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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Technical Forums > DIY Guides > How to fix Front Plate Bumper Holes



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      10-02-2005, 03:18 PM   #1
ska///235i
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How to fix Front Plate Bumper Holes

I learn this in Mercedes forum and I did it to my Ex-C class, works pretty well.
There are two ways you can fix those nasty "front plate holes"

1) The Expensive way.....www.bumperplugs.com
cost - $24.95 a pair

2) The Cheap way.....Go to Home Depot and get some plugs in their specialty drawers for fasteners [edit] (some very small nylon plugs). They fit nicely and you can paint it with touch'up paint.
cost - $1-$2

Last edited by ska///235i; 11-16-2006 at 05:27 PM..
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      10-02-2005, 03:24 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ska
I
2) The Cheap way.....Go to Home Depot and get some plugs in their specialty faster drawers. They fit nicely and you can paint it with touch'up paint.
cost - $1-$2
How is this the cheap way? Don't you have to buy touch up paint, which runs around $25? Seems like this option would end up being more expensive and more time consuming (you have to make trips to two different stores, install and paint).
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      10-02-2005, 03:25 PM   #3
ska///235i
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well...most ppl would have touch'up paint already.

godammit....or borrow your neighbors
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      10-02-2005, 03:28 PM   #4
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Good suggestion on the Home Depot plugs ska thx. Definitely a good option if you already have touch-up paint.
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      10-02-2005, 03:34 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ska
well...most ppl would have touch'up paint already.
I agree...I'll check out the plugs next time I'm at Home Depot.

I wished I'd been educated enough NOT to let the dealer drill into my front bumper!!!
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      10-02-2005, 04:14 PM   #6
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lol. Some of you guys need more researching skills.

You don't really have to buy dealerhip's rip-off touch paints for $25 bucks.
You can always get them for under $10 at online stores or at local paint shops.

Bumperplugs.com are overpriced and I heard you have to drill the hole
even bigger, which sucks because later down the road when you have to
put the plate back on, hole is bigger. I heard alot of E90 owners
complained about this regarding bumperplugs.com.

btw, connermd, are those bumperplugs.com plugs on your car?
that actually look a lot cleaner and better than what I thought.
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      10-02-2005, 04:55 PM   #7
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Yep, they are bumperplugs. You are correct, you do have to drill the holes slightly larger to make them fit properly (they will fit w/o drilling larger but not well).
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      10-02-2005, 05:18 PM   #8
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The cheapest way is to buy from a dealer that doesn't drill your bumper.
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      01-27-2006, 10:59 AM   #9
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anyone else have pics of their car with bumperplugs?
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      01-27-2006, 11:09 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by theclay
The cheapest way is to buy from a dealer that doesn't drill your bumper.
I like the way you think, which is exactly what I did
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      01-27-2006, 01:55 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by connermd
I wished I'd been educated enough NOT to let the dealer drill into my front bumper!!!
What he said! :mad:
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      01-27-2006, 02:45 PM   #12
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I think the bumperplugs look ok
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      02-02-2006, 11:04 AM   #13
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Well, it's not exactly an option if you do ED. I do like the Home Depot and touch up paint idea though. Will have to look into that, unless of course I just decide to install the Euro plate and hope I don't get pulled over.
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      02-02-2006, 12:37 PM   #14
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I've been looking for a way to cover up the holes. Damn, BumperPlugs... way too expensive for some piece of plastic. I would see if they were $5-$10 but, $25 not for me. I might just stop by Home Depot to see what they got.
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      04-30-2006, 10:45 PM   #15
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hey ska, can u show me what these plugs u are talking about. i dont understand "specialty faster drawers"
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      05-01-2006, 08:55 PM   #16
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stopped by Loews today... finally understood what u meant. i said "special faster drawer" to everyone and they were looking at me weird. i finalyl scavenged myself. what you meant was their - specialty drawers for fasteners - !!!! man... u really threw me off lol.
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      05-01-2006, 09:02 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by uhaulball
stopped by Loews today... finally understood what u meant. i said "special faster drawer" to everyone and they were looking at me weird. i finalyl scavenged myself. what you meant was their - specialty drawers for fasteners - !!!! man... u really threw me off lol.
oops..sorry for the late reply
yea, my english is bad
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      02-02-2007, 02:35 AM   #18
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Hey...

What do you guys think of these? Instead of drilling the hole bigger and putting a plug, you could put a shorter screw of the same size into the hole and use these screw head covers:

I think these are metal and might paint quite well:
http://www.pro-dec.com/decorative-sc...ated-snap-caps

Hinged caps:
http://www.pro-dec.com/decorative-sc...d-screw-covers

Snap caps:
http://www.pro-dec.com/decorative-sc.../8-8-snap-caps

Kappet screws with caps:
http://www.pro-dec.com/decorative-sc...covers/Kappets

Worst case, if your holes are bigger but still smaller than the 1/4" that the bumperplugs.com guys require, you could use these with some paint and maybe a dab of silicone filler to keep them snug:
http://www.pro-dec.com/decorative-sc...vers/hole-caps

There are lots of colors and could probably be painted anyway!

What do you think?? :rocks:
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      04-17-2007, 09:26 AM   #19
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In Saskatchewan we do not need the front plate, but I ordered my car from Toronto, so of course it had one on.

In the trunk though I had a small bag, that contained these

Snap caps:
http://www.pro-dec.com/decorative-sc.../8-8-snap-caps


Removed the plate mount, and tried these, they look ok.....I emphasize ok.

They still stick out about 3/8th of an inch, but look better then that stupid plate.

Just a little info for ya.
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      04-19-2007, 06:54 PM   #20
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The home depot option is also better because to install bumper plugs you have to drill larger holes.
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      04-19-2007, 10:39 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by connermd View Post
I wished I'd been educated enough NOT to let the dealer drill into my front bumper!!!
I asked them not to drill holes in my bumper...they said no.
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      05-05-2007, 10:19 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sinnet112 View Post
I asked them not to drill holes in my bumper...they said no.
yeah nj dealers are really gay on that rule.........
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