Short Number Plates?

[StuBeeDoo]

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

[X5Sport]

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

[StuBeeDoo]

...but all of mine are fitted with double sided number plate foam tape.  I hate number plate screws!

Me too. 

[lezmtaylor]

And me !!

Lez[img]http[img]

[StuBeeDoo]

When my car comes back from having the bonnet & wing replaced I'm going to try getting creative with a plate holder.

[sapphireblack]

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.

[StuBeeDoo]

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.

[Horizon]

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

[StuBeeDoo]

Some thing similar to ^^^ that i what I'm going to try.

[StuBeeDoo]

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.

[sapphireblack]

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.

[StuBeeDoo]

OK, so this is what it looks like............

Short front plate pxltd.jpg (167.61 KiB) Viewed 5446 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.
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.

[snrbrtsn]

Is it an option to fit A N other front mount

EACDFB72-6272-4D74-B0B4-BD7EFD4FB6C9.jpeg (92 KiB) Viewed 6531 times

[StuBeeDoo]

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.

[StuBeeDoo]

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.