[Max Well]

Quick question for those who have already taken delivery - did you have any issues attaching your license tag and frame and having the screws scratch the paint underneath? Here's a question I sent to IND explaining my issue and they thought it'd be helpful to also post here:

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Greetings, all,

Although I know you carry CFRP and painted versions of rear license tag frames for the F97 series, I'm curious if you have any ideas about the actual mount which was changed in the F97 c/w the G01.

As you know with your in-house model, they changed from being able to screw all four periphery screws directly into hard points, to a rather cheap-looking rubbery mount which itself has two screws to hard mount to the X3M, then four free-floating rubbery points for the actual license tag/frame to attach. And because they can go through they even provide 'foam' stickies to place on the backside.

The problem is the use of the 'self-tapping' screws which come OEM in a package at Delivery are either too long or too short. I chose the longer ones initially, and even used a washer and the foam, but unfortunately all four went through the foam as well, so that by the time I got home from the Dealership they had already made a mark and chipped the paint in all four spots.

So I used BMW touch up paint which I fortunately asked for at Delivery, and now am using the short ones which barely hold.

It would be great if you could offer a simple CFRP (and/or painted metal) back mount with the two main screw holes to mount to the car, then have it provide screw holes to screw the license tag and frame in - it would prevent this from happening. It could be sold as a rear license installation 'kit' if you will.

I can't believe I'm the only one who has had this happen so far, given how flimsy it is... Did you have this issue, and have you checked the paint behind your license?

Many thanks for advice/thoughts/plans for making something for this. If you want me to, I can post this question on our F97 forum to see what everyone else is doing and gauge interest?

Thanks,

Max

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I would attach some images if I could, but I'm afraid to remove the small screws now. If anyone has access to the back end of a new X3MC at a Dealership and can share an image that would be great.

Any advice/suggestions much appreciated.

[M3OW!]

I can confirm I noticed how shitty the plate bracket is and the the self-tapping screws I got were pretty short. That's where I stopped paying attention. I tightened the screws just enough, by hand, and moved on.

I'll run out to the garage in a bit and report back.

*EDIT* WOW. close call! Glad you raised this topic. two screws at the bottom of the frame were just about touching the paint and probably would have after a bunch of driving. I stuck some foam back there and backed the screws out a tiny bit. Unreal how shitty that bracket is!

[Max Well]

Originally Posted by M3OW!

I can confirm I noticed how shitty the plate bracket is and the the self-tapping screws I got were pretty short. That's where I stopped paying attention. I tightened the screws just enough, by hand, and moved on.

I'll run out to the garage in a bit and report back.

*EDIT* WOW. close call! Glad you raised this topic. two screws at the bottom of the frame were just about touching the paint and probably would have after a bunch of driving. I stuck some foam back there and backed the screws out a tiny bit. Unreal how shitty that bracket is!

Thanks for checking, M3OW! Not sure how many take notice of their plates as suspect many of the Dealers install for them at Delivery. I only noticed it as I had to add a sticker to the plate and had to remove the frame to do so.

Would urge others to check their own, and hopefully IND can come up with a well-designed backing mount of better quality. Seems this part of the F97's Design process dropped through the cracks, much different than the stellar job they did on most every other front IMO.

[Max Well]

I wanted to provide some F/U to this issue, as my wife's late Nov 2019 build X3MC luckily came with the old-style higher quality rear license plate bracket. I wondered if maybe BMW heard from a lot of Owners or Dealers that paint damage was occurring so maybe they reverted back to the better design.

I placed an order for one but unfortunately didn't take her bracket off to get the part # (thinking they would be the same), so the one they delivered was the cheap plastic-holed version once again. Fortunately the Dealership still had a good one on a used vehicle which I traded them for the one I ordered.

I explain the details in the images, but here it is in print if you want to copy and paste the part numbers. I searched the good rear license plate bracket’s Part # 51187160607 at RealOEM. Apparently it was in use from 29 Nov 2004 and discontinued 21 Jan 2019, and was used on virtually every model in their lineup (many until Mar 2019). [edit - the captions are incorrect for the image showing the screws and holes up close - should read 'front side' of the brackets, not 'back side'; apologies] Here is that link for this good rear license plate bracket with the metal alloy thin-thread screw holes, which also contains the link to the poorly designed one which has ‘superseded it, non-exchangeable retrospectively’ : https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/partxref?q=51187160607

Hoping BMW has discontinued the poorly-designed newer one and will only use the older style in the future.

