XSeries-forum

StuBeeDoo wrote: ↑Sat Feb 08, 2020 12:33 pmI might revisit this and do the job properly

When the car was in for it's last EGR recall, I ordered the "handlebar moustache" trim and a US-spec. 'plate plinth.

I have fitted the trim this morning. The plinth needs to be cut and plastic-welded back together because it's too deep, so for now I have stuck the 'plate directly to the trim.

The car is filthy at the moment, but when I've washed it I'll post a picture.

My private place should arrive in the next few weeks and could be relatively short but not sure if I am going to cut or keep standard size (legality etc.)

The registration is: X5 and then my 3 initials

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neil50 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2020 5:17 pm not sure if I am going to cut or keep standard size (legality etc.)

A cut-down plate is still legal, as long as it includes the legally-required text, the font is legal, and the borders are the correct width. I'll measure the borders on mine, if you like. I can't remember what I cut them to but I know that I researched it at the time and stayed just within the law.

When I get a pic of my plate fitted, I'll include one showing the mess that dealerships/traders made of the bumper trim when they fitted or replaced plates at least 3 times.

StuBeeDoo wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2020 9:11 pm

neil50 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2020 5:17 pm not sure if I am going to cut or keep standard size (legality etc.)

A cut-down plate is still legal, as long as it includes the legally-required text, the font is legal, and the borders are the correct width. I'll measure the borders on mine, if you like. I can't remember what I cut them to but I know that I researched it at the time and stayed just within the law.

When I get a pic of my plate fitted, I'll include one showing the mess that dealerships/traders made of the bumper trim when they fitted or replaced plates at least 3 times.

Not sure how it will look back and front with short number plates, there are only 5 digits for my registration.

I've never, yet, run a short rear 'plate - but I have been wondering about it. I need check the one with the original reg. that the trader who sold me the car fitted, to see where he would have drilled the tailgate. IIRC if the original BMW drillings are the only ones, I could cut mine down.

EDIT:- I've just checked....... He stuck the rear one. ..........Yet the front one was fitted with a screw in each corner.

Mine are all stuck on too, but I had to heat the front plates on all of ours just enough to allow me to match the curve of the bumpers. I kept finding that even using the proper tape, in hot weather the adhesive softens enough that the plates ‘sprung’ at one end or other. With the curve put in that no longer happens.

just waiting for my new registration to come through and then I will start "experimenting"

Neil50........ There is an eBay seller who does "100% legal" perspex 'plates. Search "short 5 digit number plates".

EDIT:- My self-cut front plate (7 characters, but 2x 1s) is 405mm long and the distance between the outer characters and the edges of the plate is 15mm. As above, I checked the legality of this before cutting.

neil50 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 18, 2020 8:54 pm just waiting for my new registration to come through and then I will start "experimenting"

If you can buy the stuff because of all the idiots ‘hoarding’, then a careful wipe with Isopropyl Alcohol will get any grease, old wax etc off the plastics and paint. It will not harm anything as it isn’t a solvent for these paint/plastic parts. It’s the same stuff used in hand sanitisers. I use it for cleaning the 3D printer, although using 99.9% pure on hands isn’t advised

X5Sport wrote: ↑Fri Mar 20, 2020 1:33 pm

neil50 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 18, 2020 8:54 pm just waiting for my new registration to come through and then I will start "experimenting"

If you can buy the stuff because of all the idiots ‘hoarding’, then a careful wipe with Isopropyl Alcohol will get any grease, old wax etc off the plastics and paint. It will not harm anything as it isn’t a solvent for these paint/plastic parts. It’s the same stuff used in hand sanitisers. I use it for cleaning the 3D printer, although using 99.9% pure on hands isn’t advised

I use isopropyl at work so can get some

This is the mess that at least 3 changes of plate (the car has been on its original plate, then a personal plate, back to original, before my personal plate, which I fitted with sticky pads) made of the original "handlebar moustache" trim......

I bought a US-spec plinth, but when I fitted the new trim I tried sticking the short plate directly to the trim, but as it's not totally flat I couldn't get it to hold fast - even with plenty of heat. So, I cut the bottom 40-ish mm off the plinth and now it's all good.

Epic effort for a simple outcome, credit for the perseverance.

On an X6 as the bumper has holes in to support the back plate, putting something narrower/shorter on is not an option, outside of replacing the bumper cover.