[Nikki]

Does anyone know if they drill the holes for the front plate in the prep center, or at the dealer?
I ask because my car is coming into port Oct 5th, and I haven't received word from my dealer yet. I just want to make sure they aren't going to drill holes at the prep center before he calls me.

[legalantz]

It's drilled in by the dealer I believe. I read somewhere in this forum about someone requesting his dealer to NOT install the plate, and so I made the same request and the dealer said "no problem." I'm picking up my car tomorrow and if the plate is on the car :mad: and the dealer blames the prep center, then I'll let you know.

[northerncalguy]

Originally Posted by legalantz

It's drilled in by the dealer I believe. I read somewhere in this forum about someone requesting his dealer to NOT install the plate, and so I made the same request and the dealer said "no problem." I'm picking up my car tomorrow and if the plate is on the car :mad: and the dealer blames the prep center, then I'll let you know.

Yep, I too requested that no holes be drilled on the front bumper -- the dealer said this is not a problem.

[NBRider88]

Without putting holes in the front bumper for the licence plate, do you just not plan on putting one? or just find another way to attach it? Just wondering because it thought it was required by law for them? , but if not, i think it looks a lot nicer with it not there...

[Nikki]

If there are holes in mine, I will demand a new bumper

[Nikki]

Originally Posted by NBRider88

Without putting holes in the front bumper for the licence plate, do you just not plan on putting one? or just find another way to attach it? Just wondering because it thought it was required by law for them? , but if not, i think it looks a lot nicer with it not there...

front plates aren't required in florida.

[northerncalguy]

The police won't be able to see that I don't have a front plate at 120mph :-).

j/k: California law says you need the front plate, but if you don't have one, its a simple fix it ticket for $10. I am going to see how long I can go without one cause our ugly license plates would totally ruin the front profile.

[legalantz]

Originally Posted by NBRider88

Without putting holes in the front bumper for the licence plate, do you just not plan on putting one? or just find another way to attach it? Just wondering because it thought it was required by law for them? , but if not, i think it looks a lot nicer with it not there...

It is required by law, but I think I'm going to test my luck a bit. Hopefully if I get a ticket, I can convince the officer that my dealer failed to put on the plate and show him the plate housing (or whatever it is called) and claim ignorance. If that doesn't work, I hope my dealer will be willing to install it at a later time. We'll see.

[mds82]

certain states are different - in CT i'm pretty sure that they are, but yet 1 out of ever 8 cars i see on the road dont have front plates. i dont plan on getting any holes in my BMW - no way !!!

[NBRider88]

Originally Posted by legalantz

It is required by law, but I think I'm going to test my luck a bit. Hopefully if I get a ticket, I can convince the officer that my dealer failed to put on the plate and show him the plate housing (or whatever it is called) and claim ignorance. If that doesn't work, I hope my dealer will be willing to install it at a later time. We'll see.

Haha ya, i plan on testing my luck to...i dont think they will have a problem with it since it is such a new car, but if they do, i think a 10$ ticket is worth the clean look of the missing plate

[lux.sh]

Nikki, I had huge stress cause of this issue, and I'll tell you what my dealer told me.

At first, they BSed me, saying how its pre-drilled from factory in GERMANY.
what the hell? so I asked members in E90post, and obviously, they said
thats not true. Then, I got fellow E90Post local member who bought same
car from same dealership, who asked for no-front plate and they granted it.
He said he e-mailed the salesman who he bought the vehicle from.

I did the same, E-mailed my salesman and told him not to put it on as
I know its done at the dealership. The salesman couldn't say anything and
said he'll tell service department not to drill it.

Notice he said "service department", so I would bet my money on the fact
that front bumper will be drilled at the dealership where you will pick up
your car from. I guess they put it on at the very last inspection at the service
department.

If you see those car-carrier trucks on the road carefully, none of the cars
on the truck usually have front plates on. Just blue/black tape for
paint protection.

[afocoryw20]

The dealer definetly is the one that drills the hole for the front bumper. My dealer called me this week and asked if I wanted the holes drilled(which I said HELL NO) I can't believe any dealers are being shady with a 40+ dollar car. Remember......we tell them what WE want

[Nikki]

Originally Posted by mds82

certain states are different - in CT i'm pretty sure that they are, but yet 1 out of ever 8 cars i see on the road dont have front plates. i dont plan on getting any holes in my BMW - no way !!!

You might want to watch out. I just moved to Fl from Ct and when I had my Integra two years ago and they first implemented that law there, they had bunch of cops lined up on the highway entrance, so once you got on, you were screwed. Luckily they were only giving out warnings to everyone though, but I put my plate on the next day.

[Nikki]

Originally Posted by lux.sh

Nikki, I had huge stress cause of this issue, and I'll tell you what my dealer told me.

Wow, that is really shady, I can't believe what scum some of these people are. What does he lose by telling the service department not to drill holes? The advertising of their dealer on the license plate frame?

[lux.sh]

exactly. All they have to do is say, "no front plate for XXXXX vehicle" to
service department. I guess they are lazy or something.

Eitherway, don't let the salesman or the dealership fool you.
its your car. Good luck!

[scottz5]

My SA put a sign on the front of my car so they wold not drill it.

[e90fanatic]

My sales rep said that for ED cars, the factory drills it when it's delivered, is it true? What can I doo???? I don't want the front plates!

[afocoryw20]

Originally Posted by e90fanatic

My sales rep said that for ED cars, the factory drills it when it's delivered, is it true? What can I doo???? I don't want the front plates!

Tell them if they do your gonna cancel your order......Then you'll see how fast they change their minds......Remember this is your car not the dealerships......

[afocoryw20]

Originally Posted by e90fanatic

My sales rep said that for ED cars, the factory drills it when it's delivered, is it true? What can I doo???? I don't want the front plates!

Ok......I called the dealership and this is the truth 100%.......He told me that any car you see on a BMW lot that has not been prep'd yet you will see the license plate covers either in the back seat or in the trunk. This goes for any BMW. They DO NOT come with and holes drilled into the front. He said that it is up to the customer if they want that.......Don't let them fool you.

[e90fanatic]

Originally Posted by afocoryw20

Ok......I called the dealership and this is the truth 100%.......He told me that any car you see on a BMW lot that has not been prep'd yet you will see the license plate covers either in the back seat or in the trunk. This goes for any BMW. They DO NOT come with and holes drilled into the front. He said that it is up to the customer if they want that.......Don't let them fool you.

but I'm taking delivery in Munich, is it still the same? btw, I just paid for the car today as I'm leaving in less than 2 weeks!!

[legalantz]

Originally Posted by NBRider88

Haha ya, i plan on testing my luck to...i dont think they will have a problem with it since it is such a new car, but if they do, i think a 10$ ticket is worth the clean look of the missing plate

Only problem is that the ticket is one that requires you to fix the problem. Meaning you will have to have the plate on the car when you take it to a police or sheriff's station for inspection. This happened once with my civic. Then it will be a pain in the A** to go back to the dealer and for them to install it. But what the heck - the plate really screws up the clean look.

[Nikki]

this is why everyone should move to florida

edit: or any one of these states: (i don't know if this is up-to-date though)

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia