Today I decided to take the front license plate frame off the front of my 2 week old car. I thought it was attached only from the underside of the car. When I began unscrewing it I realized that it's also screwed on from the front, right between the headlights. Nevertheless, I took it off. The only problem is that there are now two small but still very very noticable drill holes on the front of my car. I was wondering if anyone else has done this, and if there is a way to fix these little holes (either by myself or by the dealer). Any idea how much it would cost? Cause I like the look of the car without the plate frame. Thanks for any info.

 

those shouldn't be there. I would suggest going to the dealer and having them replace the bumper. Other then that any body shop can take them out for about 150$

 

Drill those screws into your dealer's forehead for being such a dumbass and defacing your car.

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2001 Silver 3.2CL Type S with Spoiler and Navi

 

"screw them into the dealers head", couldn't agree more. Acura supplies a plastic plate holder that attaches with two screws under the bumper!

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Eat Safe, Use Condiments
red CL-S, non-Nav

 

lucky me..my dealer had the plate mount on a special plastic frame and mouunt it under the way it should be..so when i take the plate off..the bumper is prefect...

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2001 Acura Red CL Type S.
1997 Honda Civic EX.
!!!! VTEC Power !!!!
Powered by HONDA
Powered by MUGEN

typescl@yahoo.com

 

I believe they drill the front bumper in states that have mandatory front plate laws. I recall reading that awhile ago.

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2001 Silver 3.2CLS
-Muds, Spoiler, Hardwire 8500, Prolarg M-6 lamps
Planning: Comptech Headers, Sways, CAI

 

"screw them into the dealers head" - priceless. . Yeah they are dumbasses for messing up the bumber. You might have a tough time getting them to replace the bumber, but they should repair it.



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'01 Satin Silver w/Black, Navi_less, spoiler, mud guards, wind deflector.
Tint 15%, Polarqs M6s, Things to come: sub, air kit (if exists), maybe headers, CAI, and spring/sway combo.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1603513&a=12224080

 

Same thing happened to me! I went back to the Dealer, spoke to the Sales Mgr. and the Service Mgr. I showed them the two mounting bolts at the bottom and asked them why in the world would they be so stupid to screw sheet metal screws into the bumper fascia!

The Service Mgr. told me that they are included in the license plate mounting kit package, and they were installing them per "factory instuctions"! Pure Bullshit!

I told them that I wanted it fixed - they came back with, "It's illegal NOT to have the front plate on, so it doesn't matter", and that there had been prior vibration problems, that's why the factory now provides and instructs to screw into the fascia. They gave me a free bottle of touch-up paint to help hide to holes. Whoopie!

[This message has been edited by Ogolden1 (edited 03-23-2001).]

 

I have the same plate holder, but still don't like how the plate sits above the bumper. I think it would be simple to get brackets that "flip" the license plate holder upside down so that it sits below. Anyone have that setup? I'm just lazy, but I plan to do it.



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01 Silver CL-S, Navi, Spoiler
Retired: 94 540i

 

You know thats not a bad idea at all. I have yet to get pulled over for mine but if I do I just may do it that way.

 

Hmmm, VA requires front license plates but there are no drillholes in the front of my car. I thought it was dealer preference?

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White/Ebony CL Type S with Navi

 

Mine is drilled into the front bumper as well. The NAZI sate of NJ requires front plates and will give you expensive tickets if you don't have them.

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01 CL-S NightHawk Black/Ebony Bowling Ball Interior

 

To be honest with you I would be fucking pist. Take the car back to the dealer and ask them what they are going to do to fix it.

 

Nup. The scenic Garden Police State of NJ absolutely requires front and rear plates. My car has the plastic frame mount that avoids the holes in the bumper.

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"01" CL Type-S
White\Black
Comptech Springs
Comptech Sways
Navigation System
Burlwood Shifter
Guards+Fenderwell Trim
PIAA16969
Smokers Package
My Car

 

That's cuz u bought fm a good dealer...when did you buy yours?

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01 CL-S NightHawk Black/Ebony Bowling Ball Interior

 

I totally agree! A front plate is required here in Texas, but I took mine off and there were no holes drilled in the bumper. This is something YOUR dealer did, not the factory. Meaning, your car was delivered to you outside of the factory specs and should be fixed.



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2001 Acura 3.2CL Type-S
Satin Silver/Ebony
No Navi
No Badges

Competch springs/35% tint/Wheel locks/Splash guards/PIAA 19169 bulbs/K&N 33-2178 air filter/Mobil-1 5W-30 oil & filter/Shine by Meguiar's/One scratched rim

 

No drill holes but scrathes for not taking my plates out sooner.

