EURO LICENSE PLATE INSTALL

I purchased this German plate from http://germanstuff4you.com/index.html and it cost about $12.50 plus shipping.  Looks like an authentic German plate (or a close copy).  I actually don't even like front plates but the W201 does not have the option of a filler panel for the front plate (like the W124 does) so the Euro plate is a nice touch.  I also purchased a Euro plate mount and attached my temp sensor to the back side.




Since this Euro plate was never designed to fit on a US spec impact strip, I added some spacers to the screws.  These spacers allow me to affix the plate holder to the US plate indentation without cracking the holder.  The screws on the outer part of the plate holder are screwed directly into the impact strip (no going back to the US plate now!)

Of course I had 2PHAST stamped into the new plate.  The plate snaps into the holder then the holder snaps shut.  Nice design and keeps you from drilling holes into your Euro plate.

9/1/2003 Euro impact strip

When I first installed the Euro license plate, I bolted it to the top of a US spec impact strip, while that did look "ok", I wanted to have the correct impact strip with the recess for the long Euro license plate.  Like usual, this came direct from Germany for around $68.

Another picture of the Euro impact strip before prep and paint.

To prep this for paint, I cleaned it with a wax/grease remover, sanded with 320 grit and used a spray-on adhesion promoter.  Once the adhesion promoter was dry, it was time for paint

Like usual, I has Tower Paint mix up some matching paint for me.  With the proper prep work and conditions, you can achieve very good results from a "rattle can" (spray can)

This is the US spec impact strip before removal.  Notice the additional holes on either side of the plate recess, those were used to secure the euro plate

So its back to pulling off the front bumper (for the 20th time it seems) to dissemble and remove the US spec impact strip.  You have two bolts on either end of the bumper and two near the center that need to be removed.

Once the bumper is removed, you need to remove the inner foam and the old impact strip.  Since I was using the US spec bumper foam, some of the material needed to be cut away to accommodate the Euro impact strip.  This is easy to do and don't forget to do this, otherwise the impact strip wont sit flush against the bumper.



Bumper re-installed minus the impact strip.

Once your bumper foam is trimmed correctly, install the impact strip by just snapping it into place

The finished product.  You will have to locate a proper spot to install your temp sensor.  I had to do some minor trimming of the impact strip foam to get the sensor routed correctly.  I mounted the sensor to the bottom corner of the license plate (passenger side)


 

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