My '02 was imported to Michigan from Texas where they require a front license plate. Since Michigan doesn't, I would like to remove the front plate housing. Can this be done without leaving a large mark on the bumper? Solutions for the two holes drilled into the bumper? Am I better off just buying a "Lexus" plate to put in the frame? Thanks.

 

Four options:

- "Lexus" plate in the existing frame.

- Remove frame, leaving two bolt heads and then put chrome caps on the heads.

- Remove frame entirely, fill the holes, and paint with touch-up paint. Yes, it will show.

- Remove frame entirely and have a bodyshop fill the holes and refinish the front bumper. My bodyshop (Lawrence Autobody in Brighton) did this for about $500. Other places may do this for about $200 and up.

 

These:
http://www.bumperplugs.com/BPindex.html

IMO if you are going to hang a "Lexus" plate, might as well just have both license plates on.

 

I just took off the front plate bracket (my car was from IL). Yes there are 2 drilled holes in the bumper, but it honestly doesn't look that bad (a lot better than that hideous plate mounting bracket). My local body shop (VCR) wanted $600. I figure i might as well wait until some moron backs into me and then get a new one from insurance $$. I bought a set of bumper plugs, but they didn't fit.

 

i used some plastic screw head covers from some old laminated cabinets i had laying around. Since my bumper was black, i enlarged the holes to accommodate them, then i just painted them with a glossy black can of stray paint. They looked something like this before i put them in...

http://www.abbeykitchens.co.uk/images/uploads/PC8.jpg

 

I seem to recall a web site that specifically sold plugs in matching color for this problem. You might try a search for that.

 

I took my front bracket off and discovered not only two ugly self-tapped holes, as I expected, but also two dimples in the bumper where license plate bolts (that were way too long ) dug in when the front plate was mounted. This stopped me from doing the plug method.

I found an old clean license plate the I had saved (crazy **** retentive behavior) and mounted it on the re-installed front bracket.

To me, it's the best looking alternative (short of having the bumper refinished).

 

I have 2 holes protruding out of the bumper so I was limited for options (either reinstall bracket, have it filled at the price of a slice of my kidney, or leave it as is...I left it as is). I'll try to snap some pics.

 

Where in MI r u moving to

 

Thank you for your suggestions. I took the frame off and found the two screw holes. In addition, the chrome bumper strip has 2 small half circle marks from the tip of the bolt that held the front plate to the frame. The rest of the area cleaned up pretty well.

The website for bumper plugs looked good and listed Lexus Millenium Silver as a color option. First, I am going to try to find a chrome headed screw and washer to put in the hole. This should contrast nicely with the silver finish and draw the eye from marks on the bumper strip. If it doesn't work, I will order bumper plugs. It may not look perfect but it will be better than the frame.

I don't think it is worth refinishing the bumper, silver is tough to match. You might as well wait for a mishap (despite your best efforts) and let insurance cover it. Once I figure it out, I will try to post a picture or two.