Ok, so I tried the whole search engine and nada. Now I'm not the most learned of blog searchers, so if I missed it, mea culpa.

I just installed a European license plate on the front of my car for my wife. She mentioned a long time ago that she always wanted a specific reg for her cars in the UK, but was never able to get it. So, the lucky-bastard-that-I-remembered-in-time-for-Valentines that I am , I installed the plate and frame over the weekend. Ummm, yea. Now the car thinks that there is something in it's face as soon as I put the car in reverse. Annoying!! This can't be right. I can't be the only one who has PDC and a euro plate on the front. In fact, ABC, I am sure you will have an appropriate response (can't wait for the wit and humor.. ..er, I mean humour). Seriously though, I tried both of the possible positions allowed by the frames predrilled holes (even if I drilled my own, it would not change the position enough to get out of the way). I wish I could post a picture, but my camera is on the blink, but if I could paint a mental picture.....the edge of the frame on either side, is about an inch away from the body and about half an inch inside of the PDC sensors.

Thoughts, remedies, slaps across the face......anything would be appreciated to help fix this.

 

Do you know if the plate follows the same size specifications as the authentic one?

 

Solution is simple.


Don't put any plate on the front. It looks better with nothing.

 

Yea. Thanks Fuze <_<

Rudy, "authentic" euro plate. Can't remember if I used bavauto or beast power, but I think they use same supplier anyway. Same size as standard euro plate.

 

You sure it's the same size? A pic would certainly help out. I took a quick look in the gallery and found the following pics of euro plates mounted in front. In each case, the plate doesn't cover the PDC sensors. Without double-checking, I'm pretty sure that there isn't a difference between the USA and Euro spec bumpers -- it wouldn't make sense for BMW to have two versions just because of the size of the license plate...

 

Concur on photo. Would help, but looking at the two you found, they are exactly the same as the one I put on there. I even went so far as to have my mother-in-law measure her plate for me! I'm sure she is convinced that I am totally bonkers. She should be back to me soon with the measurement and then I'll know for sure, but for right now, it would seem to me that they are exactly the same. Maybe I need to "re-set" the PDC for a front plate? Somehow tell it that it's got something attached? I have a hard time thinking as you say, that there is any difference in UK vs. US spec on PDC.

 

Here U.S. spec cars registered through the military get a small "US Style" plate for the front to have the euro plate not set off the PDC you would need to drill additional holes in the bumper to make the plate flush with the bumper. Atleast that is what a coworker did to solve this problem. Definitely not an option for me...

 

Spyder44, you're correct. When you do a ED, BMW installs a normal-sized European plate, but they have to slightly bend each end of the plate outward so that it does not interfer with the PDC sensors. It may not look perfect, but it does work.

 

Have you tried sticking the plate onto the bumper using double sided tape? That is the way we usually stick the front plates onto the bumper as it doesn't interfere with the PDC and you don't land up with holes in the bumper.

 

The tolerance is pretty fine, I had to change one of mine & I used double sided tape, but it was too thick & I had the same trouble as you. Had to get some thinner double sided tape & it was OK then...