Hood won't properly close...
 

I'm noticing that after I work under the hood and I go to close it.
The driver side isn't closing all the way.
There is about a 1/4 to 1/2 an inch gap between the bonnet and the front bumper.

I've searched to locate what might be getting in the way but can't seem to locate anything.

Anyone else have this happen and if so what was causing it?

Try calling it a bonnet. :lol: Sorry, that's all the advice I have. I'm sure someone will have a serious answer for you soon. :wink:

Have upper front strut braces? That might be the issue. sprinkle a little powder on the top of the brack, close bonnet. Open bonnet, look on under bonnet padding for powder.

There is a latch on each side of the bonnet. It sounds like only one side caught. Did you slam the bonnet down hard enough?

Is it not wanting to close, like something was in the way.... or does it close and latch on both sides , but still is not lined up properly. If you think it is one of the supports, take it off and see. Beware the hood will be heavier and will want to fall on its own. The latches can be adjusted if, say, the upper metal catch rod has gotten bent out of whack.



YD

MidniteCoop, I can't give better advice than what has already been posted. I just laughed so hard at the following response I had to comment:


:lol: :lol: :lol: Of course, using the proper terminology is required for repairs to be done correctly.


:thumbsup: That was good, BGWC.

The first time I opened the bonnet I had a similiar experience. I would just drop the hood down with what seemed like sufficient force but the driver's side latch wouldn't catch. I finally figured out I had to give it just a little extra push as it came down on the drivers side to have the latch catch. I hadn't really thought about it since, but its likely that the latch is ever so slightly out of adjustment, since I would think a normal short drop should be sufficient.

Hood/Bonnet Big deal
 

Any person who understands cars would know what one is talking about if they called it a Hood or a bonnet.
To me it sounds kind of childish to reply to a thread you don't have an answer for. Guess that explains the pink Bonnet stripes:thumbsup:

Check out the streamlined R53 from the U.K. for some styling advice!

I was having the same problem, but it was user error- I just wasn't pushing down on it evenly. I read elsewhere on the site that if you give it a firm push with both hands towards the center emblem, it will catch both sides, and it does. Hope that helps!

~alex

I really hope that your 1st paragraph there is a joke or sarcasm or something.

push down on top of the headlights as i did the same thing panniced i ripped the front bumper off and i hadn't pushed it down harder

First of all, what a chauvanistic comment to make!

I experienced the same issue and took it to the dealer. Some minor adjustments needed to be made and all is good now. If you're still under warranty, get it done for free. Schultze was at the dealership so that the field engineer could assess an ongoing problem and the driver-side bonnet issue was fixed at that time.

MidniteCoop, you haven't answered everyone's question...are you sure it's catching both latches? My bonnet usually requires more force than a simple push in the center after it's down. I give it an easy push all the way down from about a foot up.

It could also be the MFE (modular front end) adjustment bolts coming loose on one side. Make sure the bumper cover is level. If now, the adjustment screws are inside the wheel wells.

Will it not close, or does it sometimes not close? (i.e. is it periodic or chronic?)

My bonnet often only latches on one side. Solution, unlatch and drop it again.
The only time it WOULDN'T close was after I installed driving lights and the wiring got in the way of the driver side gas strut.

Clearing the air...
 

Thanks for all the feedback. "Serious Feedback!"
I wanted to clear up any confusion from my earlier post.
I Was looking for people to reply with answers, Not have batgirlwildcat correct my terminology! Just for posting sake!

About the Bonnet/Hood issue, I have been closing it by firmly pressing in the center near the mini emblem.

Gnatster, thanks for the tip "Have upper front strut braces? That might be the issue. sprinkle a little powder on the top of the brack, close bonnet. Open bonnet, look on under bonnet padding for powder."

I have a racing dynamics strut brace that I'm going to check out, Now that you mention it, I did adjust it a little while back and that may be the cause.

Kapps, I believe it's catching, I've tried multiple times to close the bonnet completely. Even when it's closed I press down and it feels like something might be in the way. I.E. Strut Brace.

Thanks to the serious responders!

If it is closing all the way (latching completely) , but there is still a gap, you may just have to align the bumper. That is what I've read here. My gap is bigger on the drivers side. My MA saw that and opened the hood and closed it harder. That didn't do anything. I haven't gotten around to adjusting it (since it is not that far off), but apparently there are 2 screws on each side that position the bumper. There was one thread I was following where a guy was going to post a picture of the adjustment screws, but he never did.

Midnight Coop- Batgirl's response was a joke-hence the emoticons. I see your pretty new here so maybe you're not used to us but we joke around with eachother and overall it's a easy going, friendly place, please try to keep it that way(it's much more fun that just boring serious answers too).:thumbsup:

I understand....
 

I just didn't find it to be that funny since I was looking for an answer.
I might not post that often, but I've been reading the feeds for a while.
Anyway, thanks for the info.

Left hood latch now working
 

I know this is VERY old thread, but since it was one of the first links in my search I thought I would put in my 2 cents here in 2025. I had a similar issue, and I thought it might be the cable had stretched, but after moving it a few times under the hood by grabbing the end of the cable with pliers, and then spraying some lubricant on the rusty cable until the rust washed away, then up the cable cover, it started to move freely and the hood will now latch. Sorry for the run-on sentence!

@fer9uson I can second that, recently went through the same thing. One of the easiest fixes!

@fer9uson thank you for this.. it looks like i should be performing some proactive maintenance!

I know this is an old thread but I had the exact same issue with the driver side of my bonnet/hood. I loosened then moved the latch on the driver side up a little bit and it works like a charm.

Apparently this (driver side hood not latching/gap) is not as uncommon as it might seem with these 1st gens.
Walking up to my 04 R53 one day, I noticed a 1/4 gap between the driver side hood and the front bumper.
After a few minutes of exploring what might be the issue - I had come to realize that some careless jerk had backed into my front bumper on the driver side. No real cosmetic or physical damage but enough to cause misalignment to the front bumper. The hood latched just fine.
I just had to adjust/raise the bumper a bit to close the gap.

All was well but I was still vigilant to find the jerk (co-worker?) that may have hit my car in the first place :mad: