370Z owners I need your help! I got hit and body shop says gaps are normal.

Dan37TZ · 05-25-2010, 03:17 PM

Over the weekend a lady decided to mistake her gas for her brake. Took down my garage door and ended up hitting the back of my car. =(.

The impact was pretty hard as it pushed my car about 3-4 feet forward pinning it against some stuff in my garage, like my Rhino ramps ect. The damage was mainly to my passenger corner of my rear bumper, broke my passenger taillight and it looks like my hatch is a little tweaked since the lines don't line up anymore.

Well I dropped off my car at one of the most reputable shop in my city. After they looked over the car, they said that those gaps on my hatch was probably unequal before and that's how the car comes from the factory.

So now I'm kinda stuck, am I really going crazy and those gaps really aren't perfect from the factory and larger on one side?

Basically here is the problem, the gap where the hatch meets the roof on my passenger side is twice as big as the gap on driver side. I can put two keys laying side by side in the gap on the passenger side but I can barely fit 1 key in the driver side gap. Any 370Z owners can you guys go analyze the gaps on the hatch of your car, mainly the ones where the hatch meets the roof. Are your gaps perfect on both side or is one side larger than the other? Also the gap that runs along the hatch and 1/4 panel when the hatch is closed is larger on the passenger side vs. driver side.

Any help or pictures would be immensely appreciated! Thanks guys.

Jeffblue · 05-25-2010, 03:19 PM

the gaps are the same size on my car on both sides. Did the lady drive into your house basically? did she run? WTF?! i must hear more of this!

v8zracer260z · 05-25-2010, 03:21 PM

Please post pictures. I manage a body shop and can help you if I can see what you are talking about.

370Zsteve · 05-25-2010, 03:24 PM

If you are talking about the gap from the roof, the gap on one side of my hatch is slightly larger than the one on the other side. The hatch appears to line up perfectly and the SIDE gaps are identical in width. I've never had an accident. Hope this helps.

kenchan · 05-25-2010, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan37TZ

Well I dropped off my car at one of the most reputable shop in my city. After they looked over the car, they said that those gaps on my hatch was probably unequal before and that's how the car comes from the factory.

we're not talking about pos chrysler here with tolerance of wat appears like +/-1 inch.... gaps are even on our cars. your technician needs to get off his bs stool. maybe 1mm is max i would accept...that's still pretty huge.

SkyZ · 05-25-2010, 03:28 PM

post a pict of yours with arrows pointing it out, and im sure we'll be happy to match ur pictures to show you how ours are like. exact same spot sorta thing. it'll give u a good ref point.

370zproject · 05-25-2010, 03:28 PM

Dan37TZ · 05-25-2010, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 370Zsteve

If you are talking about the gap from the roof, the gap on one side of my hatch is slightly larger than the one on the other side. The hatch appears to line up perfectly and the SIDE gaps are identical in width. I've never had an accident. Hope this helps.

Yes 370Zsteve, the gap from the roof to the hatch. The car is at the body shop right now so I can't take pictures of it. I will post the accident carnage at my house in a bit when I come home from work. They are still on my digital camera.

shoopajae10 · 05-25-2010, 03:51 PM

i remember someone having the same issue as yours except he didnt have an accident. his was like that out of factory.

Dan37TZ · 05-25-2010, 09:21 PM

Okay here are the pics.

The car that caused it all..

These are the gaps I need you guys to help me check.

Dan37TZ · 05-25-2010, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeffblue

the gaps are the same size on my car on both sides. Did the lady drive into your house basically? did she run? WTF?! i must hear more of this!

Jeff, the lady didn't run. She was making a 3 point turn and was using my driveway. She was more concerned about her brand new Civic she just got a week ago.

ducky · 05-25-2010, 10:06 PM

uhh..maybe if you dont mind taking a pic of the gap on your car so we can compare? lol

SoCal 370Z · 05-25-2010, 10:45 PM

Download the Service Manual that can be found on the forum and refer to the Body Repair section. A proper body shop will utilize the alignment points and then after doing so adjust the hatch for the gap figments. To simply eyeball the gaps is not very wise on their part.

speedoflife · 05-25-2010, 10:48 PM

Another Honda destroying a Z....

pompey · 05-26-2010, 04:53 AM

i would of gone insane if she hit my Z then was more worried bout her car.

