GR86 Tail light interference with body work. Check yours!

[Gibbo78]

Looks like something I need to check over the winter whilst the car is tucked away in the garage on the battery conditioner.

Gibbo - I presume the adjustment screws you’ve shown adjust the height the lamp sits at in relation to the panel. So wound fully down it’s more likely to sit contacting the bumper/quarter and wound out it pushes the lamp way from the panel and the lamp sits with a gap to the panels ?

You're nearly there. the screw works on the horizonal axis so the more it is unscrewed the further away the light housing is from the car body and thus creates a bigger gap. Btw there is a locator (white) grommet which you can see just on the 3rd pic, which picks up the end of the light housing so the light housing isn't just relying on the screw connector.

 

[Hachi-roku]

Maybe a little poorly worded by me but sounds roughly how I thought. Tightened reduces the clearance between the panels and the lamp unit, loosened off increases it. So the aim is just to effectively generate enough panel gap between the edge of the lamp and the bumper/quarter to avoid it rubbing or stressing the paint if there’s any movement or body flex.

 

[KobayashiMaru86]

Might need another washer then. Mine touches fractionally drivers side. After winter I will take them out to clean behind them

 

[Bluemanc100]

Was in bed this morning and read this post, bang goes me enjoying my breakfast in bed, up and in the garage looking at the rear light clusters. The car is a September 23 second batch car, with less than 200 miles on it.
Can confirm near side looks fine with a >1mm round the lens perimeter, offside is touching on the top of the rear 3/4 panel. I have taken some pics to assist others in when the clips are located. I noticed that there is a white clip with a 10mm hex base, it simply screws out. I had a suitable size rubber o-ring which I used to extend the position of this connector, just enough whilst also maintaining a good seal with the o-ring (if anyone has any other suggestions please post) . Fitted it back and there is now a good >1mm all the way round.

Guys, a big THANKYOU for calling this out, can only echo the sentiments for members to have a look at their GR86’s. View attachment 22896


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I need to adjust my rear light gaps .. I’ve just taken the OS light out to see if I had any suitable o rings but the ones I have are way too big.. Would you happen to know what size the o ring was that you used please @Gibbo78 to save me buying different sizes?

 

[AdamST205]

What a weird thing to do on Christmas day but I have done the same on mine. Drivers side as well. Just a couple of turns of the adjustment screw and all is good now. A tiny little bit of wear but polished out okay. My car is on 2.5k but has been extremely filthy recently so would have only accelerated the issue. Strange how it is only on the offside as the near side fits perfectly.

I think it is more to do with grit etc getting in the gap and wearing as the chassis flexes etc that causes the wear.

These cars do have real thin paint.

 

[Gibbo78]

I need to adjust my rear light gaps .. I’ve just taken the OS light out to see if I had any suitable o rings but the ones I have are way too big.. Would you happen to know what size the o ring was that you used please @Gibbo78 to save me buying different sizes?

I believe it was 9mm from memory.

Always handy to have an assortment, this was the set I got from Amazon.

200 Pcs O-Rings Gasket kit, Rubber Nitrile Washers O Rings Assorted, Kitchen Tap Washers Seals Spacers for Mixer Taps, Plumbing, Rubber Spacer Gasket Washers Seal O-Ring Kit - 15 Sizes https://amzn.eu/d/4xmswJU

 

[bc2]

I've just checked mine. Mine is a 2nd batch car. Luckily there is no damage. I also noticed that the design is different from that in Gibbo78's photos. Hopefully this change has addressed the issue. (sorry for the overexposure)

 

[AdamST205]

I don't think you need any o-rings as they are meant to be adjusted from factory and the threads are interference fit. They don't get loose as you adjust them.

 

[Sonic]

I've just checked mine. Mine is a 2nd batch car. Luckily there is no damage. I also noticed that the design is different from that in Gibbo78's photos. Hopefully this change has addressed the issue. (sorry for the overexposure)
View attachment 23243

You’ve maybe pulled out the whole insert there. Underneath that white bit I think is the plastic bolt pictured earlier? I did exactly the same thing on the offside of my car; on the near side the insert remained in place on the chassis exposing the plastic bolt in the light fitting. I thought I’d f***d it but, thankfully everything went back okay

 

[Bluemanc100]

My NS fitting could be turned by hand but I’m pretty sure it’s not going to go anywhere.. If anything it will de-adjust and the gap will close slightly.. I’ll put a piece of foam in the blind hole if needed to screw down onto

 

[bc2]

You’ve maybe pulled out the whole insert there. Underneath that white bit I think is the plastic bolt pictured earlier? I did exactly the same thing on the offside of my car; on the near side the insert remained in place on the chassis exposing the plastic bolt in the light fitting. I thought I’d f***d it but, thankfully everything went back okay

You're right. I think I've pulled the whole thing out.

