Rear Hatch Alignment

nlk10010 · 05-21-2018, 08:35 AM

OK, here we go again, I don't think I'm really being ANAL, just cautious.

Sooooo....I'm waiting for wifey to come out of the liquor store and have a lot of time to kill. I notice that the rear hatch door on my X3 M40i has a section that is much closer to the tail light on the right-hand side than it is on the left (from the perspective of face on or, if you wish to be provincial, much closer on the passenger side rear than the driver side). It's the upper part where the door frame angles to the outside and butts up against the upper part of the lens. The rest of the door seems more or less aligned OK.

Aesthetic-wise it's not a big deal. My concern is that this one part of the hatch is SO close to the lens that when the body flexes it might squeeze and crack it.

I realize some of you may have no idea what I'm talking about as this is all visualized in MY head, not yours. I'll try to take pictures later and post them.

Any commiseration greatly appreciated.

Norman

mjdth · 05-21-2018, 09:36 AM

Have a photo?

nlk10010 · 05-21-2018, 12:19 PM

Yes, but I've found the difference is hard to see. Partly it's because it seems that the extent of the problem changes each time you open and close the hatch.

My apologies, I should never have started this thread unless I had pictures to demonstrate the issue; I'd delete it if I could.

I may revisit this topic but, as I say, not unless and until I have photos showing what's going on.

frank23 · 05-21-2018, 02:05 PM

Same on my car. The gap is much smaller on the right (passenger) side. Hadn't even noticed until reading this thread.

nlk10010 · 05-21-2018, 02:10 PM

Well, at least they're consistent.

You know, I can understand workers in Germany getting drunk on their lunch break (or any other time); the beer is THAT good. But in SPARTANBURG?

Besides, don't they have automated jigs to align things? I'm not asking to the millimeter, just precisely enough that it's not immediately apparent to the uneducated eye.

Ragnarkov · 05-21-2018, 02:13 PM

could it be an optical illusion created by light and shadow, especially if a) it seems to be constantly changing (and the hinges aren't loose or have play in them) and b) you think you saw something, so now your mind is telling you there is something?

I only say, because my wife swore up and down the counter backsplash was higher on one side than the other in the bathroom. I had to, in front of her, measure each side and show her that in fact, it was identical.

straight lines are notorious for making us think they aren't straight. I think it has something to do with how our perception is always from 2 points, not 1.

frank23 · 05-21-2018, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ragnarkov

could it be an optical illusion created by light and shadow

Wished it was that, but I can certainly feel and see the difference. Here's some pics.

titomi · 05-22-2018, 02:33 AM

don't you guys think you are taking it too seriously? I mean... come on...

Wanna3 · 05-22-2018, 06:32 AM

This thread prompted me to check mine. Perfectly aligned. Hope you get yours straightened out. Pun intended

05-21-2018, 08:35 AM	#1
nlk10010 Private First Class 25 Rep 108 Posts Drives: 2018 X3 M40i Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Lawn Guyland, NY iTrader: (0)	Rear Hatch Alignment OK, here we go again, I don't think I'm really being ANAL, just cautious. Sooooo....I'm waiting for wifey to come out of the liquor store and have a lot of time to kill. I notice that the rear hatch door on my X3 M40i has a section that is much closer to the tail light on the right-hand side than it is on the left (from the perspective of face on or, if you wish to be provincial, much closer on the passenger side rear than the driver side). It's the upper part where the door frame angles to the outside and butts up against the upper part of the lens. The rest of the door seems more or less aligned OK. Aesthetic-wise it's not a big deal. My concern is that this one part of the hatch is SO close to the lens that when the body flexes it might squeeze and crack it. I realize some of you may have no idea what I'm talking about as this is all visualized in MY head, not yours. I'll try to take pictures later and post them. Any commiseration greatly appreciated. Norman
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05-21-2018, 09:36 AM	#2
mjdth Private First Class 82 Rep 152 Posts Drives: X3 M40i Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0) Garage List 2018 X3 M40i [0.00] 2015 435xi (Sold) [0.00] 2007 335i (Sold) [0.00] 2004 325i (Sold) [0.00]	Have a photo?
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05-21-2018, 12:19 PM	#3
nlk10010 Private First Class 25 Rep 108 Posts Drives: 2018 X3 M40i Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Lawn Guyland, NY iTrader: (0)	Yes, but I've found the difference is hard to see. Partly it's because it seems that the extent of the problem changes each time you open and close the hatch. My apologies, I should never have started this thread unless I had pictures to demonstrate the issue; I'd delete it if I could. I may revisit this topic but, as I say, not unless and until I have photos showing what's going on.
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05-21-2018, 02:05 PM	#4
frank23 Private First Class 16 Rep 100 Posts Drives: 2020 Tesla Model Y Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	Same on my car. The gap is much smaller on the right (passenger) side. Hadn't even noticed until reading this thread.
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05-21-2018, 02:10 PM	#5
nlk10010 Private First Class 25 Rep 108 Posts Drives: 2018 X3 M40i Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Lawn Guyland, NY iTrader: (0)	Well, at least they're consistent. You know, I can understand workers in Germany getting drunk on their lunch break (or any other time); the beer is THAT good. But in SPARTANBURG? Besides, don't they have automated jigs to align things? I'm not asking to the millimeter, just precisely enough that it's not immediately apparent to the uneducated eye.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-21-2018, 02:13 PM	#6
Ragnarkov First Lieutenant 127 Rep 304 Posts Drives: 2018 X3 i30xdrive Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Maple Ridge, BC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2018 BMW X3 [0.00]	could it be an optical illusion created by light and shadow, especially if a) it seems to be constantly changing (and the hinges aren't loose or have play in them) and b) you think you saw something, so now your mind is telling you there is something? I only say, because my wife swore up and down the counter backsplash was higher on one side than the other in the bathroom. I had to, in front of her, measure each side and show her that in fact, it was identical. straight lines are notorious for making us think they aren't straight. I think it has something to do with how our perception is always from 2 points, not 1.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-22-2018, 02:33 AM	#8
titomi Colonel 926 Rep 2,046 Posts Drives: X3 G01 30i xDrive Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: EU iTrader: (0) Garage List 2018 X3 G01 [0.00]	don't you guys think you are taking it too seriously? I mean... come on... __________________ '18 G01 X3 xDrive 30i xLine, Sophisto grey, Vernasca Mocha, Adaptive
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05-22-2018, 06:32 AM	#9
Wanna3 Private 37 Rep 79 Posts Drives: 2021 X3 xDrive30i Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Massachusetts iTrader: (0)	This thread prompted me to check mine. Perfectly aligned. Hope you get yours straightened out. Pun intended
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