[mohanmiles@gmail.com]

Guys i wish i saw this post before picking up my 2022 X3M. Unfortunately ran into same issue and have paint chipping behind the plastic bracket. Quite pissed.

Couple of questions on the amazon replica for the bracket posted above.
1. What is behind the housing for the 4 screws on the corners? Is it a metal piece covered by soft material?
2. Do the screws on this replica rust? Has anyone had any issues?

[Max Well]

Originally Posted by mohanmiles@gmail.com

Guys i wish i saw this post before picking up my 2022 X3M. Unfortunately ran into same issue and have paint chipping behind the plastic bracket. Quite pissed.

Couple of questions on the amazon replica for the bracket posted above.
1. What is behind the housing for the 4 screws on the corners? Is it a metal piece covered by soft material?
2. Do the screws on this replica rust? Has anyone had any issues?

Welcome to the Forum, and congrats on your new F97.

I've never removed the foam square from the back of the screw housings on the good bracket, and they've never loosened, so not sure if it is flat plastic or metal, but suspect the threaded piece is sealed in the plastic. Either way, it is fully protected from harming the paint like the cheap bracket can. Note again that they aren't cutting screws either.

I've used the good bracket for years and never once had an issue with rusting or seizing. But then again, I don't live up North where snow and salt are an issue, so perhaps spta97 and others can comment. After reading his suggestion about 'anti-seize' which I'm embarrassed to say I'd never heard of, I purchased some and have begun using just to be on the safe side.

[MetaX]

I ordered an OEM license plate bracket from ECS which was a perfect fit so if you want an original BMW frame (and are willing to pay a little extra for it), this was what I ordered: https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...r/51188238061/

You’ll need to buy the machine screws for securing the plate to the frame.

[mohanmiles@gmail.com]

Thanks for the info. I ordered Amazon aftermarket bracket that was suggested on this thread which should arrive in the next couple of days. I also ordered 4 stainless steel screws from Amazon apparently fits the bracket as well. I am still pissed with the crappy bracket situation and the paint chips I had to fill up. Anyway will need to get over it.

Another question for the group. The dealer suggested not to drill the front license bracket on the M vehicle and suggested to get a tow hook license plate holder. I live in Toronto Canada and we need to have front and back plates. Does anyone have a good recommendation on which one to get that does not block parking sensor and also good quality which doesn’t rust or loosen over time? I ended up getting a standard front license bracket on my previous M4 but have second thoughts on doing the same on the X3m. Any advice from the group?

[KodiakEd]

Originally Posted by mohanmiles@gmail.com

Thanks for the info. I ordered Amazon aftermarket bracket that was suggested on this thread which should arrive in the next couple of days. I also ordered 4 stainless steel screws from Amazon apparently fits the bracket as well. I am still pissed with the crappy bracket situation and the paint chips I had to fill up. Anyway will need to get over it.

Another question for the group. The dealer suggested not to drill the front license bracket on the M vehicle and suggested to get a tow hook license plate holder. I live in Toronto Canada and we need to have front and back plates. Does anyone have a good recommendation on which one to get that does not block parking sensor and also good quality which doesn’t rust or loosen over time? I ended up getting a standard front license bracket on my previous M4 but have second thoughts on doing the same on the X3m. Any advice from the group?

check this out:
https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showt...ighlight=plate

[95wildtt]

Originally Posted by mohanmiles@gmail.com

Thanks for the info. I ordered Amazon aftermarket bracket that was suggested on this thread which should arrive in the next couple of days. I also ordered 4 stainless steel screws from Amazon apparently fits the bracket as well. I am still pissed with the crappy bracket situation and the paint chips I had to fill up. Anyway will need to get over it.

Installed the Amazon bracket (after touch-up on the holes) today... worked perfectly!
Used a small bit of Anti-Seize on the threads, just in case.

[mohanmiles@gmail.com]

Anyone who used the Amazon bracket, did anyone have any of those screws rusting? Specially those who live in snow country?

