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Replacing driver side fender

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Marcus

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Has anyone replaced their driver side front fender? I have a nasty dent that someone left.
Theres a new oem fender on ebay for 94.50 free shipping. That must be certainly cheaper than having the dent fixed. I think I will get the new fender unless this cant be done in my garage with common tools.
 
#2 · (Edited)
I am in the same dilemma. But I think I will get the painted fender from EBay and install it myself. My concern is that the colour might not be a perfect match (although my light greyish colour is usually easy to match). For $235 including shipping and insurance, I think it is a deal. They also guarantee the fit. This is less that what my local Toyota collision will change in labour and material!

Painted Fender Left LH Driver Side Toyota Rav 4 2006 2008 | eBay

OEM fenders usually run 200+ unpainted. Are you sure the price was for the fender and not a liner or flare?

I am also thinking to take it to a bodyshop I used before to fiberglass the area and repaint the fender. I have not checked the cost but this guy did a great job 7 years ago on another car. He's cheap but quite a drive away.
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
vanib said:
I am in the same dilemma. But I think I will get the painted fender from EBay and install it myself. My concern is that the colour might not be a perfect match (although my light greyish colour is usually easy to match). For $235 including shipping and insurance, I think it is a deal. They also guarantee the fit. This is less that what my local Toyota collision will change in labour and material!

Painted Fender Left LH Driver Side Toyota Rav 4 2006 2008 | eBay

OEM fenders usually run 200+ unpainted. Are you sure the price was for the fender and not a liner or flare?

I am also thinking to take it to a bodyshop I used before to fiberglass the area and repaint the fender. I have not checked the cost but this buy did a great job 7 years ago on another car. He's cheap but quite a drive away.
Click to expand...
sorry I should have read it more carefully, its not oem 2006 2010 Toyota RAV4 Rav 4 Base Primed Fender Driver Side LH L Left 2007 2008 | eBay
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
vanib said:
I have been checking around the RAV and seems that it's only bolts, no weld. But until you actually take it off, it is just a guess.
Click to expand...
Yea it seems to be just bolts, but the black plastic thing on the inside of the fender is held on by special plastic fasteners, and it looks like the triangular black plastic piece on the upper right side of the fender where it meets with the door will have to come off in order to access 3 bolts. Now, how can I get these off without breaking them?
 
#8 ·
I checked. It's only bolts and they come out very easily. No impact gun needed.
You will have to take the bumper off first.

It is discussed in the next few posts after this one: http://www.rav4world.com/forums/97-...m/forums/97-4-3-exterior/93007-dent-pulling-expertise-needed-3.html#post1143673

It seems that we trying to do the same thing. Ideally you should also get the correct fasterners for the fender but that can be done.

Are you doing your replacement soon? I might be doing mine 2 months from now.
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
vanib said:
I checked. It's only bolts and they come out very easily. No impact gun needed.
You will have to take the bumper off first.

It is discussed in the next few posts after this one: http://www.rav4world.com/forums/97-...m/forums/97-4-3-exterior/93007-dent-pulling-expertise-needed-3.html#post1143673

It seems that we trying to do the same thing. Ideally you should also get the correct fasterners for the fender but that can be done.

Are you doing your replacement soon? I might be doing mine 2 months from now.
Click to expand...
The front bumper too? wow, this is looking like an all day job then. I found a parts diagram for the fender here: 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 Parts - Carson Toyota/Scion/Lexus Ultimate OEM Parts

Those parts are pricey, I should only need to buy those round plastic ones with the hole in the middle, I think its #10 on the diagram but at $4.13 a piece?

I'll have to plan this carefully, making sure I have all that I need before I start as this is my only car, and make room in the garage. Probably next month. I also need tires bad, but I'm trying to justify getting alloys to replace the steel stockers.
 
#10 ·
The fender liner retainer could potentially be removed from the back of the fender after removing the fender using this method: http://www.rav4world.com/forums/97-...97-4-3-exterior/113297-how-do-i-remove-plastic-clips-wheelwell.html#post1137489
I would reuse my cut retainers since the mudflap screws will do a good job holding the liners.

You could also get them for cheap on Ebay. I believe the part number is 90189-06065 (replaced by 90189-A0002).But what would I do with 25 of them ... for $5? :)

Your local dealer might have them for a $1 each. http://www.toyotapartszone.com/oem/90189-06065.html
 
#11 ·
So my dealer sells each 90189-06065 retainer for $2.00. I bought 25 on ebay for $6. May be the quality is not the same but I can't justify the 700% difference in price ... and that includes shipping from Hong Kong. I bet they are made for 5 cents each somewhere in China.
 
#12 ·
I have a choice between 2 painted fenders:
$198 gives me one which is air dried
$234 gives me one which is baked in an oven to dry

I know that the baked one is supposed to give a sturdier finish and allow me to install and drive it right away but I could order the air dried one and wait a few weeks before I install it.

Is the $36 premium worth it?
 
#13 ·
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#14 ·
So I ended up ordering the more expensive fender from D&H Auto from Ebay.
I had to call to give my Visa info though as I could not enter my "State" since they did not list my province.

I check the other sellers and they had a turn around of 3-4 weeks!!! For H&H, it is more like 3 days, to me this indicates that they are actually baking the fender.

BTW, they do not take Paypal.
 
#16 ·
Picking up my painted fender tomorrow from Ogdensburg, NY. Will need to take a 1 hr drive to the US/Canada border. I am really hoping that the paint is a close match.

Also if you order from D&H Auto website i.e. do not use Ebay, you save $10.
 
#18 ·
Marcus said:
The front bumper too? wow, this is looking like an all day job then. I found a parts diagram for the fender here: 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 Parts - Carson Toyota/Scion/Lexus Ultimate OEM Parts

Those parts are pricey, I should only need to buy those round plastic ones with the hole in the middle, I think its #10 on the diagram but at $4.13 a piece?

I'll have to plan this carefully, making sure I have all that I need before I start as this is my only car, and make room in the garage. Probably next month. I also need tires bad, but I'm trying to justify getting alloys to replace the steel stockers.
Click to expand...
Try Tirerack.com for the rims and tires. I got a great deal and only paid $100 each for some really great looking alloy wheels!.
 
#20 ·
So I went to pickup my fender at the US border today. Colour is a very close match but the finish has 2 or 3 minor nicks. I will let the D&H Auto know.
I don't plan to return it as it is a real hassle for me to drive back to Ogdensburg. I will have to check it again in bright day light. I guess I will have to live with the small defects. From what I saw tonight, they are barely visible but very harsh on the hands.

I was thinking that the paint would be smooth but I am obviously wrong. I don't want to sand the panel in case I screw up something. Should I at least claybar is to make it smoother or will claybar not take out tiny bumps in clearcoat? I have some 3000 grit sand paper, I could try this too.

On the other had, the safest thing to do is to just install and wax.
 

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vanib
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