Removing Front Number Plate Plinth

[GAZA62]

Anyone tell me what tool i need to remove the fixings that hold the Plinth on ?

Cheers

GAZ

 

[Herminator]

I'd imagine it's a specialist tool called a screwdriver
Atleast I'm pretty sure thats how mines held on :|

 

[GAZA62]

I'd imagine it's a specialist tool called a screwdriver
Atleast I'm pretty sure thats how mines held on :|

Wish it was but no never seen these things before hope they are not some sort of rivet

 

[csmith319]

I was thinking of painting this body colour... my wife's 3 series has a similar plinth but its painted body colour and fits in better.

Maybe not worth the effort though?

 

[Herminator]

I knew I was setting myself up to be wrong :headbang:
This page shows the parts normally used.

http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E85/Roadster/Europe/Z4_3.0i-M54/RHD/N/2004/april/browse/vehicle_trim/trim_panel_bumper_front/

 

[GAZA62]

I was thinking of painting this body colour... my wife's 3 series has a similar plinth but its painted body colour and fits in better.

Maybe not worth the effort though?

Was thinking about this myself gonna respray mine satin black as its looking a little tired but may buy another and get it sprayed to match the body colour

 

[cj10jeeper]

Oh - Let's assume they are not simple self tappers then I think you might have to remove th ebumper cover to grip the back of the rivets or bolts used to fix the plinth to the bumper cover.

 

[Mikey]

Oh - Let's assume they are not simple self tappers then I think you might have to remove th ebumper cover to grip the back of the rivets or bolts used to fix the plinth to the bumper cover.

I removed my number plate plinth with ease, it was rivited on and required a drill and drill bits to remove it. Don't have to be a DIY expert for this but some of the rivits did move when attempting to drill them out and took a little more effort to remove them. Looks better without it in my opinion!

 

[GAZA62]

Oh - Let's assume they are not simple self tappers then I think you might have to remove th ebumper cover to grip the back of the rivets or bolts used to fix the plinth to the bumper cover.

Thats sadly what i think they are can feel the back of them :x maybe its masking tape and lots of news paper and spray the plinth in place

 

[cj10jeeper]

Well if all you are doing is spraying the plinth then I see no reason why you cannot flex it away from the bumper enough to mask just under the edges. It's only made of some sort of ABS plastic.

Are you colour coding it?

 

[sixspeed]

They are a type of rivet. Specialist tool we used, was a drill...

 

[cj10jeeper]

They are a type of rivet. Specialist tool we used, was a drill...

Ha ha - you're right. I've had 3 different front ends on mine since I got the car and cannot even recall what the oem fittting was. If it's just pop rivets then of course an bit of ingenuity with a drill and gripping them if they spin and they're off

 

[GAZA62]

What did you use to re attach the plinth ?

Thought about a self tapper

CJ not colour coding this one just satin black but it is a mod i will be trying see what it looks like

 

[cj10jeeper]

What did you use to re attach the plinth ?

Thought about a self tapper

CJ not colour coding this one just satin black but it is a mod i will be trying see what it looks like

Well mine is a very different animal as it has a narrowed plinth, however I just used 2 self tappers into the bumper cover. If you keep to the original position there is just a big block of polystyrene behind it, so depth of drill hole and screw is not an issue. If putting in standard place I'd just use alloy pop rivets again

 

[Mikey]

What did you use to re attach the plinth ?

Thought about a self tapper

CJ not colour coding this one just satin black but it is a mod i will be trying see what it looks like

Halfords do some pretty good plastic trim fasteners which I've used to secure the front and rear bumper and would be more than strong enough to fix the plinth. Besides, with these it would be easier for removal in the future for what ever reason.

 

[GAZA62]

What did you use to re attach the plinth ?

Thought about a self tapper

CJ not colour coding this one just satin black but it is a mod i will be trying see what it looks like

Halfords do some pretty good plastic trim fasteners which I've used to secure the front and rear bumper and would be more than strong enough to fix the plinth. Besides, with these it would be easier for removal in the future for what ever reason.

Cheers Mickey will have a look at them as i will be taking it off again for colour coding

 

[Undiez]

Hey guys, I know this is a pretty old thread but I'm thinking of removing the plinth to replace my number plate with a cut down vinyl one.

I reckon it's held on with rivets.

If I drill the heads off, won't the other end of them rattle around inside?

I wondered if anyone had done this and if that was a problem?

thanks.

Undiez...

 

[Beetlegav]

No the other end will fall out the back. There so tiny your not going to hear them anyway. Simple task to remove

 

[Mark-Z4]

You will need a drill to get that front plate holder off as its riveted on. Will come off easy.

 

[cj10jeeper]

Hey guys, I know this is a pretty old thread but I'm thinking of removing the plinth to replace my number plate with a cut down vinyl one.

I reckon it's held on with rivets.

If I drill the heads off, won't the other end of them rattle around inside?

I wondered if anyone had done this and if that was a problem?

thanks.

Undiez...

Sure you can drill them out, but expect one or more to spin and need the bumper cover removing to grip the back. Those that do come clean will either drop out onto the lower cover or remain trapped between bumper cover and the polystyrene block it's mounted against.

The rivet holes will leave a bump in the bumper cover that needs flatting if not to be covered with a new plate.

Just one point that stick on plates are illegal. I think a few 60's cars are ok.