How to mount a German Euro front plate on an aero front end
Ever since I've mounted the aero kit front US Vermont plate on, I've always felt that something still was missing on my MINI for that final Thompson'ised touch. My
custom rear UK plate "R 53" that a friend of mine had made specifically for me in England, has been great on the rear. What I realized was, I needed to install my front German plate.
"Designed in Germany, and spanked-out-the-door in Oxford" as I say. Very fitting for the MINI Cooper S to be fitted with a German plate on the front and UK plate on rear don't you think?
Install of front plate to a MINI Cooper S aero bumperMounting a license plate to the front of an new car can really mess up a good looking clean design. Most states require a mounted front license plate and Vermont is no exception. So, with a quest for the optimal clean look and the state inspection requirements in mind, I'm going to try and come up with that sweet solution.
The options that are currently in use for mounting front license plates to the standard MINI Cooper S front bumper and the optinal aerodynamic front spoiler kit range from;
1. Factory MINI aero kit front license plate mount (part #51 11 0 141 384, Made in Germany, $43.50 MSRP)
2. MINI supplied standard issue front license plate mount
3. GoMiniGo "NoHoles PlateHolder".
4. Your own design utilizing the factory two hook or a bolt that goes into this.
Photos showing factory MINI aero kit front plate holder showing the mounting holes that are underneath and conceal any "drilled hole look".
One of the big reasons that I wanted my German plate on the front of my MINI Cooper S is that I have a 46 year old Swiss metal motoring badge mounted on, (my Grandfather acquired this while touring Europe and taking delivery of a 220 SE from Mercedes-Benz in 1961) plus the plate has been on my previous two Porsche 944 Club Sports and Audi S6. Sentimental if anything really. I just needed a good brisk sunny spring day in Vermont to do it!
On a Sunday, with smell of my Jotul wood stove cranking out Maple and Cardinals wailing away outside, I dove right into mounting my German plate on the front.
When installing keep in mind that minimal holes and or "non-visible holes" drilled into into my MINI aero kit front end are a requirement. What I am going to do is mount the German plate to the aero plate holder.
Gather all your goodies!Items required for the proper job...- Wurth Protective (and or Waxoyl 120-4) Wax
- Waxoyl Ultra Clean 3 in 1 Cleaner
- MINI Wax Polish
- Vermont "///M Motorsport modified" license plate
- Aero Kit license plate mount
- 2 flat head 12mm (or around there in length) x 6mm dia bolts, nuts, with lock washers or nylon locking nuts
- 2 allen head bolts (15mm x 6mm)
- 3M clear protective tape
Photo looking behind at the flat head bolts. Closest to you is snugged in tight and the rear one is not. Make sure that the flat head bolts sit down tight, to minimize rubbing against the front aero bumper.
Shake that can of Wurth Protective (and or Waxoyl 120-4) Wax prior to spraying on the exposed bolts and bolt heads! Great product that I even used on my engine compartment motor mount rail BEFORE the hydraulic mount starts to leak.
Photo looking up at the underside two mounting holes. These are drilled up and tapped into the aero kit front bumper plastic, essentially making them non-visable. NOTE: Do not over tighten, only make it snug. Also shown is the clear 3M protective tape and a small red 3M two-sided tape piece to protect the aero grille from my Swiss motoring badge bolt.
Photo shows using allen head bolts (15mm x 6mm) for mounting into the aero kit bumper
Photo of mounted German front plate
