DIY: Front license plate bracket Install

SOLISIMO

Florida rocks

spearfish25

I used a Dremel to grind down the J-nuts.

zZSportZz

Got pulled over ON THE FIRST DAY after picking up my tags and ditching the temp one. Needless to say, I installed the front plate. The funny thing is, the officer didn't say one word about my 15% tint. Go figure...

fly yellow

If it was a State Trooper I am surprised you got away with the tint. I just got mine tinted at 35% which is MD legal, but that is only if there is absolutely no factory tint. I'm hoping not to have any issues. I got tired of retinting over and over again at 15% on my other cars. MD State troopers also look out for front license plate violators. Ask anyone that ownes a Vette.

Junior370z

I had to have my front license plate in order to get my military base stickers. The thing is I didn't want to drill big holes in my front bumper. You know those 2 little marks on the black part of the front bumper?(the drill marks for the license plate holder) well I just measured the holes and drilled 2 small holes in my license plate and mounted the plate with small screws into the marks. As soon as I got my base stickers I remove the front plate and I can barely notice the very small holes.

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DON'T DO IT!

koojo

I'll be buying my car in VT where the front plate is required, but will be moving to WV a month after where the front place isn't required...I wonder if I can tell the dealer to not install it...I dont want holes in the bumper after I take the bracket off.

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AK370Z

def tell the dealer not to install it. My dealer did not install the license plate and front chin spoiler. They asked my permission and told me that whenever I decide to put them on, they will install it free of charge. I ended up installing myself.

BTW, good to see you back, koojo. I thought you left us!

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koojo

Good point thanks man! I'll tell them to hold off on installing the plate bracket.

I've been around, mainly just browsing. But I'm pretty close to buying a pearl white 370z so I'll be on here 24/7 haha.

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2000 Infiniti G20 (TURBOCHARGED - SR20DET) - FOR SALE - http://www.koojo.net/

MeZadude

My dealer supplied the bracket, but no hardware, and no J-nuts to mount the front plate. I used a couple of sheet metal screws to mount the bracket to the fascia directly into the plastic.

After this, I took a look at the manual, and it mentioned the grommets, or J-nuts. I called the Nissan Dealer, Northbay Nissan in Petaluma. They told me to come on down and they'd mount the proper hardware. After 10 minutes at NB Nissan, the service guy asked me what the problem was. He said the plate & bracket were mounted just fine. I mentioned the missing grommets (J-nuts and screws), and he told me that the way I mounted the bracket is the way they mount it.
Just using sheet metal screws to hold the bracket on doesn't seem like a very secure way to hold the plate, especially over time, as the plastic fascia is fairly soft material, and the screws can only be tightened down minimally without pulling out of the plastic.

I was surprised that the dealer didn't have the proper hardware to mount the plate bracket, as mounting front plates is required by law here in the state.
MeZadude

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Jeffblue

could you use toggle bolts to mount the bracket? The dealer drilled my hole too wide on one side and the nut is loose one side of teh bracket is loose.

theDreamer

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Jon J

I saw this plate mount at my local dealer while test driving a car. This is the way I will go also. However, I will buy all stainless steel hardware to attach the plate. The regular steel on zinc plated hardware always rusts or discolors after a some time in the weather. Home Depot has some but the best quality of hardware is at a boating goods store. Yes it will be more expensive but it iw worth the clean look over the years.

turbodog

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but .... thanks! The J-nut thickness thing was driving me crazy. I kept thinking I HAD to be doing something wrong! NO WAY Nissan would screw the pooch this bad on a simple bracket...Yup,they did.

I will NOT have the bracket separated from the nose (and think what those 2 points of contact are going to do to your paint!), so I finally took 2 6mm nuts, and masking-taped them to the backside of the bracket. The tape only needs to hold until the bolts are snug. There is enough clearance for a standard 6mm nut (barely!). So now (with very careful bolt length selection) my bracket sits flush to the nose of the car (as the bracket design was clearly intended to do!) and no rub points. I expect that level of engineering from a '69 MG Midget, not a 2010 Nissan!

Bodytechz

I just placed an order for a '11 Z, does it come with a front plate mounting bracket?? IF so, I will mount this myself, don't trust the dealer to install...

JARblue

Well I guess I'll keep this old thread going... apologies.
I should be picking up the new plates in a week or so. If the mount is provided, I will not be allowing the dealer to install it. I really like TheDreamer look of the Stillen - thanks for posting! (from a fellow Texan trying not to attract attention) I will most likely go that route because, frankly, I just refuse to drill holes however small into my < month old car. However, that motorized one ENT-Z did here is freakin' awesome. I might just wait until first ticket and try that (and yes I'd be willing to cut up the chin spoiler more than drilling holes in the fender because (a) it's much less visible and (b) the ridiculous factor is off the charts).

Anyone else found creative methods of mounting their front plate to comply with dumb state legislature?

**EDIT**
Anyone know if the Zee Bracket for the 350Z is compatible with the front grill of the 370Z? See here. Thanks!