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Thread: Rear License Plate Mounting

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    NNJ/NYC
    Posts
    1,648
    My Cars
    1997 528i/5, 1997 528i/5

    Rear License Plate Mounting

    Hi All,

    I am helping my mother with her newly acquired Electric Red 525iT (yes, it is a 5 speed). She lives in PA and the car will see some winter use. I was going to pull the rear plate filler panel and just use a bracket to attach the plate so the filler won't hold the salt in. Does the newer BMW E60/E90 plate holder work? I will need to get some plugs for the EU plate holes as well so i will start searching RealOEM or just re-use the filler plate plugs/grommets.

    I am curious on everyone's thoughts.

    Thanks!
    Wade

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    NNJ/NYC
    Posts
    1,648
    My Cars
    1997 528i/5, 1997 528i/5
    No one...?
    Wade

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    Tempe, AZ
    Posts
    7,657
    My Cars
    1995 525i/5
    I did the filler plate delete on my 540it— what I did was cut the plate filler all around so it just had enough surface area to mount the plate. With the plate mounted, it's invisible and looks like a Euro plate setup but still uses the normal US mounting bolts. It's a pretty clever little hack.

    1995 525i 5-speed - Thread

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    NNJ/NYC
    Posts
    1,648
    My Cars
    1997 528i/5, 1997 528i/5
    Thanks!! That is what I was looking for. I might pickup another filler panel and do that then. The PA salt can be nasty so I would like to give the car a fighting chance.
    Wade

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    VA
    Posts
    18,137
    My Cars
    E63AMG/Z31/Tacoma/F31
    That's what I did with my old touring as well.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    saratoga ca
    Posts
    114
    My Cars
    2001 525i Touring
    wow, that is an extremely cool mod.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    NNJ/NYC
    Posts
    1,648
    My Cars
    1997 528i/5, 1997 528i/5
    Quick update...

    I grabbed the E46/E90/E60 rear plate bracket for US plates. It works with the holes in the grommets that keep the filler panel in place. Remove the filler panel, put the grommets back in and then screw in the bracket (it only goes in one way, FYI). I mounted the US plate and was all set.

    The added bonus here is that it puts the plastic bracket between the painted edge of the plate cutout on the tailgate and the back of the plate. Hopefully this will cut down on damage to the paint in that area.

    Lastly, a Euro plate can be screwed in behind the US plate on the bracket as not to touch the paint but add some interest. Just throwing this into the mix since it uses all OEM parts.

    IMG_4704.jpg
    Wade

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2017
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    12
    My Cars
    2003 540iT M Sport
    Any tricks / tips to remove the filler plate?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

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