License plate covers

bob m said:
I was not speeding, went through any traffic lights, my lights were all working, so I could not imagine why the pull over - other than the fact that I did not have my front plate on the car - even though in NY and NJ it was required.
Click to expand...

Pretty typical for crossing the bridge.
 
Lonnie said:
WOW. Good post an such a "simple" , overlooked automotive item.

I will say this about stainless steel rust-proof screws that not all stainless is "rust-proof" or corrosion-proof. MOST OTC stainless at hardware stores comes from "offshore" (China or Taiwan) manufacturers and is 410-series that is cheaper to buy and machine. The "better" grade is 302/304. The REALLY good grade is 316 (think surgical-medical grade or salt-water corrosion resistant), but that is like 6 times the cost of 410 series. 410-stainless is still better than plain steel screws that will rust. One way to tell if it really cheap stainless steel is to bring a magnet with you and see it the stainless steel is slightly magnetic. If it is, it`s cheap stainless. Works well on testing less-expensive (AKA, cheap) imported "stainless steel" kitchen knives/cutlery.

Laugh as you will, I put anti-seize compound on license plate screws, only to realize that MOST domestic car manufactures have PLASTIC threaded inserts in the sheet metal to attach license plate with.

Stolen license plates a big thing. I do not know of any dealer that substitutes the OEM screws with tamper-proof Torx head screws, the screw head that has a 5-sides star-shape with a "post" in the middle of the star drive to prevent removal or "tampering. Yes, they make special tools that "fit" this screw-drive, and yes, they are readily available to the general public, but most license plate thieves would not think of carrying these "special" tools around. Just food for thought.
(Only a CADD Technician who has experience with screws, the material types that they are made of, and the drive head on them would think of those things.)

Speaking of screw head drives, the screw cross on Japanese cars is different than a Phillips-head screw cross and is referred to as JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) screw. Yes, they make special screw driver tips to "fit" these screw cross drives. Those of you who may have inadvertently tried a Phillips-tipped screw drive in a JIS screw, which seems to fit , but then stripped out the head drive when trying remove it to tighten it, well, now you know why.
More food for thought.....
Click to expand...

Agree, very overlooked. Good info on the SS screws. Thanks.
 
bob m said:
I`m not asking sarcastically, but you prefer the look of the bare screws over the covers?
Click to expand...
It has neve came up as a visual issue to me. I`ve actually only had 2 clients ever who have had the screw covers. I guess it looks better but it has never been something I said to myself I have to have.

I also have a factory front plate drilled into my bumper and have zero issues with that. I bought vanity plates and I paid a lot for them so I dont mind showing them.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
 
bob m said:
I`m not asking sarcastically, but you prefer the look of the bare screws over the covers?
Click to expand...

I do :D

I had used all sorts of covers/fastener covers/etc. for ages, but one day I woke up and just wanted Form to follow Function. Like.."this is a license plate; it`s held on with these screws". Anything else just looks weird to me anymore...go figure...
 
Accumulator said:
I do :D

I had used all sorts of covers/fastener covers/etc. for ages, but one day I woke up and just wanted Form to follow Function. Like.."this is a license plate; it`s held on with these screws". Anything else just looks weird to me anymore...go figure...
Click to expand...
Probably near heresy but I`ve still got the dealer plate frames on all of our cars.
 
dgage said:
And poof, the legend in my mind that was BudgetPlan1 “Master Coating Guru” went up in smoke in a microsecond.
Click to expand...
We had a ton of fun at the dealer on the days we bought/picked up the Cayman & Corvette, not totally offensive plate frames and seeing them reminds of those days

Wife`s Civic has a dealer frame that`s pretty nice, heavy chrome looks OK and does the job. Getting a bit dinged up, thinking of asking the local Honda store if they`ll give me a new one...if free, I`ll continue advertising!

My Accord i just really don`t think/care much about. Maybe i can score a 2nd `good` freebie from local Honda store...
 
Heh heh, IMO if a given plate-frame makes somebody happy, that`s *ALL* that counts ;) And when a dealership does a good job, I wouldn`t begrudge them the free advertising (especially when that frame is on a wonderfully-Detailed car.."gee, they`re good enough for *that* guy.." ).
 
Sometimes I see rather attractive Mercedes dealer plate frames I suppose those are okay. I remember how Ray Catena Mercedes in NJ had a dealer emblem of the 300SL Gullwing on the back of their cars I always found cool.
 
Didn’t know about these silicon plate covers till this thread (thanks guys)

cdceac680ea41528c3bb41cd08e48a75.jpg



Got these at 2 for $8.99. God quality, went on easy. I don’t know why i thought i could put the plate frame back on but you can’t.... the ones on their were some nice infinity ones for the dealer i got from and their nice stainless ones...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top