Are these gaps normal?

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Old Oct 18, 2011 | 07:48 AM
  #1  
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Are these gaps normal?

so i've noticed these gaps from the time i bought the car; just wondering if they're normal



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Old Oct 18, 2011 | 08:25 AM
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i dont even see what your talking about....all looks normal to me
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Old Oct 18, 2011 | 08:27 AM
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Originally Posted by vinnier6
i dont even see what your talking about....all looks normal to me
the gap between the carbon fiber looking thing and the black center console.. i can actually push it and it moves in..
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Old Oct 18, 2011 | 08:41 AM
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try some gorilla glue that should work.
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Old Oct 18, 2011 | 09:08 AM
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Originally Posted by Ruby
try some gorilla glue that should work.
lol dont wanna do that. if it's normal i'm leaving it alone; if its not i'm taking it back to the dealer.. can somebody please check to see if they have those same gaps? thanks
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Old Oct 18, 2011 | 09:52 AM
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I have the same gaps. It has been there since I got the car.
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Old Oct 18, 2011 | 10:06 AM
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Originally Posted by munkeepoo
I have the same gaps. It has been there since I got the car.
thanks, thats what i thought
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Old Oct 18, 2011 | 10:28 AM
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Probably just a problem of trying to exactly mold pieces to precisely fit. I guess if you wanted precision you needed to buy a German car--just kidding.

I will be picking up our TL this Saturday and will check out the fit and finish. By the way, in my opinion the only thing that looks worse than carbon fiber is faux carbon fiber! I wish Acura would have chosen something classier looking like satin aluminum.


Doug
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Old Oct 18, 2011 | 10:49 AM
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I don't know looks sloppy.
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Old Oct 18, 2011 | 11:18 AM
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looks like it's raising up a little bit. I put mine here for your comparison.
Attached Thumbnails Are these gaps normal?-photo-3.jpg   Are these gaps normal?-photo-1.jpg  
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Old Oct 18, 2011 | 11:32 AM
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Originally Posted by under9hell
looks like it's raising up a little bit. I put mine here for your comparison.
hmm.. your does look a lot tighter than mine; i'll have them check it when i take it in for oil change.. thanks
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Old Oct 18, 2011 | 12:27 PM
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Mine does that too. It's not faux carbon fiber. It's a process that Acura themselves created where you lay a thin piece of plastic on top of a thin layer of metal.

Sorry haven't changed my avatar yet, I now have a 2010 TL SH-AWD 6mt.
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Old Oct 18, 2011 | 12:34 PM
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i have no problems with mines... nor all the loaners i have driven.. maybe its just your car.. did you leave it in the heat for long periods of time?
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Old Oct 18, 2011 | 12:38 PM
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Originally Posted by potmilkz
i have no problems with mines... nor all the loaners i have driven.. maybe its just your car.. did you leave it in the heat for long periods of time?
are you saying you dont have those gaps? my car is mostly garage kept; and it's a 2012.. so i doubt this has anything to do with the sun
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Old Oct 18, 2011 | 12:54 PM
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I just checked on mine.
Left side has the gap, but this is new.
The clip has not snapped it. WTF, Acura? :troutslap
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Old Oct 18, 2011 | 01:11 PM
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Originally Posted by omaralt
lol dont wanna do that. if it's normal i'm leaving it alone; if its not i'm taking it back to the dealer.. can somebody please check to see if they have those same gaps? thanks
I have checked my 2012 TL and no evidence of the problem. Both surfaces are flush.
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Old Oct 18, 2011 | 01:47 PM
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Originally Posted by wcoy
Mine does that too. It's not faux carbon fiber. It's a process that Acura themselves created where you lay a thin piece of plastic on top of a thin layer of metal.
So what does that make it--plastel? metic? Either way you spell it it sort of looks like cheap crap!


Doug
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Old Oct 18, 2011 | 02:02 PM
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the 3g's had those gaps too. my 4g doesnt. but my dash is also a lil different cause i have full tech pkg.
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Old Oct 18, 2011 | 03:06 PM
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Mine is popping out on the right side only and has always been that way. First thing I noticed when I got the car. The left side is fine.
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Old Oct 18, 2011 | 03:28 PM
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Originally Posted by SeismicGuy
So what does that make it--plastel? metic? Either way you spell it it sort of looks like cheap crap!


Doug
The description is a little bolixed up. It's aluminum deposited onto an underlying layer of plastic, made that way so it is less susceptible to denting. I like it. Looks a hell of a lot better than the MB I rode in at lunch today.
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Old Oct 18, 2011 | 03:47 PM
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my tl is 2010 so dont have any issues.. maybe go back to dealer?

thats a pretty big gap tho..

surprised you guys didnt see it when inspecting the car..
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Old Oct 18, 2011 | 03:49 PM
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My '09 fit perfectly but my '12 looks almost identical to yours. It was one of the first things I noticed. Plan on having them fix when I go in for my first service.
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Old Oct 19, 2011 | 01:35 AM
  #23  
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Originally Posted by SeismicGuy
So what does that make it--plastel? metic? Either way you spell it it sort of looks like cheap crap!


Doug
The best way to describe it is plastic with a metal veneer. Just like how most cars with wood trim, the wood is actually a paper-thin veneer.

This metal "veneer" is better since it doesn't dent as easily and it actually weighs less, all while still being real metal in all places that you can see and touch.
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Old Oct 19, 2011 | 09:02 AM
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My '12 TL-Tech doesn't have that problem. Also, I'll chime in as one who likes that metal/plastic trim. I've never thought that it was trying to look like carbon fiber--it's a different type of pattern altogether. I think it looks classy and modern, and is much more attractive than fake wood. Also, it feels cool to the touch, like metal, which I now understand thanks to the explanation as to how it's made.

