Front License Plate Install - Help?
 

Wife purchased a euro style license plate & plastic frame she wants me to install on front. There are no holes in the bumper, so I was looking to drill some. I feel behind the plastic bumper and I feel the steel bumper right behind it. Wondering how I will be able to get screws in. Someone here have experience with this? Please & thanks!

Buy some self-tapped screws and you're good to go.

Sure, that would work in theory, but would require some heavy duty drilling into a heavy steel bumper. There is not enough space between the plastic bumper cover and the steel bumper to use self taps without them having to penetrate the heavy steel bumper. Surely there is a better way.

Thinking of looking for an OEM type euro plate bracket made for this vehicle, and wondering would the OEM bracket serve as a template for drilling holes in places where the steel is predrilled behind it....

Found one OEM euro plate bracket for $70 and one for $120. Seems a bit absurd. :( I will keep looking.

Wow, ready this is killing me….you want to drill holes in your bumper?

I bought my X5 used and it had a front plate mounted. Even though they're required in my state (WA) I removed the front plate within an hour of taking possession of it, and have contemplated having the holes professionally filled/re-sprayed.

Wish I had your problem!

Two years ago I bought my X5M in California and had it shipped to Seattle. I had to install the front license plate. Drilled the bumper and screwed on a license plate holder using self tapping screws. No problem at all. In a state where a front plate is required you will get cited sooner or later. Ticket for my friend in Seattle was $80 or so three years ago I think. He got by driving a couple of years without getting a front plate mounted. Had one warning, but the second time had to pay up.

Yah I know it's the law in WA and many people get caught eventually, but even if I got a ticket for it I still wouldn't mount the plate. The cost of the ticket is so minimal, it's not enough to make me re-install it.

5+ years in my 3 series, and nearly a year on the X5. Of course I'll probably get pulled over tomorrow for it after posting this!

Knock-knock (on wood). Been driving w/out license plate in WA for years. Had a warning on previous car back in 2007. None since then. If I had to install one, I wouldn't drill the bumper.
This thread has a nice solution

I would never drill holes on front bumper to mount licese plate. I had removed mine that was drilled on front bumper, filled with bumper plug.

3 cars over 20 'car-years'.

I tape the temp registration paper to the corner of the windshield. Even on my 11 year old M5. Ive moved it to 3 new glasses. They look at the front, see the temp, never look at the back.

;)