Front number plate related thread

D

dan_i

Member
 Lincs
I found this and made me think about doing something about the front number plate, as it looks awesome imo.

attachment.jpg

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Never seen a Merlot on CSLs, looks great imo, with the facelift heaflights too.

So, are there holes behind the number plate mount? (sorry if its been asked before), and also, has anyone gone with a small number plate, or a stick on one, or moved it? If so, pics!
 
There are a fair few threads on this- i ran mine recently withoutone but then chickened out
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=14154
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=14018
Running without:
DSC01509.jpg


there are a fair few holes in the bumper tho
 
The merlot Zed looks good :thumbsup:

I chopped my plate carrier down taking a few inches out the centre to match the 5 digit plate. Had the bumper holes fixed properly when I resprayed and converted to a facelift.

Good enough compromise for me and fully legal:
DSC03582.jpg
 
I think that merlot zed might be the nicest example of a z4 ive ever seen :o
Those wheels <3
 
There was a black roadster with alpina rims on pistonheads for sale only yesterday I think that had the plate moved to the nearside, bit didnt think it looked right IMO.

Removing would be good, or an electronic mount so you can hide at press of button, easily done but not quite legal
 
Bout to have mine painted to leave it off for good. As per the other thread, thinking something magnetic might be the way forward.
P1000324.jpg
 
Yes had also thought about magnets, would need to be strong though so not sure how well they would work.

And before anybody says anything yes bumper is plastic but mount the magnet behind the bumper and one behind the number plate.
 
Options options. The big problem is with the holes behind the bumper, without going to the cost of having them filled and sprayed I guess. Could always chop the holder down like CJ has done, but go with a 3/4 size plate. I hate our big ugly plates, especially yellow ones, no need!!

The car in the orginal pics makes me want some CSL's! lol
 
I thought it was illegal to chop the plates down now. In fact i'm 99% sure it is. Even if you have the number A1, it still has to be displayed on a full size plate. I have a 5 character plate and have been meaning to chop them but can't seem to find anyone that can supply smaller plates anymore.

Does anyone know where to get them?

Also, it's always been quite tough to work out what to do with the front, i reckon CJ has the right idea and i might follow suit with a chop from the middle of the plate holder. It's colour coded on mine and of course there's the holes but i think the nose could use a repaint anyway so might go down this path.

Merlot car looks awesome. Old colour which perhaps should have remained.
 
outrun said:
I thought it was illegal to chop the plates down now. In fact i'm 99% sure it is. Even if you have the number A1, it still has to be displayed on a full size plate. I have a 5 character plate and have been meaning to chop them but can't seem to find anyone that can supply smaller plates anymore.

Does anyone know where to get them?

Also, it's always been quite tough to work out what to do with the front, i reckon CJ has the right idea and i might follow suit with a chop from the middle of the plate holder. It's colour coded on mine and of course there's the holes but i think the nose could use a repaint anyway so might go down this path.

Merlot car looks awesome. Old colour which perhaps should have remained.
Click to expand...


Show me anything that substantiates the cut down plate comment.
I have read the MOT testers handbook and the DoT site still references the requirement for a certain sized border surrounding the letters.
If there is anything I'll be interested to read it.

Make you own cut down. Those on Ebay who sell them do that, then smooth the edges and corners. All mine are made that way.
 
I trimmed mine and when I had to produce it (on Embankment) to a copper he said it was undersize, yet it was made by Halfords so the spacing was ok. I questioned it and said the spacing was fine, but he said the overall plate was too small. It's about the same size as yours Phil.

He then said Halford were cowboys anyway as it didnt have the postcode / makers stamp on the bottom which it did, but it only reflects in a certain light.. so I think he was just taking an overall moral high ground.

Halford still sell "Medium" sized plates but only if you have a "1" in it or it's 5 or less characters.

If a plates tidy and mounted you'd never get grief anyway, but if it's in a copper's hand close up, maybe you would.
 
i have been thinking about getting a plate for some time, just 5 characters similar to Cj's.

However, if i cut the front plate holder down to match the smaller plate (again as Cj's) and do the same on the rear, is there any discreet fittings that i can use the plug the holes, other wise it means a fill and re-spray both ends of the car !

