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If you buy your new car off the lot, or you purchase a used car in a state that requires front license plate tags, and your home state doesn't, you'll often find that the dealer or previous owner required that a front license plate bracket be installed.
While the need for these is perfectly understood, (state or local laws), they can be annoying if your state doesn't require them, or you don't care to root for a football/baseball team, driving around with the dealers 'complimentary vanity plate' advertising their dealership all over the place, or just have a blank license bracket.
The problem that many people have to deal with is that is when they go to remove the front bracket they find that the dealer/previous owner drilled two to four holes into the front bumper to get that license plate bracket on.
You could take the car to a body shop and spend $200+ on bodywork to have the holes covered up, or you can spend $20 and do what I did.
In this Instructable I'll show you how to cheaply, easily and tastefully get rid of the front license plate bracket and fill in the holes that our friends at the dealership have made. It's not a complete smooth cover up, but you will barely notice it.
NOTE: I take no responsibility for damage to your car. If you are uncomfortable doing this Instructable, have a friend who is well versed in tools do it for you, or don't do it at all&
Supplies:
(2-4) 5/16 Nylon Plugs (black or white, your choice) available at Ace Hardware, HD or Lowes.
(1) Dupli-Color Touch-Up paint, which matches your vehicles' color (see http://www.duplicolor.com/duplicolor/step1.php.)
(1) Scrap Piece of wood
Liquid Nails (optional)
Tools
Electric Drill
1/8" Drill Bit (optional)
5/16" Drill Bit
Razor Blade or Knife
While the need for these is perfectly understood, (state or local laws), they can be annoying if your state doesn't require them, or you don't care to root for a football/baseball team, driving around with the dealers 'complimentary vanity plate' advertising their dealership all over the place, or just have a blank license bracket.
The problem that many people have to deal with is that is when they go to remove the front bracket they find that the dealer/previous owner drilled two to four holes into the front bumper to get that license plate bracket on.
You could take the car to a body shop and spend $200+ on bodywork to have the holes covered up, or you can spend $20 and do what I did.
In this Instructable I'll show you how to cheaply, easily and tastefully get rid of the front license plate bracket and fill in the holes that our friends at the dealership have made. It's not a complete smooth cover up, but you will barely notice it.
NOTE: I take no responsibility for damage to your car. If you are uncomfortable doing this Instructable, have a friend who is well versed in tools do it for you, or don't do it at all&
Supplies:
(2-4) 5/16 Nylon Plugs (black or white, your choice) available at Ace Hardware, HD or Lowes.
(1) Dupli-Color Touch-Up paint, which matches your vehicles' color (see http://www.duplicolor.com/duplicolor/step1.php.)
(1) Scrap Piece of wood
Liquid Nails (optional)
Tools
Electric Drill
1/8" Drill Bit (optional)
5/16" Drill Bit
Razor Blade or Knife
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Signing UpStep 1Remove the bracket!
This is probably the most difficult step. Depending upon how your bracket was attached, you will need to do one of two things:
1. If the bracket is attached via screws or bolts, use a screwdriver or socket wrench to remove them. This should release the bracket from the car.
2.If the bracket is attached by what appears to be a rivet (see photo), then it will need to be drilled out. This is a fairly easy process, in which you use a 1/8" or larger drill bit directly into the center of the rivet, using pressure to allow it to go all the way through. Once you are all the way through, the rivets should be disconnected from each side, and you should be able to remove the bracket.
Finally, with the bracket removed, you will want to clean the area, to get rid of any dirt and dust. A wet cloth or paper towel should work just fine. If need be, use some windows cleaner to get additional grime.
1. If the bracket is attached via screws or bolts, use a screwdriver or socket wrench to remove them. This should release the bracket from the car.
2.If the bracket is attached by what appears to be a rivet (see photo), then it will need to be drilled out. This is a fairly easy process, in which you use a 1/8" or larger drill bit directly into the center of the rivet, using pressure to allow it to go all the way through. Once you are all the way through, the rivets should be disconnected from each side, and you should be able to remove the bracket.
Finally, with the bracket removed, you will want to clean the area, to get rid of any dirt and dust. A wet cloth or paper towel should work just fine. If need be, use some windows cleaner to get additional grime.
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If you are getting a car and the dealership is waiting to recieve it from the manufacturer you can request that they don't drill the holes =)