[tribeca600]

Guys, need some help here! I was a dumbass and hit the right side of my truck against a concrete wall when backing out of a parking space :frown::surprise:

https://i.imgur.com/9w5If34.png

https://i.imgur.com/rgvxDNV.png

Anyways, my truck is almost 14 years old, '04 4cyl/5spd/XE so does not make much sense to spend big bucks getting it fixed. Trying to go through my options here. For the moment I will remove the panel and try to bang it back into shape. However, i'm investigating getting a panel from ebay such as the following and having it painted cheaply at a Maaco:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Fender-For...ash=item35caa1e8ff:g:TOcAAOSwhQhY6xks&vxp=mtr

What are your thoughts on the above? I don't care too much if the aftermarket is of thinner steel but more concerned if it does not fit properly. Alternatively I can also source a part from a junkyard, I found a match about an hour from me for $100 but it's a different color code so will have to be repainted.

I have some damage to the headlight mount points as they snapped off but I can drill some holes and tie that up since it's not a visible area. Thankfully, no damage to the fender mount points (i.e. the inner panel that the fender bolts onto), damage to the bumper and flare I can live with those scratches will just buff out as much as I can.

 

[Zedbra]

For $90 - I wouldn't be banging it out.

 

[17 Fronty]

I would buy the replacement


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[smj999smj]

I would try Car-part.com and see if I could find a used fender the same color, first.

 

[Sabretooth]

So it's a 14yr old pickup it runs good and it's paid for right just go buy the replacement or get the scrap yard one and spend a sat afternoon installing it youd be happier with the results. With that crease your looking at hrs upon hrs of drilling holes to slide hammer to try and pull it out or like you said hitting out it out from the other side without succeeding to any type of flat level surface that resembles the body lines so then you would be filling it full of bondo that's only gonna looked jacked up and you would never be remotely happy with it

You know if you still have the plastic mounts that broke off the light instead of ziping it just use a soldering iron and some of those zip ties when I've done it to other things just heat till melting to combine the 2 materials take a few passes Ive used it to repair gas tanks plastic clips cracked trim peices cracked cabinet of one of those old boom boxes yeah I still have one it works perfect just don't breathe it and that way you can put it back together and it wont shake from bumps plus it'll be sealed. If you wanna take a look there are some you tube videos on how just check plastic welding I call it the poor mans plastic repair lol

 

[The other Sean]

I'd prefer the used OEM one over an aftermarket one. better quality and many times some of the trim and clips are still attached as well as possibly the flair. But, factor in the age of the truck and the cost difference between the two would also play in on my choice.

Also, be aware the color of your truck's paint will not be easy to match on the cheap.

 

[Dark Night 18]

I agree with everyone else. Just buy the salvage yard part. Although I would try to get a better price. $100 is a bit pricey on a used fender for a 14 yr old vehicle.
Good luck

 

[The other Sean]

Also, check on shipping costs from the JY that has the part. Many offer a flat rate shipping charge and or are more than happy to ship parts.

Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market is a great resource.

 

[tribeca600]

I agree with everyone else. Just buy the salvage yard part. Although I would try to get a better price. $100 is a bit pricey on a used fender for a 14 yr old vehicle.
Good luck

Yeah, it's a bit challenging as some Junkyards are asking an arm and a leg for the part, $175-250 plus $100 for shipping, that is insane. Looks like I may have to find a local part. Finding the right color is tricky.

Also, check on shipping costs from the JY that has the part. Many offer a flat rate shipping charge and or are more than happy to ship parts.

Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market is a great resource.

One JY said $100 for shipping from Seattle to Southern California which I thought was crazy... I thought it would be $30-40 by Ground.

 

[The other Sean]

That's probably just a put it on a skid and LTL shipping price. I paid $150 to have a front differential shipped from the north east to MN.

While a hundred bucks + shipping seems like lots of money, I suggest you take you truck in to a body shop to find out what they would charge to replace and color match the fender. $200 for a fender and a few bucks to have macco get it close enough is going to be money well spent.