[Kevin_The_Clean1]

Originally Posted by mohanmiles@gmail.com

Anyone who used the Amazon bracket, did anyone have any of those screws rusting? Specially those who live in snow country?

The Amazon bracket is an "exact replica" of the revised / better unit that BMW never should've stopped using to save a buck. And no, the screws don't rust.

[spta97]

Originally Posted by mohanmiles@gmail.com

Anyone who used the Amazon bracket, did anyone have any of those screws rusting? Specially those who live in snow country?

I'll have to take a look at mine. From what I recall the Amazon listing said the screws were stainless but I seem to remember they were attracted to a magnet (which means they still have a % of ferrous metals).

If it is a big concern, you can get stainless screws from Ace/HD/Lowes.

[spta97]

Originally Posted by Kevin_The_Clean1

The Amazon bracket is an "exact replica" of the revised / better unit that BMW never should've stopped using to save a buck. And no, the screws don't rust.

I'm questioning your snow experience living in CA

Originally Posted by spta97

I'll have to take a look at mine. From what I recall the Amazon listing said the screws were stainless but I seem to remember they were attracted to a magnet (which means they still have a % of ferrous metals).

If it is a big concern, you can get stainless screws from Ace/HD/Lowes.

I just checked my X3 (which is still covered in salt). I have the caps on them but the screw (head anyway) doesn't appear to be rusting.

And I did make a post about them claiming to be stainless but also can be grabbed by a magnet - in further research it seems to not correlate so they may in fact be stainless steel. However, I have found 316 (marine grade which is not attracted to magnets) to be more rust resistant than 304.


More info:

Originally Posted by AUSTRAL WRIGHT Metals

There is a myth in the stainless steel industry that stainless steel is not magnetic. Or that if it is magnetic, the stainless steel is not stainless.

Magnetism and corrosion resistance are not connected. Corrosion resistance depends on how much chromium and (sometimes) molybdenum is in the stainless steel. The higher the chromium and molybdenum, the better corrosion resistance.

The magnetism myth is because the common magnetic grades of stainless steel, 409 and 430, don’t resist corrosion as well as the common non-magnetic grades, 304 and 316. You can’t expect them to. Grade 409 has 11% of chromium, which is plenty for automotive muffler systems.

Grade 430 has 16% of chromium, and is mostly used indoors. Grade 304 has 18% of chromium, which makes it suitable for general purposes, including outdoor exposures. And in marine environments you need Grade 316, which has 16% chromium and also 2% of molybdenum to help it resist the attack of salt. 316 is known as marine grade.

So the Common non-magnetic stainless steels have better corrosion resistance than the common magnetic grades because they have more chromium and molybdenum.

[spta97]

Originally Posted by Max Well

Welcome to the Forum, and congrats on your new F97.

I've never removed the foam square from the back of the screw housings on the good bracket, and they've never loosened, so not sure if it is flat plastic or metal, but suspect the threaded piece is sealed in the plastic. Either way, it is fully protected from harming the paint like the cheap bracket can. Note again that they aren't cutting screws either.

I've used the good bracket for years and never once had an issue with rusting or seizing. But then again, I don't live up North where snow and salt are an issue, so perhaps spta97 and others can comment. After reading his suggestion about 'anti-seize' which I'm embarrassed to say I'd never heard of, I purchased some and have begun using just to be on the safe side.

Anti-seize is amazing - and also has the ability to get on EVERYTHING no matter how careful you are.

Usage, therefore, is as follows:
1) Spread a generous amount all over your clothes/body/hands/face.
2) Put a dab on the threads of the screw/bolt.

No matter how careful I am, I always manage to get some on me..ALWAYS!!

But good stuff to use if you are worried about bolts/screws rusting and seizing. Just a PSA that if you are torqueing a bolt to spec, it is usually listed as "dry". If you use anti-seize, the same torque will be more due to the lubrication.

[mohanmiles@gmail.com]

Thx gents. I saw the some of the reviews and couple said they were rusting. They must have addressed it

[alex2364]

Can anyone with a 2023 check to see if BMW is still using the newer cheap bracket?

