MGZT misfit facia?

[mileshawk56]

My 2004- MGZT 180 in black pearl has a misfit between the front passenger airbag cover fascia panel and the drivers fascia panel. The top edge of the drivers is about 5mm out(towards the inside of the car). I have removed the passenger fascia panel and all looks to fit as it should. I have peered into the drivers fascia where it meets but cant see anything askew or not engaged. Can anyone help me as to what might be the trouble? Ive looked at R-ve and Haynes but they are not helpful. Thanks for your time. Chris S.

[kelvo]

If it's a 2004 car then it's likely to have the plastic dash, which is rather cheap and a poor fit at times, and it's probably in that dull technical grey finish.

I changed mine for an earlier metal backed one, having painted it, which is a better fit, you could also fit the wooden dash from the early 75s

[LeRich]

Sounds like the main dash isn't sitting correctly. The dash panel 'hooks' around the main dash moulding along the top then is held in by sprung clips along the bottom.

You might find a well-judged smack gets it sitting correctly but your better bet is to remove the panel and refit, as the later plastic dashed are pretty flimsy. A plastic trim tool will be your friend.

[jonc3725]

Are you talking about the rhodium dash panels?

If so I have seen this before. It could be a mixture of the cheaper plastic and the more expensive metal backed panels. There is a difference in the thickness between early and later panels.

The only reason I know this is I have a spare set of rhodium panels and for whatever reason I got them mixed up. I had the same issue until I realised what I had done.

This was my issue anyway