Okay so there are a few threads on this gap that appears between the headlight and the bumper. Each thread has good content but no really good answer. Some say tighten a random bolt or so, some say get some random clip and attach it to a random spot and some say just mess around with a clip, and some say to mold the bracket that holds the lights.

Well. Today I tried to do my best to fix the gap as it really kills me every time I see it. I took everything off and replaced the upper bracket (outlined in red in the second picture) and played around with the black bracket (outlined in green in the second picture). But I came out with little to no result. I made sure everything was tight too.

My headlights are clipped in properly to the clip (highlighted in the third image).

I'm not sure where to go from here. What I'm looking for is: what clips should I get, or if there are any quick fixes, or relatively quick fixes? I remember some clips on the upper bracket that got messed up and I threw out, but I don't think they could effect it, could they?


One last thing. In the first pic, I circled some clips. Do these have any effect on anything?



Thanks in advance

 

Did you ever get that bumper replaced? I've heard stories about some aftermarket ones doing that.

 

It is aftermarket. But there has to be some fix or reason. It was like this even before the aftermarket.

Edit: it is the aftermarket bumper, just checked some old pictures.

 

are the lights aftermarket too? the lights look to be a good fit with the body just the bumper has an unnecessary recess to it. i'll look at mine tomorrow to see how the fitment is, never paid much attention to it

 

I just went out and looked at my car. Your bumper is hanging a little low and the headlight is higher up compared to mine. Has your car been in a wreck? If it has, it was not fixed properly.

 

you will have to find a way to lift the corner of the bumper, maybe by making where the clip goes to be a little bit higher, but on mine the lights are tight. As you stated the aftermarket front bumper will not be a perfect fit, but you can always modify the corners by making the corner a little bit higher.. pull it up just a bit...

 

^^ Yup, your bumper is the culprit.

Even lights with fitment issues don't look like that, the aftermarket lights with fitment issues have the gap on the inside corner not outside. That bumper needs to be pulled up in the corner, if possible, but even then I'm not sure how I can see that gap being fixed?

Just looks like a badly fitting bumper, should get a OEM one from the junker.

 

Well I messed around with the upper bracket and it seemed to fix the issue just a tad. I think what I need to do now is find some zip ties and just pull it as tight as I can.

If I fix it, I'll post pictures for everyone.

 

Non oem bumper causes that.get oem its like $150

 

I got excited when the fixer posted haha.

But you're not adding in painting and the fact I just bought this. I tightened it up and it's barely noticible now.

How I did it:
Moved bracket connected to the top and upper bracket and switched the bolts on the middle of the upper bracket to raise it higher. I then re-attached it and screwed the two bolts in as much as I could. Cut the gap in half.

 

George_ is that you?

 

He quit.