License Plate Bracket Question

[Conserv]

1 hour ago, cjois said:

… There are no other holes on this car. although this car was confirmed by BMW Archive to be a US spec car built and shipped to Hoffman in Dec 1972.

I wonder how the previous owner had mounted the plate without the bracket…
 

That’s my point. The car has obviously been painted recently. Either (a.) the original holes were filled, or (b.) a new rear panel was installed and the panel was not drilled for the license plate. Neither of these possibilities is shocking or unheard of.

 

If this was done by a dealer or repair shop, the car could have been driven with dealer or repair tags simply hanging from the trunk lid. I’m guessing you don’t have any pre-sale (pre-paint) photos of the car showing a rear license plate in place?

 

New Holes

The spacing of the two new holes is dictated by the spacing of standard license plate holes. The pair of holes will be centered on the rear panel, or at least with respect to the trunk release.

 

The diameter of the two new holes is dictated by the size of the machine screws you’ll use to affix the plate — allow a little wiggle room in the diameter.

 

So only the height of the two new holes is at issue. My ‘73 is in another state, but someone here can provide the distance down from the aluminum trim molding, or up from the raised shadow line. The top half of the plate, unfastened, rests on the aluminum trim molding. On the bad photo below, the only one I have of my ‘73 without a plate, there are shadow (wear?) lines on the molding where the license plate has rested for years. Some owners place insulation tape or equivalent on the reverse of the plate to provide a cushion between plate and molding.

 

I’d tape up the area to be drilled and gently dimple the sheet metal with a center punch or screw, to avoid drill bit slippage. I’d also probably drill small holes, followed by the full size holes. And I’d touch up both holes with a little primer and paint so they don’t become a source of rust. Others here will have better ideas. Listen to them! ?

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

 

[02Les]

The pic below is your car when it was for sale in WA in Nov 2020. It would appear to have had a rear plate mounting at that time.

 

Check on the inside of the trunk to see if you can see evidence of where the holes were.

 

[02Les]

OK, found more pics for you (when it was for sale in GA Apr 2020 .......... it appears the two lower screws held the plate through the rear panel wall.

 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/iTZqTUZ4SNZWhoCj6

 

[cjois]

4 hours ago, Conserv said:

That’s my point. The car has obviously been painted recently. Either (a.) the original holes were filled, or (b.) a new rear panel was installed and the panel was not drilled for the license plate. Neither of these possibilities is shocking or unheard of.

 

If this was done by a dealer or repair shop, the car could have been driven with dealer or repair tags simply hanging from the trunk lid. I’m guessing you don’t have any pre-sale (pre-paint) photos of the car showing a rear license plate in place?

 

New Holes

The spacing of the two new holes is dictated by the spacing of standard license plate holes. The pair of holes will be centered on the rear panel, or at least with respect to the trunk release.

 

The diameter of the two new holes is dictated by the size of the machine screws you’ll use to affix the plate — allow a little wiggle room in the diameter.

 

So only the height of the two new holes is at issue. My ‘73 is in another state, but someone here can provide the distance down from the aluminum trim molding, or up from the raised shadow line. The top half of the plate, unfastened, rests on the aluminum trim molding. On the bad photo below, the only one I have of my ‘73 without a plate, there are shadow (wear?) lines on the molding where the license plate has rested for years. Some owners place insulation tape or equivalent on the reverse of the plate to provide a cushion between plate and molding.

 

I’d tape up the area to be drilled and gently dimple the sheet metal with a center punch or screw, to avoid drill bit slippage. I’d also probably drill small holes, followed by the full size holes. And I’d touch up both holes with a little primer and paint so they don’t become a source of rust. Others here will have better ideas. Listen to them! ?

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

 

Thanks much for the detailed writeup Steve. 

[cjois]

3 hours ago, 02Les said:

The pic below is your car when it was for sale in WA in Nov 2020. It would appear to have had a rear plate mounting at that time.

