front bumper help! (license plate holes)
#1
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Half Moon Bay, Cali.
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
front bumper help! (license plate holes)
Okie so i need your guys help. I'm looking for a front panel or something to cover up the license plate holes from the dealership. I tried www.bumperplugs.com and i ended up returning the plugs because they were too thick for the holes already in my bumper. I see other cars like mine where their front bumper is clean with no front plate holes or a license plate and i'm so jelous cus i want mine to look like that!
Can anyone help me out??? thanx u guys.
Can anyone help me out??? thanx u guys.
#2
unfortunately there are not many economical solutions for your problem. you will likely have to live with the look of bumper plugs, get the holes filled and repaint the bumper at a body shop, or get a new bumper. the two latter options just don't seem to be worth it for me. you could always go with bumper plugs and get an aftermarket grille or something so that it shifts attention away from the bumper plugs to your new grille! GL
#3
Are these too big for you?
http://aircraftpaintprotection.net/a...f67337312ba15d
Check out the Vendor Page for Aerotect
http://aircraftpaintprotection.net/a...f67337312ba15d
Check out the Vendor Page for Aerotect
#5
You have a nunber of options, none of which are great.
1) Use the bumperplugs and live with it.
2) My local dealer puts on small chome "Lexus " License plate that does not look horrible, not great either
3) Replace the entire front bumper cover. $$$$
4) Have a body shop fill in the holes and repaint. My lexus dealer found an IS 300 for my duaghter's boyfriend a few years back and it came with a front license plate that is not used here in PA. He had them fill in the holes at N/C to him. Perhaps if you talk with your Lexus dealer, they might be willing to do it at a reduced charge? Worst they can say is no.
1) Use the bumperplugs and live with it.
2) My local dealer puts on small chome "Lexus " License plate that does not look horrible, not great either
3) Replace the entire front bumper cover. $$$$
4) Have a body shop fill in the holes and repaint. My lexus dealer found an IS 300 for my duaghter's boyfriend a few years back and it came with a front license plate that is not used here in PA. He had them fill in the holes at N/C to him. Perhaps if you talk with your Lexus dealer, they might be willing to do it at a reduced charge? Worst they can say is no.
#6
Just use bumper plugs, it's reversible and the most cost effective. You're in California so you never know when you'll get a ticket for not having your front plate. You can just go to your local autoparts stores and get some body clips, there are many types of them so you can pick the one that fits your taste. Do some research on CL and you'll find your answers.
#7
ill do you one better
at NAPA... there are plugs that fit pretty perfect.. you will have to paint them, I am in that process myself right now having bought a Glacier Frost 3 stage paint kid...or you can touch em up, or get em painted... but they fit the whole you just have to push them in... there was a thread on this where someone did it and it looks pretty damn good... he (Twitte) used a specific part:
"The part number that I got from NAPA was:
Balkamp p/n 665-2436 called "Retaining Clips"
This worked perfectly for me without any drilling of the holes. It all depends on what size holes your dealer drilled into your bumper. See the earlier posts and photos (and measurements that I gave to confirm you have the same hole size). My holes were 3/16."
These will work you just need to decide how to get em painted.
"The part number that I got from NAPA was:
Balkamp p/n 665-2436 called "Retaining Clips"
This worked perfectly for me without any drilling of the holes. It all depends on what size holes your dealer drilled into your bumper. See the earlier posts and photos (and measurements that I gave to confirm you have the same hole size). My holes were 3/16."
These will work you just need to decide how to get em painted.
Trending Topics
#8
Lexus Champion
at NAPA... there are plugs that fit pretty perfect.. you will have to paint them, I am in that process myself right now having bought a Glacier Frost 3 stage paint kid...or you can touch em up, or get em painted... but they fit the whole you just have to push them in... there was a thread on this where someone did it and it looks pretty damn good... he (Twitte) used a specific part:
"The part number that I got from NAPA was:
Balkamp p/n 665-2436 called "Retaining Clips"
This worked perfectly for me without any drilling of the holes. It all depends on what size holes your dealer drilled into your bumper. See the earlier posts and photos (and measurements that I gave to confirm you have the same hole size). My holes were 3/16."
These will work you just need to decide how to get em painted.
"The part number that I got from NAPA was:
Balkamp p/n 665-2436 called "Retaining Clips"
This worked perfectly for me without any drilling of the holes. It all depends on what size holes your dealer drilled into your bumper. See the earlier posts and photos (and measurements that I gave to confirm you have the same hole size). My holes were 3/16."
These will work you just need to decide how to get em painted.
+1
just went to a auto parts store and bought some small ones for about $2 then used touch up paint....since I had park sensors, they blended right in.
#9
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Half Moon Bay, Cali.
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
at NAPA... there are plugs that fit pretty perfect.. you will have to paint them, I am in that process myself right now having bought a Glacier Frost 3 stage paint kid...or you can touch em up, or get em painted... but they fit the whole you just have to push them in... there was a thread on this where someone did it and it looks pretty damn good... he (Twitte) used a specific part:
"The part number that I got from NAPA was:
Balkamp p/n 665-2436 called "Retaining Clips"
This worked perfectly for me without any drilling of the holes. It all depends on what size holes your dealer drilled into your bumper. See the earlier posts and photos (and measurements that I gave to confirm you have the same hole size). My holes were 3/16."
These will work you just need to decide how to get em painted.
"The part number that I got from NAPA was:
Balkamp p/n 665-2436 called "Retaining Clips"
This worked perfectly for me without any drilling of the holes. It all depends on what size holes your dealer drilled into your bumper. See the earlier posts and photos (and measurements that I gave to confirm you have the same hole size). My holes were 3/16."
These will work you just need to decide how to get em painted.
I'll try NAPA for that part. Thanx again.
#12
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Arizona
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
License Plate Holes
Picked up my new ES350 two days ago---came from Kalifornia and had the dreaded two holes in the front bumper. I bought the recommended NAPA Balkamp p/n 665-2436 Retaining Clips. Roughed up gently with sandpaper and sprayed a very light coat of automotive primer. Followed with two brushed coats of Matador Red Mica touch up paint. Let dry over night then lightly sanded w/ 600 grit and finished w/ polishing compound (NOT rubbing compound---made that mistake in the past). Cleaned up the holes, pressed in place and they look PERFECT as if the car came from Japan that way. WARNING: I made beeg mistake by "trial fitting" the unpainted plugs to see how they looked. A really nasty job getting them out without scratching my new bumper so be patient. Thank you to previous posters who recommended those NAPA plugs!
#13
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: TN
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Try these plugs and they come painted to match your car!
http://aerotect.net/catalog/product_...65a0ca94d56a39
http://aerotect.net/catalog/product_...65a0ca94d56a39
#14
Driver
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: il
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ok.. im in the same boat as you. but the issue im having is that i have 4 holes on my because the idiot dealer used a too long of a bolt for the LP and ended up gouging the bumper.
solution : im having my local vynil shop get the closest vynil to match my SGM and just sticking that on the LP area. simple, clean, and cheap.
solution : im having my local vynil shop get the closest vynil to match my SGM and just sticking that on the LP area. simple, clean, and cheap.
#15
Driver
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: CA
Posts: 162
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I just did mine last week with Napa plugs, costed around $5 for a bag of 10 and I used touch up paint to paint the plugs. Didnt have to drill but I had to sand down the "volcano" holes a bit to make the surface flat. Check out this thread...
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...per-plugs.html
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...per-plugs.html
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post