Panel Gaps

[m3f_kerph32_d1805b1ca4]

Properly aligned gap at bottom of headlight.. still questionable at top

http://www.m3forum.net/gallery/data/3202/CIMG0545.jpg

http://www.m3forum.net/gallery/data/3202/CIMG0546.jpg

[m3f_mike27t_e2fc6d42ea]

Is it me or are the first two images gaps HUGE???? Anyone?? Braymond141 is a pro here, I think i remember him posting the exact distance from panel to panel at one point.



Can you get any measurments of how many mm those gaps are?

[m3f_badgtho_2cb87af10e]

the nose is sagging like crazy.. it was whacked thats for sure. the pic of the white car with the race mesh is unrealistic.. noone's is that tight!



I previously made the comment about the orange peel on the decklid.. its extreme to say the least.



has the car really amassed 10 points from dinan?

[m3f_Braymond14_63960d99c1]

YIKES!


Those gaps are terrible. I know the first 2 pics are with the hood popped (at least I hope that's the case), so it makes it more pronounced, but still that's way too much.


You adjusted the hood too much, it sits way lower than the fenders now and that is incorrect.


Whoever rebuilt the front of that car rushed the hell out of it. :banghead:


You really need to realign every body panel on the front of that car. Fenders, Hood, Front grill, bumper and maybe even the center support.


Oh Mike... the numbers I posted weren't specific to OEM measurements. They were just tolerances that I setup and tried to keep consistent.

[m3f_Braymond14_63960d99c1]

http://www.ipccomputers.org/car/accident/l_IMG_1842.JPG

[m3f_kerph32_d1805b1ca4]

wow. so, basically I just got raped by the guy that sold me this car.


ok, that feels good.... so I need to realign body panels, re-rebuild the front of the car, repaint.... sounds like I should just sell it.


I know this probably isn't kosher but does anyone have an available carfax subscription? I'm starting to think that the carfax the previous owner showed me was bullshi*

[m3f_Braymond14_63960d99c1]

wow. so, basically I just got raped by the guy that sold me this car.


ok, that feels good.... so I need to realign body panels, re-rebuild the front of the car, repaint.... sounds like I should just sell it.


Raped? No, you knew that it was in an accident. It's just whoever rebuilt it didn't do that great of a job.


If you have the determination and patience, you can get the whole front end squared off in about 4 hours. Have a buddy help you and constantly check your work.


It's not that hard, just do it and do it right!

[m3f_Braymond14_63960d99c1]

Kerph... It's also really hard to tell how bad it is (or isn't) from the photo's. It's kinda up to your what's acceptable in terms of gaps.

[m3f_kerph32_d1805b1ca4]

Well you just gave me a sigh of relief. 4 hours is nothing, I want my M to be nice and tight. I'll do a search on this and take a look at your thread

[m3f_Braymond14_63960d99c1]

Well you just gave me a sigh of relief. 4 hours is nothing, I want my M to be nice and tight. I'll do a search on this and take a look at your thread


I don't go into detail on how to align anything in my thread. Nor do I give measurements.


Maybe the bentley has production gap measurements, if so I'd like to know them as well.


I also haven't finished my gaping. While everything is square, my hood needs to be slid up about 2mm. The replacement hinges I got need to be drilled out to do this.

[m3f_kerph32_d1805b1ca4]

I suppose this question will show how little I know, but how exactly do I adjust the placement of these items? For instance, it looks like I need to move the grill/headlight panel up. Do I just loosen whatever is holding it to the body, move it up, and retighten? :nixweiss: Same question for bumper


Edit - a little more hunting in the Bentley manual has landed me the answers to these questions.


Now I need to go buy a good toolset

[m3f_Braymond14_63960d99c1]

I suppose this question will show how little I know, but how exactly do I adjust the placement of these items? For instance, it looks like I need to move the grill/headlight panel up. Do I just loosen whatever is holding it to the body, move it up, and retighten? :nixweiss: Same question for bumper


Scroll up and you'll see what I said about adjusting the bumper.


Fenders: The Torx screws you see when you open the hood along the tops of the fenders + the hinge bolts. DO NOT remove the hinge bolts all the way and make sure you set the hinge exactly how it was after you make fender adjustments. Also don't press too hard when you're pushing in the fender to close up the gaps... I did and put a nice dent in my brand new fender :banghead:.


Hood: Hinge bolts and pins


Grill: the bolts that attach it to the center suppot (remove the plastic cover in the front area to see where th bolts are).

[m3f_kerph32_d1805b1ca4]

Oh - the comment about my M badge being miscolored, that's just my camera being what it is- a cheap point and shoot.


Starting to work now, just gunna poke around. Need to pick up tools before I can get into anything major. Anyone in Atlanta have some spares?


edit - just found my trunk tools. for some reason, the previous 4 years of bmw ownership never lead me to the realization that there are suffient tools included with the car! what a company!

[m3f_Braymond14_63960d99c1]

Oh - the comment about my M badge being miscolored, that's just my camera being what it is- a cheap point and shoot.


Starting to work now, just gunna poke around. Need to pick up tools before I can get into anything major. Anyone in Atlanta have some spares?


The badges can be replaced at any time and depending on when it was made the colors will be different.


You do have excessive orange peel though... :nixweiss:

[m3f_badgtho_2cb87af10e]

wow. so, basically I just got raped by the guy that sold me this car.



ok, that feels good.... so I need to realign body panels, re-rebuild the front of the car, repaint.... sounds like I should just sell it.



I know this probably isn't kosher but does anyone have an available carfax subscription? I'm starting to think that the carfax the previous owner showed me was bullshi*





so basically you have no idea how to evaluate condition. this is your fault.. no one raped you, you raped yourself.