Living here in Texas state law sez ya gotta have a front license plate or risk a $200.00 fine. I didn't want to drill no stinkin' holes in my bumper so today I came up with a way to mount a front license plate on our Crossfires' without using fasteners.

First thing is get the OEM front license plate holder part number 0YA51XS9AA


Then get these Frog Feet Suction cups off Amazon. These cups have some sticky reusable polymer on the edge and hold really well. Plus the diameter is just right without protruding past the edges of the holder.


Once you have the cups remove the hooks off of two of them with some needle nosed pliers.

Drill two 1/2" holes in the recessed areas on the license plate holder. A Unibit works great for this.

Push the suction cups into the hole from the back. It's a very tight fit but a little silicone spray makes it easier.

Drill the 4 holes into the holder to mount the plate and install that.

Clean any wax, bugs etc off the front of the bumper.

When you go to stick the holder on make sure the little pull tabs are facing towards the sides. I found that if you hold them out while pushing the center it lays flatter.

Make sure the bottom edge of the suction cup is not hanging below the lower character line of the bumper or it won't stick for long.

The top of the holder should be about a 1/4 above the top character line.

For safety run two 11" zip ties through the plate and the lower grill

Stand back, drink a beer and enjoy your new license plate holder.

 

As long as it hold this looks like the cleanest way I have ever seen posted to mount our front plate and holder without and hardware screwed in anywhere

 

Nice!

I was speaking to Franc about this at the Dragon earlier this month. I saw this on an ad:

No Holes License Plate Bracket - F10 5 Series 2011+. F07 5 Series GT - Turner Motorsport

$80 is a bit...pricy. Even for a BMW-targeted part. BUT, anyone with skills should be able to make one for themselves for ~ $20.

It uses the recovery hook for the mount. You just have to come up with a hook/screw to attach it. Go from there.
A small u-bolt to attach and build from there.

Just a thought.

 

Thanks,

These Frogs Feet cups really do stick. I decided to try them after reading the reviews on Amazon. And to make sure the cups stuck to the bumper I slid a butter knife behind the holder and pressed down on the cups. So far the license plate is holding in place just fine.

 

WOW! I LIKE IT! I've had all the parts I need to put a RED DOG plate on the front of my black rescue roadster but I didn't want to drill holes into the front bumper. THANKS for the solution. I'm on it!

 

Really great idea. But kinda risky of loss IMO. You may want to refasten it once in a while.

My mother uses the suction cup hand rails in her shower. About every two months they get loose.

If I have to go with a front plate, I think a bracket could be fabricated to attach to one of the lower grilles.

James

 

You should try the Frog Feet, the inventor had the same problem in his bathroom and that's how he came up with the idea.

FROG's FEET

I imagine a zip tie could be added easily enough for extra security. Put two small holes centered along the bottom front of the holder an inch or so apart and wrap the zip tie(s) through it and around the center part of the valance.

Before this idea I had the plate mounted using long molly bolts going through the lower grill. State law in Texas says it has to be centered and 12" off the ground so there's only one place to put it. Didn't look so great because of the shape of the bumper and since you can only use the bottom holes in the plate it leaned forward.

 

Maybe using the "Command Strips" product, and a safety tether. I have had success, even on wood, with them. I would be afraid of the plate coming off and running over it on the highway, that could cause SEVERE damage to you or another person getting hit by a license plate at over 50mph.

 

I ran two zip ties through the existing holes in the license plate. If both cups were to fail this should keep it safely attached to the car. Plus slow down anyone that might try and steal it.

 

I guess my 93 Caravan was illegal in Texas. That is the factory location of the tag.

 

There was a court ruling in Texas that found the plates had to be mounted "where the car begins, i.e. on the foremost area of the vehicle". TAWIN SPENCE v. THE STATE OF TEXAS | FindLaw

And it has to be 12" from the ground in Texas.
(1) must display two license plates, one at the exterior front and one at the exterior rear of the vehicle that are securely fastened at the exterior front and rear of the vehicle in a horizontal position of not less than 12 inches from the ground, measuring from the bottom, except that a vehicle described by Transportation Code, §621.2061 may place the rear plate so that it is clearly visible;
Would yours pass in Texas? I'm not sure after reading that court ruling. One thing for sure is the license plate laws in Texas are confusing a best. I'd rather not give any reason to get pulled over if I can.

Since the Crossfire OEM holder is designed for the center of the bumper that's where I put mine.

 

Just an update on the license plate mounting,
It's been over a month and several hundred miles and it hasn't moved one bit.

 

I have just noticed this post, up here the licence plate frames are attached by the dealer and the frames are in the trunk on delivery to them. I always assumed that this allowed the cars in those jurisdictions that did not require a front plate to be not marred by screw holes.
I have had cars where the plate was not square or centered.

 

Yeah, in Pennsylvania, front plates are not required. I hate getting a car that has been drilled for front plate and has a cheap factory plastic mount riveted to the front bumper cover. Luckily, my Crossfire is intact, my 2013 SRX had one, I removed it and got the little plastic trim plugs, and touch up painted them to cover the holes.
My 1967 El Camino has plate holes and a flat spot on the front chrome bumper, so I mounted a 3rd party plate there.
I liked the 90s Pontiacs (I think) with the removable center trim for a plate.

 

Update: my front plate hasn't budged since I put this on almost 6 months ago

 

That's how I did it.


Long allthread rods, some toggle nuts washers and standard nuts. Push the toggles thru the grill tighten, the washers down, add the plate and yer off.


All from the local hardware at less than five bucks.