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Paintless dent repair might be able to help the fender dent above the headlamp. The headlamp will need to be replaced, or you can try to find a new lens and internals and fix it with an oven at home. You might want to go thorough insurnace and get it fixed properly. They are going to fix and repaint the fender, front bumper and buy you a new headlight (around 1K alone for the headlight).
I'm trying to minimize costs and fix is as good as possible.
I got estimate from 2 local body shops for fender only. Paintless dent repair will cost around $200, while replacing with painting is around $700-$900.
I would say it's a lot of money... for fender only.
So I began my research :
Headlight :
I figured out that I can buy headlight assembly online and replace it by myself. I'm pretty good with DIY stuff, I got tools, and possibly shop where I could lift my car. (I guess it would be easier to remove bumper)
Part number is : 33101-SEP-A22, and I found one on Amazon for $230. Description says that it's "official genuine" part.
I found page in service manual showing how to remove headlight (where screws are). Seems that bumper removal is also waiting for me.
Remove front bumper...
4 or 5 plastic screws under the hoood to remove the plastic
2 clips holding the bumper on the radiator support
1 screw (each fender well) holding bumper to fender
3 or 4 plastic clips + 1 screw holding the front of the fenderliner to the bumper
6-10 bolts/clips underneath the front bumper holding the bumper to the frame
Now remove the plastic trims under the hood over the fender bolts 4 or 5 plastic screws
Now remove the side skirt (front half only)
2 or 3 plastic clips under the car holding the side skirt to the frame
4 screws holding the fenderliner to the side skirt
Slide forward
now its time to remove the fender...
3-5 bolts holding the fender to the frame (under the hood)
1 bolt tucked under the rubber trim (far driver corner of the windshield)
1 bolt in the driver door jam
2 bolts holding the fender to the frame (area where the side skirt used to be)
1 bolt holding the fender to the headlight which holds it to the frame of the car.
Now dont just rip the fender off after that you still have to unclip the sidemarker..
Now reverse the process to install..hope this helps
So what you guys think about replacing body part like that ? I'm worried about uneven gaps (that this fender will not be 100% the same) and color difference (paint on my car is in relatively in good shape, but it was outside for 8 years).
If I go this way I can do whole thing during one day.
Don't be worried about uneven gaps...be worried about non matching paint.
Gaps are fixable.
buy the headlight, then take the headlight and entire car to a body shop to match the paint and do the fender repair, while they're at it, they can install the headlight.
Done.
fender replacement isn't hard, buy a used prepainted one so it'll match your car better than ebay painted ones. Car-part.com is great for looking for used parts.
I decided to not listen to you guys and risk buying fender on ebay. I contacted the guy and he agreed for a return if something would be wrong.
For the lamp I bought OEM one from Amazon for $100 (I think I was really lucky, only 3 were left) .
Replacing headlight was easy : remove bumper one one side and it's good to go. I switched balast and plastic covers on the back of the light.
Fender was the hardest part : one last screw was stuck, the one behind the door - the worst possible place ever. It was just easily rotating without any progress. I think the bolt on other side came loose and was rotating together with the screw.
I did cut the old fender off next to the stuck screw with air pneumatic hammer with sharp end (the best way I can describe this tool, no idea got it's called ). You can see remaining of the old fender is you zoom in this picture :
Then I used air grinder to cut out the top of the screw. "broken" nut with part of the screw were left in place, I was running out of the time. I put new fender on without any issues, except that it's not attached to the rest of the car in this place.
For future, I'm planning to drill out this hole and put sheet metal screw. It might be enough to keep in in place. The only issue is that "remainings " may fall inside this body panel and rumble on every pothole. I have no idea if I can reach it there. One possible solution is magnet and small hole covered with plastic cap on inside side of the fender (behind plastic cover). And I will need to remove door to reach it.
Panel color is pretty much perfect. Only issue is that my hood has also white particles. I believe it is dirt because back of the car is black with blue particles, exactly like fender. I can only see from small distance. From further away you can't tell fender was changed. Also gap between hood need to be fixed, but as I wrote I'm planning to fix screw and that eill be the day.
Couple photos :
Now I need to deep clean (remove old wax with help of dish soap) , try to claybar the hood to get rid of white particles, and wax the whole car.
For the lamp I bought OEM one from Amazon for $100 (I think I was really lucky, only 3 were left) .
Every so often Amazon has new OEM parts for cheap and with free shipping its even better. I got an OEM passenger foglight assembly last month for $70, last one and then went up to $290.
09-17-2016, 05:38 PM
