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R172 - Bending your front plate (UK)

17K views 24 replies 11 participants last post by  Quaser8386 
#1 ·
I'm aware not everyone has this requirement, but in the UK if I want to change the plates I need to get a bend into my replacement front reg.

Does anyone have any experience of how to do this without destroying the plate, or worse, the car?

Although I'm sure this must have been asked before I couldn't drag anything up in a search. Apologies in advance if it is just me being dumb.
 
#2 ·
I used my wife's hairdryer :laugh:

Then used 3m foam pads to stick it on, nice and neat, no holes or screws :tu:
 
#3 ·
Take two piles of books or any similar objects & protecting the face of the plate with a soft cloth, place it upside down as if to form a bridge. Place something in the centre of the plate just heavy enough for it to bend slightly. Leave for a while near a gentle eat source such as a radiator or sunny window shelf.
Then, avoiding a very cold day place numerous double sided adhesive pads (as supplied by the likes of Halfrauds) across the back of the plate which should be now have at least some natural bend to it.
Fit to the number plate plinth & IMMEDIATLEY place strong masking tape over the edges onto the surrounding plinth & bodywork. Leave 24 hrs.
The plate SHOULD stay in place & not start to come away at the ends. However as per my experience with 3 cars with the same design of curved plinth you may have to drill a hole at either end of the plate, mid-way between top & bottom & screw in some proper number plate screws that have a white hinged top to hide the shiny screw.
 
#4 ·
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#7 ·
Decent ( and i mean decent ) double sided foam tape will stick a front number plate on without any issues or falling off .

Been using that method to fit many number plates on and had one on for 11.7 years plus plus .

So i think its strong enough .
And no real prep work is req as such as number plates are very flexible but better on a warmer day . :grin:

Never use screws they give an awlful finish plus water / moisture / air gets in there and starts opening up the number plate far far quicker if its non drilled . :grin:

Plus drilling / screwing goes through your bumber behind and you should see how many times its been drilled in its lifetime . :crying:
 
#6 ·
It's such a small thing, but I REALLY hate number plate screws showing :mad: so on all my recent cars I've replaced the plates and attached them with double sided tape.

The SLK is a little more challenging having the bend in it, I buggered up my first replacement front plate by trying a bit too too hard using a method similar to the one @oldmercman suggests above; I supported the plate face down on a book at each end and rested a book on the middle of it overnight), basically the backing came adrift from the perspex along a 3-4mm line from top to bottom right down the middle. I pushed the backing back against the plate but an unsightly mark remained.

Luckily I had another front plate, I didn't bother bending that at all before it fitted it. I just degreased all the surfaces thoroughly and then used loads and loads of strips of double sided foam tape running from top to bottom most of it stuck really well apart from the very tip of one end, but after pushing it back firmly it eventually stuck and I didn't have any further problems.

Good luck! :smile:
 
#11 ·
I needed to do this to my R170, and instead bought a new plate surround from here
Mercedes Chrome number plate surround | eBay
The clips that hold the front of the plate are strong enough to absorb the bend needed, and so there's no need for double sided foam tape or any visible screw heads or fixings. In my humble opinion I think it looks a lot tidier.
 

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#12 ·
Thanks everyone.

Are a couple of the above pics 'show plates'? Do you ever have problems with an MOT?

I want to put a couple of extra spaces in the middle (ie. XX XXX becomes XX XXX). I'd use standard font, colours etc so I don't feel like I am overly taking the proverbial. Seems I would do so at my own risk. But is it really a risk?
 
#13 ·
I don't see anything that looks remotely dubious posted in this thread. Even the pressed steel plates issue has pretty much resolved itself now and the metal plates linked are marked up to the legal standard required. Then again, the eBay seller making them does not seem to be requesting any of the paperwork you are legally required to produce so who knows if they're really BS standard or just BS?

With regard to interesting spacing etc., you're probably fine EXCEPT they'll always have a reason to pull you over and if you do do anything daft (caught speeding etc.) it's another 3 points to add to whatever else they'd normally award you.

Personally, I wouldn't. I'm driving a Mercedes SLK. It doesn't need anything to make it "special". It's special already.
 
#14 ·
Incorrect spacing is a mot failure, happened to me once.
 
#15 ·
Totally a MOT failure yes and putting in extra xxx spaces in the number plates .

You will eventually get a pull by the old bill and it will give them an excuse to check your car over fully etc .

And you will look a bit silly in spacing it out .
Your car is fine as is .

If you want your reg to stand out get a private plate on .
 
#18 ·
My UK dealer supplied car has a "bent" plastic carrier plate on the front that clips over the number plate and bends it. The carrier is screwed to the bumper. No screw holes are visible. It's obviously made for this purpose as its a perfect fit on the front bumper.
 
#25 ·
Exactly like mine. The dealer's name is on the plastic carrier plate and NOT on the number plates themselves. The dealer made my plates, didn't charge me for them, which i thought was jolly decent, as I had paid £20 to have new plates made for my wife's car only a week before (from another source, to be fair).
 
#22 ·
Thanks - I've looked at Halford and by the time I've factored in posting they only cost a fiver more than most sites unless one heads to the likes of Ebay.

My only concern with Halfords is that the quality could vary depending upon the 16yr old making them. I suppose given that I am present it will be easier to reject imperfections than via an online site.
 
#23 ·
There shouldn't be any issue with quality as it's all computerised and they are just loading up the machine and typing in the reg. They need to have the plates you want in stock of you want to take them there and then (no logo or gb euro logo should be the most common and in stock).

It will come with a protective film on it. Don't remove it until you've drilled your holes (or on the car if you're using sticky pads).

I'm away for a week otherwise I would take a picture but I'm pretty happy with them.
 
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