Front Plates on my CLK55

GD2BME · 03-29-2005, 10:25 PM

Now that my AZ car is living in CO i have to put a front plate bracket on. Thought of drilling and bolting it on is needless to say unplesant now that i've gotten used to the look without it. To top it all off my dealer doesnt have any and suggested the AZ dealer may have some laying around since they dont use them. Well they dont since they leave them all in the trunk with the spare tire. Anyone out there have a silver CLK who doesnt need their front plate holder?

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Co 55 AMG · 03-29-2005, 10:59 PM

GD2BME I also live in the Mile Hi City and do not have a front plate. I did get a ticket once when I parked downtown.Like you Ilike the look wihtout it.
Rock On!

CLKFREAK · 03-29-2005, 11:54 PM

yeah, don't worry about it. I had a 96 Trans am, I ran no front plate for several years and never had a problem. I am tempted to remove the front plate holder from my clk (black). I think it's just a fine for no plate, but not sure.

GD2BME · 03-31-2005, 08:04 PM

what was the damage on the ticket, just a fine?

AznxKCBoy · 03-31-2005, 08:17 PM

it should only be a fix it ticket at max. In CA where I live, fix it tickets are like 15-25 dollars..not that bad. I have ran my clk500 without a front plate or bracket since buying the car and had no problems so far. *knock on wood*

lowphat · 04-01-2005, 12:42 AM

I'm all for the no front tag look and agree that the cost of the occasional ticket is worth the clean front end. I don't have a front tag on my car. One thing though, if it's a law in your state that your vehicle display a front tag and your car doesn't have one, that constitutes probable cause for a police officer to pull you over. Not a big deal - EXCEPT, what if you've had a few to drink? In Virginia the legal limit is only .08.

Most people can drive just fine at .08 and would not be so drunk that they would be driving in a way that would attract an officer's attnetion so as to cause him to pull you over. But if there's no front plate, then that's enough to pull you over. Once you've been stopped, then down goes your window and all of a sudden the officer smells alcohol... then you're on the side of the road seeing how long you can stand on one leg or if you can count backwards from 84 to 67. Next thing you know, you get a conviction for DWI and the insurance on your beloved Benz goes through the sunroof.....

dennism13 · 04-01-2005, 01:16 AM

I'm saving mine just in case I get a ticket. I too prefer not to install the front plate. I think MB should have designed something so you didn't have to drill (easier to take off too).

I'm in the Los Angeles area and I heard that LAX has been ticketing cars lately without the front plate.

GD2BME · 04-01-2005, 04:43 AM

[quote=lowphat]I'm all for the no front tag look and agree that the cost of the occasional ticket is worth the clean front end. I don't have a front tag on my car. One thing though, if it's a law in your state that your vehicle display a front tag and your car doesn't have one, that constitutes probable cause for a police officer to pull you over. Not a big deal - EXCEPT, what if you've had a few to drink? In Virginia the legal limit is only .08.

Most people can drive just fine at .08 and would not be so drunk that they would be driving in a way that would attract an officer's attnetion so as to cause him to pull you over. But if there's no front plate, then that's enough to pull you over. Once you've been stopped, then down goes your window and all of a sudden the officer smells alcohol... then you're on the side of the road seeing how long you can stand on one leg or if you can count backwards from 84 to 67. Next thing you know, you get a conviction for DWI and the insurance on your beloved Benz goes through the sunroof.....

[just as long as they dont search the trunk and find the 3 keys of hash and the dealer's body]

HighEndOne · 04-01-2005, 03:28 PM

I had to attach my Front Plate and Holder temporarily for a VIN certification at the local Highway Patrol office (I was transferring the title to my Florida home). I used some very strong double stick tape and it held on fine. I would imagine that this would work longer term if needed. When you want to remove the plate frame, use a hair dryer to loosen and soften the tape and you should be OK... It beats drilling holes!

HEO

Marktini · 04-01-2005, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dennism13

I'm saving mine just in case I get a ticket. I too prefer not to install the front plate. I think MB should have designed something so you didn't have to drill (easier to take off too).

I'm in the Los Angeles area and I heard that LAX has been ticketing cars lately without the front plate.

I'm from Chicago and tickets for missing plates are now $50 a pop, even putting the plate in the front window when you are parked doesn't work anymore. I gave up and put the bracket on my C55

Some of my friends with S4's or TT's do "the magnet thing" where they epoxy 6 high strength magnets under the bumper skin (very easy on an Audi because the center piece is removeable) and do the same to a steel plate bracket. Then they can install or remove the plate as often as they like, the magnets hold very well too. I'm not sure if anybody has tried this on an MB but a web search may turn up a similar solution. The magnets come from www.gaussboys.com
For a visual of the Audi solution see:
http://home.earthlink.net/~tsitmc/au...nseplatemount/

jello2594 · 04-01-2005, 10:09 PM

WOW what a great idea

03-31-2005, 08:17 PM	#5
AznxKCBoy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 364 Drives: 2004 Mercedes Benz CLK 500	it should only be a fix it ticket at max. In CA where I live, fix it tickets are like 15-25 dollars..not that bad. I have ran my clk500 without a front plate or bracket since buying the car and had no problems so far. knock on wood __________________ 04 CLK500 HRE 447r 19x8.5 front & 19x9.5 rear Michelin Pilot Sport PS2s 235/35/19 front & 265/30/19 rear Renntech springs AMG rear spoiler Eisenmann racing exhaust 2x83mm round

