bumper color and they would be all but impossible to see. So I figured since I can go back to "no plate" anytime I want, I'd put it on and see how much it bothered me. So far, not much.

- Mark

[BruceK]

Quote: Originally Posted by markjenn

....BTW, I debated long/hard whether to put the front plate on or just chance not running a front plate, but in the end, I decided it was stupid to give the cops an extra excuse to pull me over. ...

Nineteen months and over 21K miles of running without a front plate on my MINI and no problems with law enforcement.

"knock on wood" (US) or "touch wood" (UK)

Add to that 5 years and 50K miles of having no front plate on my Miata MX-5!

[KDOG]

I have had my car almost 8 weeks and am close to 2500 miles. Just got pulled over tonight for not displaying the front plate. It's a 'fix it" ticket so now I have to attach the plate and go in for inspection. I'm thinkin..double stick tape that sucker on theere and rip it back off after the inspection, but I dont know if I want to go thru this all the time..but the front plates ruins the look..

[MINIAC]

Quote: Originally Posted by KDOG

I have had my car almost 8 weeks and am close to 2500 miles. Just got pulled over tonight for not displaying the front plate. It's a 'fix it" ticket so now I have to attach the plate and go in for inspection.

How much is the fine ... or do you just need to get the plate mounted?

[djeddiebear]

Quote: Originally Posted by MINIAC

How much is the fine ... or do you just need to get the plate mounted?

Fix it tickets are usually just to fix it, and than pay $10 and go to the instructed place. Some guy sticks half his body out the door, looks at it and signs the form. Done.

Eddie.

[silsby]

I was convinced by my MA not to install the front plate. I live in Chicago. Within 3 days of owning the car I had a $50 ticket which I received while my car was legally parked in front of my apartment. It is not a "fix it" ticket. The fine must be payed regardless of whether the plate is installed. I would do some research into the enforcement in your area before forgoing the front plate if it is leagally required. Needless to say, I had the plate installed.

[stryder]

Welcome to MINI2, sorry your first post wasn't that positive.

Can you bill your MA the $50?

I didn't even know it was possible to get a ticket for not having a plate 'parking ticket' style. Chicago must be really hurting for money if they're that sleezy.

[ScottyB]

I wish front plates werent required in Oz.

Looks so much neater without them.

[dinlo]

I did't have mine. I just want to take the chance.

[gedubya]

arial
THERE ARE DIFFERENT PLATE SIZES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. HERE IN NZ DOWNUNDER WE USE A ENGLISH SIZE WHICH IS LIKE GB AND EUROPE. ALSO A LOT OF JAPANESE CARS FOR THE JAP MARKET HAVE A SPECIAL SIZE FOR A JAP PLATE WHICH MAY BE THE SAME SIZE AS A USA PLATE. YOUR MINI DEALER SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOOK UP THE DIFFERENT MOUNTING BRACKET THING FOR RESPECTIVE MARKETS.

CHEERS
GW.

[silsby]

Quote: Originally Posted by stryder

Welcome to MINI2, sorry your first post wasn't that positive.

Can you bill your MA the $50?

I didn't even know it was possible to get a ticket for not having a plate 'parking ticket' style. Chicago must be really hurting for money if they're that sleezy.

The CAPS officers regularly sweep up and down the streets in the neighborhoods running everyones plates and checking for any possible violation. Did I mention the $75 annual city sticker required for all cars? You gotta pay for the new football stadium somehow...

[jwardell]

Grrr front plates. Here's a story.

I lived near chicago. Got into an accident. Front plate split and crumpled like an accordian.
Ran with no front plate for a little while after getting the car back, and was promised by the state that new design plates were on their way. Went out one night in Chicago, parked downtown in front of a meter at 11PM. Got back at 4am to find a parking ticket for the aforementioned $50!

What, might I ask, was a meter maid even doing out that late, when meters are done after 6??

So I protested the ticket, explaining my situation, accident, and upcoming replacement plate. I even encluded a photo of the crumpled plate, stating if I had somehow managed to affix it to my car, it would become a dangerous road hazard!

Of course what do they care. Appeal denied. I still had to pay the fifty bucks.

My advice is, get a nice plate. Custom vanity plate, or specialized theme plate. Get a nice plate holder and paint it the same color as your car body. Then it will look decently nice on the front of your car. That's what I've done since then, and will do again when my Mini arrives.

[stryder]

Well, at least I know not to ever hang out in Chicago without a front plate. They've certainly got some interesting takes on enforcing the laws.