Bonnet to bumper panel gap - *Fixed*

[fraserbottomley]

Hi Guys,

The panel gap between my bonnet and front bumper is starting to annoy me slightly! The centre of the bonnet is slightly higher than the left and right sides, it's symettrical at least, but the shut line isnt the same all the way across the front if that makes sense! I've noticed this on a couple of other Zeds I've seen out and about, yet some seem to be perfect. Is this quite a common thing? Any of you guys got anything similar?

Cheers

 

[mrmaple]

ive the same problem,ive recently replaced the bumper support where it meets the wheel arch. i havent tried to re-align it yet but i think its a case of loosening the underside bolts and the ones just under the front end of the bonnet and shuffling it into place. easier said than done methinks!!!

 

[cj10jeeper]

Sounds like you need to tighten down the latch in the centre (assuming it's the single latch mechanism fitted) and screw out the corner adjusters slightly to compensate.

It is however one of those things that is better illustrated with a photograph or seen in the flesh

There is also some scope for adjustment with the metal clamp that holds the top of the bumper cover down

 

[fraserbottomley]

My car's a facelift model, the bonnet has a latch at either side as far as I can remember? I'll get a photo tomorrow.

 

[cj10jeeper]

My car's a facelift model, the bonnet has a latch at either side as far as I can remember? I'll get a photo tomorrow.

OK - hence my caveat related to single catch.
You next need to check if the gap and height is correct at all other points and all along the wings and then decide if the bonnet is bowed up, bumper cover too low, etc.

 

[fraserbottomley]

Well I decided to have a go at fixing this today.

At first I messed around with the adjustable rubber bump stops - this didn't really work though as they just lifted the full bonnet as opposed to the outside edges, which I did suspect would be the case.

So I removed the 7 hex screws that hold the top edge of the bumper in place, put a couple of washers under the middle of the bumper lip and screw shown in the red circle and a washer under the two areas marked in yellow.



This left me with this nice even shut line across the front, I forgot to take some before pics but like I said it was raised in the middle slightly!

 

[cj10jeeper]

Looks like a result then