License plates stolen! Need help with rear filler panel

[sjh500]

I have an 02 525 wagon and my license plates were stolen while I was at the gym (big problem in Seattle now), so now the rear filler panel is gone. Is there a rear license plate mount for the wagons where I don't have to have a rear filler panel? I have been searching the threads and I found one where the guy cut the filler panel down, but I am looking for a mount without having to use any portion of the filler panel (or have to go find or buy one). All I can find are generic rear license plate mounts and by the measurements listed, it won't fit.

Thanks for the help.

[CPHES]

To skip the rear filler - look at the mount for an r50 / r53 Mini Cooper. It is plastic, and should mount with some imagination. Good luck

[sjh500]

CPHES thanks I'll check the Mini plates.

[Twistytee]

I took my filler panel off as it was flexing and taking paint off the tailgate at the corners. Replaced it with this one off eBay which works pretty well.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/114115664294

[sjh500]

Thanks Twistytee I saw those on Ebay but weren't sure if they'd fit as they seemed generic. I will order it. Thanks

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

Actually, they pretty much look just like OEM BMW tag brackets. The nuts encased in the bracket are brass, have a 5mm thread, the screws from BMW are a different metal, they like to weld themselves on to the brass, when comes the time you pull the tags off, the screws twist those brass nuts loose in the plastic. Make sure you use some anti seize. The tail gates look so much better without that US spec filler anyway, toss it out.

[BimmerBreaker]

I'd even say to take a file and sharpen the edge of the new plate you get, so if someone tries to grab it off the car, they'll cut their hand... a little creative anti-theft

[sjh500]

BimmerBreaker it definitely pissed me off enough to do that!

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

Hell, wipe some dogsh!t on the sharpened edges, that way they poison themselves at the same time.