I've had my '06 RL for almost 2 years and am still discovering things about it. Today, I noticed that the sheet metal at the bottom rear corner of both the left and right rear doors seems not to be flush with the rest of the body (both below and to the rear of the door).

In fact, at the corner, it almost looks bent or pushed in. It's not though - the lower body panel is somewhat flared out in the area of the corner of the door. And there is a small section of an overlapping painted strip of metal on the lower body panel right where it meets the lower rear corner of the rear door opening - on both sides of the car.

Both the fact that each door is not flush and the overlapping pieces seem odd to me. I purchased the car new with 5 miles on the odometer, so I know there was never any body damage.

Has anyone noticed this?

 

I don't have that problem on my 07, but the body fit on the trunk and surrounding sheet metal is less than perfect. I have noticed on other RL's that the spacing quality control around the trunk is poor.

 

I have no imperfect panels on my 08 RL. All panels perfectly aligned and evenly spaced.

I heard of some dealers "fixing" cars damaged prior to delivery to customer, one does wonder.

 

I don't think I have any imperfections, just that the shape of the opening at the corner makes the door edge seem by design not to fit flush - only near the lower rear corner. It may be intentional - since it is exactly the same on both rear doors - possibly as a way to drain out water.

The small overlapping pieces on the lower rocker area just at the door opening are a bit odd too.

But all of this is not so much so, as it took me almost 2 years to notice - even when I've hand-washed and waxed the car a few times!

Just wondering if others had noticed the same. . . .

 

I have no body panel imperfections on my car at all. Could you supply a picture of what you are describing?

 

Here's what I'm talking about:



The way the door lines up with the lower panel is more indented at the corner than along the rest of the bottom edge of the door.

The other point, about the overlapping piece, is a non-issue the more closely I inspect it. It seems to be just a seam in the plastic (?) panels, which may also be visible in the photo.

 

My doors do have an indent in that area, but I'd say its about half as deep as yours. I can't see any seam as appears on yours. On mine, looks like it is by design as both sides of the car are exactly the same.

 

rlerman, what year is your RL?

Mine look the same on both sides as well.

(I know, the car needs a wash. . .!!)

 

05

 

The picture looks just like my car -- normal. The doors of the RL are very slightly convex, so they aren't flush with the lower rocker panel trim piece.

I think that the "overlapping piece" that looks like a seam is actually a protective adhesive sticker. It is also on my car, and probably normal.

Rob144