The Dreaded RS3 Front Plate Thread

**clubberlang06** · 08-15-2017 07:09 AM

I live in NY, and unfortunately will be parking on the street until a spot at a garage opens up (there are waitlists pretty much everywhere in my neighborhood in Brooklyn). This leaves me exposed to many dangers: parallel parkers who use the tried and true "by feel" double-bump approach; birds, oh god the birds; trees oh god the trees; garbage trucks and finally, the parking ticket battalion. To be honest I haven't slept well since delivery.

I got my first ticket for no front plate today while the car was parked overnight. $65 is not the end of the world, but it is probably likely to occur frequently. I had the plate on the dash but no sympathy. For the record I've never been bothered for no front plate WHILE DRIVING in this car, my old vette or bmw. So, for people that live in front plate states and are forced to comply with this aesthetic travesty while parked, what are your plans? I see the following options, in order of preference:

1) MAGNETS!? Use rare earth magnets behind the grill somewhere and on the plate to secure it on while parked
2) One of those retractable license plate brackets (seen mixed reviews on these)
3) Tow-hook mount (off centered bothers me but seems better than sticking on the center of the grill). This would also presumably help with parallel parking bandits bumping into my bumper.
4) Let go of first world problems and just put the plate on the front grill like the beaten down man I am

Any other options I am missing or you guys are considering?

**deadbolt** · 08-15-2017 08:04 AM

I usually dont have my front plate on wherever I go. However I just throw on the towhook plate in areas I know that get patrolled a lot.

Another alt is to register the car in another state lol

**adamRS** · 08-15-2017 09:12 AM

I'm in the same boat as you. Local county police don't really care, but Virginia state police are sticklers especially when you add tinted windows to the list. Going to be trying the US millworks tow hook mount when I get back from vacation next week.

**John P.** · 08-15-2017 10:11 AM

I'm in California, so also am supposed to have a front plate.

Car didn't come with the plate holder (so no screw holes in my grille) and the dealer parts guy said there are none in the US right now.

Have been looking at other options to place one in the front without drilling the grille using bolts or zip ties. Or maybe I'll just let it roll. With my luck, though, I'll get pulled over on my way to the airport and will miss a flight. Especially since my front windows are tinted.

Aesthetically front plates don't bother me that much.

I think those tow hook mounts are Too Fast, Too Furious for a car like this. Maybe on an STI, Civic, or Evo.

**markn1689** · 08-15-2017 12:42 PM

get the one the retracts out of view when you press a button (if you HAVE to get one at all)

https://www.amazon.com/Electric-Powe.../dp/B001TLLZ4E

**Cairo94507** · 08-15-2017 03:24 PM

Just bite the bullet and put the stock plate holder on the car, no holes required to be drilled at all, and put the plate on. As much as I don't like having a front plate, the factory install is as clean as it comes. I rather that than have the army of meter flunkies dropping little presents on my car costing me more money all of the time. Let the city/county/state balance their budget the old fashioned way, raise taxes on everyone.

**javbomb** · 08-16-2017 05:44 AM

Anyone know how to take off the stock plate holder?

I have an Australian car and what I assume is a Euro plate holder.

The holder has 4 screws but it still seems to be quite firmly attached via some tabs in the honeycomb grille and I don't want to pull too hard and damage anything.

**q5 dave** · 08-16-2017 05:56 AM

What about zip ties? Buy a ton for a few dollars and you can cut them whenever. Bet it's easy with the honeycomb grille.

**dazed1** · 08-16-2017 06:20 AM

Originally Posted by q5 dave

What about zip ties? Buy a ton for a few dollars and you can cut them whenever. Bet it's easy with the honeycomb grille.

It would scratch the honeycomb.

I don't have the car yet, but in the RS5 there were 4 screws that mounted the front plate holder. Front plate delete was just removing the holder. I used it for a GoPro mount, not a plate though :o

**bknewtype** · 08-16-2017 06:38 AM

i live in new York, and I got pulled over 3 times in the past month, let go all 3 times

on my a5 with honey comb grille, r8 with stock grille, and current tts stockb lack optics, I use releaseable zip ties with felt glued behind the license plate. I only tie it on when parked, and take it off when driving.

u can also use velco strips to loop through the plate hole and onto the honey comb

**q5 dave** · 08-16-2017 08:16 AM

Originally Posted by dazed1

It would scratch the honeycomb.

assuming felt or cloth is glued on the plate. BK gets it!

