Best number plate / plate holder style

[hcvo1]

But then you have to have white plates on a carbon or black car... ewwww

hahaha, the whole point I wanted the white plates was that they were personalised and I wanted them to stand out.

[Corey_R]

Hehehe. Fair enough.

I can't wait to see the Lakin plate cover installed on a vehicle! Post some pics when you get the car Redman

[AdamD]

My Lakin plates (front and rear) have also arrived. All looks to be very nicely made, and the service I received from Philip was impeccable. Would definitely recommend Lakin based on my experience thus far!

Now just to wait for the GTI, and fit the brackets! ETA mid May, dammit.

[GTICam]

Here's what I've done to the front of my new GTI with black Euro plates.

I've removed the black plastic plate holder and screwed the number plate directly to the bumper. I've thought about getting the holes in the bumper filled, but I think the little black buttons don't look too bad...
Cheers,
Cam.

[Corey_R]

Thanks for posting that photo GTICam. That's what I intend to do! Although, I'm considering getting the holes filled. But you're right. Those two black buttons don't look anywhere near as bad as the silly numberplate holder!

Are you able to take another photo showing the entire front of the car to give everyone a better idea of the overall look?

[iBoost]

That actually looks pretty good Cam, I'd be interested to see a bigger shot showing the whole front if you can.

My GTI is white so I'm thinking the black plate holder is going to stand out pretty badly behind my slim line plates.

[Christopher]

That does look rather good. With mine being black, the two black buttons won't be that obvious. Did you do the work yourself? If so, how long / messy was it?

[Corey_R]

The work should take like 5 minutes to unscrew the holder, then say 10 minutes to drill the holes in the numberplate and front bumper (after CAREFULLY aligning the plate of course... don't want it crooked).

I guess the more important questions are, which type of screws did you use (I'd assume some type of 'self tapping' maybe so they don't come lose in the front bumper, and also, what did you use for the black plugs?

[STV4SYT]

That actually looks pretty good Cam, I'd be interested to see a bigger shot showing the whole front if you can.

My GTI is white so I'm thinking the black plate holder is going to stand out pretty badly behind my slim line plates.

Thats exactly why i went the white full sized eiro plates on mine.

Looks more OEM than the stuck on regular VIC slimlime plates.

[trueman]

Steve tdi
That looks great!
Now I know what to do when mine gets here eventually!!!!

[iBoost]

That looks great Steve. I've been thinking of getting the Euro plates instead perhaps.

I've got my car ordered to come with the premium slim line plates. Does anyone know what the cost at the RTA would be to swap these for Euro plates once they are on the car? Neither would be personalised ones. I'm guessing it would be the normal $400 fee?

If that is the case then I guess I better make my mind up before the car arrives.

[GTICam]

Here's what I did with my car.

The black plastic front number plate holder attaches to the bumper with 4 plastic grommets - see pic below. These grommets have a centre pin (also plastic) which holds them in the splayed position when fitted to the bumper. To remove the grommets, you need to push the centre pin out with a small screwdriver or punch. The pin will drop onto the undertray behind the lower edge of the front spoiler/grille. I couldn't retrieve the pins without removing the bumper, and I think they'll probably end up falling off the back of the undertray as I drive along - the same as small stones that pass through the grille.


It's worth noting too that I did all this when my car was a couple of days old. I think the edge of the plastic number plate holder would mark the paint on the bumper fairly quickly.


Once the pins are pushed out, the plastic number plate holder pulls off.
I then pushed the grommets back in to fill the holes. They snap in without the centre pin and should be ok as they aren't holding anything to the bumper now.

I aligned my number plate frame to cover the lower grommets/holes previously left by the holder. I put masking tape on the bumper roughly where the screw holes in the number plate were going to be, then held the plate in place and marked the hole locations with a pen. After checking the marked positions were level and equal distance from the centre, I drilled them with a 3/32"drill bit.

I used the self tapping screws (one in each top corner) that came with my number plate cover. The are about 25mm long. Be careful not to drill too deep or use screws too long as the metal structure of the bumper is about 30mm behind the plastic. Don't use too much torque to tighten the screws as the plastic of the bumper is pretty soft.

The number plate doesn't sit quite flat (because the bumper isn't flat), but it's not too bad. One day I might make up a small spacer/bracket to go between the number plate and bumper, but for now it's ok.

Remember, once you push the pins out, you are committed to doing this (or pulling the bumper or undertray off to retrieve the pins). Also, when you drill the holes in the bumper, they are above the original plastic holder - so there's no going back after that....

Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Cam.

[Corey_R]

Thanks mate! It's definitely the way to go!
Btw, two rubber washers should be enough to go inbetween the numberplate and the bumper, when you're putting the self tapping screws in, to make the numberplate sit flatter. That's what I had on my MK5 which came without this numberplate holder.

[Redman]

Hehehe. Fair enough.

I can't wait to see the Lakin plate cover installed on a vehicle! Post some pics when you get the car Redman

Yep - will do. I'll take some happy snaps along the way so everyone can see what they are about.
Looking at the first few weeks of May....The ship arrives in Port Kembla on the 29th April

[Christopher]

Thanks for th detailed description GTICam. Very user friendly.