[Max Well]

Originally Posted by alex2364

Can anyone with a 2023 check to see if BMW is still using the newer cheap bracket?

While at the Dealership this morning scheduling a svc appt I intentionally looked at the floor cars after seeing your early AM question. All of the empty frames I saw were attached with the cutting screws, not the nice machine screws, so I have to surmise they are still using the cheap brackets. And this was on some X vehicles including M performance variants. Maybe others who actually have their 2023 models can chime in as well.

[alex2364]

Originally Posted by Max Well

While at the Dealership this morning scheduling a svc appt I intentionally looked at the floor cars after seeing your early AM question. All of the empty frames I saw were attached with the cutting screws, not the nice machine screws, so I have to surmise they are still using the cheap brackets. And this was on some X vehicles including M performance variants. Maybe others who actually have their 2023 models can chime in as well.

Sounds like I need to tell my dealer not to attach the rear bracket when my car arrives next month so I can swap it with the bracket on my old car. He must think I’m crazy.

[Kevin_The_Clean1]

Originally Posted by Max Well

While at the Dealership this morning scheduling a svc appt I intentionally looked at the floor cars after seeing your early AM question. All of the empty frames I saw were attached with the cutting screws, not the nice machine screws, so I have to surmise they are still using the cheap brackets. And this was on some X vehicles including M performance variants. Maybe others who actually have their 2023 models can chime in as well.

Max Well hit the nail on the head. Instead of investing a few dollars the company is cutting costs & delivering all new cars with this cheap poorly designed version, which heavily digs into the paint with the improper screws on every vehicle sold. Please replace this item first to save the nice paint back there.

[Max Well]

Originally Posted by alex2364

Sounds like I need to tell my dealer not to attach the rear bracket when my car arrives next month so I can swap it with the bracket on my old car. He must think I’m crazy.

Saw you picked up your G01 X3M40i on 10 Dec (congrats!) - https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showp...1&postcount=10

Any F/U on whether it came with the cheap vs good rear license bracket at delivery?

[alex2364]

Originally Posted by Max Well

Saw you picked up your G01 X3M40i on 10 Dec (congrats!) - https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showp...1&postcount=10

Any F/U on whether it came with the cheap vs good rear license bracket at delivery?

Unfortunately it was the cheap one. I even tried to order the good one using the old part number from the dealer, but the parts guy still gave me the cheap one, even though the cheap one has a different part number.

[alex2364]

Originally Posted by Max Well

Saw you picked up your G01 X3M40i on 10 Dec (congrats!) - https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showpost.php?p=29618701&postcount=10

Any F/U on whether it came with the cheap vs good rear license bracket at delivery?

Also forgot to mention one thing, the screws that came with the bracket is shorter than the ones in your post so it’s not scratching the paint. I’ll attach a pic of it. I believe the screw is part #07146959895 but someone should double check on it.

[Max Well]

Originally Posted by alex2364

Also forgot to mention one thing, the screws that came with the bracket is shorter than the ones in your post so it’s not scratching the paint. I’ll attach a pic of it. I believe the screw is part #07146959895 but someone should double check on it.

Thanks, alex2364 - that small screw is the one that was too short to hold for our license plate and frame so we had to try the longer one (discussed in post #23: https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showp...4&postcount=23 and post #27 https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showp...7&postcount=27 ). Also, spta97 commented how it was also too short to hold for his needs so he had to use hot glue for one that stripped until he could get the good frame ( https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showp...4&postcount=22 & https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showp...8&postcount=24 ).

[kmac03]

Hey everyone - put on my plates to my 2023 today and stripped the cheap plastic.

Can someone confirm if the Amazon one will fit the X3 LCI?

[Max Well]

Originally Posted by kmac03

Hey everyone - put on my plates to my 2023 today and stripped the cheap plastic.

Can someone confirm if the Amazon one will fit the X3 LCI?

It does