[BobsM3Coupe]

Originally Posted by dinan5m3

Ok, thanks.

Seems like the outside door trim panel is like everything else, "taped" on...

The trim piece is held on with plastic fasteners and a couple of torx screws.

[skier219]

Originally Posted by BobsM3Coupe

The trim piece is held on with plastic fasteners and a couple of torx screws.

Agree, and you can see the screws in several of the pictures the OP posted.

[dinan5m3]

Thanks for that details on how these mouldings are held to the door.

The car went to the dealership today and the triage result is as follows:

The front trim pieces are "warped" (from being out in the sun, in the SC factory, etc.) that is the cause of the space gaps on the front doors.

Dealer is replacing these plastic trim pieces, get them painted and install.

Warped from being out in the sun...

That's from the service adviser, being told by the BMW (master) tech.

[derklink]

Woah - sorry to hear. But seriously, the sun?! I assume it's because the trim wasn't installed properly? Either way, sucks.

[dinan5m3]

Originally Posted by derklink

Woah - sorry to hear. But seriously, the sun?! I assume it's because the trim wasn't installed properly? Either way, sucks.

I don't know what's more worse, that i'm on this detail when this isn't my daily ride... Or the "warp"...

[derklink]

Does it bug you more than your wife? I put up some shelves this weekend. One wasn't completely straight/level. Drove me nuts. Took my wife 10 minutes to talk me out of doing it all over but she doesn't care and is happy. I know this is different and seems like BMW messed up something you paid good money for. I would've done the same!

[dinan5m3]

Originally Posted by derklink

but she doesn't care and is happy.

Word from the wise!

I should bring my wife to work when i'm dealing with bugs and test failures...

It's uncanny that as days go past, i notice less and less of imperfections... Just want to enjoy the ride and comfort and amenities to go from point A to B. I'm almost there, once the coating and film get put on. And the darn mudflaps...

[chicagofan00]

Originally Posted by dinan5m3

Thanks for that details on how these mouldings are held to the door.

The car went to the dealership today and the triage result is as follows:

The front trim pieces are "warped" (from being out in the sun, in the SC factory, etc.) that is the cause of the space gaps on the front doors.

Dealer is replacing these plastic trim pieces, get them painted and install.

Warped from being out in the sun...

That's from the service adviser, being told by the BMW (master) tech.

Warped from the sun?! If that is true then I'm in for some trouble as the hot Arizona sun isn't very forgiving during the summer months.

Seriously though, kind of seems like a BS answer but if they are willing to swap them then I guess all should be good.

[tonyb15re]

Theres no excuse for poorly fitting panels if enough of us have the problem and take our cars back to the dealers then BMW surely have to do a recall and have them re-fitted properly?

[MechX3M40i]

Originally Posted by tonyb15re

Theres no excuse for poorly fitting panels if enough of us have the problem and take our cars back to the dealers then BMW surely have to do a recall and have them re-fitted properly?

Fit and finish is a customer satisfaction issue, not safety related. Doubtful any recall will ever be considered for this reason.

Besides, one failure in this case does not translate directly to wholesale failure across the board. So far we've not heard anyone else experiencing the same issue. One additional factor, the car was transported by at least one 3rd party shipper (maybe more) from original dealership to OP so we would never know if the trim looked like this out of factory, or got damaged along the way by the shipper.

Nevertheless, if BMW is willing to replace it, and the dealership is willing to bat for OP despite the car was not bought there, then all is good.

[dinan5m3]

Yep, came back from Leith BMW in Raleigh tonight, and besides getting their $150 mudflaps installation, thought how their service would deal with the gaps (if any different from the Southpoint BMW). And their take is, normal. End of story, with following comparison pictures (from 2019 X4, not X3) provided by the service adviser. I think if mine was these small in gaps, perhaps i wouldn't have proceeded any further since those gaps are similar to what i have on the back passenger side doors.

Oh well...

Southpoint BMW said the parts are painted. Let's see if the so called non-warped will do any better, if at all...

[dinan5m3]

Should know by end of tomorrow, how this all turn out at the front doors.

The parts are back from painting, at the dealership for install tomorrow morning.



I would be content with the fitment at the front doors with similar tolerance as the back doors.

[MechX3M40i]

Just curious - why would you give the mudflap business to the dealer who would not bat for you and repair the trim?

[dinan5m3]

Originally Posted by MechX3M40i

Just curious - why would you give the mudflap business to the dealer who would not bat for you and repair the trim?

Good observation. Just came down to the $.

Correct, i gave the mudflaps to Leith BMW.

