Rear bumper TSB disaster

Thanks for all the support guys! I'm currently working with the dealer to resolve this and should have full details on what's going to happen tomorrow.

Scoobs said:

Most of the '18 350s that I've seen delivered to my local dealer have very tight and solid rear quarter panel/rear bumper gaps. My '17 isn't that bad so I'm having a hard time justifying handing it over to the dealer for surgery.

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Which would make sense given something was done to correct it during 18 production. Many 15 to 17 GT350s were also delivered without a bad gap only for it to develop over time. All three of my GT350s got worse over time.

Took mine in today to get the AC checked. I checked the AC on the drive in and of course it works today.

Also had the bumper TSB on the work order but I told them to delete it from the work order. I'll live with the small gap I have, and try to fix it myself if it gets worse, which it hasn't in almost 2 years.

Update:

I Spoke with the Body shop manager yesterday and he couldn't understand why the car never made it to his department. I have to meet with him on Tuesday to discuses how were going to fix this situation. Hopefully it will just be a paint less dent repair.

The body shop manager has a history of restoring old Shelby's and owns multiple Shelby cars. He seems very knowledgeable and was much more understand of the situation than the previous people I spoke to.

Second Update:

The body shop manager for the dealer group is the real MVP and also Shelby enthusiast as well! (Owns a 2008 GT500.) The dents were able to be fixed with paintless dent repair in about 30 minutes.

He's also ordering another TSB kit so in about two weeks we'll try and get this bumper lined up again.

Glad to hear you found someone who seems to care and be competent at the same time. Will be interesting to see how it turns out in the end.

I am sorry to ask (embarrassed) but what is "TSB"?

This is mine, which has 5 miles. Is this even worse then normal? I will assume not, based on all this

GT30fan said:

I am sorry to ask (embarrassed) but what is "TSB"?

This is mine, which has 5 miles. Is this even worse then normal? I will assume not, based on all this

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TSB is Technical Service Bulletin. I cannot say what is typical but for what is essentially a new car it looks like a large and uneven gap. My car is over 2 1/2 years old and my gaps are less than that. I’m sure others will have additional points of view.

Man, I hate reading things like this! ...but this is exactly the reason why I wont go in to get the Bumper TSB performed. I don't trust these tech's performing body work on my car, even if I was there watching.

I made an attempt to go in an see if they would give me the $650 bumper fix kit under warranty, but they weren't having it. They said their techs have to perform the work, so I kindly said no thank you and walked. I removed the rear bumper myself and reinstalled.....it helped and removed the gap, but 6 months later a small gap reappeared. I'll have to re-adjust every year I suppose.

If this has been happening for a little bit now, shouldn't the newer cars have had the issue addressed? In other words, if there is a "fix", wouldn't they just leave the factory with the fix implemented? If that's the case, maybe mine was hit (?)

GT30fan said:

If this has been happening for a little bit now, shouldn't the newer cars have had the issue addressed? In other words, if there is a "fix", wouldn't they just leave the factory with the fix implemented? If that's the case, maybe mine was hit (?)

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My 2018 already had the TSB changes from the factory but it was a late 2018. I believe the TSB only applies to years prior to and including early 2018. My 2019 does not appear to have any issues other than the standard Mustang lack of fit and finish.

Yours does not look good, I would ask the dealer to look at it. They will first validate it was not due to an accident but should resolve it if not.

My 2019 looks like dogshit as well... but I'm afraid taking it in will only make matters worse.

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/bumper-gap-fixed.108685/#post-2582878

Forget the TSB and dealers. This is slick, works well, and fairly easy DIY fix.

Anyone else willing to share pics?

Before:

After:

As you can see there’s no real difference, maybe slightly worse. On the plus side it hasn’t gotten any worse since the TSB work was done. At some point I’m going to do the method that was a linked above.