License plate plug

[YellowLab]

Sadly most dealers slap on and drill into the front of the GX to attach plates. Anyone have any thoughts about how to cover those holes (mutilations) to the front of the car with some kind of cap or plug? When they screw them in it pulls some of the plastic away from the bumper leaving a horrific extruded hole. How would they like it if I drilled a hole in their foreheads??

 

[PepeLePew]

BumperPlugs.com

Custom paint-matched BumperPlugs™ for front license plate holes in bumper, finished in 19-stage factory chemistry.

bumperplugs.com

 

[992GTS]

Any idea what color to use for the gray/silver lower part where the plate attaches? I have a white Overtrail and dealer had the front plate holder and wanted to order plugs

 

[DaveK]

I HATE THIS !!!!!!!!!!!!!

I always tell the dealer.... if you install the front plate and screw into the bumper I will not buy the car.

I also tell them if they peel the window sticker, I will also not buy the car.

I also give them a $3 or $4 hundred dollar tip if they follow my PID instruction PERFECTLY !

 

[RickBullotta]

Heck, I had to put plugs in the REAR license plate mount holes. I have a bike rack that covers the plate so had to re-mount the plate on the rack itself. And when I pulled the plate off I found a bunch of stick-on rubber pads and some tape added to prevent the plate from scratching the paint, which I do appreciate, but it was a mess to get the adhesive off.

 

[incognito.gx]

I was amazed that Lexus doesn’t utilize some sort of license plate plug/mount for the rear. 2 holes & some tape

 

[RickBullotta]

I was amazed that Lexus doesn’t utilize some sort of license plate plug/mount for the rear. 2 holes & some tape

That's exactly what mine looked like. Using some GooGone (the non-chemical kind - citrus formula) I was able to get the adhesive off.

 

[incognito.gx]

That's exactly what mine looked like. Using some GooGone (the non-chemical kind - citrus formula) I was able to get the adhesive off.

Same. Just need to find some mounting plugs

 

[RickBullotta]

Same. Just need to find some mounting plugs

I ended up getting a couple of these for my wife's car and mine, and I used the included screws + caps to act as plugs. Worked great. And only $10 including the plate holders.

Amazon.com

 

[nartmot]

I would recommend against plugs for the holes because they cause too much drag, robbing power and reducing your fuel efficiency drastically. Once you explain this to your wife, make sure you upgrade to a steel bumper and winch. Steel is much harder to drill, thus preventing similar calamities in the future. You're welcome.

 

[RickBullotta]

I would recommend against plugs for the holes because they cause too much drag, robbing power and reducing your fuel efficiency drastically. Once you explain this to your wife, make sure you upgrade to a steel bumper and winch. You're welcome.

And since you're adding that much drag, you might as well get a front hitch and front motorcycle carrier and a brand new KTM 690 Enduro R.

 

[kulahi]

Just placed an order and had a discussion with the salesperson regarding the front plate. I guess they are required to have the front plate one before it leaves the dealership. Just to confirm, the front plate bracket that Lexus provides does require drilling into the front grill? If so how many holes and where do they drill?

 

[YellowLab]

The plates are 4 hole

 

[incognito.gx]

Just placed an order and had a discussion with the salesperson regarding the front plate. I guess they are required to have the front plate one before it leaves the dealership. Just to confirm, the front plate bracket that Lexus provides does require drilling into the front grill? If so how many holes and where do they drill?

No way thats true

 

[YellowLab]

No way thats true

Most dealers in CA that is the case - simply because it happens the day most cars are prepped at the dealer when they arrive. Plus sales guys and service barely talk to stop the install. One of the few ways around it is to order a car and then put in the contract no front plate bracket; when I ordered a 911 that was how I did that

 

[Capt CF]

Maybe some of the no drill options would work if you were to source one and provide it to the dealer?

No Drill License Plate Mount

Has anyone found a no-drill solution to mounting the front license plate? I've used Carbonio for other cars in the past, but reached out to them and they indicated they don't have anything that would fit the GX550 yet.

www.lexusgxforum.com

 

[incognito.gx]

Most dealers in CA that is the case - simply because it happens the day most cars are prepped at the dealer when they arrive. Plus sales guys and service barely talk to stop the install. One of the few ways around it is to order a car and then put in the contract no front plate bracket; when I ordered a 911 that was how I did that

Wild man. I would pull out of the deal if they drilled my bumper.

 

[YellowLab]

The challenge is that once they drill - you are done. The screws create a pull around them that plugs will not work to fill in. Outside of body filler - no way to fix cleanly.

I hate front plates and I either took my GX with it or had to wait. I figured this is a truck it - is designed to be beaten by mud versus wiped with the finest chamois or microfiber.

 

[CaryGX550]

Wild man. I would pull out of the deal if they drilled my bumper.

That’s tougher to do when you drive to an out of state dealer to get yours. I was not happy when I saw the front plate on my new truck, but it’s something I could deal with.

 

[incognito.gx]

When I lived in Chicago I never ran the front plate on my car. Only got ticketed once when I was parked on the street. I sent the judge a pic of my car with the plate taped on it and they threw it out lol