HI guys - total newbie not just to the forums but to automotive - go easy.

 

Bought a CAT N octavia mk 3 1.5 2018 - no service history (Im on a budget and have taken my chances). Its passed its safety inspection and drives a dream, but has very obviously had a front and back knock with a rather poor body repair.

 

I've looked on these forums for out of line or uneven panels, which this one definitely has. Principally the boot, which closes properly, but which rises slightly above the rest of the panelling on the left side. Right side is fine.

 

The bonnet is sitting slightly back - ie closer to the window - than where it should. It closes and locks fine, but I can get my palm under its very front, which I dont think should be possible.

 

And again, where the wing intersects with the bonnet and window - that small lower corner of the windscreen where the three panels meet - the wing panel, just at that join, sits annoyingly proud of the others (can post pic later).  Is that something that a panel basher can correct, without taking the panel off the car?

 

A v informal chat w the guys at the body shop suggested that fixing these risked opening a much larger can of worms, if they begin taking panels off then have to right more.

 

So my question to you guys is the extent to which it *matters* other than aesthetically. Do these out of line panels impact other aspects of the car particularly over time? Or is it a case of just living with the niggling looks, given that a body repair to such comparitive small things could end up being very expensive?

 

Grateful for thoughts,.

c

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, ctm said:

Do these out of line panels impact other aspects of the car particularly over time? Or is it a case of just living with the niggling looks, given that a body repair to such comparitive small things could end up being very expensive?

 

No.

 

If you are handy on the tools then you will find that the alignment of the front crash beam affects all the panel gaps at the front of the vehicle especially where they meet with the headlights, I had to slot the fixing holes on mine to get things to line up correctly.

 

The front wings bolt on and you might be able to better the current door and bonnet gaps again possibly by slotting the fixing holes, the same deal with the bonnet.

 

You speak of the boot, I presume you mean the rear hatch, much less scope for adjustment there but look to see of the rubber closing stop blocks are in position, I think they may be adjustable.

It would be helpful if you can post up some images of the issue.....

Thanks guys - thanks for the shout on the rear stopping blocks on the back hatch. Those blocks appear fixed in with a torx screw and I dont see any scope for movement up or down - that does indeed look like it would help lower the height of the closed hatch. If I loosen that screw, will the stopper be movable, or is it just fixed? Here's the difference in closed hatch height relative to the rest of the chassis. As I say, it does close properly, its just looks. If that stopper could be lowered it would probably do it.

 

Secondly, the wing join I was referring to. The metal looks actually bent outward - can this be bashed back in?

 

And thirdly - the amount of gap in the closed bonnet. Like the boot, it shuts ok... but I dont think it should be this far back, or that I should be able to get my palm in...

 

V grateful for opinions.

 

 

On 18/02/2024 at 21:03, ctm said:

A v informal chat w the guys at the body shop suggested that fixing these risked opening a much larger can of worms, if they begin taking panels off then have to right more.

The panel gaps look like they are all over the shot.  The Body Shop is right - they are basically saying that the frame could be out of kilter and that the repairs that have been done are not good.  That panel gaping is not normal and I might suggest that this car has been in a front end incident. Did you get a report on the car before buying it?  I am thinking something like a "carvertical" check - where at least you could see what damage was caused which meant it became a Cat N write off.