Front License Plate Bracket - Details from Dealer Bulletin - F30Driver

With delivery of BMW dealership demo F30 3 series it is the first time most people can see the new 2012 3 series sedan in person. One of the biggest issues enthusiasts are having this the installation of a massive, and rather ugly front license plate bracket. For reasons that are not clear all F30s produced from November 2011 to mid-January 2012 has this bracket installed at the factory

So regardless of your state's front plate law if you're getting one of the first F30 sedans (like our F30Driver Project 328i) it will have have the bracket installed. I've heard there are 8 holes in the bumper as a result. One of the first things we're doing to the Project 328i is removing that things so stay tuned for more details.

Fear not, if you haven't ordered your F30 yet you won't have to deal with the front plate bracket. BMW has stopped installing the brackets from the factory. All F30s produced after mid-January 2012 will have the much smaller, standard front bracket shipped with the car in the trunk but not installed. Installation will be left up to the BMW dealership so you can instruct your dealer to leave the front plate mounting frame off. It is not clear if F30's produced after mid-January 2012 will have to two "vampire bites" on the front bumper. We'll keep an eye out for F30s arriving at dealerships in the coming weeks to see if those have been eliminated. I have a feeling they have been.