Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.

Short Number Plates?

General Discussion for X3 (F25) models go here.
User avatar
StuBeeDoo
Member
Member
Posts: 804
Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2014 7:05 pm
Location: Gateshead, Tyneside

Short Number Plates?

Post by StuBeeDoo » Sun Oct 28, 2018 4:13 pm

On other cars I've used a short front number plate - 400mm, IIRC - and still been legal.  The F25 SE number plate mounting plinth isn't suitable in this instance, because of the position of the mounting screws.  Ditching the plinth doesn't look like an option because the bumper insert is drilled as well.

Has anyone here used a shorter plate on an SE-spec F25?  If so, how did you mount it? 

TIA
Stuart
Last edited by StuBeeDoo on Fri Apr 10, 2020 6:29 am, edited 1 time in total.
October 2012 build X3 30d SE, Bluewater.  Now with Webasto sunroof and paddle-shift   8)
Image

Online
User avatar
X5Sport
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 18520
Joined: Fri Sep 03, 2010 4:09 pm
Location: Planet X6......

Re: Short Front Number Plate?

Post by X5Sport » Sun Oct 28, 2018 5:25 pm

Not used a short plate, but all of mine are fitted with double sided number plate foam tape.  I hate number plate screws!

Ideally you need to clean both the bumper and plate back with Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) before applying the tape.  It should also be gently warmed (a hairdryer will do the job) as this helps the glue bond.

3M make a tape with red protective layers.  This is the right type to use.  There is also a tape with green covers that is an just as good alternative.

Something like this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/3M-486248-Powe ... ticky+pads

Or this:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Double-Mountin ... ticky+pads
Last edited by X5Sport on Sun Oct 28, 2018 5:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
:ant: Never anthropomorphise computers. They hate that.

User avatar
StuBeeDoo
Member
Member
Posts: 804
Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2014 7:05 pm
Location: Gateshead, Tyneside

Re: Short Front Number Plate?

Post by StuBeeDoo » Sun Oct 28, 2018 8:14 pm

X5Sport wrote: Sun Oct 28, 2018 5:25 pm...but all of mine are fitted with double sided number plate foam tape.  I hate number plate screws!
Me too.  :thumbsup:
Last edited by StuBeeDoo on Sun Nov 18, 2018 8:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
October 2012 build X3 30d SE, Bluewater.  Now with Webasto sunroof and paddle-shift   8)
Image

User avatar
lezmtaylor
Member
Member
Posts: 966
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:25 pm
Location: Gloucester

Re: Short Front Number Plate?

Post by lezmtaylor » Sun Oct 28, 2018 8:40 pm

And me !!

LezImage[img]http[img]
2002. 4.4lpg,ledAE's,Xenons,paddleshift,compass mirror,inst rings,led int lights,rear camera,crystal tailights,eisenmann road exh,Schnitzer pedals,chrome indicators,colour co-ord headlamps & bonnet grilles,hualigim entertainment system.dash and rearcamera,comfort seats.hud,bull bars,engine instalube

User avatar
StuBeeDoo
Member
Member
Posts: 804
Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2014 7:05 pm
Location: Gateshead, Tyneside

Re: Short Front Number Plate?

Post by StuBeeDoo » Sun Nov 18, 2018 8:41 am

When my car comes back from having the bonnet & wing replaced I'm going to try getting creative with a plate holder. :)
Last edited by StuBeeDoo on Wed Dec 19, 2018 8:06 am, edited 1 time in total.
October 2012 build X3 30d SE, Bluewater.  Now with Webasto sunroof and paddle-shift   8)
Image

sapphireblack
Snr Member
Snr Member
Posts: 1629
Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2011 8:30 am
Location: Kent, garden of England

Re: Short Front Number Plate?

Post by sapphireblack » Sun Nov 18, 2018 9:10 am

When the DVLA finally get my new V5 to me i can swap my 5 digit plate to the X6 and would like the same, shorter plate front surround. Shorter plates are legal with or without a country badge but fixing it even with tape can be a challenge when pre drilled holes may still visibly protrude. I looked at a US ftont trim which is narrower but also deeper and reasoned that cutting the bottom off of that may be a workable compromise.

User avatar
StuBeeDoo
Member
Member
Posts: 804
Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2014 7:05 pm
Location: Gateshead, Tyneside

Re: Short Front Number Plate?

Post by StuBeeDoo » Sun Nov 18, 2018 10:07 am

I did think about that ^^^ solution as well. IIRC I figured that the existing euro-mount holes in the bumper trim will become visible. If my cheapskate-special idea doesn't look somewhere near right, I'll do my research into the U.S-mount again.
Last edited by StuBeeDoo on Wed Dec 19, 2018 8:06 am, edited 1 time in total.
October 2012 build X3 30d SE, Bluewater.  Now with Webasto sunroof and paddle-shift   8)
Image

Horizon
Snr Member
Snr Member
Posts: 2599
Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2012 7:34 pm
Location: Bury Lancashire

Re: Short Front Number Plate?

