Review: Big Mike's Performance Sto N Sho Front License Plate Bracket

[rhfosu]

Like many of you who live in the 31 states that require a front license plate, I struggle with figuring out how to balance compliance with what looks good. I started my journey with the standard plate mount.



However, I have always loved the phantom black plate filler look available for the DTM. So, I sourced an S4 plate filler on the forums and had it professionally painted gloss black to match my DTM diffuser. This of course meant moving my plate. I don't mess around in VA, as I have received several tickets for no front plate in the past, so I recycled a US Mill works tow hook mount I had lying around.



However, I do not love the side plate look. Maybe it's how high up it is, maybe it's the lack of symmetry. I don't know what it is, but I don't love it. So, I was looking for another solution, and stumbled upon the Sto N Sho mount. Bike Mike's Performance does not make a bracket for the B7, but after looking at the bracket they made for the B8, I decided there was a good chance I could make it work.

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And I was right. It was fairly easy to center from underneath, and you have to drill a few small holes, but otherwise it fits basically as is. It comes with 4 small plastic spacers, to level out the bracket, I put them all up front, two per side, and that more or less brought the mount parallel to the ground. To remove it, you pull a spring mounted pin and slide it out. When you put it back in, the pin clicks into a notch in one of the poles. Here are some pics of it mounted to show spacing from the grill.










Honestly, I think I have found my solution. It's symmetrical, low enough that it doesn't get in the way of anything, and I can still show off my front filler plate. If you like the look as much as I do, I highly recommend this over a traditional tow hook mount.

[B5A4coastie]

The looks pretty sharp imo, is it solid though? Like does the plate hit the grill while driving?

[rhfosu]

The looks pretty sharp imo, is it solid though? Like does the plate hit the grill while driving?

It is a sturdy piece, but it does flex because it is mounted only to the bumper. If it were mounted to something solid, it wouldn't flex. I don't notice if the plate hits the grill while driving. I don't hear any noises or anything.

[B5A4coastie]

I did a similar mount with two L-brackets on my B5 and it wore two holes in the bumper because of the vibrations and wind pressure.

[rhfosu]

I did a similar mount with two L-brackets on my B5 and it wore two holes in the bumper because of the vibrations and wind pressure.

Hm. That wouldn't be good. This attaches in 5 points, however, so i'm hoping it's stronger than a couple L brackets. These mounts are model specific, though, and are designed to to affix to at least one hard point under the bumper of most models, probably to mitigate the effects of vibration.

[A4B7Avant]

Aside from not having a plate at all, the stock location (1st pic) seems the best looking to me.

[rhfosu]

Aside from not having a plate at all, the stock location (1st pic) seems the best looking to me.

No love for my custom plate filler?

[A4B7Avant]

Being somewhat OCD, I usually go for anything that's in the middle of something.

No love for my custom plate filler?

[rhfosu]

I did a similar mount with two L-brackets on my B5 and it wore two holes in the bumper because of the vibrations and wind pressure.

I took a look at it today and it seems pretty stable. I'll keep an eye on it.

[B5A4coastie]

I took a look at it today and it seems pretty stable. I'll keep an eye on it.

I come home in a month, I want to get a new grill eventually, so if you’re still happy by then I’ll look deeper into it.

[rhfosu]

I come home in a month, I want to get a new grill eventually, so if you’re still happy by then I’ll look deeper into it.

Just following up on this. I've been running it 5 months now and it has held up really well. No holes from vibration or wind.

[Nollywood]

I like the current lower-mounted position.

I too am not a fan of the side-mounted license plate. It makes the car look off-balance, and that would really bug the hell out of me. I just don’t like it.

[rhfosu]

I like the current lower-mounted position.

I too am not a fan of the side-mounted license plate. It makes the car look off-balance, and that would really bug the hell out of me. I just don’t like it.

I don't mind it on some cars. I don't know why, but I just couldn't accept it on the B7. It drove me nuts every time I looked at it.