Thanks, this video helped me gain confidence with my new plates. When I got them I had an idea that heat gun might actually help me get it curved but at the same time was worried I might screw it up big time and I couldn’t find anything on the web except for your video. I actually managed to bend and shape the front plate with heat gun almost exact curve of the bumper in under an hour by applying more heat and then bending by hands. Very happy with the outcome.
This has been super useful thank you. I just bought a brand new MX-5 here in Spain 3 weeks ago and the dealer slapped on the plates crooked...AND drilled thru them the cheap and lazy way. Just got my new plates may try your method!
Oh how I wish we were in Spain right now. V.cold and V.wet here right now, horrible!! The VW dealer has done the same to Mrs Mid Life Motors' Polo, grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr 😒
BMW 320 2015 model - curved back plate to attach front number plate too - After a complete failure using branded number plate mounting pads due to the slight curve to plastic mounting plate on front of vehicle for the number plate I turned to You Tube and found your video. I did follow your procedure but did it slightly different for speed as needed plate back on car within the hour. 1) As you did, balanced number plate on a circular bar in the middle on top of my wheelie bin so it in effect "see sawed" on the pivot. 2) I ran the heat gun across the pivoted area and watched how the number plate immediately started to curve at the pivot point and then I ran the heat gun along the entire length of the number plate. 3) I then held the number plate in its new flexed curved shape for a minute and then repeated the process about 5 times. 4) I then held the number plate in the curved shape for 30 minutes whilst watching a bit of TV - my thoughts behind this were it would give time for the microscopic molecules that had changed position to cool and then "lock" in the new curved position. This actually worked and I was then left with a nice new number plate with enough curve to match the BMW curved mounting area. 5) I then cleaned the BMW plastic mounting area with 99% ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL ( about £3 for a small bottle off ebay ) to lift the oils etc out of the BMW's black mounting area that was shiny and smooth. This drew out the oils, making the surface "grippy". 6) For the love of god UA-camrs - forget the number plate sticky pads - after struggling to get the buggers off I used Everbuild Mammoth Powergrip Tape, Clear 25mm x 2.5 Metre ( about £2.99 a roll off ebay ). I cut this into strips and attached it to the prepared BMW curved number plate mounting area. 7) - HOORAY ! - I then just aligned my now curved number plate ( thank you Mid Life Motors ) to the area and pushed it against the Powergrip tape. 8) ALL DONE. Liked and subscribed - Thank you for taking the time in making this video.
Thanks, this video helped me gain confidence with my new plates. When I got them I had an idea that heat gun might actually help me get it curved but at the same time was worried I might screw it up big time and I couldn’t find anything on the web except for your video. I actually managed to bend and shape the front plate with heat gun almost exact curve of the bumper in under an hour by applying more heat and then bending by hands. Very happy with the outcome.
Nice work 👍 It is all about that little bit of confidence to give it a go, glad the video helped.
Absolutely brilliant video. Particularly useful were the tips on how to get the plate perfectly lined up. Great for those with OCD!
Know the feeling 😁 Mine seems to be getting better these days. The amount of cars with squint number plates though!!
@@midlifemotors5050 haha. Well, I still need to get my plate ready. I don't have a heat gun, so I'll be using a hair dryer!
This has been super useful thank you. I just bought a brand new MX-5 here in Spain 3 weeks ago and the dealer slapped on the plates crooked...AND drilled thru them the cheap and lazy way. Just got my new plates may try your method!
Oh how I wish we were in Spain right now. V.cold and V.wet here right now, horrible!! The VW dealer has done the same to Mrs Mid Life Motors' Polo, grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr 😒
BMW 320 2015 model - curved back plate to attach front number plate too - After a complete failure using branded number plate mounting pads due to the slight curve to plastic mounting plate on front of vehicle for the number plate I turned to You Tube and found your video. I did follow your procedure but did it slightly different for speed as needed plate back on car within the hour.
1) As you did, balanced number plate on a circular bar in the middle on top of my wheelie bin so it in effect "see sawed" on the pivot.
2) I ran the heat gun across the pivoted area and watched how the number plate immediately started to curve at the pivot point and then I ran the heat gun along the entire length of the number plate.
3) I then held the number plate in its new flexed curved shape for a minute and then repeated the process about 5 times.
4) I then held the number plate in the curved shape for 30 minutes whilst watching a bit of TV - my thoughts behind this were it would give time for the microscopic molecules that had changed position to cool and then "lock" in the new curved position. This actually worked and I was then left with a nice new number plate with enough curve to match the BMW curved mounting area.
5) I then cleaned the BMW plastic mounting area with 99% ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL ( about £3 for a small bottle off ebay ) to lift the oils etc out of the BMW's black mounting area that was shiny and smooth. This drew out the oils, making the surface "grippy".
6) For the love of god UA-camrs - forget the number plate sticky pads - after struggling to get the buggers off I used Everbuild Mammoth Powergrip Tape, Clear 25mm x 2.5 Metre ( about £2.99 a roll off ebay ). I cut this into strips and attached it to the prepared BMW curved number plate mounting area.
7) - HOORAY ! - I then just aligned my now curved number plate ( thank you Mid Life Motors ) to the area and pushed it against the Powergrip tape.
8) ALL DONE. Liked and subscribed - Thank you for taking the time in making this video.
Good stuff 👍 Happy to have helped ish 😀 and some great tips for others to follow in the future.
Many thanks for tuning in, much appreciated.
Some good ideas there. Thanks.
No worries, hope it helped 👍
Very helpful thanks! Where did you get the new plates from? Struggling to find any online that don’t put a big logo in the middle at the bottom!
Thanks👍 PlatesForCars for exactly what you want Will
@@midlifemotors5050 amazing thank you!
Can I use your technique on 3d plates? I have a feeling the letters will come off with the heat and bend.
They don’t need a lot of heat, be careful. Maybe try a hairdryer first. Keep us posted.👍
How did it go?
EXCELLENT IDEA 😁😁😁😁
Hope it helped. Mine are still on 👍