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Relatively simple here. You'll need the following:
1) Hacksaw (a bench-saw if you really want to make short work of this - haha)
2) Dremel
3) Exact-o-knife or just a razor blade
4) Universal plate mounting bracket (ebay)
5) Hand-held drill and drill bit
6) Mounting screws (self-tapping if you don't have a drill available)
7) The stock 2018 Mazda6 mounting bracket
8) Recommended, but not necessary, front plate surround (in the event you don't get the universal plate bracket on perfectly level, this can help fix that visually)
The reason for doing this: Cosmetically, I think Mazda strikes out on their license plate location. I realize there's laws surrounding minimum height requirements and stuff like that, but other auto manufacturers don't seem to have this problem...haha. Mazda3 is a great case example -- that plate location was dreadful (modified that too with the help of some friends in Thailand.)
The 2018 Mazda6 isn't nearly as bad, but it still seems high to me. It's almost closer to the Mazda emblem at the top of the grille than it is to the bottom lip on the bumpers -- therefore giving it that "too high" appearance.
As my mantra is "It's gotta look OEM" I make sure my mods take on that appearance. In other words, I'm not doing a tow hook plate. It's gotta look stock.
Total Time Needed: Maybe 30 minutes if you're experienced with the tools. But certainly not more than an hour.
Steps:
1) With the license plate removed, but bracket still mounted, take your universal plate and razor blade and score the plate bracket across the top where you'll hacksaw the top off. Pic 1 below shows where I scored the top and hacksaw'd it.
2) Remove the plate bracket and hacksaw on the score line.
3) Re-attach the plate bracket once done, line up your universal bracket, and drill the desired number of mounting points (I did 2 - doesn't have to be crazy). Install the mounting screws/hardware. Reference pic 2.
4) Reference back to pic 1. You see the top of the hacksawed line? It's unclean and sharp on the rear side of the plate bracket. This is where a Dremel is needed. Detach your plate bracket again and Dremel those sharp edges down. Reference pic 3 for finished job. (Please wear some sort of eye-protection when using a Dremel...enough said)
5) Install plate bracket, universal plate bracket, and license plate (include surround if desired). Mission accomplished.
Reference pic 4, 5, and 6 for completed job. Note that you can now see the full grille and the front end just looks overall cleaner (IMO).
Enjoy guys. We will dub this, "The Chazzy Mod" haha. jk. Share the love guys. We're all Mazda fanatics.
1) Hacksaw (a bench-saw if you really want to make short work of this - haha)
2) Dremel
3) Exact-o-knife or just a razor blade
4) Universal plate mounting bracket (ebay)
5) Hand-held drill and drill bit
6) Mounting screws (self-tapping if you don't have a drill available)
7) The stock 2018 Mazda6 mounting bracket
8) Recommended, but not necessary, front plate surround (in the event you don't get the universal plate bracket on perfectly level, this can help fix that visually)
The reason for doing this: Cosmetically, I think Mazda strikes out on their license plate location. I realize there's laws surrounding minimum height requirements and stuff like that, but other auto manufacturers don't seem to have this problem...haha. Mazda3 is a great case example -- that plate location was dreadful (modified that too with the help of some friends in Thailand.)
The 2018 Mazda6 isn't nearly as bad, but it still seems high to me. It's almost closer to the Mazda emblem at the top of the grille than it is to the bottom lip on the bumpers -- therefore giving it that "too high" appearance.
As my mantra is "It's gotta look OEM" I make sure my mods take on that appearance. In other words, I'm not doing a tow hook plate. It's gotta look stock.
Total Time Needed: Maybe 30 minutes if you're experienced with the tools. But certainly not more than an hour.
Steps:
1) With the license plate removed, but bracket still mounted, take your universal plate and razor blade and score the plate bracket across the top where you'll hacksaw the top off. Pic 1 below shows where I scored the top and hacksaw'd it.
2) Remove the plate bracket and hacksaw on the score line.
3) Re-attach the plate bracket once done, line up your universal bracket, and drill the desired number of mounting points (I did 2 - doesn't have to be crazy). Install the mounting screws/hardware. Reference pic 2.
4) Reference back to pic 1. You see the top of the hacksawed line? It's unclean and sharp on the rear side of the plate bracket. This is where a Dremel is needed. Detach your plate bracket again and Dremel those sharp edges down. Reference pic 3 for finished job. (Please wear some sort of eye-protection when using a Dremel...enough said)
5) Install plate bracket, universal plate bracket, and license plate (include surround if desired). Mission accomplished.
Reference pic 4, 5, and 6 for completed job. Note that you can now see the full grille and the front end just looks overall cleaner (IMO).
Enjoy guys. We will dub this, "The Chazzy Mod" haha. jk. Share the love guys. We're all Mazda fanatics.
