[Bill in Marin]

It's only in CA and AZ now. I just ordered the Essential version. I was told that it will take 3-4 weeks before I can schedule the install. I'll admit, the primary attraction is aesthetics, and the price doesn't make a lot of sense ... but given how much I've spent on other parts ... it's not bad

https://www.reviver.com/

[aerokubectl]

`$12.95/month`

Not sure if serious. What am I paying for here lmao.

Sorry but that price is a non-starter.

[goku7]

Un-necessary engineering? No thanks

[Kankles]

Why not just invest in "The Jelly of The Month" club?? It's the gift that keeps on giving.

Or..build a pool and fly the whole family down this summer to open it

[Tag]

Yeah, don't get the point of this other than the customization. Even so it's not worth $155/yr nor is the idea of brightly light plates draining the cars battery and at the same time making it easier for red light, speed cams and law enforcement to get your number something you want to emphasize. Besides, renewing plates can be done online and via snail mail instead of going to the DMV. How stuff like this comes to market I'll never understand.

[Bill in Marin]

I get it. The price is silly for the actual functionality, but so is $300 for carbon fiber steering wheel trim, or $4K+ for a carbon roof with install. In that context it's a fairly small amount for a very noticeable visual difference. My car is all Silver and Black, so having a clean digital black/white license plate with some cool features doesn't sound crazy. Also, it's e-ink, like a Kindle, so I can't imagine the battery drain is a real issue.

[aerokubectl]

i need to see it on the car but i just don’t get why it has a recurring subscription fee. Do they pay for your yearly reg fees?

This mod makes no sense to me but to each their own. I just can’t understand paying monthly for this thing.

Comparing it to a CF wing is a poor comparison, there’s no subscription fee. A better comparison would be apple car play pre announcement.

[pz619]

I don’t necessarily hate it, but the subscription thing makes it a non-starter for me.

[pz619]

Originally Posted by spetsnazos

Comparing it to a CF wing is a poor comparison, there’s no subscription fee. A better comparison would be apple car play pre announcement.

I forgot to pay my carbon fiber spoiler subscription bill, so they repoed my spoiler

[Bill in Marin]

I've seen only 1 out in the wild, and it was on a Z4 up here in Marin. That's actually what got me intrigued. I was wondering how they got a simple black/white plate. I didn't realize it was digital at first. It looks very clean on the car. $12.95/mo isn't going to break the bank, and I still think it cleans up the car. Plus, it may be a gimmick, but I've also got the floating center caps and 'M' puddle lights. Maybe I'm down for a gimmick or two. Also, it used to be a lower monthly fee but like $300 upfront. Now, it was free upfront with a higher $/mo fee. Seems like they are still figuring out the pricing model.

[Anthony1s]

I just watched this video about it. It's an interview with the founder of this. Couple things I wanna say...

1) It requires very little electricity to display the plate number, as it uses a low power screen. There is a battery inside that gets charged from your vehicle, to display the plate number when you're vehicle is off, and in case the plate is stolen. I wonder how their screen compares to the ones most phones use today, where the blacks are actually pixels that are turned off, therefore consuming even less power. When the vehicle is off, you can also dim the screen to conserve more power.

2) There is GPS tracking in it, so you can track the location of the plate if it's stolen. Though that depends on the battery still having charge and not being disconnected.

3) I think most new cars come with GPS tracking already for a cheaper cost than this. We have it with ConnectedDrive, though I don't know the cost of it once it expires.

3) I would assume these are serialized, so a thief couldn't steal your plate and activate it for their own use.

4) At time of the video (April 2018) it was $700 for the plate, then $6-8/mo for the subscription.

5) If their initial price was $700 for the plate, their current business model of "plate is free and $13-17/mo subscription" doesn't seem like it makes enough money to stay in business. I wonder what would happen if they go out of business. Or, even worse, if the DMV makes this a requirement and purchases their business. Because then the DMV will be able to track your car. I ain't about that big brother life.

6) Cost of replacement if damaged or stolen.

7) I don't know how California works, but this thing certainly doesn't make it easier to renew your registration in Pennsylvania. Once a year, I get a letter in the mail saying it's time to renew my registration. I go to pa.dmv.gov and renew it online, then print out my new registration card. Last year it was $36, this year rose to $38 to renew. When you initially register your car, the license plate is included for free. Personalized and special edition license plates are an additional charge depending on what you want.

