Front license plate problem solved

[alynM3]

Finally got around to mounting my electronic license plate bracket. I think it came out pretty clean and I spent a lot of time making sure I did the job right the first time. Sorry for the crappy video but you get the point...

UPDATE: I have been driving around with this bracket all week... here are my initial impressions:

The first day, I decided to take it easy and drive with the plate flipped up (so that it was showing while driving). With it flipped up there was no scraping with the exception of going in and out of a few steep driveway declines/inclines. The slight scraping was more noticeable going down the decline rather than up. The only time it would scrape is if I tried to take it head on though and not if I angled out of the driveway (as I normally would anyway to avoid scraping my front lip).

The second day, I tried to be a little more brave and drive with the plate flipped down... and lets just say I would not advise this. Sure enough I scraped on driveways and everything with a slight incline/decline and put a small scrape in the letters and numbers on the plate. Nothing too noticeable or anything but it definitely would get worse and not better.

What I do love about this mount is that it actually provides a buffer for my front lip and protects me from getting too close to bump stops and provides some scrape protection for the bottom portion of the lip. The track and motor mechanism are still operable but now I simply hide the plate only when I am parked. So unfortunately the front end is a bit ugly while driving and the plate shows but I guess thats a small price to pay so that i can avoid tickets. The nice part is when I want I can press the button and tuck the license plate away and avoid the unsightly plate.

If others are interested in doing this modification, I would suggest either the lower mounting location (like i did) if you dont have a lip. Or if you have a lip or simply want to avoid damaging the mount at all, install it at the top portion of the lower grille. You will have to modify the grille by dremeling out a 1 1/4" x "the length of your plate" section to allow for the plate to clear the opening but it should all work and come out very clean. If you want to go the extra step you can have the mount painted body color which would disquise it even further.

A few people have asked me where I got it from... here is the link http://www.altecproducts.com/

There are definitely improvements I would have made if I were the manufacturer but all in all I would rate it a 7 out of 10 for design, quality, construction, and ease of install.

[M3forMe]

That is badass. Can you post a close up pic of that plate when it is folding under. How far does it stick down from the spoiler?

[alynM3]

Originally Posted by M3forMe

That is badass. Can you post a close up pic of that plate when it is folding under. How far does it stick down from the spoiler?

I will try to get a close up later. It's about an inch lower than the car and when the plate is exposed about 3/4 inch. It's pretty low so I will do a review after I have has some time to drive around with it and see how practical it is.

It will just force me to drive a lil slower into driveways and over speedbumps but I had to do that already anyway.

[tbone28]

007

[Rapture]

I would rip that off coming out of my driveway, but it is very cool and stealth

[advans]

it would rip right off coming out of a gas station

[PrimoM3]

Cool. How does it do at highway speeds?

[slicer]

Looks cool but good luck not having it torn off!

[Powerbeast]

That's so awesome but my car so low that I would scrape the numbers off lol

[Nicname]

With ZCP stock suspensions, one wouldn't worry to much about scraping it off right?

[nchan50]

it's really hard to keep the bottom of the bumper from touching anything as-is, but good luck with keeping it from getting torn off (I worry that may further damage the bumper if it gets caught on something). I went with a tow hook place that I put on if needed.

[biggynuts01]

Originally Posted by tbone28

007

Haha Yep totally 007

[thorny]

Officer, what do you mean I do not have a front licence plate?!

[etrillion]

Originally Posted by thorny

Officer, what do you mean I do not have a front licence plate?!

+1

That's awesome haha

[alynM3]

If I didnt have a chin spoiler I wouldnt worry about it scraping at all on stock ZCP suspension. However, I'm lowered and have a chin spoiler so I guess we will have to see.

I normally drive pretty much the same routes everyday so I know where my problem spots are and I just need to avoid them or be careful. I drove to work this morning without any problems, so 1/2 day down, many thousands more to go lol.

I will say one thing, it is on there pretty good... so I can totally see me damaging the mechanism and track that moves the plate, but I dont see it getting ripped off (at least without some effort). Damaged to the point where it doesnt work is probably the more likely scenario... then back to the drawing board I guess.

[哇靠~M3]

Would be pretty sweet if it hides itself when the car is shutoff. When ignition turns on, it would appear itself again. stealth mode for sure!

[Sean05]

will not work for me.. that will yank right out of my driveway and bumps on streets. its fun to be lowered.. LOL

[GOLFFRR]

thats pretty trick

[k-lo]

where's the rockets? it looks cool btw

[Mike van D]

Good stuff there...great ingenuity.

[Interlagos-Bimmer]

Just love it!!!
Great work!

[tbone28]

inspector gadget

go go gadget....