[arciga18]

Wait so you got a second X3 M ????

[Max Well]

Originally Posted by arciga18

Wait so you got a second X3 M ????

My wife traded in her G01 X3M40i for the X3MC - December's deals were just too good to pass on, and she really likes the improved handling and seats.

[arciga18]

Originally Posted by Max Well

My wife traded in her G01 X3M40i for the X3MC - December's deals were just too good to pass on, and she really likes the improved handling and seats.

Power move . Congrats maxwell.

[MrItaly]

Originally Posted by Max Well

My wife traded in her G01 X3M40i for the X3MC - December's deals were just too good to pass on, and she really likes the improved handling and seats.

Wow, now that's an impressive stable! His and hers X3Ms!

[j080808]

I noticed the "new" style on my wifes October 2020 build. I ended up sticking some rubber bumpers to the back, as the felt is not only worthless but 3 of the 4 had fallen off.

There are a ton on Amazon, just ordered this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and will probably need to source the correct depth screws taking into account what plate frame/silicone holder I install.

[Max Well]

Originally Posted by j080808

I noticed the "new" style on my wifes October 2020 build. I ended up sticking some rubber bumpers to the back, as the felt is not only worthless but 3 of the 4 had fallen off.

There are a ton on Amazon, just ordered this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and will probably need to source the correct depth screws taking into account what plate frame/silicone holder I install.

Excellent, j080808 - many thanks for sharing. I just ordered two to keep on hand for the future! Note if you type in 2019 X3 it states it won't fit your vehicle, but if you put in 2018 it says it does, so it must be reading off the new (cheapo) part number BMW transitioned to and not the good one which was used in 2018.

And as reference, the two small stainless steel narrow thread screws I show in the image are ~ 4mm thread width x 8mm thread height. I'm using 4mm x 10mm with a washer and they fit perfectly with our low profile license frame.

Would really encourage everybody to take a look at their rear license plate area to see which bracket and screws they've got, and to make sure paint chips aren't present, especially in locales with snow/salt exposure as the area behind the plate is a perfect set-up for corrosion.

[Max Well]

The two extra rear license plate brackets arrived from Amazon Prime today. I installed one to be sure it fit before posting this. As it appears they are identical, I left the replica on so I could take an image of the good, older OEM type we traded the Dealer for (top) vs this new replica bracket. Packaged well and comes with four tamper-proof screws for the frame, two wider-threaded screws for the bracket to mount to the rear of the F97, and a key'd Allen wrench.

Cost? Lists for $12.94 each on Amazon but Prime members can purchase for $7.94 with free shipping. I paid $49.99 for the newer, poorly designed OEM one which I traded back to the Dealer for the good, used OEM version.

I'm always a bit hesitant to purchase knock-offs online, but this one literally seems identical. Thanks again to j080808 for sharing the link.

[sayemthree]

I have a November 15 build and it looks like I have the rubbery plastic frame does anybody have a picture of the metal license plate frame? And is it better for attaching the license plate?

[sayemthree]

Originally Posted by Max Well

I wanted to provide some F/U to this issue, as my wife's late Nov 2019 build X3MC luckily came with the old-style higher quality rear license plate bracket. I wondered if maybe BMW heard from a lot of Owners or Dealers that paint damage was occurring so maybe they reverted back to the better design.

I placed an order for one but unfortunately didn't take her bracket off to get the part # (thinking they would be the same), so the one they delivered was the cheap plastic-holed version once again. Fortunately the Dealership still had a good one on a used vehicle which I traded them for the one I ordered.

I explain the details in the images, but here it is in print if you want to copy and paste the part numbers. I searched the good rear license plate bracket’s Part # 51187160607 at RealOEM. Apparently it was in use from 29 Nov 2004 and discontinued 21 Jan 2019, and was used on virtually every model in their lineup (many until Mar 2019). [edit - the captions are incorrect for the image showing the screws and holes up close - should read 'front side' of the brackets, not 'back side'; apologies] Here is that link for this good rear license plate bracket with the metal alloy thin-thread screw holes, which also contains the link to the poorly designed one which has ‘superseded it, non-exchangeable retrospectively’ : https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/partxref?q=51187160607

Hoping BMW has discontinued the poorly-designed newer one and will only use the older style in the future.

Looks like there is very little difference between the old and the new one except for the one that you prefer seems to have nylon inserts for the threads?

