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I need to paint a fender onl. Help!

1K views 6 replies 4 participants last post by  Riot Racing 
#1 ·
I need to paint the driver side front fender.
I picked up a new fender that is in mint condition, but it is the wrong color.
My question regards to matching the paint color and blending.
If i take my entire fender into a paint supply shop and ask them to match the paint. Do you think they can get it dead on?

Will i be able to simply paint my fender and bolt it on?
most body shops were telling me, if they did the work: they would paint the front fender, bumper and hood to make sure all the paint blended nicely. Is this really needed?

Obviously i don't want it to be noticeable that i had the fender replaced. What are some pointers?
 
#2 ·
In my experience the paint shop's scanner will give you a pretty good match but you will be able to tell a difference if you just paint the fender. If your good at blending(have a nice spray gun) and have a very clean temperature controlled environment It shouldn't be much trouble to properly prep the car, blend the paint in, and clear the adjacent panels / use blending agent.

If you don't do much painting your probably better off just fitting and painting the fender. Then if that turns out good but you still don't like the color match you can back mask the fender and fade in the surrounding panels....

Don't forget to clean! clean! clean! wax remover! and mask anything you don't want over spray on

vehicle's color, make, model, year????????
 
#3 ·
Vehicle is a 1997, BMW, m3, color is Estoril blue.

My paint gun is probably not the best for doing something so precise. Maybe i can find a body shop that would cut me a break on pricing since i already have the fender. I could primer it myself couldn't I?
 
#4 · (Edited)
Something that might work is to take the fender to a shop. that is willing and let them paint the jamb or inside edge.

Then, take the fender home and you fit it to the car. Then take the car back and have them finish by painting the outside of the fender and blend into and down the door so it will have a chance to match...

The door on the car will need a blend ... period.

Funny thing is a lot of shops are in it to make money and helping you save money kinda offsets that taking the fun out of it at least for them. At this point you become a problem customer and most will find a way to be rid of you.

A new fender doesn't need primer. and if you put something on there they now would have to trust your prep etc scaring them even more.

My vote is to do the whole project completly if you do any..
 
#6 ·
As Milo pointed out, the fender needs to be "cut in" before installation. Being a BMW, unless there has been structural damage, it is very unlikely that there will be any "fitting" needed. On the other hand, the chances of not needing to blend to get a good enough match, are slim to none.

I would either do it all, or take the car and fender to a shop and let them do it all.

Aaron
 
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