I put a new headlight in this week to replace my driver side headlight which was in pretty bad cosmetic shape. I put the new light in and it looks and works great, but there is a horrible, unsightly gap between the headlight and the bumper now.





Any ideas on how to fix this? Anyone have an experience and find a good solution to this problem? The bumper definitely feels like its sagging. It has a lot of play to it and I can lift it up and almost completely close the gap, but once I let go of it it goes back down.

What I'm looking for is maybe a spot that the bumper can be ziptied or something to get it to sit up more. I was thinking about using some Gorilla Glue on the headlight tab under the light where the bumper slides in and the inside of the fender and bumper to bring it more together. This is REALLY bothering me, I don't like the way it looks at all.

Also, my passenger side is fine. No gap. The light and the bumper sit flush with each other. And this was present with the old headlight as well, but not as bad.

 

Perhaps the bracket holding the bumper to the fender is loose. Mine looks like that on both sides - drives me crazy too.

 

It definitely feels like something is loose. I know there's no way that its supposed to move around as much as it does when I push and pull on it. Do you know where the bracket is and how to tighten it? I took my headlight, side marker, and fender liner out today to try to get in there and see what I could do and I found nothing.

 

I'm not home but I can show you some pics with the bumper off if it helps. But if you didn't have this gap before, then I would assume it has to do directly with the headlight install. The most common fault is losing the plastic clip that goes into the fender, there's a 'pin' on the headlight that clips into it. Although, this would normally cause the headlight to sag lower I think.....

 

Interesting, because the one thing I noticed with this new light compared to the old one is that when I put the old one in, there was a definitive "click" when the headlight pin locked into the fender. Now that doesn't happen and the headlight has a little play to it as well. I thought it was just because the pin was new, but maybe that's part of the problem.

And the gap was there before and it was noticeable, just not quite as bad as it is now. I'm guessing the old headlight kind of settled in without the bumper there to fill the space below it over time.

 

I would say the factory or dealer adjusted the bumper to the headlights if it was necessary when the car was new. This is not done meticulously but is not uncommon. It's quite common for body lines to be off right off the assembly line.

As for the clip in piece, I do believe it's recommended to replace them any time the headlight is removed, as with pretty much any plastic clip. They're very cheap at the dealer. The lower clips are the same deal, it's also possible that the lower clips are worn or not lining up properly, and actually skipping overtop of the engagement point, rather than sliding down into place. Check that also.

All 4 clips should cost you under $20 In the US from the dealer if you need em.

 

Tuner, could you post those pics of the bumper off plz? And are you guys referring to the plastic hole in the fender that the headlight tab is inserted into?

 

Not to hijack but i have the same prob my bumber is on good cheked everything and its ok. also my headlight has play but its doesnt have the bottom brakets the where describe as above.

 

I'm a little confused, what are these clip in pieces? Where do they go? I take my headlights in and out a lot so I wonder if I'm missing these.

I also forgot to note in the OP that my bumper is fairly new. I had it replaced last winter after I had an accident that damaged the old one.

 

I need an actual headlight pin not the plastic piece ugh. Sucks that they dont sell just the metal fender pins.

 

There is a plastic bracket which is under the headlight, and there is the pin that is in the fender. I don't think your headlight is sitting in the lower plastic bracket. It's a dark grey colour and rectangular. I think it is not sitting in the seat of the bracket. If you pull the headlight back out and look at the bottom of it you will see a plastic pin which sits in the bracket. also look for the bracket. make sure they mesh properly when you reinstall

 

^THIS.

That was what I was trying to say above. The chinsy brittle clips that hold these brackets on break easily, and could very well be missing or not sitting in there properly, especially if the headlights have been in and out a few times.

I'll dig up some pictures for you guys now.

 

is that the only clip that secures the headlight? there also a metal rod looking thing on the side of the headllight that goes into a hole is there suppose to be somethign that that the rod snaps into like a rubber grommet or something?

 

This is the lower headlight clip we're talking about, this is the 5th gen one, but it's very similar and mounts in the same location. Yours will be a darker grey colour and a bit longer:

 

Yes, this is the "pin" we referred to earlier. There is supposed to be a round white plastic receiver that fits into the steel cutout.

