I've noticed a gap in the trim piece shown in this photo (I circled it, sorta hard to see).....the gap is between the rubber trim piece and the inboard edge where it meets the body. I looked at a bunch of LR3s on the dealer's lot and some LR4s and the gap was fairly prominent and it seemed to only exist on the passenger side.

I don't think it's a big deal, but I'm curious if anyone knows what is under this trim piece? Is it a solid "chunk" of LR3 body? I ask because I'm concerned about water ingress and where any water might go once it gets behind that trim piece.

Thoughts?

 

Afaik, those rubber trim pieces are in place on most vehicles for wind noise or drag coefficient. They are normally inserted into the formed grooves in the sheet metal of the roof... probably held in place with rubber "nibs" that press down into holes that would seal them from water ingress.

 

You are probably right....(I know you are about the way they are held in place)...I'm just hoping someone on this forum has put eyeballs on that area and can verify.

 

I have peeled back that piece before. As EastCoast says above, it is just a thin piece of aluminum that covers a formed trench in the bodywork. No gaps in the actual roof panels itself, that black bit is simply a cover for aesthetics, held on by plastic snaps. It hides the bolt holes for attaching racks, you have to take that trim bit off anyway to drill holes into.

FWIW my passenger side is gapped larger than the drivers side. It won't contribute to leaks, the panel underneath is one piece, no seam under there. It is as you say a "solid chunk" of bodywork underneath.

 

Okay....that is good to know, and I thank you. My gap is small enough that I can ignore it, since it's only aesthetic. Thanks guys!!!

 

I should clarify that there is actually a weld seam there but I have never ever heard of a leak at all.

Here's what it looks like:

 

Thanks for providing that; I watched a similar video but it wasn't as clear as this one. I see the weld seam....so I have to conclude that the dark areas as pointed out in the attached photo are solid and don't provide a channel for water to go anywhere, right? If there is ingress it would have to be due to a failed weld (and even that would be minimal). Would you concur?

 

I concur. Normally the water would drain forward down the slope of the roof. Even if there was an issue with the seam and it did leak it should be easy to seal and minor. Nothing like windshield cowl or sunroof tray ingress