Greetings All,

The time has finally come. After 4 parking tickets for no front license plate on my '02 S-Type, it's time to fix that. My car never had one, as far as I can tell. It came from another state with no front plates, so it appears the mount was never installed.

I've found the part (xr82147) online but it hasn't arrived yet. How exactly is it secured to the front bumper? On eBay, I saw a factory kit that looked like a bunch of pop rivets. Or are there threaded holes under the bumper cover, just waiting for me to perfectly line up the mount?

Thanks for any help,

Karl
'02 S-Type

 

Karl, I don't believe that the mount gets screwed into the bumper. If you look closely where the front plate attaches there should be 2 locator dots where the mount gets riveted.

Sucks about having 4 tickets over a silly front plate.

 

Kind of surprising they would worry about something so small?

I have been in Texas without a front plate for 7 years and several tickets. Never a mention about the missing front plate.
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the mount gets screwed into the bumper with 3 screws,
I have just taken mine off and its for sale,
but I am in the uk

 

Ohio is sticklers as well. Being a transplant to S.C. we do not have front plates issued here.

 

Rivets - part no XR813185

You need 3 of them.

Don't try regular 3/8" rivets - they won't last.

These rivets will work great.

Just ordered a new set of 3 from SNG Barrett.

Hope this helps.

 

I carry my plate holder and plate in the trunk. For my last state inspection (NJ) I had to show it to them and that's all. My bumper cover got replaced a few years back due to a split lip. The car looks oh so much better WO that eyesore on it.

States want it there so that they can get your face and that plate in a nice state sponsored selfie!

 

What will I find behind the outer skin when I drill into the bumper?

Is it hollow, or reasonably so, i.e. collapsible foam? In that case, a rivet would have to grab the backside of the outer liner. This would be like a Sheetrock anchor that expands inside a hollow wall. I'm not sure how strong the bumper liner would be for that purpose.

Or is there somewhat solid structure inside the bumper, such as semi-rigid plastic? In that case, a rivet would basically grip the walls of the hole, more like an anchor in masonry.

Thanks,

Karl

 

Karl,

I think it's hard rigid plastic. The rivets do the trick as designed. These are a specific width and length I found...

 

Found mine was screwed in with self tapping metal screws....Front bumper was replaced with a donor, so who knows if this was jury rigged. In Georgia, front plates are vanity only. So, if you've got a blank one, put a color matching leaping cat plate on. Better than having a bunch of holes showing.