Badly fitting front bumper

mkellerman · 10th November 2017, 16:15

I noticed that the front bumper of my MG ZT fits badly.

The gap between the bonnet and the bumper seems too large and the sides of the bumper are a couple of mm inwards compared with the wings.

Is this normal, or has the car been repaired after an accident?

roverbarmy · 10th November 2017, 16:18

Assuming you mean a facelift??? Many of them came from the factory like that. There are some posts on how to improve the gap which involves removing the bumper and the crash rail and elongating some of the boltholes if memory serves me. I'll have a search and see if I can find it.
EDIT. https://the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/s...per+adjustment

No elongation necessary, just some spacers and fine measurements. All becomes clear again! Senior moment!

mkellerman · 10th November 2017, 18:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by roverbarmy

Assuming you mean a facelift??? Many of them came from the factory like that. There are some posts on how to improve the gap which involves removing the bumper and the crash rail and elongating some of the boltholes if memory serves me. I'll have a search and see if I can find it.
EDIT. https://the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/s...per+adjustment

No elongation necessary, just some spacers and fine measurements. All becomes clear again! Senior moment!

I don't know if my car is a facelift or not. It is an MG ZT+ with registration SO03KXZ. Is my car a facelift?

Thanks for the answer!

dbt01 · 10th November 2017, 18:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by roverbarmy

... No elongation necessary, just some spacers and fine measurements. All becomes clear again! Senior moment!

IIRC elongation is sometimes necessary; luck of the draw. You wouldn't want a mass-produced car where everything was made the same on them all would you?

David

suzublu · 10th November 2017, 18:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkellerman

I don't know if my car is a facelift or not. It is an MG ZT+ with registration SO03KXZ. Is my car a facelift?

Thanks for the answer!

If your front looks like Mike's in his pic, ie single headlights, it's a facelift. If it has twin lights like mine, mk1

mkellerman · 10th November 2017, 18:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by suzublu

If your front looks like Mike's in his pic, ie single headlights, it's a facelift. If it has twin lights like mine, mk1

Mine has twin lights so it is not a facelift. Ok, I have got it now.

T-Cut · 10th November 2017, 18:29

There are/were threads started by devilish that covered all aspects of front bumper adjustment. Finding 'em is a chore tho.

The basic principles of removal and refitting are shown on this video (it applies to Mk1 as well): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BUGH4_VMkU

I'd suggest looking at the push-in popper clips just above the 'S' join.

TC

madeupname · 10th November 2017, 22:04

I agree that the clips T-Cut mentions would prevent the bumper from fitting flush with the wing. As far as the gap is concerned, I noticed when putting Mo's bumper back on that it can droop a bit. I would suggest putting the crash bar and slam panel bolts in, then lifting the crash bar as high as it will go before tightening the bolts

SCP440 · 11th November 2017, 05:46

Another tip I found that helps a little, get a helper to lift the bumper as you tighten the top bolts.

10th November 2017, 16:15	#1
mkellerman Regular poster MG ZT Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Dunblane Posts: 33 Thanks: 15 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Badly fitting front bumper I noticed that the front bumper of my MG ZT fits badly. The gap between the bonnet and the bumper seems too large and the sides of the bumper are a couple of mm inwards compared with the wings. Is this normal, or has the car been repaired after an accident?

10th November 2017, 16:18	#2
roverbarmy This is my second home Roverless + 1.7D Sportage Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: East Norfolk Posts: 7,060 Thanks: 729 Thanked 2,021 Times in 1,449 Posts	Assuming you mean a facelift??? Many of them came from the factory like that. There are some posts on how to improve the gap which involves removing the bumper and the crash rail and elongating some of the boltholes if memory serves me. I'll have a search and see if I can find it. EDIT. https://the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/s...per+adjustment No elongation necessary, just some spacers and fine measurements. All becomes clear again! Senior moment! __________________ Oil in my veins! Last edited by roverbarmy; 10th November 2017 at 16:31..

10th November 2017, 18:29	#7
T-Cut This is my second home Rover75 and Mreg Corsa. Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sumweer onat mote o'dust (Sagin) Posts: 21,753 Thanks: 341 Thanked 3,660 Times in 2,924 Posts	There are/were threads started by devilish that covered all aspects of front bumper adjustment. Finding 'em is a chore tho. The basic principles of removal and refitting are shown on this video (it applies to Mk1 as well): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BUGH4_VMkU I'd suggest looking at the push-in popper clips just above the 'S' join. TC Last edited by T-Cut; 10th November 2017 at 18:33..

10th November 2017, 22:04	#8
madeupname Posted a thing or two Rover 75 Connie Mk2 1.8 (Mo) Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Sheffield Posts: 1,531 Thanks: 875 Thanked 335 Times in 289 Posts	I agree that the clips T-Cut mentions would prevent the bumper from fitting flush with the wing. As far as the gap is concerned, I noticed when putting Mo's bumper back on that it can droop a bit. I would suggest putting the crash bar and slam panel bolts in, then lifting the crash bar as high as it will go before tightening the bolts __________________ Mo was born Tuesday, 22nd June 2004 @ 08:32:41 This vehicle was the 99,307th 75 to run off the production line, out of 112,381 This vehicle was the 5,377th 75 1.8 Connoisseur to be made out of 6,033 This vehicle was the 783rd 75 in Firefrost Red (code: CEV) to be made out of 2,089 Firefrost Red 75s

11th November 2017, 05:46	#9
SCP440 I really should get out more....... MG ZT-T 260 Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Witney Posts: 2,506 Thanks: 6 Thanked 910 Times in 571 Posts	Another tip I found that helps a little, get a helper to lift the bumper as you tighten the top bolts.