04-01-2005, 12:42 AM	#6
lowphat Super Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northern Virginia / D.C. Posts: 933 Drives: 00 KLEEMANN CLK 430. Stares at: 88 Euro AMG 560 SEC Widebody	I'm all for the no front tag look and agree that the cost of the occasional ticket is worth the clean front end. I don't have a front tag on my car. One thing though, if it's a law in your state that your vehicle display a front tag and your car doesn't have one, that constitutes probable cause for a police officer to pull you over. Not a big deal - EXCEPT, what if you've had a few to drink? In Virginia the legal limit is only .08. Most people can drive just fine at .08 and would not be so drunk that they would be driving in a way that would attract an officer's attnetion so as to cause him to pull you over. But if there's no front plate, then that's enough to pull you over. Once you've been stopped, then down goes your window and all of a sudden the officer smells alcohol... then you're on the side of the road seeing how long you can stand on one leg or if you can count backwards from 84 to 67. Next thing you know, you get a conviction for DWI and the insurance on your beloved Benz goes through the sunroof..... __________________ Enjoy yourself - Marco

04-01-2005, 01:16 AM	#7
dennism13 Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: So. Calif. Posts: 90 Drives: CLK 320	I'm saving mine just in case I get a ticket. I too prefer not to install the front plate. I think MB should have designed something so you didn't have to drill (easier to take off too). I'm in the Los Angeles area and I heard that LAX has been ticketing cars lately without the front plate. __________________

04-01-2005, 03:28 PM	#9
HighEndOne Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 76 Drives: 2005 E55, 2002 CLK55, 2005 SLK350	Installing plate holder without holes... I had to attach my Front Plate and Holder temporarily for a VIN certification at the local Highway Patrol office (I was transferring the title to my Florida home). I used some very strong double stick tape and it held on fine. I would imagine that this would work longer term if needed. When you want to remove the plate frame, use a hair dryer to loosen and soften the tape and you should be OK... It beats drilling holes! HEO

04-01-2005, 10:09 PM	#11
jello2594 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: SFV, CA Posts: 422 Drives: 2004 CLK500, 78 6.9,	WOW what a great idea __________________ 2004 CLK500 with Evosport pulley kit, AMG front brakes, Thermo-Tec covered air intake and air filter box (shiny!), Sprint Booster, K&N filters, Brabus exhaust, Brabus springs, Brabus front bumper, Brabus pedals, Brabus doorpins, MBenzNL's bi-xenon headlights, Umnitza 5000K Xenon foglights, Euro COMAND, TV Tuner, and Wood & leather steering wheel. Keyless Go, sunroof, obsidian black metallic exterior, charcoal interior.

03-29-2005, 10:59 PM	#2
Co 55 AMG Super Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Mile High City Posts: 621 Drives: W208	GD2BME I also live in the Mile Hi City and do not have a front plate. I did get a ticket once when I parked downtown.Like you Ilike the look wihtout it. Rock On!

03-29-2005, 11:54 PM	#3
CLKFREAK Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Denver Posts: 459 Drives: CLK Sold. Waiting to get an E55!!	yeah, don't worry about it. I had a 96 Trans am, I ran no front plate for several years and never had a problem. I am tempted to remove the front plate holder from my clk (black). I think it's just a fine for no plate, but not sure.

03-31-2005, 08:04 PM	#4
GD2BME Newbie Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: North Colo Sprgs CO Posts: 6 Drives: '02 Silver CLK55 Cab	what was the damage on the ticket, just a fine?

04-01-2005, 04:43 AM	#8
GD2BME Newbie Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: North Colo Sprgs CO Posts: 6 Drives: '02 Silver CLK55 Cab	[quote=lowphat]I'm all for the no front tag look and agree that the cost of the occasional ticket is worth the clean front end. I don't have a front tag on my car. One thing though, if it's a law in your state that your vehicle display a front tag and your car doesn't have one, that constitutes probable cause for a police officer to pull you over. Not a big deal - EXCEPT, what if you've had a few to drink? In Virginia the legal limit is only .08. Most people can drive just fine at .08 and would not be so drunk that they would be driving in a way that would attract an officer's attnetion so as to cause him to pull you over. But if there's no front plate, then that's enough to pull you over. Once you've been stopped, then down goes your window and all of a sudden the officer smells alcohol... then you're on the side of the road seeing how long you can stand on one leg or if you can count backwards from 84 to 67. Next thing you know, you get a conviction for DWI and the insurance on your beloved Benz goes through the sunroof..... [just as long as they dont search the trunk and find the 3 keys of hash and the dealer's body]

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