body and interior Front License Brackets

[dlhoovler]

We've just moved to Ohio--another post, that--but I'm now needing to consider putting a front license plate on the Orange Car. Looking at RealOEM, there appear to be two front license brackets for chrome bumpers (for adapting a North American plate to the Euro-spaced holes in the bumper). One, which I've seen referenced more frequently here, is a simple bent piece of steel strip that Mike Self usually notes places the plate either above or below the bumper.

 

RealOEM, however, specifies a different bracket for my early '71 (11/70 build date). This one, 51 18 1 832 855, is shaped like a license plate but has mounting points to the bumper at its center line. Can anyone confirm that this bracket and its associated hardware in fact fits a chrome front bumper? I think I'd just as soon use it over the other model.

 

...or I may just throw the plate under the seat and see if I ever get hassled for it...

 

Thanks,

-David

Edited October 18, 2013 by dlhoovler

[Mike Self]

Dave--since you're not near a military base where there are a lot of out-of-state plates from one plate states, your local cops will most likely be on the lookout for and hassle you for not having a front plate--although there was legisation this year to eliminate Ohio's front plates (don't know the outcome). 

 

Has your bumper been drilled for standard US front plates in addition to the original wide-spaced holes for Euro plates?  If so what I did was take a piece of fairly heavy (1/8") aluminum sheet and cut it out to license plate size, then drill it at the center line (top to bottom) for US plate holes.  That will center the plate on the bumper, much more esthetically pleasing than having it all above or below the bumper.  You can also find all sorts of sheet metal front bumper license plate mounts in salvage yards and drill 'em appropriately to mount on your bumper.  I think the one on my '69 is from an old SAAB 99...

 

cheers

mike

[Jim_75Sahara]

My '02 is different, but I got a license bracket (used) from another squaretail owner. I don't know how eager the police are to hassle us about a missing front plate. I put one in place right away.  Also, I am not sure what they do if there is no front (or rear) bumper in place...

[John_in_VA]

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=2215&mospid=47140&btnr=51_3349&hg=51&fg=20&hl=14

 

 

#s 8 & 9 (base =  51 18 1 832 855) are meant for big-bumpered cars.  Like mike said, fashion yourself something like #8 that lines up with the holes in your bumper.

[dlhoovler]

#s 8 & 9 (base = 51 18 1 832 855) are meant for big-bumpered cars.

 

Interesting. I wonder why RealOEM lists #9 as appropriate for my car (despite the date range), but doesn't list the other bits that I know are for big-bumper cars (like the #22 bracket). And I thought #8 was what various people here have shown on chrome-bumper cars.

 

I only have the holes spaced for a Euro plate; since the car was in Pennsylvania most of its life, it's never run a front plate and didn't have extra holes drilled. Guess I'll get to bending and painting some steel or aluminum strips...

 

-Dave

 

Addendum: Perhaps RealOEM reads this board, because now none of the front bases is listed for my car (the callout numbers are missing from the list). I swear #9 was listed earlier today. Strange...

Edited October 18, 2013 by dlhoovler

[jgerock]

Funny thing - I recently received front license plate bracket # 51 18 1 816 901 from BLUNT for my 69 (early) front bumper.

 

It matches the one on my 73tii.

Edited October 18, 2013 by jgerock

[TobyB]

 

I wonder why RealOEM

www.penskeparts.com

 

t