We had to have some roof panel body work done on our 2015 ES 350. Now, the joint where is the roof panel meets the side panel, on one side, is it regular, that is to say, the roof panel is about a quarter of an inch lower then the side panel where the two panels meet. My question is, would they have removed the roof panel to do this body work, and thereby not replaced the roof panel properly? Or would the roof panel be welded to the side panels, and thereby a problem even before the body work was done ? ( By side panels, I mean the panels that have the door openings in them.) Thanks for any help that you might be able to provide. Ned

 

Can you attach some photos so we can get a better idea of the issue?

 

Below, I hope, are two photos of the problem.

 

On my ES, the roof panel is a bit lower than the panel above the doors. But it is the same on both sides of the vehicle.

I suspect that the roof panel is lower for aerodynamic reasons. Also, it provides a channel for rain water to run through to minimize dripping from the roof into the vehicle if a window is open.

Also, I can't imagine that they would have removed the roof panel to do body work. The only circumstance for which I could imagine the panel being removed would be if the entire panel had to be replaced. And I could only imagine a need to do any welding would be if the original weld seam was damaged.

In any case, it should be the same on both sides.

 

I just checked my 2013 ES300h and it is about the same. I assume you are referring to the fact that the side frame is higher than the roof panel. I guess that helps prevent rain from the roof running down the door when you are getting into the car.