Nopstnz8

iTrader: (6)

So a few years ago I had my authentic Autoexe SE-02 painted and slightly fitted by my bodyshop back at home since even authentics need "slight" fitment adjustments to be perfect. Anyways, fitment is top notch, but now that I have my stock bumper back on, I'm wondering what they modified in order to get that perfect fitment? I know they shaved the sidemarker corners slightly where it clips into the bumper, but that's all I know of. Since this was years ago, I doubt I could just ask them what was done.

Anyways, I'm running my stock bumper lately because I've been hitting backroads a lot, and I commute to school and don't wanna wreck the good bumper. Since I put the OEM one back on, I notice right under the headlight, the bumper won't sit flush on both sides of the car in the same spots. And before anyone asks, NO THIS CAR WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT EVER!!!

Well, I can't figure out for the life of me how to get it to sit flush properly like before without the gaps. Is anyone else having this problem? I've taken off bumpers multiple times, so I know what I'm doing, but I think the side retaining brackets may have been modified by my shop years ago, hence my problem? I'm considering ordering a new bracket (Part #4 from the parts list) just to see if that is indeed my problem.

http://onlinemazdaparts.com/parts/20...iagram=5455005

If anyone could help me, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Here is my problem btw.

bse50

Just try to punch it back in. That's definitely something i wouldn't worry about if they didn't hammer the fender to fit the other bumper (only a stupid would do that).
How you stored your bumper may play a role too but by the looks of it it seems that you simplu didn't reinstall it properly. Try forcing it slightly under the headlight.

Cvzrx8

my bumper does the same thing but mine is because of the bracket not holding the bumper properly ive already tried pushing it in but it just pops back out a lil

Darkning

How does the front look? Is there a noticeable gap when your hood is closed?

I noticed a week or so ago with a buddy when he reinstalled his bumper that unless you're pressing inward(towards the engine) on the bumper it's possible to have some wiggle room in the screws that secure the bumper down and it can eff everything else up too.

I'm interested in seeing how this works for you, I hit a coyote a few months ago and it likely broke my front right part #4 bracket as well since I'm sagging quite a bit there now, moreso than yours.

Spin9k

Try part 50-061A (L) & 50-062c (R). Ask the dealer to double check as it's a bit hard to tell from what I have, but these look like they may be the support brakets you need and they match your online part.

Atilla

iTrader: (1)

Long shot but this worked for me.

Pop the hood n' take off the air diverter off and look for the top bolts that hold the front bumper on. There should be some alignment bolts there (usually small clear grommet looking things) that sit near the main bolts on the front. Depending on how it was reinstalled you may have to unscrew them and adjust how the bumper sits. I know when i switched back from my ms to my oem i had a huge hood gap and a slight gap on my driver side light. I did some minor tweaking and now it sits fine.

Hope this helps

Joe RX-8

iTrader: (1)

I just got my car back from the shop and it had a 1/4"+ gap between the bumper cover and the hood. It took me 15 minutes with a wrench to realize that the hood doesn't have much adjustment. I didn't think to try to adjust the bumper, duh!