Hey,

This is my first post! I bought my evo over the weekend and gave it a bath today and noticed the front license plate bracket is held on by screws into the bumper. I can't believe someone would drill holes into the bumper. I'd like to remove the plate bracket but I don't want holes in my bumper.

Anyone else have the same problem?

Crack.

 

That sucks. we dont have to run front plates here, but I bought my car from a dealer out of state where they do have front plates,
and the first thing I told them over the phone was not to install a front plate holder.

 

Wait- you mean like they took sheetmetal screws and just drilled into the bumper? Or are there tapped holes that hold the screw/bolt for the license plate?
If not in the provided bracket, then were will you keep your plate?

Yes, the pigs will pull you over and at least hassle you about it. It's happened to me in Lynnwood and Seattle.

 

yeah, they just drilled into the bumper. I guess I need a front plate but damn, there's got to be a better way.

Crack.

 

that's effed, dude. I'd be driving straight back to the dealer for that one. . . got any pics?

 

i just left the rubber grommet on it but im looking for a white rubber plug to fit in there and hopefully the same color also.i havent had any problems w/o my front plates yet even though i got pulled over once in a roundup situation.they saw i had no front plates and they didnt say anything about it and they just let me go.

 

Ya the Lancers have that too. Mine did. It looks like crap when no plate is there.

 

That's why I asked for pics- to see it they REALLY effed up the bumper and just drilled screws into it (hard to believe) or if he just doesn't like the look of the rubber plate holders.

 

i live in IL...and u HAVE to have a front plate...and although i only got temporary plates...its only on the back...and i fly down the road at 10 over and cops are goin the other way and stuff...and they never catch me...i didnt have them on the front of my grandam for like...4 months and i'd go on the airforce base here all the time and they never said anything...but they told my sister she had to have them on her 98 grandam, roflmao....so im not gonna put em on the front of my lancer until im told to

couldnt u just bondo over the hole or something? than sand/paint to match it. or just buy a body kit for it

 

Ok people i had the same thing with my lancer.... My friend has a si and he went to the honda dealership and asked for the plugs that they put in there bumpers when they ship them from the plant. they come black whick works good for me since my car is black.. but all you have to do is sand them down, paint them and stick them in. You have to ask for them in the shop dept. not the parts becuse they will tell you that they dont have them.. but when i went and got mine they had a whole bucket full.

 

either that or do what i'm doing and get a Japanese plate for the front!

 

i'm not sure about the lancer plate mounts, but with the evo side-mount (to protect air-flow to the fmic), the plate attaches via 2 bolts which are pre-drilled, and cannot be seen. however, there is a third optional "leg" on the plate holder which needs to be bolted into (need to drill a holl) the bumper, if you want to use it. the dealership did not use the optional leg with my '03 evo, but with my MR, they used the optional leg and drilled a hole.

interestingly enough, i got both cars from the same dealership (walker's renton mitsu).

i live in Seattle.

 

my recollection is that in washington state, not only is the front plate required, but it is also required to be at the furthest point forward on the car, and in the center.

FWIW.

 

i bought at premier in beaverton OR, as did most the the evo driving guys in the portland area. they are doing this to. i took the bracket off, and dont have the front plate on, and havent had a problme yet. i keep it stashed under the passenger side rear floormat, so that i can grab it if one arrises. as far as the hole, i have seen a few with a rubber cork type thing stuffed in there, and it isnt even noticible. whoever is drilling these holes (dealer, factory, or someone between) should stop.

 

i never installed my front plates. dont plan on ever doing it either. cops pulled me over once but i dont think he noticed.