Front number plate plinth

[JAGBOB]

Getting a 2023 P450 this weekend and I will be fitting a short front private number plate, but the cars plinth is to large. How easy is it to remove the front plinth from the front grill or is there any better ideas apart from fitting a stand large no plate?

 

[Jaguandy]

I've a short number on standard size plate. I prefer that look to a shortened plate these days.

 

[YorkshireSam]

It's probably 'bodgeable' but the P450 doesn't have a crossbar on the grille like pre-facelifts.

So without the plinth you'd have to mount directly onto the grille.

You'd need very large washers on the inside of the grille for the retaining bolts - the mesh holes are big.

The existing number plate bolts are wide apart too, so you'd need to relocate them to accommodate a short plate.

I think I recall reading about someone who'd cut a section out of the plinth then resealed it. A standard plate would definitely be easier and do suit the wide front end.

 

[NavigatorNI]

It's very easy to remove. It's just held on with 3 screws. I shortened mine by cutting out 2 equal sized pieces either side of the centre screw and plastic welding the 3 remaining pieces back together again. Although my car is MY16, maybe the more recent models are different.

 

[JAGBOB]

Hi YorkshireSam, thanks for your reply. I only have 4 digits on my plate and they look lost on standard plate lengths as I have easily got sorted on other cars. If the plate support plate is easy taken off I have a several fitting options.

 

[cj10jeeper]

I’ve shorted at least a dozen on various cars and the challenge is always what’s left either side of the shortened plinth in the way of holes or marks. Sorry but not done the facelift as mine”s earlier and it’s easy to cut and shut.

Just to make you smile my daughter was pulled this week in Wimbledon for her short 5 digit plate..
Arrogant officer gave her the opportunity to confess to what she’d done wrong, but of course nothing she knew of. He proceeded to advise her he was writing her a ticket for an illegal plate, iShe protested it was 100% legal, size, spacing font, bs, make, etc.. Finally he agreed to measure it and came back and said OK it just looked small, but here’s a leaflet about place specifications to read. She thanked him but declined having recited the spec of a uk plate.. haha don’t take on a lawyer.. He left as angry as a mosquito in a mannequin shop.

 

[scz4]

Let us know how you get on, I'm hoping to do this in a few weeks time with a 5 digit plate.

 

[YorkshireSam]

Hi YorkshireSam, thanks for your reply. I only have 4 digits on my plate and they look lost on standard plate lengths as I have easily got sorted on other cars. If the plate support plate is easy taken off I have a several fitting options.

Understandable, I'm sure you'll get something sorted.

If you want any close up photos of that area or measurements prior to picking the car up, just let me know and I'll look at mine.

It'd be good to see a follow-up post if you do sort it, as I've got a short plate on retention at the moment and would be curious to know how you decided to approach it. Good luck collecting it this weekend!

 

[scz4]

If possible, I'd love to see a picture of the plinth without the plate fitted so I can see what I'm up against. More the positioning of the screens and distance between. Thanks.

 

[JAGBOB]

I will hopefully tomorrow or Monday get some photos prior and finished for future situation.

 

[DOC IW]

Get your short personal reg onto a standard size plate for the front and a large plate for the rear; looks better than smaller plates IMO.

 

[scz4]

Get your short personal reg onto a standard size plate for the front and a large plate for the rear; looks better than smaller plates IMO. IMG_4322.jpeg

Wow, that's a monster of a plate in every way lol.

As long as you like it though, that's the main thing. Beautiful colour btw.

Always jealous of the Yanks who in most states don't need a front plate at all. And then we have the hideous yellow plates in the UK, just incase we can't tell the difference between the front and back of a car?? At least in Europe it's white all round.

 

[cj10jeeper]

Get your short personal reg onto a standard size plate for the front and a large plate for the rear; looks better than smaller plates IMO. IMG_4322.jpeg

Wow, that's a monster of a plate in every way lol.

As long as you like it though, that's the main thing. Beautiful colour btw.