I'll dig up a pic of that too I think I have one...

 

well this sucks lol my headlight is only held on by the two bolts on the top lol look light im going to have to go to dealer or junkyard

 

Another picture, this is of the 5.5 clip:

 

^That clip looks totally foreign to me. I don't think I have one. That could explain a lot about why that gap is there.

 

you guys wouldnt happen to have a part number?

 

link to clip on courtesy parts

 

Just kidding, I went outside and pulled my headlight and I actually DO have that clip. I've just never noticed it before I guess.

I might just cave and bring it to my local body shop and have them see what they can do with it. Seeing the gap every time I look at my car drives me absolutely insane and to me, the 50-100 bucks they'll charge to fix it will be well worth it. The above sig pic is a good example of how I want the damn bumper-headlight area to look.

 

Yeah Rochester picked out a good pic for AEMAX on that one, good cutoff.

So you're saying you have all of these clips, and they are not worn out or loose in any way?

 

Not at all. I yanked on it and tried to wiggle it and it's very firmly in place. Seems like the light gets in there too.

 

I too have the clip, but it doesn't secure the headlight in any way . Is it supposed to pull the headlight closer to the bumper?

 

Yes it should, there is a steel bar built into the bottom of the headlight, the plastic clip on the bottom is the receiver for this bar. The bar snaps into the clip.

The same goes for the side pin, it too is steel, and part of the headlight. The plastic bushing clip goes into the fender hole and is the receiver for the pin. The pin clips into the plastic receiver in the fender.

 

Ok I don't have a great picture to show you but once you take the grille out you will start to get the idea. This is the bracket you need to get concerned with:



You will have to remove the headlights and grille to access the bolts that hold this in place.
This is that bracket removed from the car:



There is some minor adjustment in this bracket, if you need more, you can hog the bolt holes out a bit. Use the bracket to make your adjustment, lift the bracket up as much as possible and test fit the headlights. If this makes no difference, then I would suggest taking a heat gun to the upper mounting moulds, apply very little heat with the headlights mounted, and push the headlights down until the gap is gone, hold them in that position until everything cools, you can use an icepack to speed this process up.

While doing this, have that lower clip removed. Then once cool, remove the headlight reinstall all clips and test fit again.

Once you're done and happy you'llneed to reaim the headlihts

EDIT: TO clarify, when moving/adjusting the bracket, you're moving the bumper, NOT the headlights

 

Tuner...noob moment but please tell me how to get my grille out. I've been too scared to break clips so

 

waxima... u should replace the other headlight... u will eventually be able to notice difference from each side

 

I have another headlight to replace the passenger side but I just haven't installed it yet.

On another note, I restored my old driver side light today and it came out way better than I thought it would. I think I'm just gonna put that back in since that one already settled in to the gap with the bumper and sell this one in the classifieds. Problem solved I suppose.

 

They'll fog up again. I went through a newer car wash a week or so ago, and that verified that my headlights weren't sealed 100%, they were full of moisture from the steam and high pressure water. They've been glazed ever since.

I need to find some good sealant and bake them apart, slobber the crap out of them and reassemble. It seems that the 5.5 headlights are pretty much impossible to reseal 100% unless you add more sealant. Good thing I still have my AE headlights, and I wired the 5.5's in retaining the old H4 harnesses Plug and play FTW

 

I'm not the best man to answer this actually, what I recall from reading there's only 2 bolts up top or something, perhaps 3 alltogether. My 5.5 grille is mounted completely different from yours, clearly

I've never pulled a stock one before, sorry bro.

 

Tuner i ordered some of this to do my 4th gen projector project it looks and feels like a good quality sealant
http://www.theretrofitsource.com/pro...roducts_id=792

 

Thanks very much, that looks like a VERY good product. I had to get curious if I could just use roofing/window rubber butyl that you buy in a caulking tube, I may try it, but I'm feeling safer just getting what you recommended, the price seems fair. Just sucks that it will only do one pair of lights.

 

Theretrofitsource ftw. Either going to fix my headlight gap today or work on my mini h1 retro