Originally Posted by bknewtype

zip ties with felt glued behind the license plate.

**bknewtype** · 08-16-2017 08:18 AM

Originally Posted by q5 dave

assuming felt or cloth is glued on the plate. BK gets it!

if concerned bout zip tires scratching the grille, u can also cut a very thing piece of felt and glue it behind the zip tie. I don't find it necessary, and im pretty sure my BO is scratched but its not noticeable at all. I wouldn't worry about that. but yes with the felt behind the plate, no damage

**sub-zero** · 08-16-2017 10:02 AM

please don't use zip ties on a brand new audi

**bknewtype** · 08-16-2017 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by sub-zero

please don't use zip ties on a brand new audi

why not? its just a temporary solution when parked, and u take it off when driving. ill agree as a permanent solution, def no. but not if u park with zip tie and drive with it off

**bknewtype** · 08-16-2017 10:51 AM

City modes with ziptie

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**SlickMachine** · 08-16-2017 11:47 AM

Here's my solution. Rare Earth magnets hidden behind filler panel. It works awesome. I know it's an A7 but the theory is the same. This would be perfect for you.

https://youtu.be/Pmq3qQdLwa4

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Audizine mobile app

**IceAero** · 08-16-2017 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by SlickMachine

Here's my solution. Rare Earth magnets hidden behind filler panel. It works awesome. I know it's an A7 but the theory is the same. This would be perfect for you.

https://youtu.be/Pmq3qQdLwa4

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Audizine mobile app

**J_3_f_f** · 08-16-2017 10:24 PM

Subscribing to see what kind of creative solutions you guys come up with. :)

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**javbomb** · 08-16-2017 10:27 PM

Can somebody please advise how to remove the RS3 plate bracket from the car? Mine has 4 screws, but there seems to be a couple of tabs which are wedged into the honeycomb grille on the left and right, and it feels like I am going to snap something when trying to pull it off.

This is mine

**John P.** · 08-17-2017 10:46 AM

So I talked to a parts guy at a local dealer in SoCal ...

The front plate mount is listed at OVER $360 USD!

OMG.

**Morbo** · 08-17-2017 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by John P.

So I talked to a parts guy at a local dealer in SoCal ...

The front plate mount is listed at OVER $360 USD!

OMG.

That's 36 $10 fix it tickets. LOL

**franklinplanner** · 08-17-2017 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by bknewtype

A plate on an R8 is just wrong. Especially the hideous yellow NY plate.....

**bknewtype** · 08-17-2017 11:21 AM

Originally Posted by franklinplanner

A plate on an R8 is just wrong. Especially the hideous yellow NY plate.....

tell me about it...I did get a lot of special treatment by the cops though when I had it lol. they let me run red lights, make turns I wasn't supposed to, stopped me just to chat. was really cool

I still throw it on just in case cause I really hate to pay for the ticket.

**youngthug** · 08-17-2017 03:23 PM

Move

Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

**whiped** · 08-17-2017 03:35 PM

**mdhollis** · 08-17-2017 06:43 PM

I got a ticket for no front plate in bumper to bumper traffic on the queens side of the midtown tunnel. Cops were just chilling in the middle of the road picking people off lol

I would just go with the tow hook

**John P.** · 08-17-2017 06:50 PM

Originally Posted by whiped

That's an interesting approach.

**J_3_f_f** · 08-17-2017 06:51 PM

Originally Posted by whiped

Any more info on this? Seems better than magnet option. I am mainly looking to put it on only when I park. So this might be perfect.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**John P.** · 08-17-2017 06:56 PM

Originally Posted by J_3_f_f

Any more info on this? Seems better than magnet option. I am mainly looking to put it on only when I park. So this might be perfect.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Looks like he used toggle bolts like you'd find at Home Despot, painted black. Held against the plate with nuts.

