Front bumper not sitting flush to wing, any advice?

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DannyJ
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Front bumper not sitting flush to wing, any advice?

Post by DannyJ »

I have a 6C GTI. Currently looking at some bodywork repairs to get the car good again one of which is the front bumper which does not sit flush to the shut lines of the n/s wing leaving what looks like a panel gap. The fixing tags and mounts are visible, can't tell if it is sitting outwards or needs pushing up, but brute force has not worked, the plastic simply deforms and then spring back. Any information on how this could have happened and any potential remedies or is it likely a case of getting new mounts or a new number?

The problem I am trying to resolve:
Image

The "good" side for reference:
Image
amer6R
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Re: Front bumper not sitting flush to wing, any advice?

Post by amer6R »

Did you undo the little bolt that holds the bumper to the fender?
Is the fender/ wing original?
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Re: Front bumper not sitting flush to wing, any advice?

Post by DannyJ »

amer6R wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 8:34 am Did you undo the little bolt that holds the bumper to the fender?
Is the fender/ wing original?
Just been looking in the arch at the fixing and noted the upper bolt of fixing point 4 is missing (see img) and the threads which connect the wheel arch to the bumper don't quite line up.

I know the last owner replaced the lights with aftermarket ones that were not compliant, and the motor trader I got it from therefore then removed them again to bring them back to spec, so it's possible that it has been off a couple of times, if a light change involves removing the bumper.

Suspecting it has not been reinstalled correctly? Either that or a fixing point has become damaged?

Image
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Maarten
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Re: Front bumper not sitting flush to wing, any advice?

Post by Maarten »

There is one screw that goes straight up in the wheelarch.
Maybe that one is missing.
Nr 3 on the image is the one I mean.
DannyJ
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Re: Front bumper not sitting flush to wing, any advice?

Post by DannyJ »

Maarten wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 10:15 am There is one screw that goes straight up in the wheelarch.
Maybe that one is missing.
Nr 3 on the image is the one I mean.
I've just been out with a socket set and removed screws 3 & 4 from the wheel arch & errant piece of trim. #3 was present, the upper screw of #4 was missing.

I then gad my friend force the bumper into it's correct position by hand while I retorqued the screws firmly but no result; the bumper returned to its prior position with the gap present. My next thing will be to get a replacement screw and see if that helps but I suspect it won't.
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Maarten
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Re: Front bumper not sitting flush to wing, any advice?

Post by Maarten »

Was the gap there before they changed the lightunits?
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Re: Front bumper not sitting flush to wing, any advice?

Post by amer6R »

The bolt goes into a platic clip. The aftermatket ones are bad.
Can you unclip the side of the bumper and post a pic of the bumper carrier. Maybe its not aligned?
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Re: Front bumper not sitting flush to wing, any advice?

Post by DannyJ »

So I've just taken it down to a local guy who is experienced in detailing, painting, and bodywork and he believes that the wing has likely had a repair in the past, he noticed a couple of very small bubbles in the paint on the leading edge where it meets the bumper and that it "just doesn't feel quite right". He isn't keen on touching it as quote "It looks like it might be a dodgy repair, and I could be opening a can of worms doing work on top of somebody elses repair"

So that could be my answer right there; a panel basher has undertaken a dodgy past repair on the wing.

Certainly a few things to consider now, especially the cost-effectiveness of repairing vs resale value given I've other jobs which need doing.
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Re: Front bumper not sitting flush to wing, any advice?

Post by amer6R »

Can you post a picture where the wing meets the a pillar?
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Le_Combattant
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Re: Front bumper not sitting flush to wing, any advice?

Post by Le_Combattant »

amer6R wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 12:43 pm The bolt goes into a platic clip. The aftermatket ones are bad.
Can you unclip the side of the bumper and post a pic of the bumper carrier. Maybe its not aligned?
Do you have the Part Number of this piece ?

Because 2 years are now passed, and I still have the same issue.
amer6R
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Re: Front bumper not sitting flush to wing, any advice?

Post by amer6R »

Le_Combattant wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 1:28 pm
amer6R wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 12:43 pm The bolt goes into a platic clip. The aftermatket ones are bad.
Can you unclip the side of the bumper and post a pic of the bumper carrier. Maybe its not aligned?
Do you have the Part Number of this piece ?

Because 2 years are now passed, and I still have the same issue.

N  90833801
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Le_Combattant
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Re: Front bumper not sitting flush to wing, any advice?

Post by Le_Combattant »

amer6R wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 2:12 pm
Le_Combattant wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 1:28 pm
amer6R wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 12:43 pm The bolt goes into a platic clip. The aftermatket ones are bad.
Can you unclip the side of the bumper and post a pic of the bumper carrier. Maybe its not aligned?
Do you have the Part Number of this piece ?

Because 2 years are now passed, and I still have the same issue.

N  90833801
Thanks for sharing.

I think I will replace both because my right side of the bumper does not fit correctly with the wing too
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Re: Front bumper not sitting flush to wing, any advice?

Post by amer6R »

Thats the clip that goes into square hole in fender/wing. The bolt screws into it.

The aftermarket ones are musshy and they colaps too much when you tighten the screw. - That is my experience
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Le_Combattant
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Re: Front bumper not sitting flush to wing, any advice?

Post by Le_Combattant »

amer6R wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 2:22 pm Thats the clip that goes into square hole in fender/wing. The bolt screws into it.

The aftermarket ones are musshy and they colaps too much when you tighten the screw. - That is my experience
Your experience can help.

Because the last owner told me that the car had a little accident (on parking). A car was reversing and touch the bumper. Wing have been not touched, only bumper.

But when I bought car, the left side was not flush with the wing.
I change both bumper support (with the clips) on both side and now it's the right side...
amer6R
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Re: Front bumper not sitting flush to wing, any advice?

Post by amer6R »

Is the headlight flush with the wing/ fender? If not, you can adjust the small metal bracket left to right. Its between the fender and chassis. There are two bolts.
Also on the bracket, there is a thin tab that lines up with the shape of fender.
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