8) If every state accepts this, it would make it difficult to distinguish what state a vehicle is from and the difference in special license plates, since all license plates would look the same. Think of not being able to recognize an unmarked police car because it's plate looks the same as a civilian plate.

[goku7]

I doubt this is legal. Most states need the letters to be reflective aka lit when light shines on them on a dark background. if this is like e-ink which is based on low backlight, high chance the cop is not going to be amused when he stops you for not having a street legal license plate. plus such electronics are always gimmicky. doubt the company will last more than a few cycles. see this all the time in Silicon Valley (skully anyone?)

[Thescout13]

Originally Posted by goku7

I doubt this is legal. Most states need the letters to be reflective aka lit when light shines on them on a dark background. if this is like e-ink which is based on low backlight, high chance the cop is not going to be amused when he stops you for not having a street legal license plate. plus such electronics are always gimmicky. doubt the company will last more than a few cycles. see this all the time in Silicon Valley (skully anyone?)

Legal in California. CA DMV and DOT approved.

[MMMBRAP]

Originally Posted by Bill in Marin

It's only in CA and AZ now. I just ordered the Essential version. I was told that it will take 3-4 weeks before I can schedule the install. I'll admit, the primary attraction is aesthetics, and the price doesn't make a lot of sense ... but given how much I've spent on other parts ... it's not bad

https://www.reviver.com/

Wait lemme get this straight, this is a subscription service for a....plate frame, lol?

[Mavus]

hmmm why not just donate funds to any .org?

or even help me pay my electric bill at only $12/mo

[Bill in Marin]

OK. I get it. Apparently, $12/mo is going to put everyone in the poor house, and no M2 owner can stretch for such frivolous extravagances.

I ordered the plate and will post pics once it arrives.

[infinitekidM2C]

When I start making monthly payments on a license plate, yall have the authority to put me down.

[cptobvious]

Originally Posted by Bill in Marin

OK. I get it. Apparently, $12/mo is going to put everyone in the poor house, and no M2 owner can stretch for such frivolous extravagances.

I ordered the plate and will post pics once it arrives.

I like it, man! It's hilarious, but I just spent $200 on a bottle of cognac, took one drink, decided I didn't like it, and gave it to a buddy for him to use in mixing side cars. But, goddamn, I lie awake every night cursing Bob Iger for the $6.99/month I now have to spend so that my daughters can get their fix of Baby Yoda.

Can't wait for the pics. If they look good enough, I'll cancel the Disney+ and use that money toward this instead.

[pz619]

Actually saw it on a G63 around here. It looked like one of those Kindle E-Readers or a nicer version of California temporary tags. Wasn’t the worst thing, but if your state’s plate colors aren’t ideal for your, this could be an option.

[Moflow]

That is something I'd never pay for, but it definitely is kinda cool looking.

Post pics when you get it!

[Bill in Marin]

So, I got the RPlate in. The install is next week. A couple of early observations, most of which will probably just make the skeptics even more skeptical:

1. The plate is heavy. It's 1.9 lbs, so as someone who typically obsesses about weight savings, that was heavier than I expected.

2. It's only the rear plate. There is no front plate provided. I currently don't run a front plate, but that would be pretty janky if I did, to have one e-plate and one regular plate.

3. They provide a copy of a letter from the DOT with the plate to keep in your car and show cops if you get pulled over. The letter is just a statement that the plate is legal. They also advise keeping the original plate in the car. I can understand that they are trying to control for the fact that all cops likely haven't heard of it yet, but that kind of dampens the enthusiasm.

Also, the install looks super easy. It just needs a power source. The plate comes with the plate number already showing but a message at the bottoms says PLATE DETACHED. The plate is e-ink, so I'm guessing that there is a zero or near-zero draw when the car is off. I don't see a visible port on the plate, but I'm guessing there must be a port under the frame. My expectation is that the network connection requires power, so the GPS tracking likely is only on when the car is on as well.

[infinitekidM2C]

Alright Bill, let's see some installed pics. Don't electrocute yourself.