Front fender replacement

B

BennyHill

Member
Hi everyone
An elderly neighbour has reversed into my z4 coupe.
I had a body shop look at it but best they could offer was a 95% repair as the dents are on the sharp lines of the fender.
Neighbour doesn't want to go through insurance & isn't in the best of health.

I'm in Essex, UK & the damage is on the drivers side(right) thinks its classed as the offside?

I'm trying to source an undamaged replacement. Ideally in sapphire black & the body shop will do the rest to get it looking 100%
I bought the motor as I love her to bits & intended in keeping her long-term but I'm not that motor savvy.

It's not been easy finding a replacement, apparently bmw stopped making them.
There's a few online from breakers but my local body shop mentioned a lot of them being full of rust, already repaired or with similar damage.
There's a couple that look suitable but they're nearly £600 in postage alone
It'll be on me to source the oart and the body shop will do the rest. Im not feeling that confident & don't want to end up with a wrong or dodgy part that needs returned with all the postage involved

Apologies for the length of that but can anyone offer advice?

Do the front fenders from the 2.0-3.0 roadsters/convertables match the 3.0si coupe? Design, length?

Is there anything I should be looking out for?
Does anyone know anyone locally thats worth a shout?

Hopefully you're all well & it'd be nice if anyone could help out with some advice
All the best
 
Assuming you mean the front bumper or, more correctly, the front bumper cover; the pre-facelift (round fog lights) bumper is interchangeable between all pre-facelift models, whereas the post-facelift (rectangular fog lights) bumper is interchangeable between all the post-facelift models including the Coupe 3.0Si but excluding the “M”.

Note the bumper will have holes drilled if the headlight cleaning system is specified although a body shop will be able to do this retrospectively if it doesn’t have them, or you can plug the holes with the specified covers or get them filled if you don’t want them.

There is also a rare OEM “aero” version of the bumper and probably some after market ones as well, but the vast majority on sale will be regular pre- or post- facelift versions.
 
It shouldn't be up to your neighbour to decide whether it should or shouldn't go through insurance, even if they are in poor health and especially if they admitted liability for any damage.
Your insurance company would (should) make sure the repair is done 100% to your satisfaction.
Sounds like you're bending over to accommodate this person unecessarily.
 
Not wishing to sound too awful but supposing your neighbour gets worse and dies before the work and payment has been completed. Will his relations or his estate be willing to stand by his commitment? I personally would not be willing to risk it. Some years ago my wife's father reversed into our car and didn't want to go through the insurance and had a chap other the road from him to do the work, needless to say it was a crap job and the ensuing arguments caused a massive rift between us. He passed away a while ago but I have never forgiven him.
You are trying to be nice to the guy but it is your car, he has wrecked, he sorts it out with his insurance. End of.
 
Zedebee said:
Chris_D said:
Sounds like you're bending over to accommodate this person unecessarily.
Click to expand...

That’s a bit harsh. Some people are more considerate than others? :tumbleweed:
Click to expand...
What's consideration got to do with anything when you're talking about trying to find unobtanium parts, huge inconvenience, plus additional risks of bad workmanship and potential non-payment...all caused by someone else?
I see it the other way around; If the neighbour was 'considerate' he'd be whipping out his insurance policy and filling in the forms without any questions or arguments!
 
No argument from me Chris, it’s just that the OP was asking advice on how to repair his car, not whether he should go round the old boy’s house with a five iron.
 
Zedebee said:
No argument from me Chris, it’s just that the OP was asking advice on how to repair his car, not whether he should go round the old boy’s house with a five iron.
Click to expand...
:rofl:

Of course its the op's call but if it was my situation I don't care if they had 2 weeks left to live, I'd make it abundantly clear that they were shuffling off having done the right/decent thing. :evil: :o :lol:

But that's just me.
Yeah, I can feel the hackles from the Bingo handbag swingers of the forum a hackling right from where I'm sitting!
:P
 
Hey, if the neighbour isn't in the best of health he may soon have his licence taken away anyway. In which NCD is of no interest to him, so you may as well claim. :rofl:
 
Also if the neighbour is that ill he'll be shuffling of his mortal coil soon anyway so you wont need to feel bad for very long. Yes I know that sounds bad, but as was said above if the neighbour had any consideration for crapping up your car he would do everything in HIS power to to sort it out.
 
BennyHill said:
Do the front fenders from the 2.0-3.0 roadsters/convertables match the 3.0si coupe? Design, length?
Click to expand...
The front fenders (wings) are the same. Black Sapphire is a common colour too, so getting one in the right colour shouldn't be problematic, but as the car is going into a bodyshop, then any colour will do :)

Have you put a wanted ad on the forum's marketplace?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom