[avi66]

Originally Posted by GTGuy

Quick update: went by the dealership to have them look at the issue and two other X3 M50 have the same panel mismatch in the same location. Dealership acknowledged it was abnormal but it’s a manufacturing defect at Spartanburg. They are going to notify Spartanburg. The only way to fix would require disassembly of the front end.

Did your dealer indicate when you would get a response to resolve the issue ?

[kraken]

Yea the OP one seems way off.... this one is better but I can see it's off by a bit towards the grill.

https://g45.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=2138916

[NoIceTea]

Originally Posted by GTGuy

Quick update: went by the dealership to have them look at the issue and two other X3 M50 have the same panel mismatch in the same location. Dealership acknowledged it was abnormal but it’s a manufacturing defect at Spartanburg. They are going to notify Spartanburg. The only way to fix would require disassembly of the front end.

Don't expect them to fix it in Spartanburg. The exact same issue has occurred for G01 and G01 LCI since day 1. I thought they would fix it for G45, but apparently not. I'm coming from a German made Audi and the difference in QC is night and day.

[NoIceTea]

To share a bit of my story, I took delivery at the beginning of the year, last MY of G01 LCI. Got the exact same issue, and the hood won't close on the driver side unless slam it.

This was just one of the issues I got. Others like bumper installed off center and made the gap with the headlamp significantly different from two sides:



It's not uncommon, I walked in the parking lot and most of the G01 LCIs looks like that in different ways, note the gap between fender and the headlamp, and the gap between the bumper and headlamp:



Also the hood is off center from the grill:




Another X4 in the lot, similar issue for fender/headlamp/bumper:





My sample size was 5, and 4 of which were misaligned. 3 has trunk lid assembled off center to one side.


In my case, my driver side fender was completely misaligned, together with the bumper and headlamps. I know fender assembly is not a manual process, it's fully automated in the plant and by robotic arms before the paint booth. It looks like Spartanburg plant has misaligned arms on certain assembly lines and never bother to fix them since at least 2018, and continue to be the case for the new generation of X3.

I had my car taken care by the dealer and sent to a bodyshop for about 2 month right after delivery, they fixed the misaligned door panel, yet they still left a tone of issues. Dealer says the "BMW Master Tech" and the regional BMW engineer from BMWNA visited, and certified the vehicle to be within spec. Completely BS in my opinion. I also worked with the "executive customer care" from BMWNA, not helpful at all.

I ended up disassemble the front end on my own, including the headlamp, fender, and bumper and did a complete rebuild for the front, with all 4 door strikers adjusted based on the BMW spec from ISTA. Solved most of the issues and decide to live with the rest.

Oh and I now also have the trunk lid issue, and the plant completely forget to screw in some bolts: https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2144927

I would think they have fixed the issue for G45, but apparently not. These are exact same front end issue.

This is my first BMW in this plant, and would be the last. I may go back to Audi for a Q5 or Q7 next time when need a new SUV.

[NoIceTea]

Originally Posted by GTGuy

I tried the hood several times, definitely latched. Here’s a pic from earlier. A bit harder to see with the lighting but the gap on the left (left image, right/passenger side) is visible if you look closely.

Don't just focus on the hood, check the fenders as well. It looks like one side was mounted too far out and one was mounted too far in.