for people that have bumper plugs......
11-02-07, 07:45 AM
#1
Driver
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: TX
Posts: 186
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
for people that have bumper plugs......
Has anyone able to fit them WITHOUT redrilling to widen the holes? I would like to be able to put the plates back on whenever the need arise.
11-02-07, 08:11 AM
#2
Pit Crew
Bumper Plugs
I just went to NAPA Auto Parts and bought some black plastic plugs (Balkamp p/n 665-2436 called "Retaining Clips"), painted them last night with my Lexus touch up paint and plugged them into the existing license plate holes this morning - without having to redrill anything. Total cost was about $5 for a bag of 10 plugs plus the touch up paint, which I already had. I too was concerned and didn't want to make the already ugly hole any larger, especially if I ended up putting my front plate back on. The top of the plug is about 1/2" in diameter which is what I needed to cover the hole. My hole was about 3/16". The plugs just snapped right in without a problem.
Last edited by twitte; 03-25-09 at 02:38 PM. Reason: Added a photo and part number for plugs
11-02-07, 08:22 AM
#3
Lead Lap
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 446
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
haha... oh man.. I wish I thought of doing that... I got mine from bumperplugs.com... hopefully they'll be better in quality. I get them today and I'll be installing them this weekend... I don't think I'll have to resize the holes, but we'll see.
11-02-07, 08:28 AM
#4
Pit Crew
Bumper Plugs
I did the same thing (buying black plastic plugs from the auto parts store and repainting them with my touchup paint) for 2 Porsches and it works great. They look pretty good too. I almost bought the plugs from bumperplugs.com but didn't like the idea of having to drill the hole larger. Also after paying shipping it was $33 for 2 plugs. If I wanted a custom color (they didn't have my exact color) it would have been $129. Ouch!
When you get your plugs today could you please take a photo of them before you install them? I would really like to see what they look like (the part that goes into the bumper). Thanks.
When you get your plugs today could you please take a photo of them before you install them? I would really like to see what they look like (the part that goes into the bumper). Thanks.
Last edited by twitte; 11-02-07 at 08:38 AM.
11-02-07, 08:54 AM
#5
Driver
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: TX
Posts: 186
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I just went to NAPA Auto Parts and bought some black plastic plugs, painted them last night with my Lexus touch up paint and plugged them into the existing license plate holes this morning - without having to redrill anything. Total cost was about $5 for a bag of 10-15 plugs plus the touch up paint, which I already had. I too was concerned and didn't want to make the already ugly hole any larger, especially if I ended up putting my front plate back on. The top of the plug is about 1/2" in diameter which is what I needed to cover the hole. My hole was about 3/16". The plugs just snapped right in without a problem.
11-02-07, 09:11 AM
#7
Pit Crew
Bumper Plugs
Yes, I just went out to my car and pulled one out with my finger nails. They are in tight enough so they won't vibrate out but can be removed without a problem. Take a look at the photo of the part that snaps into the bumper and make sure you get the same design. NAPA has them.
Last edited by twitte; 11-02-07 at 09:15 AM.
Trending Topics
11-05-07, 12:49 AM
#8
Lead Lap
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 446
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
They look much more solid than the ones you took pictures for. Sorry I didn't get a chance to take pictures or mount them yet. Will do so later today. I'm taking the car into the shop for some TSIBs in the morning...
11-06-07, 11:31 AM
#9
Lead Lap
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 446
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hey all,
I finally got the bumper plugs pictures uploaded. Lexus still has my car, so I haven't installed them yet.
more pics here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mitalum...7602964048150/
I finally got the bumper plugs pictures uploaded. Lexus still has my car, so I haven't installed them yet.
more pics here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mitalum...7602964048150/
11-06-07, 11:41 AM
#10
Pit Crew
Thanks for the photos. They look like a good quality plug. Let us know if you really had to drill the hole larger or the plug would fit into the existing license plate hole.
11-06-07, 01:21 PM
#12
Lexus Champion
I just went to NAPA Auto Parts and bought some black plastic plugs (Balkamp p/n 665-2436 called "Retaining Clips"), painted them last night with my Lexus touch up paint and plugged them into the existing license plate holes this morning - without having to redrill anything. Total cost was about $5 for a bag of 10 plugs plus the touch up paint, which I already had. I too was concerned and didn't want to make the already ugly hole any larger, especially if I ended up putting my front plate back on. The top of the plug is about 1/2" in diameter which is what I needed to cover the hole. My hole was about 3/16". The plugs just snapped right in without a problem.
11-07-07, 09:45 AM
#13
Lead Lap
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 446
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So... I took off my license plate frame this morning to take a look at the holes.. it does look like I'll need to drill bigger ones, but...
the license plate screws put two dents into my bumper! I'm not talking about the ones that hold the frame to the car, I'm talking about the ones that hold the license plate to the bumper! I've never hit anyone or gotten hit. Has anyone else had this problem? Do the techs at the dealership that install these frames use an electric screwdriver and tighten too much? I didn't get a chance to take pictures this morning, but I can post ones later this week if it doesn't make any sense.
the license plate screws put two dents into my bumper! I'm not talking about the ones that hold the frame to the car, I'm talking about the ones that hold the license plate to the bumper! I've never hit anyone or gotten hit. Has anyone else had this problem? Do the techs at the dealership that install these frames use an electric screwdriver and tighten too much? I didn't get a chance to take pictures this morning, but I can post ones later this week if it doesn't make any sense.
11-07-07, 09:53 AM
#15
Pit Crew
So... I took off my license plate frame this morning to take a look at the holes.. it does look like I'll need to drill bigger ones, but...
the license plate screws put two dents into my bumper! I'm not talking about the ones that hold the frame to the car, I'm talking about the ones that hold the license plate to the bumper! I've never hit anyone or gotten hit. Has anyone else had this problem? Do the techs at the dealership that install these frames use an electric screwdriver and tighten too much? I didn't get a chance to take pictures this morning, but I can post ones later this week if it doesn't make any sense.
the license plate screws put two dents into my bumper! I'm not talking about the ones that hold the frame to the car, I'm talking about the ones that hold the license plate to the bumper! I've never hit anyone or gotten hit. Has anyone else had this problem? Do the techs at the dealership that install these frames use an electric screwdriver and tighten too much? I didn't get a chance to take pictures this morning, but I can post ones later this week if it doesn't make any sense.