[Max Well]

Originally Posted by sayemthree

I have a November 15 build and it looks like I have the rubbery plastic frame does anybody have a picture of the metal license plate frame? And is it better for attaching the license plate?

The only difference between the 'good' rear license plate bracket (Part# ...0607) which BMW used for years and discontinued in early 2019 and the 'bad' poorly designed bracket (Part# ...8724) which began use in early 2019, seems to be the design of the four screw hole attachment points for the actual license plate (and frame of choice). Neither bracket is all metal, and to avoid confusion, this part is referred to as 'bracket', whereas the 'frame' is what holds a license plate to this bracket.

Originally Posted by sayemthree

Looks like there is very little difference between the old and the new one except for the one that you prefer seems to have nylon inserts for the threads?

The only difference (and it is major) lies in the design of the four screw holes and screws used to attach a license plate and frame to this bracket on a vehicle, but they aren't nylon. The good one (Part# ...0607) has thin-threaded metal alloy guides to seat thin-threaded machine screws. This has very low potential to damage the paint behind the bracket. The bad one (Part# ...8724) just has smooth holes in the rubbery plastic material, into which the self-tapping wide-threaded screws cut until they are seated. The problem is the screw kit BMW provides contains only a few screw lengths starting with really short screws which barely hold, whereas the next size seems too long and can cut into the paint before fully seated depending on the thickness of one's license plate and frame (which happened to my F97 at all four screw locations). I've never had a license plate screw damage/chip the paint (as this inferior bracket did to my F97) on any of our vehicles over the years (and that includes 13 previous BMW models). Even some of the Sales team indicated issues installing the new brackets on vehicles. No one seems to know why BMW made the change, as surely we're talking only a few pennies of savings in their production costs.

[arciga18]

I got the shitty new one on an x5. So mad .

Already have paint damage

[Max Well]

Originally Posted by arciga18

I got the shitty new one on an x5. So mad. Already have paint damage

If others check suspect they'll have similar findings... But at least we now have access to the good old one which won't dig into our paint (see j080808's find in post #9). I can confirm it seems identical and even comes with tamper-resistant screws and an Allen wrench. And now you can place touch-up paint on the surface defects behind the bracket which should help prevent corrosion (although mine aren't perfectly smooth repairs they're not visible behind the license plate so I'm not going to pursue pro repair as originally planned).

[arciga18]

Yea. I immediately ordered one from amazon.

Thanks for the heads up

[heavyD^2]

I checked for this when I picked up my X3M Comp and it did come with new design but the black screws w/rubber grommet were shorter than the ones pictured in post #4. When fully screwed in they do not extend past the back of the bracket.

[corn18]

I just put a few washers behind the bracket mount to space it away from the body.

[alex2364]

Thanks for the heads up on this. I returned a 2017 M4 lease recently and got in a new 2020 M4. The 2020 also had the crappy new plate bracket so I requested the sales guy to swap brackets from my old car. He looked at me funny and didn't understand my reasoning.

[pluckydks]

Max Well I should've replied to this months ago when I moved back to the States but it seems this thread was revived. I was worried about this when I picked up my car Stateside because I had the new plate holder. I went to several dealers between Galveston (where I picked it up at) and San Antonio and no one had the old plate holders anymore. When I brought it up to the dealer in San Antonio, they gave me a pack of screws that come in the hardware pack that comes inside every new car.

The screw is a mix of the two you have pictured, where it is still self tapping, but short enough to not go through the plate holder. You guys that are having issues with getting the paint scratched, your dealer might have been using screws that came for something else?

[spta97]

Originally Posted by pluckydks

Max Well I should've replied to this months ago when I moved back to the States but it seems this thread was revived. I was worried about this when I picked up my car Stateside because I had the new plate holder. I went to several dealers between Galveston (where I picked it up at) and San Antonio and no one had the old plate holders anymore. When I brought it up to the dealer in San Antonio, they gave me a pack of screws that come in the hardware pack that comes inside every new car.

The screw is a mix of the two you have pictured, where it is still self tapping, but short enough to not go through the plate holder. You guys that are having issues with getting the paint scratched, your dealer might have been using screws that came for something else?

My screws for the plate frame were short as well. When I was beefing up my plate holder with foam due to rattling with my new subwoofer, one of the plate frame screws stripped.

I shot some hot glue in and threaded the screw to fix.

Now that I saw this thread I ordered the replica on amazon

Thanks for the info!