Front bumper

[Erich]

I noticed that my front bumper(Not the bull bar) is over toward the right side of the car about 1/4 to 1/2 inch. Does anyone know if this can be adjusted? The bumper is straight, and the supports underneath, from what I can tell, are not bent. It wouldn't be an issue, except that the plastic trim pieces that cover the ends don't line up well.

[FalcoColumbarius]

Got any pictures?

[Erich]

The photos show that the left side of the bumper as it wraps around the car, is slightly recessed from the headlamp surround, while the right side sits proud of the headlamp surround. The Bull bar mounts are also not symmetrical in the grille that they exit.

[FalcoColumbarius]

You're talking about the front lower body panel. That does look a little askew, doesn't it. It looks as though the right quarter is projecting and the left quarter has been pushed in a little. The upper and lower panels should line up (I just ran out and compared with my '92). If you go to the L300 Dedicated Category Reference Forum, in the Manual Downloads ~ there is a illustrated view of the underside in the Quick Reference Nipple Greasing Illustration. You can see the general shape of the frame. I'm wondering if either someone backed into the left quarter panel or maybe the previous owner slid into a tree or something. My guess, without crawling under my wagon would be to examine that part of the frame and how it connects with the panel. I'll wager that there's something bent between the frame and the panel. You can also see it in the two pictures of either end of the oil radiator grille, where they meet with the bush bar tangs, there's quite a difference where the grille sits in relation to the tangs.

Falco.

[Erich]

Thanks, Falco. Since that panel is straight, it may have been in a fender bender at one point, the panel was replaced but the frame members, or where it attaches, may have stayed tweaked. I think the frame is straight and the car drives straight, having been prepped by CCA where I got it. Its going to the body shop tomorrow to have the rear plastic bumper cover replaced and sprayed, so I'll ask them about that lower panel. Do you know how it attaches and if it is an easy remove?

[FalcoColumbarius]

Nay, I know not for certain. However I would surmise that there are metal branches of some sort tigged to the panel and bolted to the frame that have taken the stress and have subsequently bent. As you have noted the panel itself appears to be retaining it's original shape, just out of whack with the rest of wagon.

I'm writing from a coffee shop at this moment (it's where the wifi is) and I'm on foot, so I can't go crawl under the wagon at this moment. Usually, I learn about things as I need to and I haven't as of yet needed to learn about the front lower panel, so this could be a good excuse! Please bear in mind that I am a painter by trade and anything that I have learned about my wagon has either been out of interest or out of necessity, the latter often in a setting of trees and rocks. For which situation I would highly recommend keeping both a mat and kneeler pad with the wagon. The kneeler is also very useful as insulation for sitting on, by the way, and helps to keep one warm when sitting out in the toolies by a fire.

The thing about my wagon that I really like is how simple everything is. I would think that your's might even be a little simpler as she's an earlier model. On the Miss Lil' Bitchi there are skid plates and such that cover that portion of the undercarriage up, they can be easily removed but not without some time commitment. I'm thinking if you crawl under the front of your wagon with a light and look up, I'm guessing you will see the connexions clearly. I'm hooking up with another Starwagon owner later today to compare notes, so I'll have a gander underneath the MLB. Maybe this is something that you can do yourself with vice grips.

Falco.