Front license plate bracket

[edogg]

What do you guys use for front plate brackets? I recently bought a 2006 X5 and the plates just came. I put the back one on and then realized that the car doesn't have anywhere to mount the plate on the front. So I've started looking into options.

I don't like the idea of screwing into the front bumper. Screwing into soft plastic isn't very durable. And the ones which screw into the tow hook adapter seem pretty good. But the hole cut into the bumper for the tow hook is huge!

Does anybody use the one made by US Mill Works? Of all the options I've seen, it looks pretty nice - plus I like the quick release for car washes.

Front plates are required in my state so I gotta figure something out.

[TerminatorX5]

if you don't want to cut into the bumper, then the tow hook is the only viable option... in the original style bumpers, there was a cut out in the bumper (a 1/4 inch indentation, rather than a cut-out) in the center, that allowed to center the factory bracket in the middle of the bumper without any guesswork, where the centerline was... but still, had to cut into the bumper...

in the facelifted ones (such as yours) there is not center notch, so you would have to line up the plate to the car's center... and still, cut into the front bumper...

the link you posted is ok, i think bavauto also sells those tow-hook plate brackets... as long as you are legal, who cares, right??

[tmv]

One of the thing I don't miss from Seattle, along with the rain. The rain somehow finds its way here the last couple days though.

[edogg]

I've never had a vehicle where the front plate bracket wasn't on there from the dealership, so this is weird to me.

My X5 was originally from California, which also requires a front plate. So apparently the previous owner decided to just take their lumps if they got a ticket. Or they had one of the tow hook brackets and kept it upon trading the car in.

From reading a little on some other forums, it looks like the fine is $125 and it's a non-moving violation.

I just came across this RCW 46.16A.200 - I wonder if can claim exemption because I don't have a place for it on my front bumper?

(5)(a) Display. License plates must be:

(i) Attached conspicuously at the front and rear of each vehicle if two license plates have been issued;

(ii) Attached to the rear of the vehicle if one license plate has been issued;

(iii) Kept clean and be able to be plainly seen and read at all times; and

(iv) Attached in a horizontal position at a distance of not more than four feet from the ground.

(b) The Washington state patrol may grant exceptions to this subsection if the body construction of the vehicle makes compliance with this section impossible.