Little question about front bumper/bonet

sanofi · 10 Aug 2011 at 16:00

I noticed the other day that the right side of my front bumper, just below the passenger headlight has a bit of a gap between the bumper and the grill/headlight compared the drivers side that is sealed.

Passenger side:

Drivers side:

Now the gap on the passenger side is just over a cm, is this an an issue? The bumper doesn't move at all.

sanofi · 10 Aug 2011 at 22:45

I guess it's not an issue or no one is willing to make a judgement?

bullit in head · 11 Aug 2011 at 12:35

maybe not a physical issue, just a cosmetic one.... if it annoys you sort it.

what car ? does it match at the sides or are the lights out of line?

sanofi · 11 Aug 2011 at 14:01

bullit in head said:
maybe not a physical issue, just a cosmetic one.... if it annoys you sort it.

what car ? does it match at the sides or are the lights out of line?

It is definitely a cosmetic issue for me at least. But in other terms, I am concerned a little with water seeping through.

The headlights appear normal on the passenger side, just that there is a gap of over one cm below the rubber seal that usually (as seen in the image of the drivers side) seals the headlight to the bumper.

Kei · 11 Aug 2011 at 14:27

Looks like an older saab 93. The grille sits into a pair of lugs on each headlamp and clips on the top, so the headlamp position determines the grille height. The rubber bits that sit between the bumper and the light tend to fall off after about 10 years or so. (at least they did on the 900) I araldited the ones on mine back in place after i cleaned my headlamps up.

Tbh it looks like the headlamps are sitting slightly high, these are held in with 3 Torx T25 screws, you'll need to take the side cluster out to get at the 3rd screw. This is how mine looked when i had 93 headlights. (i've put my original glass fronts in place so my headlamp protectors fit on) The 900 grilles don't have the rubber piece on the bottom.

sanofi · 11 Aug 2011 at 14:42

Kei said:
Looks like an older saab 93. The grille sits into a pair of lugs on each headlamp and clips on the top, so the headlamp position determines the grille height. The rubber bits that sit between the bumper and the light tend to fall off after about 10 years or so. (at least they did on the 900) I araldited the ones on mine back in place after i cleaned my headlamps up.

Tbh it looks like the headlamps are sitting slightly high, these are held in with 3 Torx T25 screws, you'll need to take the side cluster out to get at the 3rd screw. This is how mine looked when i had 93 headlights. (i've put my original glass fronts in place so my headlamp protectors fit on) The 900 grilles don't have the rubber piece on the bottom.

Yes, sorry forgot to mention it's a '01 93 convertible.

The rubber bits below the passenger side headlights have detached themselves from the base of the headlight which I'm not that worried about as they can be reattached. However, if you do, you get the gap that I mentioned below it of about 1 to 1.5cm above the bumper.

bullit in head · 11 Aug 2011 at 14:46

does it show above the lights -1cm on one side.... you would notice it.
I'd say the bumper is cocked somewhere, either in the molding or mounting lugs under neath ,It's only held in place buy two bolts and plastic tangs on the side, and splash guard screws.
I wouldn't worry about the water geting in under there, there's not much under there that isnt waterproof.

whats the differance in the 93 headlights to the 900? I have a 900 with 900 lights. are they better, I have 100 watt bulbs and they work quite well but I always like more /better light

bullit

sanofi · 11 Aug 2011 at 15:09

If I were to get it sorted, how much would a job like that cost?

Kei · 11 Aug 2011 at 15:21

I got the lights off a 93 as they were newer and the silvering was in much better shape. There isn't a difference otherwise, just the rubber bit stuck to the bottom of the glass incorporates a wiper buffer on the 93. (the grille and clusters also have rubbers fitted too, which the 900 doesn't)

If the bumper wasn't fitting correctly, it should be obvious as it wouldn't sit flush at the wing. I've had my bumper off 3 times for various jobs i've done and i've not had any trouble refitting it. (two big bumper bolts through the crash bar and the rails under the wings) Almost looks like the outer skin is warped. Underneath that is a gap between the alloy crash bar where the washer pipes run of the headlamp wipers.

sanofi · 22 Nov 2011 at 18:52

After taking it into a dealer to have some other stuff looked at, they had a look at the bumper and said some of the body work underneath had been damaged so would need body shop work to resolve the problem and would likely cost £300+ as a rough estimate.

Any advice on whether it needs fixing? I'm in two minds atm, given the age I don't really know if it's worth it.

Scania · 22 Nov 2011 at 22:23

Did it pass its last MOT as it currently is? - I'm assuming it did - forget about it.

sanofi · 22 Nov 2011 at 23:59

R420LA6X2/4MNA said:
Did it pass its last MOT as it currently is? - I'm assuming it did - forget about it.

It occurred after the last MOT.

Scania · 23 Nov 2011 at 10:37

So you've hit something? or did it just appear by itself?

Either way, I can't say I'd bother with it unless it was an MOT issue, which I doubt.

Dup · 23 Nov 2011 at 11:03

My old 9-5 had the same issue. Never bothered with it, was only a £1000 car.

sanofi · 24 Nov 2011 at 00:15

R420LA6X2/4MNA said:
So you've hit something? or did it just appear by itself?

Either way, I can't say I'd bother with it unless it was an MOT issue, which I doubt.

I think I'll just leave it then.