Best number plate / plate holder style

[iBoost]

That looks great Steve. I've been thinking of getting the Euro plates instead perhaps.

I've got my car ordered to come with the premium slim line plates. Does anyone know what the cost at the RTA would be to swap these for Euro plates once they are on the car? Neither would be personalised ones. I'm guessing it would be the normal $400 fee?

If that is the case then I guess I better make my mind up before the car arrives.

[GTICam]

Here's what I did with my car.

The black plastic front number plate holder attaches to the bumper with 4 plastic grommets - see pic below. These grommets have a centre pin (also plastic) which holds them in the splayed position when fitted to the bumper. To remove the grommets, you need to push the centre pin out with a small screwdriver or punch. The pin will drop onto the undertray behind the lower edge of the front spoiler/grille. I couldn't retrieve the pins without removing the bumper, and I think they'll probably end up falling off the back of the undertray as I drive along - the same as small stones that pass through the grille.


It's worth noting too that I did all this when my car was a couple of days old. I think the edge of the plastic number plate holder would mark the paint on the bumper fairly quickly.


Once the pins are pushed out, the plastic number plate holder pulls off.
I then pushed the grommets back in to fill the holes. They snap in without the centre pin and should be ok as they aren't holding anything to the bumper now.

I aligned my number plate frame to cover the lower grommets/holes previously left by the holder. I put masking tape on the bumper roughly where the screw holes in the number plate were going to be, then held the plate in place and marked the hole locations with a pen. After checking the marked positions were level and equal distance from the centre, I drilled them with a 3/32"drill bit.

I used the self tapping screws (one in each top corner) that came with my number plate cover. The are about 25mm long. Be careful not to drill too deep or use screws too long as the metal structure of the bumper is about 30mm behind the plastic. Don't use too much torque to tighten the screws as the plastic of the bumper is pretty soft.

The number plate doesn't sit quite flat (because the bumper isn't flat), but it's not too bad. One day I might make up a small spacer/bracket to go between the number plate and bumper, but for now it's ok.

Remember, once you push the pins out, you are committed to doing this (or pulling the bumper or undertray off to retrieve the pins). Also, when you drill the holes in the bumper, they are above the original plastic holder - so there's no going back after that....

Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Cam.

[Corey_R]

Thanks mate! It's definitely the way to go!
Btw, two rubber washers should be enough to go inbetween the numberplate and the bumper, when you're putting the self tapping screws in, to make the numberplate sit flatter. That's what I had on my MK5 which came without this numberplate holder.

[Redman]

Hehehe. Fair enough.

I can't wait to see the Lakin plate cover installed on a vehicle! Post some pics when you get the car Redman

Yep - will do. I'll take some happy snaps along the way so everyone can see what they are about.
Looking at the first few weeks of May....The ship arrives in Port Kembla on the 29th April

[Christopher]

Thanks for th detailed description GTICam. Very user friendly.

[Corey_R]

I was thinking about this. You could probably get some model car paint and just spray those buttons in the colour of the car. (or use the touchup paint provided if it isn't a pen and if you have a spray gun). That way they'd just look like two parking sensors from anything more than 2 metres away! hehe

[hcvo1]

I was thinking about this. You could probably get some model car paint and just spray those buttons in the colour of the car. (or use the touchup paint provided if it isn't a pen and if you have a spray gun). That way they'd just look like two parking sensors from anything more than 2 metres away! hehe

Excellent idea!

[MurphyTheElf]

I just replaced my standard WA plates with Euro's - looks much better. However, when I removed the rear plates, which had a dealer plate surround, it was obvious the paintwork had been damaged by the plastic clips that hold the plate surround on. Maybe because the dealer only installed screws at the top instead of all four corners, the bottom of the holder has vibrated and scratched the bejesus out of the paint in 3 spots. And because the Euro plate is shorter (it's a full size Euro, too) the 3 marks are visible - from at least 10 metres away, too. They are about the size of half a 5 cent piece, and are discoloured. I've emailed the salesman that fitted the plates to inform him of the problem and not sure what to expect. Should I except anything?

Either way, I suggest anyone with standard Australian plates may want to remove them and check for direct contact with the paintwork. If so, install some rubber washers between the plate and paintwork and ensure 4 screws are used to fully secure the plate.

[Corey_R]

I'm not sure what it's like in WA, but over this side of the country, numberplates are very rarely mounted with 4 screws. (actually, can't recall any of the many cars over the years in my family having 4 screws).

These days in NSW, the plates don't even come with any holes in them. It's up to the owner or dealer to drill the holes and mount them. I guess the RTA were just sick of the fact that car companies from different regions can't make up their mind where to place the holes, and also silly consumers with Japanese cars purchasing 'European plates' etc.

But you're right about putting some rubber washers. Put one on each screw between the plate and the bodywork. Everyone should do that. As for 4 screws, I'm not sure that's necessary. Just put some heavy duty doublesided tape along the lower edge of the numberplate (not even necessary to remove the cover strip from the 'paint side' of the tape), or other 'padding' tape, as long as it can handle water etc.

[Mk6 GTI]

That looks great Steve. I've been thinking of getting the Euro plates instead perhaps.

I've got my car ordered to come with the premium slim line plates. Does anyone know what the cost at the RTA would be to swap these for Euro plates once they are on the car? Neither would be personalised ones. I'm guessing it would be the normal $400 fee?

If that is the case then I guess I better make my mind up before the car arrives.

400?! I should hope not?? The normal black and white NSW plates are like $80!