Installed front license plate bracket
 

Yup; After getting pulled over by the police, I realized I really don't need any extra attention from the cops. Installation was pretty straight forward. I followed this DIY article by Socal 370Z .

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...om/license.png

well, since the J-nuts are very thin, I had to go to HomeDepot to pick up some washers and good quality "small length" screws. I also picked up some rubber washers so that I can put it between the bracker and the front bumper. This way if if someone backs into my license plate, my paint won't be scratched. Rubber washers are NOT thin but I used a blade to slice them thin ;) Here are some pictures:

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...m/DSC01586.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...m/DSC01573.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...m/DSC01571.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...m/DSC01574.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...m/IMG_0560.jpg
Please disregard by bent license plate :shakes head: . I am getting a new plate for the car soon.

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...m/IMG_0557.jpg

BTW, if you have two owner's manual (old and new version), feel free to check the instructions (just for fun) in the old manual . They actually want you to drill again on to the bumper to fasten the bracket. I was like :eek:. That's when I opened the newer manual.

Be forewarned to use short length screws. Long screws will dig into your front molding...thanks to my dealer for messing that one up.

Two things I noticed, because my dealer, evidently, wasn't as careful as I would have hoped.
1) Yes, long screws will damage the front of the car
2) That J-nut is stupid. It's wider than the plate-holder is deep, so it prevents the plate-holder from sitting flush with the front of the car. I need to get ahold of some short screws and different, thinner nuts to hold my plate in place.

Exactly. That's why I went to HomeDepot to find the shortest length screws and so be safe, used some washers. My screws back end never made out of j-nuts :tup:

Not too terrible, but I am trying to get away without one for a while. So far, so good. Though I have had a few cops look at me sideways when Synchro Rev started doing it's thing.

Synchrorev + stop light + cop = unwanted attention

I could just hear them thinking, in the most Southern accent possible, "Son, just what in the sam hell do ya think yer doing?"

With the J-nuts clipped in, the mount doesn't sit flush with the front of the car... I wonder what's wrong with mine :(

That's normal. Mine doesn't sit flush either. If you look at the top pictures, you'll see there's no J-nuts installed ;)

Just installed mine. These South Jersey Cops having nothing better to do!

slap my plate on only when im gonna be traveling out of my city or at night when i know im going to have a beer or two at night.

Florida rocks

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

I'm just trying to install my front plates. The "J nut" is just too thick in the back and gets in the way for the License Plate Bracket to mount flush with the front bumper.
How did you secure your license plate screws to the Plate Bracket without the J nuts?
Went to the Dealer and the Service dept was closed and other people had no clue.
Any help would be appreciated.

thanks.

I did use the j-nuts. The license plate doesn't sit flush when you install them. But it doesn't look too bad. I also put a thin rubber slice so that the end of j-nuts do not rub my paint.

http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/l...C_8724post.jpg

I'm not sure if you guys are allowed to puncture your plates in the US. But I simply bored holes on my plate where the plate holder screws are positioned and bought longer screws to mount the plate and holder. So plate and holder are held by the same pair of screws.

thats a really good idea. I haven't aligned the plate with the holes but
I think the holes might get in the way of the letters or numbers.

I finally installed my front license plate the normal way as shown in the handbook. Except for 1 big change. I went to Ace Hardware and used
2 "J nut" that is made from hardened steel and is lot thinner than the enclosed plastic one. So everything is flush to the contour of the bumper
and no gaps.

Thanks. Will stop by my local ACE Hardware store on Saturday!

Here is another option...

STILLEN : STILLEN Front License Plate Bracket

I have this on order, hoping to have it this weekend and will post some pictures as soon as it is installed.

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...

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.

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.:tup:

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.

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!:hello:

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.

Question for trema
 

Hey Trema,


Did you go to the dealer to try to get a new front bumper? I just picked up a 370 less than 2 weeks ago and I just noticed two big dings in my front bumper from a poor front plate installation. I'm planning on going to the dealer tomorrow to see what they can do for me. Just wondering if you did anthing about it or just dealt with it.