Lakin Plates Review for 86/BRZ
 

I recently purchased a set of Lakin Plate brackets for my slimline number plates that are on order.
I thought I would give you all a review of these brackets from an owner's point of view as opposed to reading unsubstantiated claims on www.lakinplates.com.au
I am in no way affiliated to Lakin Plates and am not receiving anything for making this post.

I purchased a front and rear plate bracket along with perspex covers to go over the top of my plates. I also opted for getting the brackets powder coated. I was going to go for the uncoated brackets and spray them myself but it was just as cheap and more convenient to get them powder coated.

The cost of the brackets first of all:

Front $118.25 + $6.60 for powder coating
Rear $90.75 + $6.60 for powder coating
Two Prestige Number Plate Covers $37.80
Postage $9.45 ($12 discount for orders over $150)

Total Cost $269.45

Took about 2 weeks from order for them to arrive.
High quality packaging and shipping. If you have a fetish for bursting bubble wrap, there is plenty in the box to keep you going for a while.

The brackets themselves

Attachment 14752

Bags of fittings, all clearly labelled

Attachment 14753

Weight of new brackets and fittings (not including the number plate covers) 689 grams.

Attachment 14754

The OEM front bracket and fittings (weighed approx 189 grams but forgot to take a pic of this)

Attachment 14755

Front bracket is shaped to follow the curve of the bumper.

Attachment 14756

Rear plate attached to the car. Takes two minutes, uses two supplied countersunk screws and Toyota OEM screw holes. On the rear of the bracket are three silicone bumpers and two pieces of 3M double sided tape to hold it off the body work.

Attachment 14757

Prestige plate cover attached using four supplied countersunk allen bolts. Personalised plates will also be held in place with these bolts.

Attachment 14758

The raping the front bumper gets because of the OEM bracket (sorry about the quality of this pic, couldn't stop the light reflecting off the bonnet. The bottom two screws are just screwed through the plastic grill, there are no pre-drilled holes.

Attachment 14759

Front plate bracket attached to the car. Uses the same four holes as the OEM bracket so your car does not get further violated.

Attachment 14760

The bottom two adjustable legs of the front bracket are hardly visible when the brackets are in place.

Attachment 14761

The bracket closely follows the bumper line. You can see the silicone bumpers attached to the rear of the bracket to keep it off the bodywork again.

Attachment 14762

Attachment 14765

Side view of bracket attached to car, sticks out a lot less than the OEM bracket.

Attachment 14763

Prestige plate cover cover attached to bracket. The plate cover is sufficiently flexible to bend with the shape of the bracket without any problem.

Attachment 14764


My only concern with the front bracket is that the two top allen bolts that hold the plate and cover on to the bracket might be slightly too long. With the plate cover attached to the bracket there is probably only a 2mm gap between the end of the bolt and the bodywork. It is a very minor concern as it might be once the plate is also in the bracket it might shorten the amount of bolt protruding through the rear of the plate. If not I will just shorten the bolt slightly.

Overall I would give the brackets a solid 10/10. Very easy to install, very good quality and excellent service from the company.
I am talking with Phillip at Lakin plates about lending him my OEM bracket so that he can fashion a bracket that doesn't have the adjustable legs.

If you were considering getting these brackets or want any more information about them I am happy to any answer any questions or take some more pics if you want.

Nice work,
I ordered some as well, hopefully I'll get them any day now.

:coolpics:

:thanks: you wont regret the puchase IMHO.

My personalised plates have finally arrived.

Here are a couple of pics as promised.

Rear Plate (close)
Attachment 15457

Rear Plate (distant)
Attachment 15458

Front Plate (close)
Attachment 15459

Front plate (distant)
Attachment 15460

The issue I raised in my first post about the top screws in the front bracket being too long is no longer an issue with the plates being installed too.
Overall for about 0.5% of the purchase price of the car I think that it is a very worthwhile investment.

Investment?
Glad you like em, they look good but personally I think they are waaay too expensive.

Investment - If I put money in to it it's an investment, whether it's worthwhile in terms of return of money/satisfaction is a personal choice. As I said I think it's a worthwhile investment, other people may not and that's their choice.:bonk:

I wonder if the Lakin front bracket will still fit if a TRD front lip/bumper is installed?

:suicide:

although they do look very nice!

If the OEM bracket would fit on the bumper then the Lakin plate would, otherwise contact Phillip at Lakin Plates, I bet he would have a solution.

It's only money, can't take it with you :bellyroll: