Panel Gaps on new Ducato

[Nigel L]

Collected our new Van yesterday, hence it hasn’t stopped raining since
Anyway, we are thrilled to bits with it, but upon looking round it in more detail when we got home, couldn’t help but notice that the panel gaps/ shut lines, whatever you call them, don’t seem to be anywhere near as good as on the van we traded in (17 plate Ducato).
Primarily the two front cab doors. They both shut absolutely fine, no wind noise whilst travelling, but it just surprised me a little as to the, what seems like they are a little out of line.
I have attached a couple of pics.
No big problem, but just wondered if it’s just my vehicle, or whether this is the standard of the new van that Fiat are sending out.

 

[gus-lopez]

It appears that the whole door is too high. For me ,once noticed it drives me mad.
I have just found one side of my bonnet is slightly out to the other & it is annoying me even though it looks to be from manufacture.

I can't see the motorhome dealer wanting to alter what is a manufacturers problem on th base vehicle? Although they could get the Fiat dealer to sort it

 

[Carolyn and Kev]

As Gus has said.......Too high but also incorrectly spaced at the top too ?Seems to be slightly wider at the top than the bottom?

kev

 

[Stagman]

White is the worst colour to show up shut-lines, for any light colour they need to be near perfect
Whilst the Ducato is a commercial vehicle, I would have expected the doors to be a better fit
It comes down to quality-control at the factory, any idiot can fit a door but it takes care and a good eye to get them right across the whole cab area
It's not just getting the gaps parallel but getting them all to show the same gap width
John

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

If the doors are adjusted the decals won't line up.

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[Nigel L]

If the doors are adjusted the decals won't line up.

Yes, solve one problem, create another one
To be honest, as there is no wind noise, and gaps to let water in, and they shut very nicely, am not going to do anything about it.
Was just wondering as to wether it was just mine, or whether this is the case on all new Ducato’s leaving the factory.

 

[beachwomble]

The current shape has been in production since 2006. The stamping presses must be wearing out.

 

[peterc10]

Its a van designed for people who earn a living by putting 100,000 miles a year on it. They are usually too busy to be bothered with shut lines and anyway their eyes will be distracted by the scratches, dents and bumps it picks up in use.

 

[dipsie]

Hi Nigel L,
We have a 2018 V Line 635 SE and after reading about the misalignment of your doors I’v just been and looked at ours, as being a fussy sod I had not noticed anything amiss on ours.

Well I am pleased to say our’s all line up nicely. I would think a trip to your local Fiat dealership should be your next thing and ask them “ nicely ) if they can rehang the doors in their correct positions. Then go see your supplying dealer and get some new graphics.

It would really annoy me that every time I looked at my camper I would be automatically look at that gap, I just could not hack it.

BernieT

 

[rosalan]

Quality control I believe. As your van may be new and you cannot have created the misalignment yourself, I think your dealer could realign the door and if the decals are then out of line, the habitation people who also did not spot the problem, could supply relevant decals.

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[PeteH]

If you think that is bad. Try getting the shut-lines and gaps anywhere near on a 50 year old car?. Can drive you potty!.

 

[Sapper520]

Another thing to look for when we pick ours up in September.

 

[Kai Morrison]

Yes, solve one problem, create another one
To be honest, as there is no wind noise, and gaps to let water in, and they shut very nicely, am not going to do anything about it.
Was just wondering as to wether it was just mine, or whether this is the case on all new Ducato’s leaving the factory.

It’s a new van, I wouldn’t settle for it. Think about when you look to sell it on....a prospective buyer may be put off by thinking it’s had a front end accident and repair.

 

[Augusta08]

It appears that the whole door is too high. For me ,once noticed it drives me mad.
I have just found one side of my bonnet is slightly out to the other & it is annoying me even though it looks to be from manufacture.

I can't see the motorhome dealer wanting to alter what is a manufacturers problem on th base vehicle? Although they could get the Fiat dealer to sort it

I had the same issue just after my windscreen was replaced. The oiks took the bonnet off to prevent damage, but couldn't replace it correctly..

 

[Yorkshire Puds]

Collected our new Van yesterday, hence it hasn’t stopped raining since
Anyway, we are thrilled to bits with it, but upon looking round it in more detail when we got home, couldn’t help but notice that the panel gaps/ shut lines, whatever you call them, don’t seem to be anywhere near as good as on the van we traded in (17 plate Ducato).
Primarily the two front cab doors. They both shut absolutely fine, no wind noise whilst travelling, but it just surprised me a little as to the, what seems like they are a little out of line.
I have attached a couple of pics.
No big problem, but just wondered if it’s just my vehicle, or whether this is the standard of the new van that Fiat are sending out.View attachment 397081View attachment 397082View attachment 397083

To put your mind at ease, this is totally normal . As you say, no water ingress or road noise, so nothing to worry about.

I’ve been looking at a few new Ducato’s that are up for sale and in every picture it’s the same.
It does look high, but if you look at the gap at the very to and bottom of the door, it’s equal.

Here is a picture of my brand new 711 that I’m due to collect. It’s exactly the same, so please don’t panic, just enjoy with the weight off.

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[Yorkshire Puds]

2020 Ducato Door, same both sides

 

[Landy Andy]

Maybe they are forward planning.

The clever chaps have worked out that eventually the door will drop, so have adjusted it in preparation for this, and as such saving them future work.

Very clever.

 

[Riverbankannie]

Is is just that you haven’t got any trim on your van. I have a gap too but the trim takes up some of it and the gap not so noticeable because it’s in the black trim.

 

[SpeedyDux]

Absent wind noise or leaks, it is merely cosmetic.

Mine has slightly uneven gaps so this seems to be how they are made. More attention to panel gaps could add to the factory price before it gets to the converter. I doubt if it affects the resale value, if uneven panel gaps are a common feature. After all you are buying a builder's van base vehicle not a luxury car so your expectations should adjust accordingly.

 

[pagey]

its a fiat mines the same

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[ontheroadagain]

Mine are good (Peugeot Boxer) - I guess it is "the luck of the draw"

 

[Crazylegs]

I would tread carefully, I would very much doubt that there is anyone in a Fiat dealership with the skills needed to align doors as most don’t have in house body shops anymore. If you don’t have water ingress or wind noise I would let sleeping dogs lie.
I had water ingress around the door with a new Transit years ago, the grease monkeys in the Ford dealership tried to solve the problem without success, in fact they made it worse. If you really want it fixed insist the repair is done by a competent bodyshop.

 

[rosalan]

Watching programmes on TV on fitting new panels. There should be a gauge that checks the gaps when hand assembled. I wonder if Fiats are entirely assembled and welded in place by robots?

 

[poppycamper]

If it was Bently or RR who built cab then yes I would query... BUT it is, at the end of the day a commercial van so chill and be happy it don't leak or have have wind noise
Njoy your van

 

[Paul and Val]

If it was Bently or RR who built cab then yes I would query... BUT it is, at the end of the day a commercial van so chill and be happy it don't leak or have have wind noise
Njoy your van

Hang on a second. This camping car cost 40 or 50 thousand Pounds. I think the buyer has a good reason to complain.

On my 2019 Ford Chausson the drivers door was a fraction too low. No problem but I mentioned it to the Ford mechanic when I took it for its service. The return was delayed by a day and a half as they replaced the entire door AND managed to get Chausson logos and fitted them correctly at the same time.

I was very, very impressed. They also replaced two blown rear bulbs in the service and did not charge me as while they are not officially covered "they should not have blown in such a short time". I am now a Ford customer for life and when we change our Citroen workhorse that we use for our restaurant supplies will buy a Ford. The service was superb.

We all part judge vehicles by how they look and the pictures supplied by the poster are dreadful. It would drive me mad and he should complain.

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[peterc10]

Hang on a second. This camping car cost 40 or 50 thousand Pounds. I think the buyer has a good reason to complain.

