Front Fascia Gap

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DaytonZ4

Member
 Dayton O, USA
I have seen several pictures of Z4 (E89) cars with this issue where there is a significant gap between the front fascia behind the headlights and the hood (yellow arrow). I seem to be having this issue. My hood is properly aligned to the doors and good with the headlights, so I don't want to adjust it.

Is there an adjustment for the front fascia? The gap below the headlights might be a little large also, so maybe the front fascia is sagging? It looks like the brackets that attach the fascia on either side are out of position - too low, but I can't see where they can be adjusted. These brackets are the ones right where this seam is located and the fascia can only clip into them one way. So it is the brackets that are out of place. The gap is much worse in person (about 10-12 mm on both sides) than the photo shows.

DaytonZ4-002.png
 
Hello and welcome, there’s plastic bumper clips there that are well known for breaking, an easy fix and everything goes back in line :thumbsup:
 
As Argyll says.

The gaps are probably the result of a light bump. Just push the lower section of the bumper below them and the 3 prongs on each side should click back in.

(Not that I've ever bumped mine, you understand. :wink: )
 
Argyll: is there a procedure or perhaps photos/diagrams? I have seen drawings of the bracket but only screws and nuts for fixing them to the frame.

Busterboo: if I understand you, you are speaking of the three tabs that clip into the bracket(?). These are fine. It looks like the whole bracket is out of position.

DaytonZ4-0031.png
 
B21: Yes, all lines are straight and clean from the taillights all the way to the headlights; this is why I did not want to adjust the hood (bonnet) as some have suggested in other forums.
 
DaytonZ4 said:
B21: Yes, all lines are straight and clean from the taillights all the way to the headlights; this is why I did not want to adjust the hood (bonnet) as some have suggested in other forums.
Click to expand...

Ok maybe the nose has been dragged over a pavement ..quite easy to do….if you look underneath are the three wind deflectors still in place?

A long centre one about 9 inches back from the bumper and two either side in front of the rear wheels about 5 inches wide?
 
There's no doubt the nose has been dragged over something. The deflectors are there and only the front has scrapes on it. The back ones are fine.

We've only just bought this car and still getting used to it. That is the reason I am asking about a possible adjustment to close this gap before I start tearing into this thing to figure it out on my own (too soon to start breaking stuff - wife won't be happy :D ).

Thank you for keeping in touch.


-Chunks
 
Are you sure it's not just the normal gap.
The normal gap does seem larger than any of the other gaps between panels anyway.
 
Nitrix: I finally had a chance to look at them and found they are both broken. I have to order new ones. There is a weak point and it seems this is not an uncommon problem.
 
Dayton24, I have exact the same problem. It has annoyed me ever since I bought the car (over 3 years ago). Tried to adjust by unscrewing the screws holding the bumper (as stated in ISTA), without any luck. It would be a great help if you could make pics of the broken brackets (and possibly the new ones).

Thanks!
 
Checked mine this morning as mine also have abnormally large gaps (mine had a bad respray to the front bumper/fender by the previous owner)…both brackets are fine and the hood/bonnet seem lined up ok, do you know if these brackets are adjustable or the anywhere else on the fender/bumper?
 
DRS10: As soon as I have the new ones, I will definitely take some before and after pictures. These brackets are held in with 3 screws, but only 2 are easily seen. The top one at the back and the bottom can be accessed from the wheel arch, but I believe the 3rd (hidden) one requires you to unclip the bumper from the bracket and bend it down a little (do slowly and carefully). Again, once I have the replacements and start the work, I will take many notes and pictures for you guys.

SwissTone: As has been posted in this chain, these are supposed to be adjustable. I am not sure how much, though. When I went to try it, I can see there is movement when the screws are loosened, but I don't know if it is enough - we'll see when I put the new ones in. I think because they are broke, they may be too far out of place and hope that simply putting a new one in will close the gap. Then I can use whatever little wiggle room is left to make it better.

Just waiting for parts!
 
