Properly Fixing Front Plate Holes

[aidanmeade]

Has anyone done this themselves? I just got my car with a plate bracket on it from a front plate required state.
I know there are plugs and I bought a set in paint code and will see how they look.

Has anyone fixed this properly themselves? What to do about the raised edges around the holes? Don’t want to do any spraying really, just want to focus on the two small little areas and touch as little factory paint as possible. I was going to try filing them down to as close to flush as possible and using body filler, primer and paint. Would love advice if anyone has done this.

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[MAGS1]

The most proper way is to find a bumper that didn’t have the plates drilled and swap the bumper out.

I’ve seen a few people use the bumper plugs and you can’t really tell from 20 feet. From 5 feet you can see them but I don’t think it’s terrible. I’ve also seen one car that used vinyl stripes to cover the holes (if you like/want stripes). Again, not really noticeable from a distance but close in you can tell. Even those of us without front plates have little dimples in the front bumper where the plate would go (that’s a factory “feature”).

You could in theory put the plugs in, sand them down and maybe use some kind of filler to smooth it out. That will require a respray though and maybe more than you think to blend it properly. I’ve not tried that approach with a plastic bumper so not sure what the finished product may look like.

 

[WildHorse]

like this (also got the chips fixed)

 

[aidanmeade]

like this (also got the chips fixed)

This would make sense for an older car, my new one is brand new, which makes me think the spot painting and blending won’t be an issue.
I was just going to sand the holes down, fill them, sand, prime, and use touch up. Trying to keep the area I touch as small as possible.

 

[WildHorse]

I was just going to sand the holes down, fill them, sand, prime, and use touch up. Trying to keep the area I touch as small as possible.

You need to get the backside, if you don't you'll see the repair sink over time.
But if you can live with that, go for it !

 

[aidanmeade]

The most proper way is to find a bumper that didn’t have the plates drilled and swap the bumper out.

I’ve seen a few people use the bumper plugs and you can’t really tell from 20 feet. From 5 feet you can see them but I don’t think it’s terrible. I’ve also seen one car that used vinyl stripes to cover the holes (if you like/want stripes). Again, not really noticeable from a distance but close in you can tell. Even those of us without front plates have little dimples in the front bumper where the plate would go (that’s a factory “feature”).

You could in theory put the plugs in, sand them down and maybe use some kind of filler to smooth it out. That will require a respray though and maybe more than you think to blend it properly. I’ve not tried that approach with a plastic bumper so not sure what the finished product may look like.

I was gonna do stripes, but I still have to sand the spots down? It has raised areas around the holes from the screws. If I’m doing that I would probably just fill and paint.

 

[MAGS1]

I was gonna do stripes, but I still have to sand the spots down? It has raised areas around the holes from the screws. If I’m doing that I would probably just fill and paint.

I would imagine you’d have to sand it down a bit so it doesn’t puncture the vinyl.

 

[ORRadtech]

You need to get the backside, if you don't you'll see the repair sink over time.
But if you can live with that, go for it !

You're right. Also there's a good chance he will see circles no matter what. And spraying and blending something like that is not as easy as it sounds.
If you want it perfect the best way is to let a good body shop do it.
On the plus side, if you try diy and it turns out poorly, you can always take it to a professional later.

 

[speedfrk]

Unless you're a master with an airbrush, you will end up with something that looks way worse than the lic plate holder or the holes. Also depends on the paint color- black is pretty easy but ruby red or a pearl will look like junk. Just won't match. I'd put the filler plugs in and leave it if the color is pretty close. Most new cars have plugs for sensors all over them now and people just get used to it. Usually, the lic plate holder has also rubbed marks into the bumper. Maybe get a Ford Performance or your favorite college team plate and roll with it.

 

[EFI]

Unless you're a master with an airbrush, you will end up with something that looks way worse than the lic plate holder or the holes.

Agree. Unless you can blend properly with a high end sprayer like most body shops have, you're not going to get a better looking front bumper rather than the color matched plugs.

 

[aidanmeade]

Unless you're a master with an airbrush, you will end up with something that looks way worse than the lic plate holder or the holes. Also depends on the paint color- black is pretty easy but ruby red or a pearl will look like junk. Just won't match. I'd put the filler plugs in and leave it if the color is pretty close. Most new cars have plugs for sensors all over them now and people just get used to it. Usually, the lic plate holder has also rubbed marks into the bumper. Maybe get a Ford Performance or your favorite college team plate and roll with it.

My car is Oxford White. Can't get much worse than two black protruding holes in the middle of the bumper cover. I'll probably try to sand the smallest area possible down, fill, prime, and paint. If it looks worse than those black holes I'll be surprised, and I'll just take it to my body shop and have them fix it. I can't imagine that it'll look much worse even if the paint and fill isn't absolutely perfect. It's two black holes on a white car, doesn't get much more noticeable than that. Also have plugs coming but don't think that'll look great to be honest.

 

[aidanmeade]

I would imagine you’d have to sand it down a bit so it doesn’t puncture the vinyl.

Probably what I'll end up doing. Sanding them down, repainting, making it as flat as possible. Even if the paint doesn't look absolutely pristine ill at least have a flat area to work with for stripes instead of the protrusions from the holes.

 

[MAGS1]

Probably what I'll end up doing. Sanding them down, repainting, making it as flat as possible. Even if the paint doesn't look absolutely pristine ill at least have a flat area to work with for stripes instead of the protrusions from the holes.

I wouldn’t rule out the plugs either. I’ve seen them on a few different color cars and they don’t look bad. You could always get them wrapped to match your vinyl too. I wouldn’t put them on under the stripes, there will be air gaps

 

[aidanmeade]

You need to get the backside, if you don't you'll see the repair sink over time.
But if you can live with that, go for it !

Thought of this also. Not trying to take my bumper off and at that point I’d just take it to a body shop. I was thinking that this might not be as big of an issue since the holes are threaded, the body filler would have something to grab onto compared to just a straight hole though the plastic.

 

[aidanmeade]

I wouldn’t rule out the plugs either. I’ve seen them on a few different color cars and they don’t look bad. You could always get them wrapped to match your vinyl too. I wouldn’t put them on under the stripes, there will be air gaps

Definitely not under, but would just rather it be a completely smooth (or as smooth as possible) surface.

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