plate mount for A110
Discussion
The car is due to arrive within the next 2wks, maybe earlier
It will be getting 420mm or even 400mm sized frame for the plates
But my concern is mounting them properly
For the rear, it will most likely get anhesive solution: https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/d/b40068954/
But the front, as you who already own the car know, its quite tricky
There's little surface for a base/frame to stand and on top of that, its also curved
There's also that the plate will inevitably block a good part of the airflow towards the intercooler (which is the main reason I fought hard so that I get a shorter frame..)
Although the 3M adhensive I mentioned earlier is exceptionaly strong and would most likely hold the plate tight, I would like to see if any of you guys managed to find a neat solution for the front bumper in particular. One that is stable looks good and requires minimal damage/work to the bumper
It will be getting 420mm or even 400mm sized frame for the plates
But my concern is mounting them properly
For the rear, it will most likely get anhesive solution: https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/d/b40068954/
But the front, as you who already own the car know, its quite tricky
There's little surface for a base/frame to stand and on top of that, its also curved
There's also that the plate will inevitably block a good part of the airflow towards the intercooler (which is the main reason I fought hard so that I get a shorter frame..)
Although the 3M adhensive I mentioned earlier is exceptionaly strong and would most likely hold the plate tight, I would like to see if any of you guys managed to find a neat solution for the front bumper in particular. One that is stable looks good and requires minimal damage/work to the bumper
Do you like to generate problems, where there isnt even any obstacle?
I am using the plastic frame, which the dealer mounted before delivery. The number plates of my Alpine are also used for 2 other cars, so I mount and remove the plate frequently.
So far no issues - even with temperatures.
If you prefer to glue the plate, what should be the problem?
By the way: I am quite sure the intercooler of an A110 is not in the front as a standard, but maybe you have ordered a special equipment ?
I am using the plastic frame, which the dealer mounted before delivery. The number plates of my Alpine are also used for 2 other cars, so I mount and remove the plate frequently.
So far no issues - even with temperatures.
If you prefer to glue the plate, what should be the problem?
By the way: I am quite sure the intercooler of an A110 is not in the front as a standard, but maybe you have ordered a special equipment ?
Edited by A110Wienerwald on Sunday 24th May 07:33
Mine came with dealer mounted plate holders. They were "Renault" branded. I found "Alpine" branded holders and replaced them on my own. Alpine ones had slightly different holes. For the front no matter how well I mount there was a bit of a gap that a finger can fit between the plate holder's left / right sides and the mounting surface / bumper. This started to trigger the front parking sensor. Our plates are made of metal not acrylic like yours. If they were non metallic maybe it wouldn't be an issue. Anyways, in the service they used 3M solution to fix the front plate. So far, so good.
If you're really concerned about maximizing the cooling airflow even though the size of a German license plate was surely taken into account in the design I'd recommend a solution like the one pictured (or moving to Switzerland).
On the Elise, the license plate really does obstruct a lot of the cooling surface, and with this solution, we were able to reduce the license plate area to about a third.
However for this solution balls are recommended.
On the Elise, the license plate really does obstruct a lot of the cooling surface, and with this solution, we were able to reduce the license plate area to about a third.
However for this solution balls are recommended.
Edited by A110Wienerwald on Tuesday 26th May 14:41
Edited by A110Wienerwald on Tuesday 26th May 14:58
A110Wienerwald said:
If you're really concerned about maximizing the cooling airflow even though the size of a German license plate was surely taken into account in the design I'd recommend a solution like the one pictured (or moving to Switzerland).
On the Elise, the license plate really does obstruct a lot of the cooling surface, and with this solution, we were able to reduce the license plate area to about a third.
However for this solution balls are recommended.
This looks definitely smaller frame from the usual one you get now in GermanyOn the Elise, the license plate really does obstruct a lot of the cooling surface, and with this solution, we were able to reduce the license plate area to about a third.
However for this solution balls are recommended.
Edited by A110Wienerwald on Tuesday 26th May 14:41
Edited by A110Wienerwald on Tuesday 26th May 14:58
Don't know if Switzerland is more laxed about such topics, but if not, I d agree that 'balls' are needed
The Elise is much harder to deal for the plate issue - there's no space at all :/
5 yrs ago, when I registered my R56 JCW here, I got a 6-char plate, but wasn't really fussy about pursuing a shorter frame, as there's proper area on the bumber to mount it
Now, with the A110 I m much more concerned with this topic
I knew that a 6-char plate now could give me a decent shot for a shorter frame (if I play my cards well), so this what I m working on right now
The rear will get adhensive (no way I m digging holes on the trim of a brand new car)
But for the front bumper, I m still searching for that less intrusive solution (that also needs to be legit, as I don't wanna have to worry about a future TUV inspection)
The one thing I do envy about Switzerland is that you are allowed to wash your car at home
Here, sometimes it feels as if they don't love cars
The front plate in Switzerland is 30x8cm
Austria is nearly the same as Germany.
Ours on the Elise is smaller than the Swiss one with a lenght of appr. 25cm.
It is mounted with velcro and can be replaced with the metal plate (which we always have in the car) within few minutes.
I cannot follow you, that the plate has to comply TÜV check reqirements. When is your first TÜV check and why dont you simply mount the original plate just for the TÜV check?
Austria is nearly the same as Germany.
Ours on the Elise is smaller than the Swiss one with a lenght of appr. 25cm.
It is mounted with velcro and can be replaced with the metal plate (which we always have in the car) within few minutes.
I cannot follow you, that the plate has to comply TÜV check reqirements. When is your first TÜV check and why dont you simply mount the original plate just for the TÜV check?
