I will be installing my license plates this week. I plan on only putting on the rear for now. I have the plastic temporary holder that the dealer installed. Any recommendations on what I should buy to replace it? What prevents the plate from scatching the car? I have had this problem in the past.

 

What ever you use, I always stick those thick rubber furniture pads on the back of each corner. Inward enough not to be seen on the edge. When you tighten the screws you get a nice secure fit and no tag rattle. I've done this for years and never had one come off no matter how hot or how hard I rinse the tag.
rp

 

A great idea! Thank you! I don't know if it really matters on the holder as long as the darn dealer's name is off of it. I hate that! I'm going to look for one in powder black with nothing written on it.

 

OK I took off the dealer mounted license plate with associated cardboard dealer advertisement and I was horrified. Four bulging (extruding out of the surface of the car body) holes made by self tapping screws and bad nicks at each of the corners where the holder was tightened to excess. I know the holes will be covered but these nicks at the corners will now start rusting. I can't imagine a dealer doing this to an expensive car or any car for that matter. Am I overreacting?

 

It's plastic and therefore won't rust.

 

The material the plate is fastened to is metal!

 

To clarify the plate holder was screwed in so tightly that it caused nicks at all four corners in the car body.

 

That part of my car is a composite. Everything below the hatch door that you can see is not metal.

So do a good touch-up and don't worry. Also buy one of the wider tag frames. Those pads I told you about will not let this happen again.

Nobody takes care of your car like you do.

RP

 

You can also use the soft part of a self adhesive velcro strip.

 

Thank you! I just have never seen someone putting large sheet metal screws into a plastic part. I will get some touch up paint and hit the four corners. The rubber will prevent this from happening again.

 

That's what I used to keep the hatch stops from taking the paint off from around the inner hatch opening. It also seemed to take care of that creaking sound that came from the rear driver's side area.
RP

 

What did everyone do about the 3/4 inch hole behind the license plate? I would like to put a rubber plug there if I could find one the right size. I would think water would find a way in if it was left open.

 

It's my understanding that the rear license plates are installed by the dealers. Someone else here was complaining that his was installed crooked. Mine was only screwed in with two screws at the top. So, I don't know what 3/4" hole you are talking about. It must have been done by the dealer. Maybe someone else here has an idea for a patch.

 

There is a 3/4 inch diameter hole which appears to be an access port to a alan screw. This is directly behind where my license plate goes. I'd like to hear what other owners have done with this.

 

What is what you used used to keep the hatch stops from taking the paint off from around the inner hatch opening? I am presently having this problem.

 

I went with a very basic thin-line chrome border that goes on the plate and a clear cover over it. I found some funky knock-off screw covers that reminded me of my E-Type so I put them on for fun.


Click for more

 

What is that decal for next to your plate?

 

That's related to a GPS activity on geocaching.com using billion dollar defense satellite technology to find tupperware in the woods...

If you are involved with Geocaching and happen to find my car, you can enter the number on the sticker to "discover" it like any other travel bug (registered items that have movement tracked on the website)

Here's the page for the car (click)

 

I use a 1/2" thick piece of styrofoam that's cut a little smaller than the size of the license plate. I used double sided tape to stick it on the back of the plate.
The styrofoam doesn't hold water when you wash your car, and it gives the license plate a nice cushion to tighten the plate against. Plus it gives the license plate a safe "buffer" zone to keep the plate from making contact with the painted service.