I never noticed a bulge until I read this thread. Then I couldn't not see it. Filed down the cover and it fixed it just fine.

I highly reccommend to install the washer under the plastic cover!

I took the washer out entirely and notched the plastic covers, still bulges to the point where it's hard to shut the hood :/

Does the plastic cover moves "freely" up and down around the bolt?

The bolt can't sandwich the plastic cover.

I'm pretty sure that you installed them correctly but just in case, are they installed the right way ? the black bottle end installed on the hood bracket mount?

the plastic cover moves freely, the threaded rod end is at the fender, cylinder with clip end is at hood. the only thing i havent tried yet is adjust the bracket on the hood, this bracket slides up and down about 1/2" and the instructions say nothing about where it should sit. I could try pushing the bracket down all the way maybe.

That is weird, try to play a little with the bracket. Are these Z1 struts ? I think that my Z1 struts bracket is not adjustable.

With my hood closed, I put a small piece of tape on the fenders where the bulge in the hood was prominent. Then, after opening the hood, I noticed the tape markers were exactly where the struts crossed over the raised lips on the battery and brake covers. Trimming those raised lips seemed to be the only option. Also, I had installed the ball studs under the plastic covers so the covers could be removed as needed for service.

my studs are installed under the plastic cover and I dremel'd the raised edges of the plastic covers flat

Just for fun, try removing the plastic cover completely on just one side. depending on the result that should help show what is binding.

mine was bulging the hood a little too. I enlarged the plastic cover hole, all good now!

So I just installed these today. Great product btw Z1! The trimmings on the plastic ridge mentioned on the previous posts I also had to do to get rid of the bulge which really isn't a big deal to trim that. After that though I still noticed on the driverside you could see the vin plate through the space between the hood and fender. This was because the strut was pushing down on the brake fluid cover which has a lip that was pushing down on the weather strip along the fender and lifting it out of place. I tried to adjust the brackets but it made no difference. I had to cut the lip off the brake and battery covers and now it truly closes without issue and the weather strip stays in place.