Technical Gap between hood and bumper

[Geolith]

When I compare my 500X to others, I can see that the gap between the hood and the bumper is noticeably bigger than it should be. This car had its front replaced by the used cars reseller and I suspected some adjustment issues, so I asked the local FIAT service to look into the matter. They reassembled the entire front (and replaced the headlights in the process, as they had broken brackets), but it didn't help the hood gap much. I also tried adjusting the hood latch position myself, but it doesn't allow much adjustment, because if I move the latch down too much, it fails to lock the hood.

I was also wondering if it could be a replacement mismatch issue. You see, the car itself is a Lounge trim, but the replaced front comes from a Trekking version. In theory, they should be interchangeable, but I can't be completely sure.

Any tips on the matter would be greatly appreciated.

P.S. I'm attaching a photo taken by the reseller before I bought the car. It looks slightly better now (with headlights replaced and the front reassembled), but the hood gap remains essentially the same.

 

[Geolith]

I'm attaching another photo which I took just a few hours ago. As you can see, the reassembling helped with the gap a bit, but it's still there.

 

[Garree001]

Looks normal to me. Mine's the same.

 

[s130]

That gap looks absolutely normal.

I checked my 500X and the gap is around 10mm.

If you look at your pictures and follow the headlamp bonnet curve and where it meets the bumper / lower headlamp line the points are aligned.

The 500X is a "chunky" featured car. The bonnet line to bumper line in all pictures, brochures, etc I have seen show this distinct "gap".

Nothing to worry or be concerned about IMHO.

 

[Geolith]

I'm slowly coming to a conclusion that this could be an assemblage inconsistency on FIAT's part. Some 500X's I've seen around the city have similar gaps, but others don't. For instance, the ones in our local showroom have extremely narrow gaps, but just the other day I saw a rental 500X with the hood/bumper gap almost similar to mine.

To illustrate this difference, I'm attaching a random photo from the Internet as an example of a real tight assemblage.

 

[s130]

Yes even the original Fiat Sales Brochures show a narrow gap.

It is possible that Fiat deliberately chose to increase the gap for the following reason.

On my 500X, even with the large gap, there were signs of bonnet flexing and the front lower corner edges behind the headlamp (not above grille) contacting the upper wing.

I have put a small round kitchen cupboard soft buffer on my 500X in those corners to stop this happening. In most case with the large gap then contact only really occurs when the bonnet is closed. With a narrow gap then I suspect contact is likely to happen far more often on rough rounds, or with body flexing etc.

 

[Nello]

I'm sure you'll find any gap more noticeable depending on colour choice as well.
TBH panel gaps of today's Fiats are largely improved compared to some of their cars of the last millenium.
Your photo did remind me though how nice that Metallic / Tri-coat (Amore) Red is

 

[twobigdogs]

Mine is the same......I see nothing to worry about.....

 

[Alanw47]

Asks naively.......could it be the difference between the City and Off Road look? My Cross Plus has the larger gap option but all seems to be well with it

 

[Geolith]

Your photo did remind me though how nice that Metallic / Tri-coat (Amore) Red is

Yes, fantastic color! One of the reasons why I bought this particular car.

Asks naively.......could it be the difference between the City and Off Road look?

It's quite a legitimate question, but I don't think this is the case. From what I've seen both on the Internet and in real life, it doesn't seem to be trim related. There are Lounge versions with larger gaps, Trekking versions with tighter gaps, and vice versa.

 

[s130]

I'm not sure there will be a definitive answer to this.

Symmetry has to be the final decider.

We are talking bonnet to wing side line gaps, bonnet to bumper point alignment, bonnet to headlight alignment and bonnet front line to bumper alignment.

I've seen pictures of all these factors being close (City???). I've seen many Cross Plus (trekking/off road/....?) with bigger gaps. No doubt there will possibly be other variations.

Personally I'm happy with gap symmetry and no possibility of panel interference.

 

[Geolith]

I don't really mind the gap, it's just when I first noticed the difference, I thought there was something wrong with my car. But now reading all your replies has put my mind to ease, as I clearly see that there is no issue, it's just the way it is. So thank you all!

 

[cowabunga]

Mine's the same too, just looks on the borderline of being a fault.

When i first got mine I looked under the bonnet then closed it as per the instructions....i.e. drop it from about 40 cms. Still it looks like it isn't quite down. Maybe they add in a bit of extra tolerance then it doesnt bang on the bumper when/ after its falling.