W126 Euro: Help with mounting license plates; there are no brackets!! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Jim B. · #1 08-25-2007, 06:49 AM

Friend got a W126 euro, with the Euro bumpers. Obtained plates from the California DMV after transferring title, paying license fees.

Can't figure out what to do to mount them.

No provisions for mounting the US license plates on the front bumper. Fine for German plates but what about US ones?

Maybe get one from a W126 in a junkyard?

But how would you mount it? What about the huge ugly mounting slots that are visible on the front? Maybe go to a body shop and have a filler made and painted?

Picture of FRONT euro bumper on the car:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/attachment.php?attachmentid=47194&d=1187770241

The problem is different for the REAR. There is no license plate bracket, and the drilled holes on the car look too far away for the US plates to screw into them.

Would it work to purchase a US rear license plate bracket from a junkyard, and then drill two holes to mount the US license plate bracket to the car?

Picture of REAR of the car needing license plate bracket or mounting provision.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/attachment.php?attachmentid=47193&d=1187770171

It's not good to have the license plates but not a way to put them on the car.

Any suggestions, fellas?

Thanks!!!!!!

Ken300D · #2 08-25-2007, 07:16 AM

My US-spec 1984 300SD came from a free state that does not require a front plate. There were mounting holes for a bracket but no bracket. I remember ordering a bracket - believe it came from Performance Products. When it arrived it was a Mercedes part, so you may be in the same price range at a dealer. It was interesting to find that this bracket is not perfectly flat for the license plate mount - so the plate must bend a little bit to fit. It bends slightly in order to wrap more closely around the bumper. A little more aerodynamic, but maybe harder to find a plate cover if you wanted one.

The rear of your car looks roughly like my US-spec car, except I have bolt inserts at four locations and no holes. Can you measure the distance horizontally between two of the mounting holes/bolts? On my car it is a perfect match for a US license plate.

Very nice looking car.

Ken300D

daw_two · #3 08-25-2007, 09:21 AM

Hey Jim.

In regards to the rear license mounting location:
I bet those holes are 10.5 inches apart left to right; and 3.5 inches apart top to bottom. If they are, then you will need to obtain MB Part #A 123 817 01 11 or some equivalent.

I recently acquired a 1984 300D Euro and the previous owner told me they had to get the special mounting bracket from the MB dealer.

Good Luck.

CamelotShadow · #4 08-25-2007, 11:06 AM

Hi...
Thanks Jim & everyone

Thats my new well old SEC

The holes are much wider spaced than the American license plate

I could try to go to a MB dealer & see what they have

There are 2 holes on top
the bottom holes have some sort of filling but one is flat & looks broekn & the other just has a round hole inside...odd

Would be nice to get plates mounted but for now my energy is being spent mre on checking out what the car needs mechanically.
So far so good..just a sticking thermo & motor mounts...

Crossing my fingers

As for thr front holes
I don't mind a lil extra Euro ventilation
The ports don't bother me in the least.

Johnhef · #5 08-25-2007, 12:14 PM

For the front you may have to get a plate bracket for a euro car. I had to get one to mount the plate on my 300TD, the plate new from the dealer was about $35

as far as I know all 126 have the same holes in the rear, all will require the standard rear tag bracket.

truckinik · #6 08-25-2007, 01:31 PM

I have brackets, both front and rear on my two Euro cars. The brackets are Mercedes parts. The rear bracket is nothing more than a stainless steel plate with a set of holes to screw into the Euro holes on the back of the car, and a set of holes for an American license plate. You can actually make one yourself. Just a big plate with an outside, and an inside set of holes in it. Of course, the Mercedes ones I have, are much more attractive than anything home made. Personally, I wouldn't even bother with a front plate if I were you, but those big slots in the front bumper look worse anyways. Nice car, ask your buddy if he wants to resell it. I'm interested in it for myself..

Nick

TheDon · #7 08-25-2007, 02:37 PM

what if you use a European plate for the rear and just mount the cali plate to that..

I've seen imported cars doing that here in FL..

Hatterasguy · #8 08-25-2007, 02:54 PM

The rear looks pretty standard. You need the bracket but I bet they are all the same.

As for the front, leave the plate off.

CamelotShadow · #9 08-25-2007, 03:06 PM

Only problem is CA law requires a front plate.
Guess they can fine you or something if you don't comply

For now the only option for the back wo a bracket was to display the plate in the back window
Need to take care of that...

