Hole-y plastic bumper front! (How-to: cover license plate holes in bumper trim) Pics! - e3... Page 1 of 13 e30tech.com Forums> Technical> Appearance Hole-y plastic bumper front! (How-to: cover license plate holes in bumper trim) Pics! User Name User Name Password Remember Me? Log in Register FAQ Members List Sponsors Advertise Shop Today's Posts Search Thread Tools Display Modes 05-15-2009, 10:02 PM #1 86Zinno Four door biased Hole-y plastic bumper front! (How-to: cover license plate holes in bumper trim) Pics! I don't run a front plate because I don't like how it looks. When I had my '86 it was kind of necessary just because it looked awful without a plate on DBs and I hadn't found a plate filler. With plastics it's much more feasible but you still get those annoying holes in the black trim, which are particularly pronounced when you have alpine colored bumper plastic peeking out from behind them: E30: 1989 325i 4dr Location: Stamford, CT / UConn Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,118
Hole-y plastic bumper front! (How-to: cover license plate holes in bumper trim) Pics! - e3... Page 2 of 13 (^sneak peek of the upcoming solution^) For awhile I ran some small black "stainless" screws in the holes, each holding in place a black rubber disc slightly larger than the hole, that I came across in the depths of the garage. It looked alright but the "stainless" screws rusted soon enough, and the other day I lost one of the rubber things. It was time for action. The first (and only) stop was the local TrueValue hardware store branch. I went in looking for some sort of black plastic washer and better quality screws but ended up finding... "Nylon Hole Plugs" - Misleading and ambiguous as their title may be, these are plugs. That fill holes. They are made of nylon plastic. They have little tabs that lock them into place once placed in said hole in need of plugging, and are subtly textured on their outer-facing surface.
Hole-y plastic bumper front! (How-to: cover license plate holes in bumper trim) Pics! - e3... Page 3 of 13 They came in the classic milky-white you often find these types of things molded in, as well as black. As seen in the first picture posted, I went for broke and plugged the two tiny holes in the trim as well, which coincidentally were a perfect sized hole for one of the available plug sizes. The larger holes, however, were a different story. The nearest plug sizes were either for a 7/8" hole, or a 1" hole. The 7/8" plug was too small, and of course the 1" was far too big, even if it were sanded/ground down. Despair set in, until I looked at the part drawers below: I forget the name the name of this one but I'm sure it was something along the lines of "Nylon Hole Size Changer". Long story short, this for some reason had tabs that stuck out slightly farther than the equally sized balls-out hole plugs and so, crafty as I am, I hatched a scheme the likes of which has only been seen before in those nesting dolls...
Hole-y plastic bumper front! (How-to: cover license plate holes in bumper trim) Pics! - e3... Page 4 of 13 I call this piece "Nested Nylon Hole-Be-Gone Things" - The hole changer is big enough to secure itself into the bumper trim hole, and the plug fits in the newly-sized hole, glorious! But as with anything on the E30, projects are never as straightforward as they seem. Also as with anything on the E30, if it's a project worth doing, it's worth doing right. Or maybe I'm just anal......nonetheless, as seen before, as well as here on the right, the "Nylon Hole Size Changer" does not have the same pleasant, flat textured surface found on the actual plugs. Rather it's shiny, has some letters/numbering on the rim, and is just acting like a poor sport in general. Some sanding with a file and finishing with 400grit yielded the one on the left, and combining the pieces creates win, as evidenced by voltron/the power rangers' megazord/transformers constructicons/etc...:
Hole-y plastic bumper front! (How-to: cover license plate holes in bumper trim) Pics! - e3... Page 5 of 13 After assembly they were begging for some paint lovin', and so I obliged (bear in mind a job worth doing = a job worth doing right):
Hole-y plastic bumper front! (How-to: cover license plate holes in bumper trim) Pics! - e3... Page 6 of 13 People say "We <3 Plasti-Dip LOL!" Fuck plasti-dip, real men use SEM. SEM with a nice warning on the back that says California knows SEM has ingredients that cause cancer and birth defects. I don't know who this California character is, nor is my E30 or myself going to give birth anytime soon, so no worries. Wipe down with cleaner, couple coats of adhesion promoter, and several coats of cancerous birth defects: Installation was a snap (get it) after some drying in the sun, and I'm very pleased with the result for all of about $4 (I had the paint/primer/cleaner from other endeavors).
Hole-y plastic bumper front! (How-to: cover license plate holes in bumper trim) Pics! - e3... Page 7 of 13
Hole-y plastic bumper front! (How-to: cover license plate holes in bumper trim) Pics! - e3... Page 8 of 13 Not that it looks bad from any distance (at least not in my opinion), but when not crouching in front of the bumper looking at/for the plugs, they're all but invisible. Fine print: 1. Sorry for Mr. Blurrycam, it's no good with the closeups but it's hopefully enough to get the idea. 2. I've never used plasti-dip before, it was only a joke. I have about 8 cans of SEM hanging around for some project that I wanted to do but forgot what it was, so I used what was on hand and already paid for. 3. This smiley is awesome: Quote: Originally Posted by jetta caratene The entire neighborhood came out, at least 20 people, they asked if I was ok. I yelled back I think the dumbest thing I ever said, " I'M OK, THE BMW IS DEAD, CALL GERMANY" Why I said something like that, I'll never know. ZBT: ΔΒ Chapter Guest Message Remove Advertisements
Hole-y plastic bumper front! (How-to: cover license plate holes in bumper trim) Pics! - e3... Page 9 of 13 05-15-2009, 11:42 PM #2 Breadman29 S52 Yeah. In very soon... Hey that looks great. I think I'm gonna drill holes in my bumper just so I can fill em", now that I know how. HA! E30: 1987 Delphin-metalic 325 Location: West Chester-PA Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 956 BMW 325(Eta) -2.7L Delphin-metallic. No longer looking for a S52 engine... Yeah baby! Quote: Aside from one burst of irresponsible sideways tire burning I didn't really try to push it. 05-16-2009, 12:00 AM #3 kamotors Contributing Member looks great, I wanted to do something like that but my trim wont stay put so I just kept the europlate. E30: 325i Location: nevada Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,759 0-60 in 6.7 sec my ebay for sale- carbon fiber CAI kits. PM to purchase CAI details here 05-16-2009, 12:49 AM #4 bwaterman_m20b23 Senior Member Excellent post, although it could've done with some more detail :P
Hole-y plastic bumper front! (How-to: cover license plate holes in bumper trim) Pics! -... Page 10 of 13 Could you not have use the rear plastic trim on the bumper? That way you wouldn't have the cutout for the numberplate either. E30: Supercharged e34 535i Location: Western Australia Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 621 RIP e30 Time for boost with supercharged e34 535i 05-16-2009, 12:58 AM #5 86Zinno Four door biased Thanks for comments guys. Quote: Originally Posted by bwaterman_m20b23 Excellent post, although it could've done with some more detail :P Could you not have use the rear plastic trim on the bumper? That way you wouldn't have the cutout for the numberplate either. E30: 1989 325i 4dr Location: Stamford, CT / UConn Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,118 Doing my best to be thorough without being boring. I hadn't really considered using the rear plastic strip on the front, but if I'm remembering the bumpers correctly the rear is fairly flat where the large straight piece mounts, while the front bumper has a bit of a curve, with the apex being at the front plate area. I'm not sure if a piece of the rear strip sufficiently long enough to "delete" the plate area would fit the contour very well. Even if it did, it would involve cutting the rear piece to be used, as well as the two front pieces in order to squeeze it in, resulting in two seams instead of the current one, as well as alot more effort. Certainly could be a viable option if the fit isn't an issue, but for the time being and the 45 minutes total I spent on this, it's plenty fine for me for now. This is assuming that I'm grasping your suggestion correctly, of course, as well as recollecting the bumper shapes accurately, both of which I could be doing incorrectly. Quote: Originally Posted by jetta caratene The entire neighborhood came out, at least 20 people, they asked if I was ok. I yelled back I think the dumbest thing I ever said, " I'M OK, THE BMW IS DEAD, CALL GERMANY" Why I said something like that, I'll never know. ZBT: ΔΒ Chapter 05-16-2009, 12:59 AM #6 Alpine4dr
Hole-y plastic bumper front! (How-to: cover license plate holes in bumper trim) Pics! -... Page 11 of 13 Banned AMAZING!! I've been trying to figure that one out as well...for some time now. I suggest you sell your crafty design! E30: Turbo4dr, E39 Touring Location: Greater Detroit Area Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4,609 Buy my E39 528i Touring! 05-16-2009, 03:37 AM #7 NoScoE30 465bhp M10BAMF Looks like nipples. E30: 130 cubic inches of fury in a late model Location: Az Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 6,755 You heard it here first folks. Beware, for I may have an extreme level of sarcasm. AIM SPORTS PRODUCTS http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showthr...283#post853283 05-18-2009, 01:27 PM #8 chrise30 Senior Member E30: 87 325is Location: CT Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 403 looks good. nice work Sig pic removed. Too big. -Staff Thanks, Chris 05-18-2009, 02:45 PM #9 jpod999 Senior Member E30: 1991 318i 4dr Location: SF bay area Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 2,282 I've been doing this for years. 7/8" with a bit of glue and you get an even cleaner look than the OP's.
Hole-y plastic bumper front! (How-to: cover license plate holes in bumper trim) Pics! -... Page 12 of 13 Guest Message Remove Advertisements 05-20-2009, 10:28 PM #10 gearheade30 Senior Member I've had mine in there forever as well. i actually got metal caps, though, and they seem to stay in better. If you do that, make sure you paint the ENTIRE thing or they will rust. Mine did. E30: 1991 318is Location: Indiana Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 826 http://reggiesmotorworks.com/ «Previous Thread Next Thread» Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) Posting Rules You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts vb code is On Smilies are On [IMG] code is On HTML code is Off Forum Jump Appearance Go
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