No plates for me in va

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CL-S
White/Ebony/Navi/Spoiler/Visor/Full Bra/Mud Guards/Cargo Net/Acura Car Cover/Tint 20%,35%,5% on Sun Roof, Rockford 250a2 Amp w/JL10w6 / K&N Drop in Filter. Comptech Springs. Polarg m-6.
Comptech Headers, Comptech Sways, Eurolite Xenon Crystal high beams.
AEM CAI once they decide to make the dame thing.
235/40/17's or 225/45/17's once I found out which one works for me.

gtech 0-60 6.03 w/ 438 pound load. preheader.

 

what a bunch of fucks. i'll bring my makita drill or better yet, i'll drill their teeth without anesthetic, just say when.

superdds

 

first "mod" I made. had the under-bolts - no drill holes either. I keep it in my trunk. Have yet to be stopped for it yet here in MD (where they are required).


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2001 Acura CL Type S, black/ebony, spoiler, 35% tint, V1, comptech springs, weather mats, piaa19170-doors, piaa19169-road lamps, pia19168-map lights
aim:silvn1
goldn1

 

Also req'd in CA, but I won't do them... I will just keep the plate handy and toss in the dash.. there it if occifer, facing the front like it should.... :-)

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2001 CL Type S w/ NAV & Spoiler. San Marino Red/Parchment int. Purchased 2/28/01.

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1584587&a=12058921

 

regarding putting the front plate up without drill holes, how is this done?
Is the plate below the bumper, in the open space? I'm planning to purchase a CL this weekend (or next) and want to make sure I don't get "screwed".

It looks like there's probably a way to mount it below the bumper, in the open space in the air dam. Anyone got pics of this?

 

Here is a pic of my car with the front plate removed. There are two screws located under the front bumper where the arrows are pointing to.

http://theaviationzone.com/temp/cl-s/Image8a.jpg




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2001 Acura 3.2CL Type-S
Satin Silver/Ebony
No Navi
No Badges

Competch springs/35% tint/Wheel locks/Splash guards/PIAA 19169 bulbs/K&N 33-2178 air filter/Mobil-1 5W-30 oil & filter/Shine by Meguiar's/One scratched rim

 

Thanks for the pic MikeN, the car looks great.

What I was asking for was a pic from someone that has a front plate mounted without drilling holes. Here in Cali, we have to have front plates (I got busted a few years ago for that on my old 300zx).

I was hoping someone had a way to mount the front plate below the bumper or otherwise without drilling and still had it look good.

 

Mine is mounted below the bumper. There is a bracket under there, it's factory - no holes in the bumper are required! My car had the front plate on it when I bought it, all I did was unscrew the two bolts from underneath and removed the frame.

I would suggest going to the dealer and look at the cars on the lot. Whether they display a front plate or not, you should still see the mounting bracket beneath the bumber. That's all you'll need to attach the plate.


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2001 Acura 3.2CL Type-S
Satin Silver/Ebony
No Navi
No Badges

Competch springs/35% tint/Wheel locks/Splash guards/PIAA 19169 bulbs/K&N 33-2178 air filter/Mobil-1 5W-30 oil & filter/Shine by Meguiar's/One scratched rim

 

I too had the plate SCREWED right into the bumber. I was pissed.
When I took the plate off I cleaned up the holes with a sharp exacto knife, cut two round circles out of vinyl (you can get it at any sign shop, I found a great match for silver)
Placed the circles over the holes. Not as good as never having them there in the first place, but what are you gonna do?

 

I too had the plate SCREWED right into the bumber. I was pissed.
When I took the plate off I cleaned up the holes with a sharp exacto knife, cut two round circles out of vinyl (you can get it at any sign shop, I found a great match for silver)
Placed the circles over the holes. Not as good as never having them there in the first place, but what are you gonna do?

 

No drill holes on mine. The factory bracket that came with the car mounted under the car with 2 screws. No holes in the bumper though.

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01 3.2 CLS Non-Navi
San Marino Red
Tinted 35% all the way

 

Maybe this is what you had in mind:

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?...940&p=44652205

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?...940&p=44652191

I had the same terrible experience with my dealer when I bought my car (i.e.- two holes drilled into the plastic bumper). They refused to fix it. As luck would have it, 10 days after buying my car, I was rear ended - with some minor damage also to the front bumper. When they fixed the front bumper, they also filled in the ridiculous holes the dealer had drilled. Otherwise, I think I would have been on my own (the Gods must have been smiling that day... or at least they hate car dealers as much as we do ...) Anyhow, I can post details on my plate mount if you're interested (it's a bit rinky dink, but its worked so far - 12k miles).

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'01 CL Type S NAV, Black/Black, Comptech headers, springs, .28 tint, Solaris hi-beams, Pilot remote fogs, Zaino faithful; CAI (Xephyr) on order; Comptech sways, Koni shocks to come.

[This message has been edited by redline (edited 03-24-2001).]

[This message has been edited by redline (edited 03-24-2001).]

 

That's actually much more of what I had in mind. I'll let you know when I actually get the car and have a chance to spend some time lookin into it. It certainly looks possible tho. Thanks for the pics.