On my 2019 Ford Chausson the drivers door was a fraction too low. No problem but I mentioned it to the Ford mechanic when I took it for its service. The return was delayed by a day and a half as they replaced the entire door AND managed to get Chausson logos and fitted them correctly at the same time.

I was very, very impressed. They also replaced two blown rear bulbs in the service and did not charge me as while they are not officially covered "they should not have blown in such a short time". I am now a Ford customer for life and when we change our Citroen workhorse that we use for our restaurant supplies will buy a Ford. The service was superb.

We all part judge vehicles by how they look and the pictures supplied by the poster are dreadful. It would drive me mad and he should complain.

But you have missed a couple of important points. The first is that the thing that is being complained about is a cheap commercial base vehicle that cost less than half of that figure when it was sold by the manufacturer. As always the main costs are in the conversion. So think of the cost of that Citroen workhorse rather than a motorhome. And secondly, unfortunately, £40k or £50k is very much at the low end of the price range for new motorhomes, so the comparison with a RR or Bentley is not the one that should be made when looking at the price and quality point. Now if this was on a £150k A class where the converter had constructed the body, the comparison may have been nearer. It would definitely have been spot on with a £250k Morelo or Concorde

Many years ago there was a saying about wanting a Rolls Royce for a Mini's money. Not necessarily the correct analogy today with the price BMW charge for their new Mini. But the point is still correct in principal. I suspect you were very very lucky with your Ford dealer and you should hang on to him as long as he stays in business.

 

[Sapper520]

I’m spending ‘lower end’ £40k to £50k, which is part of my life time of working money. If it isn’t up to my standard I’m not signing for it! Not my problem the doors don’t line up, it’s theirs.

This is a one off purchase for us......our RR purchase.

 

[Ian Bosman]

I once had to replace the drivers door on my Peugeot 206 with an old one of the correct colour. The way it fitted there was no adjustment, as the hinges lined up on a dowel and all you had to do was fasten the bolts and it fitted spot on, so perhaps the jigging at the factory needed a bit of seeing to

 

[Coolcats]

Collected our new Van yesterday, hence it hasn’t stopped raining since
Anyway, we are thrilled to bits with it, but upon looking round it in more detail when we got home, couldn’t help but notice that the panel gaps/ shut lines, whatever you call them, don’t seem to be anywhere near as good as on the van we traded in (17 plate Ducato).
Primarily the two front cab doors. They both shut absolutely fine, no wind noise whilst travelling, but it just surprised me a little as to the, what seems like they are a little out of line.
I have attached a couple of pics.
No big problem, but just wondered if it’s just my vehicle, or whether this is the standard of the new van that Fiat are sending out.View attachment 397081View attachment 397082View attachment 397083

I meant to post before, if you have it sorted than that's great, if you have not then register the camper with Fiat. You could then contact Fiat customer services directly about the misaligned panels. Your dealer should have mentioned you can take out extended warranty on the Fiat for year 3 to 5 if they have not done this and its something you would like speak with the Fiat customer services as quickly as possible.

 

[gus-lopez]

To put your mind at ease, this is totally normal . As you say, no water ingress or road noise, so nothing to worry about.

I’ve been looking at a few new Ducato’s that are up for sale and in every picture it’s the same.
It does look high, but if you look at the gap at the very to and bottom of the door, it’s equal.

Here is a picture of my brand new 711 that I’m due to collect. It’s exactly the same, so please don’t panic, just enjoy with the weight off.

It isn't normal.They may wish you to think it but it isn't acceptable. The gaps are bad enough if that was the only problem but the fact that the swage lines do not line up means A) I wouldn't accept it & even second hand I'd walk away.

The first is that the thing that is being complained about is a cheap commercial base vehicle that cost less than half of that figure when it was sold by the manufacturer.

& it isn't acceptable even as a van. They are meant to line up. They don't .
It isn't even acceptable if you were being given it for nothing.

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