Post by Horizon » Sun Nov 18, 2018 8:36 pm

If your original plates are black on the reverse side, screw the original plate on back to front and then stick your short plate on to it. Worth a try as it won't cost nowt 🤔

User avatar
StuBeeDoo
Member
Member
Posts: 804
Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2014 7:05 pm
Location: Gateshead, Tyneside

Re: Short Front Number Plate?

Post by StuBeeDoo » Mon Nov 19, 2018 12:46 pm

Some thing similar to ^^^ that i what I'm going to try.
Last edited by StuBeeDoo on Wed Dec 19, 2018 8:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
October 2012 build X3 30d SE, Bluewater.  Now with Webasto sunroof and paddle-shift   8)
Image

User avatar
StuBeeDoo
Member
Member
Posts: 804
Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2014 7:05 pm
Location: Gateshead, Tyneside

Re: Short Front Number Plate?

Post by StuBeeDoo » Sun Dec 02, 2018 9:01 pm

I've done the job today. No pics yet, though. I went with............

Cheap eBay numberplate frame.
Matt black vinyl wrap on the ends of a spare standard-size 'plate
Short 'plate stuck on top

TBH I'm not sure about it, but I can always revert to a standard plate if I decide it's not the right look.
Last edited by StuBeeDoo on Wed Dec 19, 2018 8:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
October 2012 build X3 30d SE, Bluewater.  Now with Webasto sunroof and paddle-shift   8)
Image

sapphireblack
Snr Member
Snr Member
Posts: 1629
Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2011 8:30 am
Location: Kent, garden of England

Re: Short Front Number Plate?

Post by sapphireblack » Sun Dec 02, 2018 9:23 pm

As per my earlier post i would have liked a neat solution to this as well but for me what you describe is a bit too involved and somewhat contrived. The front support mount just isn't compatible with reduced size plates.

If the DVLA ever get my V5 to me I've already decided to go with a regular size plate as the better solution imo. As i need the GB/UK element too, though for how much longer, I'll live with centred digits on a full size plate as i always have.

User avatar
StuBeeDoo
Member
Member
Posts: 804
Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2014 7:05 pm
Location: Gateshead, Tyneside

Re: Short Front Number Plate?

Post by StuBeeDoo » Tue Dec 04, 2018 6:40 pm

OK, so this is what it looks like............
Short front plate pxltd.jpg
Short front plate pxltd.jpg (167.61 KiB) Viewed 3351 times
My preferred method would have been to make masks of vinyl for the end of the full-size plate, but that would have covered the all-important BS info because the plate maker put it on the right-hand end of the plate. :roll:
I might actually do that at some point - there are plenty of cars running around these parts that don't even have a front plate fitted, so the pol-lis obviously aren't that bothered. .................Not that I advocate running an illegal car, and neither do two wrongs make a right.
Last edited by StuBeeDoo on Sat Feb 08, 2020 12:30 pm, edited 2 times in total.
October 2012 build X3 30d SE, Bluewater.  Now with Webasto sunroof and paddle-shift   8)
Image

User avatar
snrbrtsn
Member
Member
Posts: 449
Joined: Fri May 29, 2015 10:57 am

Re: Short Front Number Plate?

Post by snrbrtsn » Tue Dec 04, 2018 8:12 pm

Is it an option to fit A N other front mount
EACDFB72-6272-4D74-B0B4-BD7EFD4FB6C9.jpeg
EACDFB72-6272-4D74-B0B4-BD7EFD4FB6C9.jpeg (92 KiB) Viewed 4436 times

User avatar
StuBeeDoo
Member
Member
Posts: 804
Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2014 7:05 pm
Location: Gateshead, Tyneside

Re: Short Front Number Plate?

Post by StuBeeDoo » Tue Dec 04, 2018 9:48 pm

It is, but that would also entail replacing the trim (3), because the plate mount is attached to it by 3 screws - the outer ones roughly 450mm apart. :( A standard plate is 520mm and my short one is <400mm.
October 2012 build X3 30d SE, Bluewater.  Now with Webasto sunroof and paddle-shift   8)
Image

User avatar
StuBeeDoo
Member
Member
Posts: 804
Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2014 7:05 pm
Location: Gateshead, Tyneside

Re: Short Front Number Plate?

Post by StuBeeDoo » Sat Feb 08, 2020 12:33 pm

I did, eventually, see some kind of sense and reverted to a standard length plate. It's mounted in the holder, though.

Some time, when I've a few quid burning a hole in my pocket that could fund replacement parts, I might revisit this and do the job properly - as suggested above. :)
October 2012 build X3 30d SE, Bluewater.  Now with Webasto sunroof and paddle-shift   8)
Image

Post Reply