removing licence plate on 560L
 

This may sound silly but I need to remove the old license plate from the 560SL that I recently purchased to turn it into the DMV. however, it appears as though there are bolts/nuts on the inside that are turning. What do I need to remove to get to these bolts ? I even tried pulling hard on the plat while turning the screws but they do not want to come out.

Thanks in advance,

Brian

Tin snips.

Front or rear?

The front is usually held on by four bolts and the nuts are accessible from the rear of the bracket. The rear plate, if I remember right, has threaded bosses in the rear sheet metal that should not turn if all is normal. Not sure how you would get ahold of those to hold them.

If the threaded inserts in the trunk are turning, best first step may be to use a dremel to cut the heads off the screws. Then at least you'll be able to see the inserts to devise next strategy steps.

If it's the rear plate, open the trunk lid and remove the 2 trim strips running across the sill, the pieces that secure the carpet at the top. If you pull back the carpet, you should be able to see the inserts through the sheetmetal access holes. Try vice grips and penetrating fluid to remove the screws. An easy and quick way to re-attach the carpet is outdoor double backed carpet tape...

on my 220D I remove a small panel in the trunk so i can hold on to the nuts that should not be turning

Thanks all, I got 'em out with my good 'ol trusty vice grips :-) apparently, the previous owner decided to use sheet metal screws & messed up the threads on the inserts :-( Now that they are out, I will need to come up with another solution for the new plate as one of the inserts has fallen out & the other has stripped threads.

Thanks for all the advice !!

Cheers,

Brian

Try these:
http://www.smallparts.com/products/descriptions/tsm.cfm

Try MB or a bodyshop that works on MB, It is a threaded sleeve much like a pop rivet.

Thus, called a "rivnut"