Pichon's Plate Holder Review

[Pichon]

[MENTION=14834]John577[/MENTION] : you get the very first prototype, when nobody knows dimensions of the bumper.
After that, [MENTION=14076]Notes[/MENTION] gave me the length of the flat part under the bumper, and i decided to add a bend, because i thought it will be too long.
In fact, after seeing your pictures, it fit well without the bend, and i'm scared it will not be as good with the added bend...

Sponsored

 

[Notes]

3M tape just arrived, I will do a small mod to the [MENTION=15011]Pichon[/MENTION] bracket and then I'm off to wash the car and put the bracket on.

Why I did the mod? There were 2 blank spot's on the small plate and I feel more secure when it's fully covered in 3M to avoid scratching the bumper lip. (Maybe it's all in the mind though ;))

Second mod is 3M tape on the front because I'm not sure if my front plate has holes in them, can't see with the gaffer tape ATM. On a side note; the 3M tape didn't peel off very easy, heavy stuff!

 

[Notes]

So here's a quick update,

I installed the plate and from the front it looks good. Yet it can move to the left & right a bit to much and touches the bumper. I tried to leave a gap of 1cm from the bumper but when tightening the bolt it slides to the back and upwards due to the added lip, so I can't avoid it from touching the bumper. When driving this couches friction that I don't like.

So conclusion, ill try it a few day's first and if I see it moving I will swap it for @NewMustangDE his idea.

 

[Pichon]

[MENTION=14076]Notes[/MENTION] : so the added bend does not help to have something better...
I will remove it and make the main bend a little shorter, i think it will be perfect.
Really hard to design this without having my car, it's all about prototypes and kind testers...

 

[Notes]

@Notes : so the added bend does not help to have something better...
I will remove it and make the main bend a little shorter, i think it will be perfect.
Really hard to design this without having my car, it's all about prototypes and kind testers...

No problem Pichon, I will remove it today before the 3M is full hardened.
Lip or no lip, the plate can move around the bold from left to right. After driving last night I had to re-position it already.

I discussed it with a few people yesterday and today, their opinions where...

1. I doesn't look that good with the Belgian license plates when compared to the French plate of @John577, and we mutually agreed Belgian plates suck no matter what holder is used!
2. When people pass by they can bump into the edges with shopping bags or legs etc. so slightly dangerous for them and also for the bumper.

Improvement tips from the people I discussed it with, one of them is a technical inspector.

1. The plate itself needs a bend and follow the shape of the bumper to fit well and to look good.
2. The small 3M bracket needs support on the sides of the bolt so the plate can't move to the left or right. (see the bracket where the idea was based upon)
3. The back should be covered completely in the foam to protect the bumper.

Anyway, no heart-feelings as it was worth trying out. And I definitely agree that it's difficult to make a bracket like this without having a car around to try it out. Thx

 

[papinist]

Improvement tips from the people I discussed it with, one of them is a technical inspector.

1. The plate itself needs a bend and follow the shape of the bumper to fit well and to look good.
2. The small 3M bracket needs support on the sides of the bolt so the plate can't move to the left or right. (see the bracket where the idea was based upon)
3. The back should be covered completely in the foam to protect the bumper.

Anyway, no heart-feelings as it was worth trying out. And I definitely agree that it's difficult to make a bracket like this without having a car around to try it out. Thx

The first and second tips are in my thinking too, after seeing the plate installed on your car.

However if this will get too complex I would simply tape the plate in the center of the bumper. I can't remove for meeting or shows but the bumper is still intact and you can remove with dental floss at any time.

 

[Notes]

The first and second tips are in my thinking too, after seeing the plate installed on your car.

However if this will get too complex I would simply tape the plate in the center of the bumper. I can't remove for meeting or shows but the bumper is still intact and you can remove with dental floss at any time.

I will change it for this, http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B0040FVB5O?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00 Thx to @NewMustangDE

Luckily I bought just one package, as they don't mention there are two holders in the package ;-)

 

[Notes]

Another quick update:

After my previous post I went outside and this is what I saw! So I gently removed the plate and the second picture is the result from the fall down.
Through the clear, through the paint and in the white zone! Me not so happy...

 

[papinist]

:eyebulge: OMG!

 

[Notes]

:eyebulge: OMG!

Yep, I guess I better start looking for a black paint filler!:frusty:

 

[John577]

OMG !!! :eyebulge:

That's really bad !
You scared me and I ran to my car to see if it's still fixed !

 

[Pichon]

Oh f*ck, not exactly what's supposed to happen ! [emoji44][emoji27]
Really sorry for that, i don't know what to say, seems good on [MENTION=14834]John577[/MENTION] car.
Have you wait before mounting the plate holder on the 3M taped bracket ? May be the beginning of an answer .
Something else, it could have been under constraint (the plate holder on the bumper) after thightening of the screw, because of the shorter bend than John577.

But for sure i'm really sorry for that, and now i won't sell any plate holder before having tested it on my car for a time.

Pichon

 

[Notes]

OMG !!! :eyebulge:

That's really bad !
You scared me and I ran to my car to see if it's still fixed !

3M info tells that after one day it's only hardened for 25% & 100% after 3 days.

Oh f*ck, not exactly what's supposed to happen ! [emoji44][emoji27]
Really sorry for that, i don't know what to say, seems good on @John577 car.
Have you wait before mounting the plate holder on the 3M taped bracket ? May be the beginning of an answer .
Something else, it could have been under constraint (the plate holder on the bumper) after thightening of the screw, because of the shorter bend than John577.

But for sure i'm really sorry for that, and now i won't sell any plate holder before having tested it on my car for a time.

Pichon

Not sure if it's a combination of heat & rain etc. All I can think about now is what paint touch-up I can use. Although it's under the bumper and nobody will notice, yet I know it's there.
If I had removed it sooner it might have not happened, I was inside for about 20 minutes to answer some post here and got back outside with this unpleasant surprise.

I couldn't wait 3 days to put the bracket on though, maybe your right the beginning of the answer.

 

[John577]

Sorry to bring bad news, but I'm also not happy this morning :frusty:

Just find this on my car before going to my work !
Now, I screwed the plate on the Bumper and STOP with a custom plate holder !

Like Notes, I've to find a white paint filler to hide the scratch :tsk:

 

[papinist]

Sad to hear that, mate :(
Probably the plate bracket is too heavy and the tape requires the full 3 days to become strong enough.. or maybe the paint is weaker than the US version!

BTW: Notes' scratch reveal a white background on his black car, but on your white car there is a black background??


EDIT: kudos to both of you guys, to be the first tester for this plate holder, and to Pichon to try to do something for all us euro people. Things would not always go as we want :-/

Sponsored