 

[tribeca600]

That's probably just a put it on a skid and LTL shipping price. I paid $150 to have a front differential shipped from the north east to MN.

While a hundred bucks + shipping seems like lots of money, I suggest you take you truck in to a body shop to find out what they would charge to replace and color match the fender. $200 for a fender and a few bucks to have macco get it close enough is going to be money well spent.

I did get a few quotes - one shop quoted me $1,900, another shop quoted me $2,400 :surprise:

I'm having a hard time understanding how they arrived at these figures but that is what they said.

 

[The other Sean]

Materials, labor. That probably includes a new headlight housing as well. In order to match the paint, they are going to have to blend out on to the door, the hood and the bumper cover. That color is tricky to match. Quality paint and materials aren't cheap.

 

[tribeca600]

yeah, that did not make any sense to me as the cost to fix the fender is almost what the vehicle is worth LOL! The Edmunds TMV on the car comes to around $2500-3000 private sale.

If I buy the primered aftermarket from ebay and paint it at Maaco I hope it will match close enough that you would not be able to tell from a distance, I don't require a perfect match, just close enough!

 

[Sabretooth]

The bad thing is finding clean front stuff it does take looking I don't know the percentage but of vehicles in a wrecker yard it's probably 75% or better front end collision but oem is better you know there are few different grades of aftermarket parts I would always try to get CAPA one as you usually wont have any fitment problems.
And that price is all list cost an book rate and little unforeseens that pop up screws bolts clips but there is a lot of prep and finishing that goes into it plus warranty work their overhead and waste I wouldn't wanna own my own shop.
I know it's funny they came up with that number but it isn't unrealistic I really think you came up with the best plan have you checked craigs or 5mile for someone parting one out that still has a front end you can also see if someone does side work painting panels off there too.

 

[tribeca600]

I called Maaco and they charge $300 just for the Fender and minimal blending I guess. I am guessing any new paint is going to contrast with the old paint. Fortunately the old paint has fairly good luster, not terribly faded. Objective is to get it reasonably decent looking (not look like I am driving a half destroyed car LMAO!) and secondly to make sure no rain seeps into the headlight area.

I found a shop willing to paint it for $100, he said it would be close match but obviously not perfect as for that price it's just painting the part off the vehicle and no blending.

I am looking at this link that lists CAPA certified parts and there are many different variations of the front fender, which one is a match?

http://www.nationalautobody.com/catalognab/index.php?cPath=2258_2281_3792

 

[Ryno_7]

Get used parts and install them yourself. Decide later if it's worth getting a paint blend done, done right you'll never know it was painted. Just because it's old doesn't mean it isn't worth fixing.

 

[whistler]

You can paint it yourself. Many companies provide coded paint in spray cans.
I used a company called "Automotive Touch Up".
Comes with primer,coded top coat and clear coat.
I have good spray guns but this is a lot less hassle.

 

[tribeca600]

I ordered a prepainted part from ebay for around $220, looks good according to the reviews, will report back on how it goes...

Now, I needed some advice on how to remove the fender... I located the 10mm screws under the hood and by the door hinges, is there another one under the trim piece near the antenna? Does that trim piece just pry up?

 

[tribeca600]

Guys, the part from ebay just arrived yesterday, going to mount it coming weekend I think the paint match is fairly close, pretty happy. I may have to bang the headlight housing out a bit as well but that can be managed.

I've removed this fender before but years ago - if you see the dent on the door and near the XE logo, I caused that about 10 years ago but did not bother to fix it, at that time I just banged it out. Don't quite remember all the screws that need to come off

Will update on how the installation goes! ::wink::

 

[c_irie]

This may be late in the game but another source for parts is the pick a part ...and they have a website and an app that you can see the location of the vehicle and set up alerts...they are a couple around southern California that may have frontiers and xterra that you can get parts from ...much much cheaper than the junk yards but you remove it yourself of course