Best number plate / plate holder style

[DAL344]

Hmm, I'm not sure about the existance of a template. If there is one, Philip would know

Corey there is a template for the rear cus Phil made one up for me!
I don't have it as I left it with Dermot when he fitted mine!
I would suggest anybody that has ordered or is in the process of ordering asking for it to be included with your brackets.

[dave_r]

Corey there is a template for the rear cus Phil made one up for me!

I knew I didn't make it up

[Guest1306]

There is a template but it is kind of pointless. The screws on the rear are self tapping and require no drilling anyway, so lining up the bracket is straight forward...

All in all DAL344's plates took me about 15 minutes to fit, which included buffing the front bumper after removing the factory number plate holder and seeing all the minor scratches.... eeek

[elisiX]

Yeah when I removed my plate bracked on the front I was worried about there being scratches / indents but I was lucky.

[MattD]

Sorry guys, I have been looking everywhere - is there any instructions on how to remove the front number plate bracket on the R? I know a few of you have done it already..

Thanks
Matt

[Corey_R]

Hey MattD.

When people previous to me did it, it was on the GTI's, and they said that they could just push the "centre pins" out with a screw driver. I tried that, and a few of the guys at Surface Tech (where I had my car wrapped in Ventureshield) tried it, but we pushed so hard the bumper felt like it was going to cave in, and those dam pins didn't budge!

So I borrowed one of their drills, and just drilled them out! (lol... I'd literally only taken delivery of the car less than an hour earlier, and I was already taking to it with power tools!).

I used a drill bit of about 4 or 5 mmm, can't remember the exact size. It was smaller than the pins as all I wanted to do was take out the centre of them. I was then able to pull out the rest of the pin material, then pull off the plate holder, and the plugs.

Hope that helps

[REXman]

Sorry guys, I have been looking everywhere - is there any instructions on how to remove the front number plate bracket on the R? I know a few of you have done it already..

Thanks
Matt

Hey I did it by myself (no help) and just lined it up like a pirate.

To get the front tabs/screws out.. what I used was a Screw driver (phillips head) and a hammer.

Put the point of the screw driver in the dead centre of the factory tabs/screws.

What happens is that the centre of the tab actually ends up snapping out of the tab. (and you might already know, but I didnt - which was kinda weird cause you are just bashing and not knowing what to look out for!)

I used the side of the hammer, onto the handle of the screw driver. Then, finally, after some SOLID whacking the middle just pops out.

Never blame your tools!

But yeah, for my lovely hands, It took some serious whacks!

As for lining it up I just estimated it.. I got OCD though and have always been pretty good at judging things like that.. I just suck at the practical side of mechanic work cause I get frustrated and break ****!

[Corey_R]

Yeah - I wasn't willing to hit the thing that hard.... I didn't want to have any chance of the number plate holder causing any scratches or marks (which some people have unfortunately found when removing it!). So hence I swapped to the drill

[REXman]

Channel the force danielson! You won't leave any scratches hopefully if hit right.

Ps it 36 degrees today and I'm hating it! Can't wait for winter!

[MattD]

tried it, but we pushed so hard the bumper felt like it was going to cave in, and those dam pins didn't budge!

Haha - I can relate, day 2 of taking delivery, I felt like I was going to remodel the front end trying to push these damn pins out.

Thanks heaps (in advance) - depending on what happens with my drilling tonight! haha

[Corey_R]

I figure you may as well just drill them out. The Lakin holders are made specific to a plate-type and car-type - so it's not like you're ever going to need to put the OEM holder back on....

[dave_r]

Glad I got lazy and never bothered, sounds like too much work hehe. Mine are still hanging on with the cheap double sided tape I got from bunnings!

[Looseunit]

I've just received my Lakin plate brackets / Kingpin covers, and I can't wait to get stuck in with the hammer and drill. I know people have said this before, but I wanted to give Philip at Lakin a big thumbs up for the great customer service - including giving me a call and talking me through the options, rather than just trying to get my order out the door without any thought. Great Work!

[shakespeare]

I've just received my Lakin plate brackets / Kingpin covers, and I can't wait to get stuck in with the hammer and drill. I know people have said this before, but I wanted to give Philip at Lakin a big thumbs up for the great customer service - including giving me a call and talking me through the options, rather than just trying to get my order out the door without any thought. Great Work!

+1 Philip also called me and gave me some advice! Also the instructions were well worded and the product is excellent

[joec]

Btw guys, if you happen to BYO your own plate. Does the dealer need to refund the slim line fees?