 

Check on the inside of the trunk to see if you can see evidence of where the holes were.

 

Wow... I will look for the two holes from prior install. I am curious, how did you know its the same car? ?

[cjois]

3 hours ago, 02Les said:

OK, found more pics for you (when it was for sale in GA Apr 2020 .......... it appears the two lower screws held the plate through the rear panel wall.

 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/iTZqTUZ4SNZWhoCj6

 

I am so happy to see this pictures. ?

yes, its the same car now that i see the interior. So happy to see these pictures. 

Did you own it? 

I asked the dealership so much to tell me if the prior owners had any documentation i could preserve with teh car. But they said they had reached out and hadn't heard back. After asking a few times i let go not wanting to bother them more. 

I see that a Donnie Williams owned this car back in 2008 (as found on this forum). But i couldnt find any more about its history beyond that. 

 

Should i be concerned that the car was for sale in April 2020, then again in Nov 2020 and then again for sale in April 2021? 

 

 

[02Les]

8 minutes ago, cjois said:

Wow... I will look for the two holes from prior install. I am curious, how did you know its the same car? ?

  The Chassis number (VIN)

[m42002]

Les is “the man” with vehicles sold info on our little machines. I have heard he spends up tp 40 hours a day gathering intel?

[02Les]

6 minutes ago, cjois said:

I am so happy to see this pictures. ?

yes, its the same car now that i see the interior. So happy to see these pictures. 

Did you own it? 

I asked the dealership so much to tell me if the prior owners had any documentation i could preserve with teh car. But they said they had reached out and hadn't heard back. After asking a few times i let go not wanting to bother them more. 

I see that a Donnie Williams owned this car back in 2008 (as found on this forum). But i couldnt find any more about its history beyond that. 

 

Should i be concerned that the car was for sale in April 2020, then again in Nov 2020 and then again for sale in April 2021? 

 

 

Send me a PM with your email, and i'll send everything I have on your car (pics/info). It has certainly travelled.....NY-PA-AZ-GA-WA-CO-& wherever you are located.

[02Les]

4 minutes ago, m42002 said:

Les is “the man” with vehicles sold info on our little machines. I have heard he spends up tp 40 hours a day gathering intel?

Hehe. Just like the installation programs I did for our Mills for the Chinese. 36 hr/day, 12 days/wk to install in their time requirements.

[cjois]

8 minutes ago, m42002 said:

Les is “the man” with vehicles sold info on our little machines. I have heard he spends up tp 40 hours a day gathering intel?

?

[cjois]

6 minutes ago, 02Les said:

Send me a PM with your email, and i'll send everything I have on your car (pics/info). It has certainly travelled.....NY-PA-AZ-GA-WA-CO-& wherever you are located.

I spent all of my non-work hours researching everything i could. I could only trace the Scranton, PA location. I wrote to the individual and didnt get any response. 

I will send you a PM now. Really interested to know its history. 

I owe them all a thank you for keeping it in the shape it is in. For its age, it drives really well. 

[Steve2002a73]

On 6/15/2021 at 9:33 AM, coloincaalpine RIP 2021 said:

If you're looking for a rear plate frame, give me a shout, I have lots of them.

Can you please post a pic of what you have or send to me? I'm looking for something that doesn't leave the lic plate rubbing against the waist trim.  Thanks!

[Steve2002a73]

1 minute ago, Steve2002a73 said:

Can you please post a pic of what you have or send to me? I'm looking for something that doesn't leave the lic plate rubbing against the waist trim.  Thanks!

I meant the trim between the taillights on a '73 ...

[JohnS]

I used the Mercedes license plate bracket on my 73tii.  It works great.  Here's a link to the information that another FAQer posted about it a long time ago. Mercedes part #1078170111.

 

 

License Plate Bracket 1078170111 - GENUINE MERCEDES

WWW.RMEUROPEAN.COM

 

 

 

Edited September 13, 2023 by JohnS