I'll make a template of holes & have to see is I can find a bracket

Don't know how it willl install though
may have to get access from back
if that is even possible

Just wonder what will attach to those holes from the front & be sturdy
Maybe self tapping screw mounts

Thanks for the helpful advice

Boardmonger · #10 08-25-2007, 03:17 PM

Just go down to your local pepboys or ***autochain and get a cheepie bracket if you are wanting to drive the car now. In the mean time you could order the bracket for the front from mercedes. My euro cars all have 2 additional holes drilled in the top of the rear plate to be mounted. Cool car, you should come to our next GTG (whenever that may be).

truckinik · #11 08-25-2007, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamelotShadow

Only problem is CA law requires a front plate.
Guess they can fine you or something if you don't comply

For now the only option for the back wo a bracket was to display the plate in the back window
Need to take care of that...

I'll make a template of holes & have to see is I can find a bracket

Don't know how it willl install though
may have to get access from back
if that is even possible

Just wonder what will attach to those holes from the front & be sturdy
Maybe self tapping screw mounts

Thanks for the helpful advice

YES, Ca. has that law about the front plate. So do most of the other states though. I've never seen or heard about any cop, city, state, or otherwise actually enforcing the law though. Only about a .001% of the vehicles on the road nationally, wear front license plates at all. I do know also, that if you ever get a ticket for it, it's only like a $15.00 ticket, and no points, because it isn't a moving violation of any kind. No more consequential than a parking ticket. I'd just take my chances and run without the front plate at all..

CamelotShadow · #12 08-25-2007, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boardmonger

Just go down to your local pepboys or ***autochain and get a cheepie bracket if you are wanting to drive the car now. In the mean time you could order the bracket for the front from mercedes. My euro cars all have 2 additional holes drilled in the top of the rear plate to be mounted. Cool car, you should come to our next GTG (whenever that may be).

I'll have to checl pep boys
maybe I'll go out today since my car is with Enrique

There are 4 holes
there are also 2 more slight round what looks like could be drilled & they are much bigger than the other holes
They are sort of more center

I have the plate wired on the front
I cut out a rubber protection to mount behind the plate so it wouldn't rub on the frame.
It works
sure they can unknot it & take the plate
same as they can unscrew it off a bracket
I figured since I have none ion rear
if I was pulled over it would least look I tried & was displaying least one.

Baclk was more of a problem
couldn't figure a way to mount it

I'll check pep boys
Actually the guy I bought it from told me to go to pepboys
LOL

Thing is I don't have the car so I won't be able to check the part
hopefully they have one that fits

Thanks for the tips & the invite!

The Swede · #13 08-25-2007, 07:42 PM

Not having a front plate is registration violation.

In most states it will cost you at least $50. I got dinged in Minnesota and the ticket was over $100.

$70 in CT.

truckinik · #14 08-25-2007, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Swede

Not having a front plate is registration violation.

In most states it will cost you at least $50. I got dinged in Minnesota and the ticket was over $100.

$70 in CT.

OK, So $70
Tell me where and when you've ever heard of, or seen the law enfoced ANYWHERE..?

It's a registration violation, yet people get pulled over all the time, and it never gets mentioned at all. Even whe the cops pull you over for other things and they're mad or something. I got a ticket for street racing Wednesday night and the cop could have written me up fpr a lot of other items with it. This includes my cracked windshield, and front license plate. He could have made my life hell. It's simply one of those things that they could pretty much care less. The blikely hood of them actually pulling someone over for it is slim to none. In fact, even arguing about this right now, is a total waste of my time, so never mind.

The Swede · #15 08-25-2007, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by truckinik

OK, So $70
Tell me where and when you've ever heard of, or seen the law enfoced ANYWHERE..?

It's a registration violation, yet people get pulled over all the time, and it never gets mentioned at all. Even whe the cops pull you over for other things and they're mad or something. I got a ticket for street racing Wednesday night and the cop could have written me up fpr a lot of other items with it. This includes my cracked windshield, and front license plate. He could have made my life hell. It's simply one of those things that they could pretty much care less. The blikely hood of them actually pulling someone over for it is slim to none. In fact, even arguing about this right now, is a total waste of my time, so never mind.

The point is you're putting out the wrong info. For the reader's sake, I made a correction so they know it's more than a $15 ticket.

I've been corrected here many times. I just thanked them for the correction, no need to freak.