**whiped** · 08-18-2017 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by John P.

Looks like he used toggle bolts like you'd find at Home Despot, painted black. Held against the plate with nuts.

Yup.

Toggle bolts flipped backward and some bolts and nuts to keep it all together.

The spring tension holds it on tight enough you can drive with it if needed.

I only ever use it when I park on city streets. Takes 10 seconds to put on and take off.

Two $80 parking tickets were enough.

**whiped** · 08-18-2017 09:30 AM

You just pinch the toggles and slide it into the grill to put it on. Just pull on it to remove it.

All the other bolts/rubber/bits are just to make it look pretty

Sits perfectly flush

**bknewtype** · 08-18-2017 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by whiped

You just pinch the toggles and slide it into the grill to put it on. Just pull on it to remove it.

All the other bolts/rubber/bits are just to make it look pretty

Sits perfectly flush

Where u get those toggle bolts? Most i see at home depot r spaghetti thin lol

Would love to try this on my tts but since its not an rs grille id need to use the plate bracket to screw on but theres only 2 and its from the bottom/ underneath. Think the bolts would hold?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**whiped** · 08-18-2017 10:02 AM

I'm fairly confident mine hold even with the plate upside down. Thus, I'd assume they would work on the lower grille of the TTS. (My buddy with a GTI does this)

I found mine at a hardware store then just rattle canned them so they were less ugly. :)

**cchoi83** · 08-18-2017 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by bknewtype

Where u get those toggle bolts? Most i see at home depot r spaghetti thin lol

Would love to try this on my tts but since its not an rs grille id need to use the plate bracket to screw on but theres only 2 and its from the bottom/ underneath. Think the bolts would hold?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Try McMaster Carr for the toggle bolts. There's always Amazon too.

As nice as these ideas look and function, I always get really paranoid about stuff like this. Same goes for zip ties and magnets.

I always thought it would be neat if someone made an adapter with four tubes behind the grille so that you can slide and "click" the plate in. Sort of like how the legs on crutches are or height adjustable outdoor umbrellas.

Has anyone had any rattling or anything with the anchor setup? Any wear and tear on the grille from friction or installation and removal?

**whiped** · 08-18-2017 10:19 AM

You could always put felt on the back of the plate and on the hooks.

My grille has no damage, I usually remove the plate with two hands though and not rip it off one handed like I did in the video.

Regarding your idea, how would you remove the plate after it was on? I thought about something similar but had no idea how you would remove it.

**bknewtype** · 08-18-2017 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by cchoi83

Try McMaster Carr for the toggle bolts. There's always Amazon too.

As nice as these ideas look and function, I always get really paranoid about stuff like this. Same goes for zip ties and magnets.

I always thought it would be neat if someone made an adapter with four tubes behind the grille so that you can slide and "click" the plate in. Sort of like how the legs on crutches are or height adjustable outdoor umbrellas.

Has anyone had any rattling or anything with the anchor setup? Any wear and tear on the grille from friction or installation and removal?

No go. Just checked the screw hole is way too small

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**cchoi83** · 08-18-2017 03:02 PM

Originally Posted by bknewtype

No go. Just checked the screw hole is way too small

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Oh, sorry. That's tight.

I completely forgot you have TTS and not the RS 3.

**bknewtype** · 08-18-2017 03:03 PM

Originally Posted by cchoi83

Oh, sorry. That's tight.

I completely forgot you have TTS and not the RS 3.

No worries. I improvised (;

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**cchoi83** · 08-18-2017 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by whiped

You could always put felt on the back of the plate and on the hooks.

My grille has no damage, I usually remove the plate with two hands though and not rip it off one handed like I did in the video.

Regarding your idea, how would you remove the plate after it was on? I thought about something similar but had no idea how you would remove it.

Felt is a good idea.

I think one would have to use the push button release fitting like on a socket wrench with the quick release button on the head.

Actually, that's basically what I imagined the mount to be like. Just much smaller. The 'socket' would be behind the grille and the bolt or pin or whatever would have a push or twist type quick release like a BNC connector.