Number plate plinth removal

[BMWZ4MC]

Has anyone removed the number plate plinth after years of driving the car with it in place? If so, what was the condition of the paint underneath and at the perimeter of the plinth?

I’d like to remove mine, but I’m concerned that 19 years and almost 100k miles of driving it with the plinth in place will mean that there’s an obvious difference in the paint immediately surrounding the plate once it’s fixed directly to the bumper.

I appreciate that my front plate won’t cover all the rivet holes, but they shouldn’t be too obvious on a dark-coloured car. Eventually, I’ll fill the rivet holes and respray the front of the car, but I don’t have time to do so at the moment and I want to improve this ugly mess:

 

[axelleveau]

I did this on mine. There is a noticeable indent and dullness around the frame. With a good clean and quick buff it blends a bit better but still the indent is there. There also is a difference in shine in the paint that has not been receiving stones and impacts. Luckily for me, my plate is pretty much full size so that "frame" is barely noticeable. I guess if you do have a much smaller plate like on your picture, then there will be a "frame in frame" effect.

 

[enuff_zed]

As an alternative interim solution, can you get something akin to a full sized numberplate (flexible plastic perhaps?) that fills the whole plinth. Spray it to match the bumper and stick your plate on top. It will hide all those unsightly holes at least.

 

[BMWZ4MC]

Thanks axel, that’s what I suspected. My bumper is fairly peppered with stone chips from track days, so it would look pretty odd with a smooth border around the plate.

Enuff, I think I’ll just bite the bullet and remove the plinth, fill the holes then respray the front end. I have some wallet-denting maintenance to undertake soon at 100k miles, as well as some modifications I’ve been promising myself for a while, so I’ll add this to the list!

 

[Ed Doe]

I've literally just done mine when I fitted my new personalised plate. Mine hides it better cause it's Carbon black but you can still see (in spite of a quick run over with some polish) it's a bit dull. My plate obscures the rivet holes so fortunately it's not the worst... As you can see from the pic it's fairly peppered with flies and stonechips anyway, and really needs sending for paint again...

 

[BMWZ4MC]

Thanks Ed. I suspect it will be more obvious on IL Blue. How did you remove the rivets - is it easy to drill them out? Perhaps I should remove mine and see how 19 years of stone chips compares with the factory-fresh paint under the plinth. Worst case, it’ll force my hand to repaint the front of the car!

 

[Ed Doe]

Thanks Ed. I suspect it will be more obvious on IL Blue. How did you remove the rivets - is it easy to drill them out? Perhaps I should remove mine and see how 19 years of stone chips compares with the factory-fresh paint under the plinth. Worst case, it’ll force my hand to repaint the front of the car!

No worries, Yeah might be a bit more obvious on yours.. :S

I'm pretty certain my front bumper has had paint before, and they must have removed the plinth for that, because it was only held on with the screws, not the rivets (the rivet holes were filled in too)...

Sorry not much help from me!!

 

[BMWZ4MC]

Not to worry! When the growing urge to create an unnecessary and entirely avoidable problem becomes irresistible, I’ll find some sharp drill bits and see what happens!

 

[axelleveau]

Not to worry! When the growing urge to create an unnecessary and entirely avoidable problem becomes irresistible, I’ll find some sharp drill bits and see what happens!

It has been a while for me but from memory yes, just have to drill them out. Best if you can collect the bits that will fall behind the grill or just take the bumper off for the operation.

 

[BMWZ4MC]

Thanks axel. I’d assumed they were screw holes in your picture - are they raised lips around the holes?