I just bought my Z4, 11 Sep 09, I live in Virginia which requires a front license plate. The only plate holder offered by the dealer is one that requires holes to be drilled into the front bumper :x I would like to know if anyone knows where I could find a license plate holder that clips onto the bumper? By the way this is my first BMW, the Z4 is by far the best sports car I have ever owned.
US Front License Plate Holder
- Thread starter rainbows6
- Start date
rainbows6, welcome to the forum... 
There were a few options for the previous versions of the Z4. Not sure about the 2009. One possible options might be using the tow hook socket. See this link...
http://www.gominigo.com/NHLPB-BMW.html
There were a few options for the previous versions of the Z4. Not sure about the 2009. One possible options might be using the tow hook socket. See this link...
http://www.gominigo.com/NHLPB-BMW.html
Run without it... I do. Its a risk I know, but its only like an $80(don't quote me) fine, and its no points. I wouldn't worry until you get caught at least twice. A lot depends on the car you drive and what you're doing. A ricer rocket with a pipe and a young kid driving with his hat on sideways will attract more attention then a middle aged man/woman driving a more prestigious car... ie BMW.
VA cops are tough though! I used a pair of zip ties, passed inspection and ripped it off, plate has been in my trunk ever since.
VA cops are tough though! I used a pair of zip ties, passed inspection and ripped it off, plate has been in my trunk ever since.
A timely posting, I also just got my new Z4 about a week ago.
Been wondering about a way to mount the front plate too. Personally I would just go with Kaide's suggestion of just not mounting it at all. But my fiancee spent 10 minutes talking about we should mount the front plate. so I think I might try the tow hook method.
--ricardo
Been wondering about a way to mount the front plate too. Personally I would just go with Kaide's suggestion of just not mounting it at all. But my fiancee spent 10 minutes talking about we should mount the front plate. so I think I might try the tow hook method.
--ricardo
I have a Jeep Wrangler and have fitted a front plate using 3M VHB (Very High Bond) tape to avoid drilling the front bumper. The vehicle is used extensively off road and the plate has stayed in place. You could fit the BMW OEM plate holder in the same way which would avoid drilling the bumper and certainly avoid $80 fines.
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BT33&mospid=47798&btnr=51_4848&hg=51&fg=15
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BT33&mospid=47798&btnr=51_4848&hg=51&fg=15
Shipkiller
Lifer
The OEM plate holder (no. 5) mentioned by AlanJ DOES require to be drilled and screwed into the front bumper cover. I had to get a new one from the dealer which was about $35.00, last year.
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=11617
Well thanks for all the suggestions. My "client advisor" discussed this issue with me, he suggested not to put the plate on, since the dealership does the safety inspections that shouldn't be an issue. I also liked the 3M VHB (Very High Bond) tape idea, how do you take it off without damaging the paint? I'm glad this was a timely question. Oh by the way, the 09 Z4 is the best car I have ever owned, looks and fun drive!
LOL, I do hate VA's front plate requirement. Sadly, it was too late for mine and I have thought of ordering a new front bumper just to get a pristine snout! But I figure at soooooome point I'll get tagged by someone who doesn't know how to parallel park, and when I have the bumper fixed I'll have the plate deleted.
In the meantime, I ordered plate frames from Bimmean (body color matched). Their design does a better job than most of visually reducing the size of the plate. But still nowhere near as nice as a blemish-free front end.
In the meantime, I ordered plate frames from Bimmean (body color matched). Their design does a better job than most of visually reducing the size of the plate. But still nowhere near as nice as a blemish-free front end.
If you use tape to secure the front plate, make sure it is the thicker double sided tape with foam in the middle and only use vertical strips with a 2 inch gap between the tape stripes.
The foam can be cut with a long piece of Dental Floss, just run it down the inside of the plate along the vertical piece of tape, then pull it out and cross over the ends to form a loop around one piece of tape and pull it back and forth, this will cut the tape in half, then move onto the next strip. The Dental Floss can be taped to a plastic wire wrap to push it behind the plate
Once the plate is off warm up the reside with a hair dryer and then place a cloth soaked in "Goo Gone" [ http://www.magicamerican.com/googone/product/fb8f8f09-9960-4dd9-a87d-fa1553e21d21.aspx ], let it set for 15-20 minutes and then you should be able to peal off the tape residue. You may have to do this morn than once, but haven't found anything else that works this well. Used it on several bumper stickers and it never hurt the paint, but would test someplace invisible first just to make sure there is no interaction with the Water Based paint.
The link is only so you can see a picture of the product I have used
The foam can be cut with a long piece of Dental Floss, just run it down the inside of the plate along the vertical piece of tape, then pull it out and cross over the ends to form a loop around one piece of tape and pull it back and forth, this will cut the tape in half, then move onto the next strip. The Dental Floss can be taped to a plastic wire wrap to push it behind the plate
Once the plate is off warm up the reside with a hair dryer and then place a cloth soaked in "Goo Gone" [ http://www.magicamerican.com/googone/product/fb8f8f09-9960-4dd9-a87d-fa1553e21d21.aspx ], let it set for 15-20 minutes and then you should be able to peal off the tape residue. You may have to do this morn than once, but haven't found anything else that works this well. Used it on several bumper stickers and it never hurt the paint, but would test someplace invisible first just to make sure there is no interaction with the Water Based paint.
The link is only so you can see a picture of the product I have used