Mounting the license plates?
 

OK, time for the temp tags to come off.

(a) The rear temp was held on with really short sheet-metal screws in the plastic. Really? That suffices?

(b) On the front, two relatively large diameter hole, no threads. Are there threads keeping inside to engage? Nuts from the back?

Is there a better way? I am contemplating breaking out the Riv-nut tool and having nice, positive threads for real bolts. Thoughts?

You need SOA342L171 to use those holes and fit US license plate. It's not very straightforward install, the Subaru dealership employee couldn't figure it out and was doing stupid things and said it can't be done without drilling holes. So don't rely on them, pretty easy install once you figure out how to.

if you've got riv nuts, those would definitely be a better option.

Thanks, a search showed a mounting plate... but no mention of hardware?

Looking better all the time. Combined with stainless steel bolts and anti-seize due to dissimilar metals.

BTW, just for fun, ordered a 21"w "euro" plate with her vanity plate number and state flag, I think it will look better on a pointy-nose car like the BRZ than the usual US "billboard". Had one on the Boxster for nine years now, no trouble.

It will be in the box.

2022 models had nutserts in those empty holes. you can do the same, or use a wellnut alongside using a jdm to usdm plate adapter

Thanks:thumbsup:, and I learned a new technical term :wellnut. I presume a careful measurement of the hole with the digital micrometer, and an order from Amazon, "and Bob's your uncle".

i believe you can order stainless rivnuts as well

OK, front hole is a whisker over 8mm, looking online at size charts that's an M4 well nut. Small diameter bolt, but I found M4 Allen-key washer-head bolts so that helps the bolthead not pulling though the plate and mount.

OK, that's Plan B if the wellnuts fail. With stainless screws, no "dissimilar metals" problems.

BTW, with the rear plate just screwed into plastic, can I drill out the bumper cover and add wellnuts there? I am unsure what's behind there, would not want to drill through a brake line, etc. I guess I could wait; I suspect the bumper cover needs to come off to install the trailer hitch eventually, but if anyone is familiar with that part of the car -- please chime in!

Use traditional screws for the back — available at any autoparts store.

For the front, I used this $15 easy and reversible solution from Amazon:

http://https://www.amazon.com/License-Bracket-Subaru-Adapter-Factory/dp/B071WDD936?pd_rd_w=ZheGp&content-id=amzn1.sym.b854a5c2-4475-41f8-a6d4-df92b2868104&pf_rd_p=b854a5c2-4475-41f8-a6d4-df92b2868104&pf_rd_r=PS0VNPXJEW39HJ6NWRNW&pd_rd_wg =yNTU5&pd_rd_r=c70409ea-b067-4a59-aa29-956ea4f9892d&pd_rd_i=B071WDD936&psc=1&ref_=pd_basp _bia_rpt_ba_s_1_sc

OK, now we have a Plan C. Not sure why I am not in favor of the plastic toggles, as they are a variation of the technology of the well nuts. I do like the Torx bolt idea, even though our cars are garage kept and her workplace is gated.

The well nuts and bolts will be here tomorrow and I'll report back -- success of failure.

I'd still like something better out back, the sheet metal screws are in place at the moment -- but in the year 2023, is that really how things should be assembled?

You are way overcomplicating this. Just order the part I mentioned, it comes with all hardware, I paid 30 + tax, only thing it lacks is instructions.

OK, front plate holder on and plate installed. M4 wellnuts are barely, in my opinion, big enough -- had to press the plate holder tight again the car to keep it from spinning and then tighten the bolt about forever before I got "bite" and it took a couple of tries (I tagged not he result and it seems well attached). The M4 bolts, buttonhead/washerhead Allen key M4, were small enough in diameter at the head that I worried about pull-through so I used a washer in between. The wellnut's flange means the plate and holder sit about 1/8" proud of the car, there's a little space in there; I have convinced myself that it's OK, aesthetically.

Instead of JDM or USDM plate, I got a Euro-style plate with her vanity plate number; the good news is that the entire plate is higher than the "functional" part of the grill opening so should no affect airflow there. I think the Euro plates look better on a pointy-nosed car.

Plan Z - No Front Tag at all? Looks so much better...

Seems like the underfunded police departments have better things to do than worry about no front plates? Well that is the hope anyway, but its not a backbreaking fine if they decide to tag you, and no points, so maybe worth 'seeing how it goes'..