Chacun a son gout, I suppose.
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Old Oct 19, 2011 | 09:16 AM
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Originally Posted by brechbt
My '12 TL-Tech doesn't have that problem. Also, I'll chime in as one who likes that metal/plastic trim. I've never thought that it was trying to look like carbon fiber--it's a different type of pattern altogether. I think it looks classy and modern, and is much more attractive than fake wood. Also, it feels cool to the touch, like metal, which I now understand thanks to the explanation as to how it's made.

Chacun a son gout, I suppose.
i agree; i actually like the way it looks, just dont like the gaps. i'm definitely letting them now about it when i take it for an oil change.. lol i'm waiting patiently for my MID to tell me it's time; i'm at 4600 miles and its' still at 50% oil life! dont want to make two trips if i dont need to
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Old Oct 19, 2011 | 11:22 AM
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You guys sure the 2012 is still the "metal on plastic" they used in 2009-2011? I remember reading about that special process of putting the metal on the plastic, but in the 2012, I thought they moved away from that to save some money. Would be neat if that new material was still the "metal on plastic". Anyone know for sure?
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Old Oct 19, 2011 | 12:07 PM
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gaps...not normal. not on trim nor on body panels.
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Old Oct 19, 2011 | 03:14 PM
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Talking

So when I received the car in March this year, I noticed the same gap on the driver side trim, and informed my dealer about it. They were kind enough to order a replacement trim and install it free of charge. However, even with the new trim, the gap is slightly visible. It's basically uneven with each trim (which is really bad QA) and as a result, it's a dice throw as to which batch of cars get a flush trim and which ones don't.

It irritated me for a bit after the re-install, but over time I got over it. I mean, with all the wonderful things you experience while driving a 6MT, you shouldn't be looking at a minute gap in an area that at best will only be glanced at while using your gps while driving.
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Old Oct 19, 2011 | 06:04 PM
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Checked my 2010 and the gaps are flush. I would take it back and have them address the problem if it's that noticeable.
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Old Dec 22, 2011 | 02:18 PM
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just to update; i went in for my A1 service and while there looked at a few different TL's and none had the significant gaps that i had. my drivers side visor has also started moving around quite a bit, so they ordered all new parts and i'm having them installed tomorrow.. so ya if you have those gaps; it's not normal. lets hope some of the rattles go away now
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Old Dec 22, 2011 | 07:37 PM
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Originally Posted by macguitar
You guys sure the 2012 is still the "metal on plastic" they used in 2009-2011? I remember reading about that special process of putting the metal on the plastic, but in the 2012, I thought they moved away from that to save some money. Would be neat if that new material was still the "metal on plastic". Anyone know for sure?
Yes, it is different in the 2012.
In the 2012 it is printed and you can barely feel it, in the 2009-2011 you can feel it so it is not just printed and more like an overlay.
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Old Dec 22, 2011 | 08:47 PM
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Originally Posted by omaralt
just to update; i went in for my A1 service and while there looked at a few different TL's and none had the significant gaps that i had. my drivers side visor has also started moving around quite a bit, so they ordered all new parts and i'm having them installed tomorrow.. so ya if you have those gaps; it's not normal. lets hope some of the rattles go away now


Good to hear. You wouldn't think that a new TL would be built like that...
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Old Dec 22, 2011 | 09:27 PM
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Originally Posted by TinyRK
Yes, it is different in the 2012.
In the 2012 it is printed and you can barely feel it, in the 2009-2011 you can feel it so it is not just printed and more like an overlay.
Hmm I hope the appearance holds up with time. I really like the look much better than say satin aluminum.
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Old Dec 22, 2011 | 09:35 PM
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my 2009 TL has left side has gap but right side is okay
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Old Dec 23, 2011 | 12:35 AM
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Originally Posted by omaralt
just to update; i went in for my A1 service and while there looked at a few different TL's and none had the significant gaps that i had. my drivers side visor has also started moving around quite a bit, so they ordered all new parts and i'm having them installed tomorrow.. so ya if you have those gaps; it's not normal. lets hope some of the rattles go away now
Thanks for the update. Do let us know if they were able to fix the gaps. I heard they reorder parts for others, but it doesn't fix the gaps, because it has to do with the alignment of the dash overall.
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Old Dec 23, 2011 | 09:58 AM
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Originally Posted by andvari
Hmm I hope the appearance holds up with time. I really like the look much better than say satin aluminum.
That's one thing I noticed: it felt cheaper in the 2012.
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Old Oct 18, 2012 | 10:17 PM
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Bummer, my has it too. Not as bad as your but definitely a gap. It is only 2 months old.
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Old Oct 25, 2012 | 09:39 AM
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i didn't even notice before, now after seeing this thread, i went and checked, same thing with me as well
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Old Oct 25, 2012 | 12:18 PM
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I guess nothing comes perfect.. but i think a slight gap in your center console is the last thing you should be worried about..

thank god its not a rattle or a rear suspension squeak or a transmission problem..
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Old Oct 25, 2012 | 02:45 PM
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Originally Posted by potmilkz
I guess nothing comes perfect.. but i think a slight gap in your center console is the last thing you should be worried about..

thank god its not a rattle or a rear suspension squeak or a transmission problem..
I guess you have low expectations. I expect good fit and finish in a car in this price range. These things really bother me
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