Front license plate mounting for '99 SL

[donwo]

Has anyone discovered a way to mount front license plate without drilling holes in front bumper? Thanks in advance.

[timm9]

I had run across a thread on just this topic on another forum. In the post there was a reference to a front license plate mount that mounts behind the bumper so you are not drilling into the bumper cover. I started to research it and got side tracked.

In the last 7 months we have purchase a C300 4matic, and a CLA-250 4matic and neither (nor does my SL) have front license plate mounts. I'm just waiting for the fix it ticket...

[97 SL320]

You should be able to make a mount that hangs from the steel bumper backer or clips to the back of the bumper cover.

The front bumper of these cars comes off easily.

Just ahead of the front tires there is a black plastic splash shield that looks like a box. It is attached to the bottom of the bumper cover by 2 push rivets per side and a couple more on the side.

Once this is removed, look straight up, there is a 13 mm headed bolt per side that holds the end of the bumper to the inner fender, remove this bolt. Do not remove the 10 mm headed bolts that attach the bracket to the bumper.

On the left or right side, there is an air temp sensor, detach this. Also unplug the fog lights.

From under the hood ( I think, maybe under car ) , there is a 13 mm headed nut per side, remove this nut. The bumper will come off by sliding forward. It is all plastic and might weigh 20 LB.

I've got the front bumper off of my car for crack repair and will install when it comes back from the body shop. I fixed the crack with USC Urethane Supply Company's Airless Plastic Welder, urethane rod on both sides ( pretty much hot melt glue ) then reinforced the back with drywall gauze and flexible epoxy filler. USC has lots of how to vids to fix all sorts of plastic.