05-25-2010, 03:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
Dan37TZ Base Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 59 Drives: A Red Nissan Rep Power: 15	370Z owners I need your help! I got hit and body shop says gaps are normal. Over the weekend a lady decided to mistake her gas for her brake. Took down my garage door and ended up hitting the back of my car. =(. The impact was pretty hard as it pushed my car about 3-4 feet forward pinning it against some stuff in my garage, like my Rhino ramps ect. The damage was mainly to my passenger corner of my rear bumper, broke my passenger taillight and it looks like my hatch is a little tweaked since the lines don't line up anymore. Well I dropped off my car at one of the most reputable shop in my city. After they looked over the car, they said that those gaps on my hatch was probably unequal before and that's how the car comes from the factory. So now I'm kinda stuck, am I really going crazy and those gaps really aren't perfect from the factory and larger on one side? Basically here is the problem, the gap where the hatch meets the roof on my passenger side is twice as big as the gap on driver side. I can put two keys laying side by side in the gap on the passenger side but I can barely fit 1 key in the driver side gap. Any 370Z owners can you guys go analyze the gaps on the hatch of your car, mainly the ones where the hatch meets the roof. Are your gaps perfect on both side or is one side larger than the other? Also the gap that runs along the hatch and 1/4 panel when the hatch is closed is larger on the passenger side vs. driver side. Any help or pictures would be immensely appreciated! Thanks guys.

05-25-2010, 03:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
370Zsteve A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Gold Coast CT Posts: 10,599 Drives: 2019 Corvette G.S. Rep Power: 42	If you are talking about the gap from the roof, the gap on one side of my hatch is slightly larger than the one on the other side. The hatch appears to line up perfectly and the SIDE gaps are identical in width. I've never had an accident. Hope this helps. __________________ SOLD MY Z MARCH 2018 - another Core OG moves on - new ride 2019 Z Corvette Grand Sport - no mods necessary but already have eyes on HFC and intakes LOL IT NEVER ENDS.

05-25-2010, 03:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
370zproject A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Memphis Age: 34 Posts: 16,104 Drives: 09 A/T 370z blue Rep Power: 52	__________________ Brake Upgrade Package ate blue, hawk hp ceramic pads, and slotted rotors

05-25-2010, 10:45 PM	#13 (permalink)
SoCal 370Z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: US of A Posts: 2,842 Drives: Answers Rep Power: 33	Download the Service Manual that can be found on the forum and refer to the Body Repair section. A proper body shop will utilize the alignment points and then after doing so adjust the hatch for the gap figments. To simply eyeball the gaps is not very wise on their part. __________________ ( Click to show/hide ) Why I NEVER say NO to the Panda Lou Fusz!!! Last edited by SoCal 370Z; 05-25-2010 at 10:51 PM.

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05-25-2010, 03:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
Jeffblue A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: NY Age: 36 Posts: 9,192 Drives: Z32TT & 335xi Coupe Rep Power: 37	the gaps are the same size on my car on both sides. Did the lady drive into your house basically? did she run? WTF?! i must hear more of this!

05-25-2010, 03:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
v8zracer260z Base Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Micanopy Posts: 124 Drives: 09 370Z blk touring Rep Power: 15	Please post pictures. I manage a body shop and can help you if I can see what you are talking about.

05-25-2010, 03:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
SkyZ Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 382 Drives: 09 370z PG M6 Rep Power: 15	post a pict of yours with arrows pointing it out, and im sure we'll be happy to match ur pictures to show you how ours are like. exact same spot sorta thing. it'll give u a good ref point.

05-25-2010, 03:51 PM	#9 (permalink)
shoopajae10 Track Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Over Yonder Posts: 650 Drives: A White Sports Car Rep Power: 16	i remember someone having the same issue as yours except he didnt have an accident. his was like that out of factory.

05-25-2010, 09:21 PM	#10 (permalink)
Dan37TZ Base Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 59 Drives: A Red Nissan Rep Power: 15	Okay here are the pics. The car that caused it all.. These are the gaps I need you guys to help me check.

05-25-2010, 10:06 PM	#12 (permalink)
ducky Enthusiast Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: SinCity Posts: 437 Drives: 370z and s2000 Rep Power: 15	uhh..maybe if you dont mind taking a pic of the gap on your car so we can compare? lol

05-25-2010, 10:48 PM	#14 (permalink)
speedoflife Enthusiast Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: MS/TX Posts: 268 Drives: '06 Pontiac G.P. Rep Power: 15	Another Honda destroying a Z....

05-26-2010, 04:53 AM	#15 (permalink)
pompey Banned Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 139 Drives: 2010 370Z 40th anniv Rep Power: 0	i would of gone insane if she hit my Z then was more worried bout her car.