 

[AWB]

Just adjusted the drivers side as the near side is ok and fortunately it hadn’t damaged the paint. I’m pretty sure the drivers side was ok when I checked previously so perhaps it had moved slightly as the car hasn’t been used much but I’ve been out a couple times recently.

Anyway I wound out the adjustment screw completely, fitted a 2mm thick o-ring, refitted the adjustment screw then the light unit and I’ve not got a consistent gap around the unit.

Thanks for the heads up OP’s.

 

[GRMatt74]

I have just had my brand new car delivered and checked this.
I carefully ran a feeler gauge around the edge of the light and I can get a 0.1mm gauge around the edge of the lights and none are touching.
I tried a 0.25mm gauge around the edge and it didn’t go around some points.

Not sure whether to leave it or not.

Where do you put the O Ring? I’m not seeing from the pictures exactly where to put it.

Thanks

Matt

 

[AWB]

I have just had my brand new car delivered and checked this.
I carefully ran a feeler gauge around the edge of the light and I can get a 0.1mm gauge around the edge of the lights and none are touching.
I tried a 0.25mm gauge around the edge and it didn’t go around some points.

Not sure whether to leave it or not.

Where do you put the O Ring? I’m not seeing from the pictures exactly where to put it.

Thanks

Matt

There is an adjustment screw on the light unit itself so if you decide to adjust it and remove the light unit you will see it.

I think you could just turn the adjustment screw a couple times and refit as it’s unlikely to move and this will give you the clearance required but the o-ring option just means the adjustment screw can be screwed back in fully but maintaining the additional clearance due to the o-ring.

I think it would be worth doing it given how close the unit is to the bodywork. I checked my car when this thread was initially posted and the clearance looked fine but following a few drives it must have moved slightly and was subsequently touching the body/paintwork.

I just followed the advice/instructions earlier in this thread and watched this video which shows how to remove the cover plate, bolts, light unit etc.

 

[GRMatt74]

There is an adjustment screw on the light unit itself so if you decide to adjust it and remove the light unit you will see it.

I think you could just turn the adjustment screw a couple times and refit as it’s unlikely to move and this will give you the clearance required but the o-ring option just means the adjustment screw can be screwed back in fully but maintaining the additional clearance due to the o-ring.

I think it would be worth doing it given how close the unit is to the bodywork. I checked my car when this thread was initially posted and the clearance looked fine but following a few drives it must have moved slightly and was subsequently touching the body/paintwork.

I just followed the advice/instructions earlier in this thread and watched this video which shows how to remove the cover plate, bolts, light unit etc. [emoji1360]

Thanks very much.

 

[Cubone]

My driver's side one was also rubbing slightly, so there were few small marks but I've caught it early and put some touch up paint on it. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[TorqueOfTheDevil]

I just checked mine, I don't have an plastic feeler gauges, but a driving licence card seemed to be about the right thickness!

The passengers side was clear all the way round, but the driver's side had zero clearance at the top. Luckily for.memzerompaont damage (I'm at about 600 miles) so I wound out the screw a couple of times and the licence fits.all the way around now.

Thank for the heads up! If left unchecked I'm sure there would have been damage.

This is why I love forums!

 

[GRMatt74]

I just checked mine, I don't have an plastic feeler gauges, but a driving licence card seemed to be about the right thickness!

The passengers side was clear all the way round, but the driver's side had zero clearance at the top. Luckily for.memzerompaont damage (I'm at about 600 miles) so I wound out the screw a couple of times and the licence fits.all the way around now.

Thank for the heads up! If left unchecked I'm sure there would have been damage.

This is why I love forums!

I used a piece of paper. Was clear all round so have left it. Mine was only built in sept so I’m assuming this was a known issue with early cars and sorted.
Or I was just lucky.

 

[TorqueOfTheDevil]

I used a piece of paper. Was clear all round so have left it. Mine was only built in sept so I’m assuming this was a known issue with early cars and sorted.
Or I was just lucky.

Mine was part of the last batch too.

 

[Gordo_Dave]

Just found this on mine after washing it this afternoon! Wish I’d seen this thread sooner. Has anyone taken their car back to get it sorted as a warranty claim?