Zipit555

I am currently in the market for a used ES 350. There is only one option of Lexus dealers locally but plenty within two hours. The issue I am having is the neighboring state where the other dealers are require front license plates. My state does not and I am wondering what the front bumper would look like if the front license plate bracket is removed. Are there screw holes that will be left behind? Has anybody removed the front license plate bracket to find that it looks OK after removal. Thanks.

EJC

We have ours registered in NC - no front plate.
The bracket was never installed. here's a pic

bc6152

I don't know what year you're looking for, but on the 2013 there are holes in the piece that seperates the top from the bottom grill.
that is where the plate would be mounted. Proceeding years I'm not so sure.

Brent1944

actually looks pretty good. You put plates on according to laws where you live..I used the bracket with the car plus a chrome cover. You can see the dimples . drill a much smaller hole in dimple.. use screws provided to attach the bracket, then choose a cover u like or no cover..ON the 2016. you would be hard pressed to see the holes ..You could do what I did when I lived in AZ which only required one plate when we moved there from Missouri.. I bought a Kansas City Chiefs plate and put it on the front. Looks better than the holes left in bumper

Freds430

This is my first Lexus. Have previously owned many Acura's who have a bracket that was bolted under the bumper for easy removal with no holes drilled in the bumper. With you Lexus you will have two screw holes left in your painted bumper. A solution is check out a company called bumper plugs. They make color matching plugs that can be inserted in the holes.

Brent1944

Ive already installed it.. the holes/dimples are hid between the grill and set way back and is black.. . If i took mine off now.. you cant see the holes unless u get on yr knees right in front of the car...

Mike728

Since the OP said he's looking for used, the older grill style will be more obvious when removed. The holes are drilled into the center painted portion of the nose.

I'm still glad I didn't have mine drilled. Only one ticket in 3 years!

Brent1944

True. Im not familiar with older ones.. Like i said you can add a plate from your fav team if you dont want holes.. I considered not putting it on..but im **** I guess, it actually looks good on it..

Zipit555

Sorry....should have mentioned looking at '13-'15. Sounds like a few noticeable screw holes would be left behind. Limits my options to just my state (doesn't require front plate so most of used vehicles here don't have the front bracket installed). I would prefer not to have obvious holes in the front bumper and would rather not have a plate bracket left on there with some other sort of fill in for the license plate......although I suppose if push came to shove I could put a sports team plate on there. Will have to look into the bumper plugs....never knew such a thing existed.

Zipit555

Has anyone used the bumper plugs before? From the pics, they don't look too bad. Might be a viable option. What do these actually look like installed?

sanyata

Bumper plugs is a great company with excellent products. Eric the owner is an active member on a Porsche forum I participate in. I don't know about the most recent models of Porsche but earlier one like my 2001 had holes in the front bumper from the factory. I used bumper plugs products for my bumper as well as key hole plugs for the door locks and the rear wiper hole left after I removed it from my car. His quality is excellent as is his customer service. They make way more than the plugs, check their site out.
Disclaimer: I've no association with the company.

Zipit555

Do they blend into the bumper unobtrusively or do you definitely see that they are there?

sanyata

The paint is a perfect match but they are caps with a stem that plugs into the hole, so you can definitely see them but they're not obtrusive.