I could use some good advice. I have just been given my second warning about not have a front plate on the car. Anyone that has developed or bought a good unit that won't block air to the cooling system or will interfere with parking lot stops and tear up the front plastic where it is mounted.

Thanks guys.

I still might just keep on going until a actually get a ticket and then go and bitch at the judge. If the state has to have one they should have made Jaguar provide a place to mount it instead of just dumping it on the owner.

The car is a 2000 XK8

My rant for the day.

 

Jaguar DID have the license plate plinth included with the sale of the car from NEW. It was in the boot with the owners manual and leather cleaner.
I did NOT mount them on the front unless the the owner requested it.

It does require drilling the front bumper vertical bumper cover overiders.

Get your DEALER license and you only need a rear tag!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

bob

 

you can purchase a genuine one from Jaguar; i was able. in the people's republic of new york a front plate is required.

there is no cooling deficit and i purposely torture tested the car during two heat waves that equaled anything from the southern us. the car also breathes from the bottom of the nose piece.

if you do not wish to drill holes, epoxy four magnets inside the vertical bumpers where the plate mounting screws would normally penetrate. Then attach rubberized magnets to the corresponding mountings on the plate holder. attach when necessary and it will hold through anything leaving no marks or permanent damage.

 

Virginia is pretty pedantic about the front plate, so I run them on all my cars. I installed the factory plate holder no issues.

 

One of my customers used long 'zip-ties' and a SPONGE on the back of the front tag to fasten to the car.

I installed a 'hide-a-plate' on another customer car.


bob

 

Over many many years of not running a front plate (even thou required) on multiple cars, I have received 2 tickets for it. Both while parked and one was because the front plate had been scrapped off in a slight altercation in my company car. and I had not gotten around to getting it fixed.
In one instance, I tie wrapped a front plate on and took it the CHP inspection station to get the ticket signed off.
As soon as I had the form in my possession, I cut the plate off, thus restoring the beauty to my XJR.
If it is infrequent, pay the fine and don't ruin the fung shui.

 

An old buddy from UNT told me the Gilmer Cops had nothing to do but follow Jaguars around a give them Tickets for not having Front Tags......Is that true?

I have a Bracket in my "Boot" that I will give you if you want it.....as I will never put the Darn Ugly thing on my Coupe.....Over close to 20 years of XKR ownership, I have never had one on either one of my 4 Coupes and don't plan to change now! I was reminded by a Highway Patrolman about it and I told him I had the bracket on order from England and there was no telling when it would come in! That story held-up with the Judge last year when the Cop with the Laser couldn't read my speed.. He stopped me for not having a Plate for him to bounce his Laser-Gun off of..... Judge said, "Yea it's a long way to England," I said, "You bet it is! I've been waiting over 10 years now!"
He laughed and told me to get outa his Court....The Car is so smooth the Cop couldn't get a good shot with his Laser-Gun!!! Ain't that tough?

Let me know if you want the bracket! It's for a 2005....I kind'a like the one that disappears....(See Motorcarman)

Billy Clyde in Houston

 

Thanks Billy,

Every one I see mounts the plate right on the cross bar with the bumpers. That is right in front of the cooling air opening. A flat plate right there stops a lot of air. As an Aero engineer I'm pretty clued in on airflow.

The 2005 has more plastic below the air opening that a 2000. The 2000 has almost nothing to attach to below the opening and then it gets to close to the ground.

Thanks for the offer. I'm doing a little design work and some more research.

Thanks again

 

We don't really have a choice in the UK - it is mandatory front and rear. This is pretty standard over here :

 

Thanks for the picture. I am using this approach. Presently I have a temp one installed using a hard foam back support and zip ties. I'll improve on that and later put out a picture.

Thanks David

 

I drilled holes in the plate and mounted it lower then rolled the plate to fit the bumper and used the holes for the plate holder with some stainless #10 screws with caps... front plates required here or $170 ticket

 

Indeed, but I had been driving round without a front plate for a while and remarkably wasn't challenged over it...

I've now mounted the front plate and here's the result:




Hello from down the road in Devon (Modbury), btw.

R

 

Thats a great photo. Really shows off the shape of the car. What's the color?

My ancestors hailed from Devon. Tiverton area. Would like to visit there someday.

 

I have never run front plates on any car that did not come with them standard (all european of course). Only been stopped twice. Once in Sugerland, TX by a bored cop who let me go, and here in Carrollton. Had to mount the plate and have it inspected by a sheriff to avoid a larger fine.

I used the tie-wrap method and took it off after a few months when I thought it was safe again. Still off now.

Do have one on my XF, but it doesn't ruin the lines of that front end and it came with a proper mount.

 

I just can't do it. It ruins the whole front end. I'll take my chances without one.

 

So far that's my mode as well. Been without any problem from the lawman for the 2 years I've owned it. I don't see any evidence that my 2000 XKR ever had a permanently mounted front plate.

 

Not sure about yours, with my XK8, I cannot see the front plate from the drivers seat. I do think the plate alters the air flow as I no longer get as many bugs in my teeth while driving top down on a nice sunny day with my front plate attached. Rich

 

Have you looked at the License Plate holder from Skene Designs? The website is:


skenebrackets.com


I know they have brackets for the XK8 and the brackets are flexible on how the license plates are placed on the car.


Hope this helps.


Ken

 

The paint is the MDZ silver, it was a stormy & dark cloud day though!

R

 

When I bought my 2006 coupe used, the PO had the front plate attached to the unsightly original factory mount but tastefully shoved into the boot, where it remains to this day. I'd hate to put it on but if I get a citation for it, will have to. Depending upon what is the cost of the citation, I may or may not leave it on. I'd certainly rather not. I just have to remember not to park on the street in towns (such as nearby Ukiah, CA) with meter maids. I got dinged there for a couple previous cars of mine but it's been a long time so don't remember what it cost me. Used to be just a no-cost fix-it ticket. Those were the days!