I originally thought the rear had been stuck on, but having just re-looked at the rear of the car, some doosh bag seems to have screwed it on...

thanks...
 
If I were doing it without respraying I'd fill the hole with filler or silicone and then touch up paint. Failing that small blanking plugs srayed to the correct colour. I'm sure in the past someone has reference a US site called something like bumper plugs (or maybe I was on a sex site late and night and misread)

Interesting that a copper stopped you Andy re the plate. They can be a bit pedantic and often wrong...lol
 
yes, I rember the same thing... or maybe I was on the same sex site as you... :?

I found the private plate "P30 DYM". now I wanted to change the spacing so it's "P30DY M"

Is that allowed?

P.S. the M is nothing to do with BMW M division, but my surname, which starts with M.
 
peddy said:
yes, I rember the same thing... or maybe I was on the same sex site as you... :?

I found the private plate "P30 DYM". now I wanted to change the spacing so it's "P30DY M"

Is that allowed?.
Click to expand...

No
 
Hi all
Well this is my fist post on here so a big hi to everyone, as I have been in the background doing some research into my next car which I finally got last week.

So I am now the proud owner of a 2007 montego blue z4 3.0 Coupe :D , I’ am just awaiting the registration docs to come back so I can transfer one of my number plates on to it, but in the mean time I was reading this tread and hopefully can give you some of my past experience of number plates and sizes.

There is nothing at all that states the length of a number plate and have this confirmed with numerous calls to the DOT and the Police, there is however the standard regulations as the size of the letters and also the spacing, so the overall number plate is determined buy how many letters you have on your registration, the one thing that’s is important for the number plate to be legel is that it has to have the originators ref number on the plate so buy cutting off the access around a standard number plate length would normally make the plate illegal!

The way I got around this was to find a number plate manufacture that would place the reference number to my desired position on the plate along with any border I chose, so when I trimmed the number plate to fit the carrier it would still be legal.

I use a company in Leeds called “Paul turner graphics” who charge a bit more but will give you exactly what you need whilst staying legal, I have attached a picture of one of my plates on my last car which was cut down to fit the number plate carrier behind I hope this might be of help.

1.jpg
 
muppet said:
peddy said:
yes, I rember the same thing... or maybe I was on the same sex site as you... :?

I found the private plate "P30 DYM". now I wanted to change the spacing so it's "P30DY M"

Is that allowed?.
Click to expand...

No
Click to expand...

so what spacing is allowed?
 
The law states that,
You must not alter, rearrange or misrepresent the letters or numbers
Characters must not be moved from one group to the other
(e.g. A242 ABC must not be displayed as A242A BC).

To simply explain the regulations, looking at the plate below:-
The 'Characters' are the individual letters and numbers. The 'Space between characters' refers to the spaces within a group of characters together, in this case A555 is one group and WOW is another group. The 'Space between groups' is thus the legal required space between those 2 groups of characters (shown as 33mm in the example)

NumberPlateDimensions.gif


Number Plates Fitted After 1st September 2001
Number plates fitted after 1 September 2001 must display characters that meet the dimensions shown below.


Characters Group 1
Height 79mm
Width (except Number 1 or letter I) 50mm
Stroke 14mm
Space between characters 11mm
Space between groups 33mm
Top bottom and side margins (minimum) 11mm
Space between vertical lines 19mm
Number Plates Fitted Before 1st September 2001
Number plates fitted before 1 September 2001 must display characters that meet the dimensions shown in one of the two groups below


Characters Group 1 Group2
Height 89mm 79mm
Width (Except Number 1 or letter I) 64mm 57mm
Stroke 16mm 14mm
Space between characters 13mm 11mm
Space between groups 38mm 33mm
Side margins (minimum) 13mm 11mm
Space between vertical lines 19mm 19mm

Display Of Vehicle Registration Marks On Imported Vehicles
(which have a restricted space for a standard sized number plate)

Certain imported vehicles may be permitted to display number plates with smaller characters if the vehicle does not have European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval AND the vehicle's construction/design cannot accommodate standard size number plates
 
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