Always jealous of the Yanks who in most states don't need a front plate at all. And then we have the hideous yellow plates in the UK, just incase we can't tell the difference between the front and back of a car?? At least in Europe it's white all round.

Not for me either. Can't see the point of making a big ugly rectangle even bigger than it has to be.

 

[DOC IW]

Get your short personal reg onto a standard size plate for the front and a large plate for the rear; looks better than smaller plates IMO. IMG_4322.jpeg

Wow, that's a monster of a plate in every way lol.

As long as you like it though, that's the main thing. Beautiful colour btw.

Always jealous of the Yanks who in most states don't need a front plate at all. And then we have the hideous yellow plates in the UK, just incase we can't tell the difference between the front and back of a car?? At least in Europe it's white all round.

Not for me either. Can't see the point of making a big ugly rectangle even bigger than it has to be.

I agree that the US way without a front plate at all looks way better. For the rear one, the question is do you go small to fit a short personal reg, or do you go big to show it off? I definitely see both options as valid (I may even make mine as small as is legal at some point for a change!) I decided to go big at the moment though, personal choice.

 

[cj10jeeper]

Wow, that's a monster of a plate in every way lol.

As long as you like it though, that's the main thing. Beautiful colour btw.

Always jealous of the Yanks who in most states don't need a front plate at all. And then we have the hideous yellow plates in the UK, just incase we can't tell the difference between the front and back of a car?? At least in Europe it's white all round.

Not for me either. Can't see the point of making a big ugly rectangle even bigger than it has to be.

I agree that the US way without a front plate at all looks way better. For the rear one, the question is do you go small to fit a short personal reg, or do you go big to show it off? I definitely see both options as valid (I may even make mine as small as is legal at some point for a change!) I decided to go big at the moment though, personal choice.

Of course. It's all about personal preferences and it would be a sad world if everyone though the same.
Sad that even Alfa have been made to tow the line and they can no longer have plates fitted off centre at the front

 

[scm]

Can't see the point of making a big ugly rectangle even bigger than it has to be.

When I went to collect mine the dealer had replaced the neat rectangular plate with a big one shaped to fit the orifice. I made them make up a "proper" one - I told them I'd ordered the car as seen and they could at least have asked me what sort of plate I wanted if they intended to make changes.

 

[DOC IW]

Can't see the point of making a big ugly rectangle even bigger than it has to be.

When I went to collect mine the dealer had replaced the neat rectangular plate with a big one shaped to fit the orifice. I made them make up a "proper" one - I told them I'd ordered the car as seen and they could at least have asked me what sort of plate I wanted if they intended to make changes.

I was given both by the dealer so have the choice.

 

[DOC IW]

Here’s the front one on mine. The front plinth I think is a clip-on fixture. Not sure you’d be able to cut it and shorten it without the join showing. Excuse the squashed flies on it!!

 

[JAGBOB]

I’ve shorted at least a dozen on various cars and the challenge is always what’s left either side of the shortened plinth in the way of holes or marks. Sorry but not done the facelift as mine”s earlier and it’s easy to cut and shut.

Just to make you smile my daughter was pulled this week in Wimbledon for her short 5 digit plate..
Arrogant officer gave her the opportunity to confess to what she’d done wrong, but of course nothing she knew of. He proceeded to advise her he was writing her a ticket for an illegal plate, iShe protested it was 100% legal, size, spacing font, bs, make, etc.. Finally he agreed to measure it and came back and said OK it just looked small, but here’s a leaflet about place specifications to read. She thanked him but declined having recited the spec of a uk plate.. haha don’t take on a lawyer.. He left as angry as a mosquito in a mannequin shop.

I have been stopped a few times and I always finish up training the jobs worth policeman on the legality of number plates.

 

[JAGBOB]

IMG_4872.jpegIMG_4869.jpeg

Here’s the front one on mine. The front plinth I think is a clip-on fixture. Not sure you’d be able to cut it and shorten it without the join showing. Excuse the squashed flies on it!!

Thanks, my mate has a plastic welder and if it fails then the plate will be on the dash. :lol: When I get it sorted I will put a photo on here.