R50/R53 :: Hatch Talk (2002-2006) Cooper (R50) and Cooper S (R53) hatchback discussion.

R50/53 BRG in Santa Monica, CA with LEGAL Euro Plates

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 09-10-2002, 01:36 PM
Technomage's Avatar
Technomage
Technomage is offline
2nd Gear
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Culver City, CA
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I was walking to lunch when I saw the shadow of a MINI behind a Van. When the van moved away I saw a BRG MINI Cooper with what looked like European plates. I yelled out to the guy and asked him where he got them, he said he had them made. I asked if they where street legal, he said yes. I said I had an Indy Blue on the way and then traffic started to move and he had to go. I did't find out where he had them made. I am hopeing someone here knows somthing about this. The plates where white with Black lettering, it had CA on the left side followed by what looked like some symbols then a normal cali plate #. It looked like this:

CA -' 4MLJ779

(The numbers above are made up)

I did get off one picture from a distance with my PocketDigital. I did what I could to enhance it and you can see that it is a wide and thin plate.



The car was in Santa Monica Today 9/10/02 @ around 12:45
The intersection of Lincoln Blvd. & Olympic Blvd.
Does anyone know this BRG?
 
  #2  
Old 09-10-2002, 01:56 PM
gosharks's Avatar
gosharks
gosharks is offline
4th Gear
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Saratoga, CA
Posts: 315
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
With all the special interest plates that the CA DMV are trying to sell, I would doubt very much if these were really legal. But if they were, how cool it would be to have them!
 
  #3  
Old 09-10-2002, 02:00 PM
PatrickH's Avatar
PatrickH
PatrickH is offline
2nd Gear
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Ahhhhhhh....hence the name Technomage....

I mean comon...who walks around at lunch with a digital camera in their pocket???

Just giving you crap of course.

Anxiously awaiting a response to this thread. I would love to dump my standard Cal plates for the Euro version.
 
  #4  
Old 09-10-2002, 02:07 PM
Technomage's Avatar
Technomage
Technomage is offline
2nd Gear
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Culver City, CA
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
To be honest I had two cameras on me, the Logitech Pocket Digital and the Casio WQV3 Color Watch Cam. :smile:
If these are legit plates I MUST have one.

Logitech Pocket Digital

Casio Camera Watch
 
  #5  
Old 09-10-2002, 02:48 PM
PatrickH's Avatar
PatrickH
PatrickH is offline
2nd Gear
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
OK....I have to know...

Who do you work for??

There must be some connection between work and cameras...


 
  #6  
Old 09-10-2002, 02:52 PM
PatrickH's Avatar
PatrickH
PatrickH is offline
2nd Gear
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
wait a minute!!!!

You work for her majesty's secret service don't you????

What's your number??

008?? 009?? 010??


 
  #7  
Old 09-10-2002, 03:46 PM
Verruckt's Avatar
Verruckt
Verruckt is offline
4th Gear
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Stroudsburg, PA
Posts: 573
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
>>OK....I have to know...
>>
>>Who do you work for??
>>
>>There must be some connection between work and cameras...


Erm... *I* am a blacksmith, and I always have my Cannon Digital Elph on me.

<shrug>

 
  #8  
Old 09-10-2002, 03:53 PM
kesh420's Avatar
kesh420
kesh420 is offline
4th Gear
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: London England
Posts: 382
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Anyone know if you can get this in Florida ?

I want it !
 
  #9  
Old 09-10-2002, 04:30 PM
Technomage's Avatar
Technomage
Technomage is offline
2nd Gear
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Culver City, CA
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I work for a Visual Effects House in Santa Monica.
The spy stuff is a side job
 
  #10  
Old 09-10-2002, 05:05 PM
zwoman's Avatar
zwoman
zwoman is offline
3rd Gear
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The car obviously is a European model because it's got the longer plate space in the rear. US specs have the standard short spot int he back and you can't fit the longer Euro plates because it doesn't fit. In fact, I'm pretty sure there's even an indentation made to fit the plates, so you couldn't force the fit w/o bending the plates.

Perhaps this was a Euro model someone imported after living/visiting there and had the car modified for US specs? Did he/she have a British accent?
 
  #11  
Old 09-10-2002, 05:13 PM
Technomage's Avatar
Technomage
Technomage is offline
2nd Gear
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Culver City, CA
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Perhaps you don't know this car very well.
This is a picture taken last weekend in Ohio of a US spec MCS:
:smile:

>>The car obviously is a European model because it's got the longer plate space in the rear. US specs have the standard short spot int he back and you can't fit the longer Euro plates because it doesn't fit. In fact, I'm pretty sure there's even an indentation made to fit the plates, so you couldn't force the fit w/o bending the plates.
>>
>>Perhaps this was a Euro model someone imported after living/visiting there and had the car modified for US specs? Did he/she have a British accent?

 
  #12  
Old 09-10-2002, 05:36 PM
zwoman's Avatar
zwoman
zwoman is offline
3rd Gear
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Okay, so maybe not obviously :smile: And I do know the car well; I just don't spend much time behind it as I'm behind the steering wheel
 
  #13  
Old 12-04-2002, 12:23 AM
gotmini2's Avatar
gotmini2
gotmini2 is offline
1st Gear
Join Date: May 2002
Location: So Cal
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
There is no way that those plates are legal in California (or any state).
If the owner imported the car for travel, thats one thing, but if the car is registered in the US, it has to have state plates on it.


 
  #14  
Old 12-04-2002, 12:32 PM
twins's Avatar
twins
twins is offline
1st Gear
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I live in the L.A. area and have only seen those legally on cars that were just brought in from Europe. I don't think you can maintain them for long on your car without ultimately getting ticketed. If you really want some however, check out this website:
http://www.euro-sign.com tel: 954-979-1448
These people make replica license plates that look original to me. Different states, countries, and more. You can even order #'s and letters specially.
 
  #15  
Old 12-04-2002, 01:03 PM
C4's Avatar
C4
C4 is offline
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 7,756
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
That BRG MINI Cooper in the "Spy Photo" is either an US or Canada spec model. Notice the red marker lights on the left rear wheel arch. Mexican or Euro market MINIs do not have side marker lights mounted in the wheel arches like the US/Canada models do.

That person was obviously bluffing. Unless the car belongs to a diplomat or belongs to someone working for MINI/BMW I very much doubt those Euro license plates are valid in Ca.

Here in Fla I have seen cars brought over from Europe (Particuraly England) with their original plates still attached to them. Also, since in FL you are not required to have a front license tag like in other states, many people buy the Euro "Fashion" tags and out them in the front. I know a couple of places here that can even customize them for you.
 
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ECSTuning
Interior/Exterior Products
0
10-01-2015 12:34 PM
ECSTuning
Vendor Classifieds
0
10-01-2015 12:34 PM
ECSTuning
Interior/Exterior Products
0
10-01-2015 12:28 PM
ECSTuning
Vendor Classifieds
0
10-01-2015 12:28 PM
ECSTuning
Vendor Announcements
0
10-01-2015 12:13 PM



Quick Reply: R50/53 BRG in Santa Monica, CA with LEGAL Euro Plates



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:20 AM.