Side Mounted Number Plate

[Erni902]

Right then, now I have my FMIC fitted I am toying with the idea of side mounting my numberplate as the majority of the intercooler is blocked by the numberplate!

I have attached a couple of pics of some ideas Ive tried and am after opinions on where looks best to fit it.

Also does anyone know if there are any rules and regs/laws etc that state the maximum angle of the numberplate. i.e if I bolt straight onto the side of the bumper (just above the front fogs) this will be at too much of an angle and will not sit flat to the front.

Pics:

21072012626.jpg

21072012627.jpg

The mounts I have made behind the numberplate come from a donor bumper that I have b@st@rdised.

Any and all opinions welcome.

p.s I know the original mount looks crap but I have a cunning idea to chop it up and replace the bumper mesh.

[Kryton]

Side mounts are normally on the other side but I have no idea about angles etc. As long as the plate itself is legal & the angle is not too extreme I can't see any issues. My ex's old mans e-type had one on the bonnet & it was impossible to see unless standing almost on top of it so don't see why this would be any different.

[ANTHONY]

You have to be able to read the whole plate from the front of the car & certain angles

[Erni902]

Right then, I hear you Chris, I had a look and only found two pics on here of side mounted plates and one was on the drivers side and one on the passengers, so here are a few more pics:

21072012628.jpg
21072012629.jpg
21072012630.jpg
21072012631.jpg

Lower down on the bumper or higher up?

Any comments?

[Kryton]

I think you will get away with any of them. I personally would go for the height of pic 1&2 but angle of pic 4. I'm guessing your fog lights have been removed?

[Erni902]

Is that the height of pic 1&2 of post No.1 or post No.4 mate?

[Erni902]

Like this?

21072012632.jpg

P.s. yes I have removed the front fogs

[Kryton]

Yup. Thats where I would go for

[BraindG]

Why not get a long plate, then get the correct bracket for it and leave it in the middle?

[Erni902]

Yeah looking at all the pics next to each other (well close enough together) I totally agree.

This is an awkward place with regards to brackets etc but I have a whole spare bumper (plus whatever I can pilfer from the old mans garage while he's away) so I dare say I will come up with something.

Cheers for the input guys

[Erni902]

Why not get a long plate, then get the correct bracket for it and leave it in the middle?

Ive toyed with the idea a while back as there was a set of uk plates in the boot when I bought it but I fitted it and after a few days removed it as I really didnt like it.

[Kryton]

If you get a proper mount for a long number plate to make it fit, go for an Evo GSR (260) one or Alfa 156. I am not keen on long plates myself but they are ideal mounts if you do

[Davezj]

personally i don't like the side mount number plate at all, i think it looks terrible.

i prefer the center mount option. in the standard jap format, purely from a looks perspective and i understand what you trying to achieve buy side mounting the number plate. as we have discussed many time before but never came up with a perfect looks and air flow result, it is always a compromise and you will have to go air flow or looks way.
but this is a purely personal choice and we all have different opinions.

if you do go down the side mount route, are you doing anything with the ugly cutout in the bumper under where the original plate went and are you cutting the large plastic blockage to the air flow that is the nuber plate backing plastic, e.g. cut it off and replace the mesh grill as it would now be the wrong shape for the bumper.

you might get some ideas from here as there are picture of what other have done.

http://www.clubvr4.com/forum/showthr...t=bumper+cover

there are some good links to other thread as well. jesus ninja's bumper mod is a good one to look at as it is effectively doing what you are thinking about. but i believe did a bonnet mount vinyl number plate

[Erni902]

Completely understand what you are saying Dave with regards to the compromise. Personally I tend to focus my efforts on the performance and maintenance of the vehicle rather than the looks. Id rather have a healthy car with good performance that looks like a bag of sh!t than to have a gleeming motor to look at that goes like a bag of sh!t. (hence why every panel on my car needs a respray)

As you say we are all different and tbh I too prefer the import plate in the centre, it just covers a lot of the IC. I dont hate the side mounted idea therefore I think I can live with it.

Also, yes I will be cutting off the overhang of the standard mount and using a doner bumper to tidy it up and then some sort of subtle mesh

[Kryton]

Completely understand what you are saying Dave with regards to the compromise. Personally I tend to focus my efforts on the performance and maintenance of the vehicle rather than the looks. Id rather have a healthy car with good performance that looks like a bag of sh!t than to have a gleeming motor to look at that goes like a bag of sh!t. (hence why every panel on my car needs a respray)

As you say we are all different and tbh I too prefer the import plate in the centre, it just covers a lot of the IC. I dont hate the side mounted idea therefore I think I can live with it.

Also, yes I will be cutting off the overhang of the standard mount and using a doner bumper to tidy it up and then some sort of subtle mesh

Seem like you're on the same wavelength as me Let me know if you ever get round to getting a full respray, might get a discount for 2x

[Erni902]

Will do mate, I know a guy who is very good friends with the second most highly decorated and qualified bodyshop type people in the country. I have seen his work and you wouldn't believe how professional the finish is! I have a meticulous eye at times but even up close and in varying lights the most wacky body modifications look like they were factory fitted when he has finished with them! Truly amazing guy but as with anything you get what you pay for and his rates are quite high.

Anyway ill stop waffling as I have a dirty greasy kebab and a few more tinnies to get down my neck

[Davezj]

I am with you with regards to the mechanical sorted and bodywork naff than the other way round. which why my car looks so bad.

keep us posted on what you descide on.
i was thinking of the stanard uk long plate slightly angled down to push more air into the intercooler with the plastic number plate backing plastic removed and new mesh, this way you will cover the ugly recess in the bumper with the new longer nuber plate and still get rid of the big blockage infront of the intercooler.

[Erni902]

Dave that is an ideal solution. I just wish I liked the long numberplate enough lol

[Davezj]

i know, it is not a nice thing to look at, every time i try it with a mock up number plate i think it looks so much nice with the standard jap plate.

i might just try it and see if i can live with it.
you can get angled bracket from ebay for not much money, then it is jsut a cut for the number plate plastic bit and the new mesh. you would not even have to do anything with the cut edge of the bumper as it will be hidden by the new long plate.

[jjayokocha]

I have my plate on the ds of the bumper, but over enough to allow to see the full fog light and still give the ic full view of the road