Edited by A110Wienerwald on Wednesday 27th May 06:52
extinct said:
@Safak
Any chance you have the details on the 3M solution used? (if its handy)
I don't know the exact name of the product that they used. I believe what you linked earlier or any other product can do the job.Any chance you have the details on the 3M solution used? (if its handy)
extinct said:
The rear will get adhensive (no way I m digging holes on the trim of a brand new car)
But for the front bumper, I m still searching for that less intrusive solution (that also needs to be legit, as I don't wanna have to worry about a future TUV inspection)
What I remember is that on the rear there were very proper holes. They looked like factory made. Not drilled in a workshop.But for the front bumper, I m still searching for that less intrusive solution (that also needs to be legit, as I don't wanna have to worry about a future TUV inspection)
extinct said:
Don't know if Switzerland is more laxed about such topics,
Have you ever been here? 
extinct said:
The one thing I do envy about Switzerland is that you are allowed to wash your car at home
Local laws prohibit me from washing any of my cars on my front driveway, due to unavoidable detergent run-off via the road drains into the nearby river Rhône.@A110Wienerwald
This is gold, thanks for sharing
So, I received my car and it came like this (photo from a fellow forum member): https://thumbsnap.com/sc/BqxWiGDu.jpg
Apparently it comes like this from the factory, due to the usual ridiculous EU regulations - hense they safely assumed everyone will be getting 520mm)
Which is not always the case of course. I am getting 460mm, so the above solution is a bit of a f
kup
Because the two screws (at the edges) that hold this thing in place are positioned at the very edges, hence even if I was to find a shorter 460mm base to match my plate size (like the ones advertised in the other forum you shared), I still have to deal with the screw holes of the original plates. And I m not entirely happy with just putting small rubbers to cover the holes
The original plate mount actually measures just over 52cm width and 12cm height
(+1cm extra height for cushion I guess, we have to accommodate for dealeships who might want to put their ads, right..?)
So at the end, it begs the question whether its worth going into the hassle of migrating to the custom solution, which would save 6cm
As for the actual plates/mounts, according to my research, this is the best thing that can be had here (without having to worry about future TUV checks): https://3d-kennzeichen.de/spar-sets
If only Dieppe didn't take the initiative to mount the front base and everything would be perfect
But then I wouldn't have something to complain about, would I? (although I think that A110Wienerwald would disagree with that haha)
This is gold, thanks for sharing
So, I received my car and it came like this (photo from a fellow forum member): https://thumbsnap.com/sc/BqxWiGDu.jpg
Apparently it comes like this from the factory, due to the usual ridiculous EU regulations - hense they safely assumed everyone will be getting 520mm)
Which is not always the case of course. I am getting 460mm, so the above solution is a bit of a f
kupBecause the two screws (at the edges) that hold this thing in place are positioned at the very edges, hence even if I was to find a shorter 460mm base to match my plate size (like the ones advertised in the other forum you shared), I still have to deal with the screw holes of the original plates. And I m not entirely happy with just putting small rubbers to cover the holes
The original plate mount actually measures just over 52cm width and 12cm height
(+1cm extra height for cushion I guess, we have to accommodate for dealeships who might want to put their ads, right..?)
So at the end, it begs the question whether its worth going into the hassle of migrating to the custom solution, which would save 6cm
As for the actual plates/mounts, according to my research, this is the best thing that can be had here (without having to worry about future TUV checks): https://3d-kennzeichen.de/spar-sets
If only Dieppe didn't take the initiative to mount the front base and everything would be perfect
But then I wouldn't have something to complain about, would I? (although I think that A110Wienerwald would disagree with that haha)
I ordered gloss black acrylic, cut to size with radius corners. Screwed that to the bumper extrusion & attached the licence plate to the acylic. I used 2 tiny black bolts (phillips head), but could have just as easily used double sided tape for the pressed aluminium plate. If we were allowed stick on plates that would have been better.
My front plate is a narrow one (~80mm high) so the black countersunk screws through the acylic sheet are visible (but not noticeable) above & below the plate. This might be the only time the regular plate (110mm high) will look better & I might swap mine out so it covers the screw heads.
The total cost for 2 delivered was ~20 of your pounds, so not a big commitment if I didn't like how it turned out. The downside is if you look from above, you can see the bumper extrusion & it's not painted as well as the rest of the car, although there is a solution to that as well. The benefit of cutting down the original plinth is it covers this part, but it takes more work/cost & it looks heavier imo.
My front plate is a narrow one (~80mm high) so the black countersunk screws through the acylic sheet are visible (but not noticeable) above & below the plate. This might be the only time the regular plate (110mm high) will look better & I might swap mine out so it covers the screw heads.
The total cost for 2 delivered was ~20 of your pounds, so not a big commitment if I didn't like how it turned out. The downside is if you look from above, you can see the bumper extrusion & it's not painted as well as the rest of the car, although there is a solution to that as well. The benefit of cutting down the original plinth is it covers this part, but it takes more work/cost & it looks heavier imo.
Here's a UK online shop I found where you can play around with dimensions, colours etc
https://www.perspexsheet.uk/black-962-perspex/
https://www.perspexsheet.uk/black-962-perspex/
Thanks a lot for the input, much appreciated
If I m to go for the shorter 460mm base (if I can even find one in the end), I ll look to have this done at the workshop (like fill the orphan holes and local repaint). I m no good at DIY myself, so I wouldn't dare to attempt any fix on my own
If I m to go for the shorter 460mm base (if I can even find one in the end), I ll look to have this done at the workshop (like fill the orphan holes and local repaint). I m no good at DIY myself, so I wouldn't dare to attempt any fix on my own
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