I had to replace one of the brackets once upon a time, it's adjustable in that you can loosen it by undoing the screws a little, push and hold the bumper where you want it to be and then re-tighten all the screws. I don't recall having to take anything else off to get to the screws but at least one was a bit awkward and I may have removed a couple of push-things from the wheel arch liner to be able to pull it aside and get easier access.

As you can probably tell, I'm no expert at this stuff, so if I managed it then pretty much anyone can. It should be pretty obvious from looking at it if it's broken, mine was.
 
DaytonZ4 said:
DRS10: As soon as I have the new ones, I will definitely take some before and after pictures. These brackets are held in with 3 screws, but only 2 are easily seen. The top one at the back and the bottom can be accessed from the wheel arch, but I believe the 3rd (hidden) one requires you to unclip the bumper from the bracket and bend it down a little (do slowly and carefully). Again, once I have the replacements and start the work, I will take many notes and pictures for you guys.

SwissTone: As has been posted in this chain, these are supposed to be adjustable. I am not sure how much, though. When I went to try it, I can see there is movement when the screws are loosened, but I don't know if it is enough - we'll see when I put the new ones in. I think because they are broke, they may be too far out of place and hope that simply putting a new one in will close the gap. Then I can use whatever little wiggle room is left to make it better.

Just waiting for parts!
Click to expand...

Given me something to go with now, I’ll check over the weekend to see what the status is of my screws/brackets etc hoping like you say there is adjustment to play with. My alignment is pretty uniformily out across the whole top of the bumper
 
So I dug a little deeper, both sides had only 2 screws attached but for the life of me I can't remember seeing a 3rd hole where the missing 3rd screw would go (it may well be there). As my bumper has been removed before for a very bad respray I'm guessing they didn't refit these brackets back properly hence the gap etc.

Anyway I managed to adjust the side gaps using these brackets, however I'm pretty sure there are other locations on the bumper for adjustment as the gap between the bonnet and bumper is still there.

Not sure I'll have Tim this weekend to re check everything but will report back soon.
 
SwissTone: The third screw is hard to see. The picture shows (kind of) the three holes. The yellow arrows point to the ones you can see and are accessed from the back, through the wheel well. The red arrow shows the third hole which, I understand, can only be accessed by pulling the bumper away from the bracket and getting at it from the front. The yellow arrow on the right is pointing to the tab where mine are broke.

Got the parts in yesterday. Just waiting for time to replace - probably this weekend.

DaytonZ4-004.png
 
DaytonZ4 said:
SwissTone: The third screw is hard to see. The picture shows (kind of) the three holes. The yellow arrows point to the ones you can see and are accessed from the back, through the wheel well. The red arrow shows the third hole which, I understand, can only be accessed by pulling the bumper away from the bracket and getting at it from the front. The yellow arrow on the right is pointing to the tab where mine are broke.

Got the parts in yesterday. Just waiting for time to replace - probably this weekend.

DaytonZ4-004.png
Click to expand...

DaytonZ4: Thanks for this, I'll check again. I took the driver side one off completely ... only 2 screws attached. So must have been the 2 yellow ones you mention. Maybe I just need to buy new ones and re fit the bumper to make it line up properly.
 
I replaced the bits this weekend. No pictures yet as they need to be downloaded (I have the flu, so I am not in the mood), but the third screw I have mentioned actually goes in from the inside and only holds the bumper to the bracket. The reference I saw had this screw in backwards so I think that was incorrect and the creator of the video did this wrong.

So, there are only two screws to loosen and adjust. The new brackets did not make much of a difference, but I was able to close the gap a little. I will work on it later to see if I can improve it more.

Also, it is much easier to remove the screws for the wheel well liner and pull it out of the way. If you try to just work around them, you will break the tab for the top screw just behind the bracket (ask me how I know). Definitely easier to just take the wheel off to get the liner out of the way.

Thanks for everyone's suggestions on this. Will keep all posted. Pics tonight.
 
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