But the trims are getting done at Southpoint BMW.

If i had pushed Southpoint BMW, they may have "matched" the installation. But, it was Friday and i wanted to get the mudflaps over with, behind me.

And at 2x labor difference, i just sucked up and went with lesser of the two.

Both are good dealers, but Southpoint BMW just has "superior" customer service, from the time you bring the car in to the service, and leave the place. And their shuttle services are far better, more flexible.

I suppose all that (overhead of operations) "could" justify the 2x difference, and pay to get the total customer experience. But...

... i am (mega) cheap !!!

[skier219]

Jeez, not sure I'd trade away factory paint for a fix. The new ones better fit perfect to justify that sacrifice.

[dinan5m3]

Originally Posted by skier219

Jeez, not sure I'd trade away factory paint for a fix. The new ones better fit perfect to justify that sacrifice.

Well, not exactly...

Though, noticeable improvement within "tolerance" at the front driver door,



But not as noticeable at the front passenger door trim,



What are those scuffs.... i said ...

Afterwards ...




Some more comparison with same x3 on the lot, the "lip" at the front passenger side is more noticeable, i don't know what it is, other than is bmw loosing some of its quality control mojo's or what...


Baseline car on the lot,




q.e.d.

[FREEDOM2020]

Originally Posted by dinan5m3

All four doors are like following, fitment challenge with trim and weird gap, is that for water draining? If not, then

(i should go to local dealers and do some compare and contrast there)


Driver side door, (ignoring that weird feather thingy that got in the picture),

[IMG]https://i.postimg.cc/Jnz9NQGt/image.png[/IMG]

[IMG]https://i.postimg.cc/FRCwDJLp/image.png[/IMG]

[IMG]https://i.postimg.cc/2yqMJ8dD/image.png[/IMG]


Rear driver side,

Is that an Alien's acid thingy running down the bottom corner of the door?

[IMG]https://i.postimg.cc/brKWjcL2/image.png[/IMG]

[IMG]https://i.postimg.cc/dtygj3tR/image.png[/IMG]



Passenger side,

[IMG]https://i.postimg.cc/VkPpGwdx/image.png[/IMG]

[IMG]https://i.postimg.cc/x1G7BZmc/image.png[/IMG]



Rear passenger side,

[IMG]https://i.postimg.cc/FK9qvxbG/image.png[/IMG]

[IMG]https://i.postimg.cc/6QYPpGYK/image.png[/IMG]




Thanks much.

I have the same gap between the fairing and doors on my 2019 M40 and I believe it causes the doors to rattle when closing them. Very poor fitment but I won't let the dealer touch it. I wedged some felt between the gaps and it seemed to help. Will do a better job in the spring maybe using a sealant. I also have that yellow stuff on bottom of door must be a glue for the water barrier inside the door. Please post if the dealer comes up with a fix. Peace.... Good Luck and enjoy the car !!!!

[dinan5m3]

Thanks. Yes, enjoying (through ignorance is a bliss.. )

Something came over me though recently and i don't think i can let this fitment issue go.

Anyway, contacted BMW NA.

Let's see what their customer relations come back with.

Also, will troll around local 2 dealerships and see what the 2020 MY looks like for the same fitment.

[freshxdough]

As bad as it sounds I'd consider it normal. My M40i has the same slightly off fitment at the bottom of both front doors. Looks exactly like the photos 2 posts above. There is not adjustment so it's likely not really feasible to adjust it or get a better mounting.

[nabeelio]

You can empty a half gallon of water over the outside of the window and see where it drains from too

[clivem2]

A different issue....I find the driver's door (UK so RHS) shut-line doesn't fully match the front wing. The arc of the curves dropping down the car are slightly different - view along the side of the car.

The other side is fine. I looked at another X3 from the same batch as mine, it was identical. I should look at others but I wasn't wanting to get too obsessive about it. It's pretty minor but normally it's something that would alert me to potential accident damage - which it isn't as another car was identical.

[dinan5m3]

Originally Posted by freshxdough

As bad as it sounds I'd consider it normal. My M40i has the same slightly off fitment at the bottom of both front doors. Looks exactly like the photos 2 posts above. There is not adjustment so it's likely not really feasible to adjust it or get a better mounting.

Right. And i was heading, headed in that direction of thinking.

Recently been spending some time in garage (for other unrelated projects) and just keeping getting my eyes looking at this fitment issue. I don't know, from one particular angle, okay (i guess). But from other angles, as others have said, just seem "wrong, in every way" next to the other 2 (older) bmw's.