the invention relates to a method and a device for adjusting the gap dimensions and / or an offset between a movable hood of a motor vehicle and the remaining body of said motor vehicle . the hood is first fitted and retained in a roughly adjusted assembly position so as to be as flush as possible with the body , whereupon the hood is finely adjusted such that predefined values are matched as closely as possible for the gap dimensions and / or the offset . in order to be able to adjust the gap dimensions and / or the offset as simply , quickly and flexibly as possible in a contactless manner , actual values for the gap dimensions and / or the offset between the hood and the remaining body are optically detected for the fine adjustment . triggering signals for at least one actuating member are determined in accordance with the detected actual values and predefined set point values for the gap dimensions and / or the offset .