Hello! Brand new here and new owner of an excellent 2001 e320.
I've tried searching and found bits and pieces but nothing really definitive so I thought I'd ask.
Both front fenders need to be replaced due to rust and a body shop told me that the headlight assemblies and front bumper had to be removed in order to do so.
Can anyone tell me if this is accurate info?
Also, I have found bumper removal posts and instructions and it looks pretty simple....
So my question basically is- Has anyone replaced their fenders and have some tips?
Or is it more of a 'dive in and go' kind of job?
I'm also worried about the bottom trim- is that glued on there or what?
Thanks in advance and any help will be much appreciated.

The best tip I can give you is go to your local yard that lets you pull parts on your own, and try removing a fender, or bumper, etc.. I'm fortunate to have a good Picknpull yard in Central Ohio. I don't know what you have in your area, but examples of other yards I've visited are: 1.) In northeast Ohio they have Pullapart yards; and 2.) in southwest Ohio has LKQ yards. I'm also lucky to have a friend who is a one man body shop that helps me. I'm re-doing a W124 model with his help, and he went with me as my paid consultant to help me pull a door, fender, & hood for my project. I took pictures of what we did and he made the comment about the best way to learn to repair these cars is to come to one of these yards and try your hand at pulling parts. I found the pictures to be helpful because later we decided to do the other door and fender and I was able to pull those parts myself. So head to a yard where you can practice pulling the parts or take someone with you who is knowledgable or hopefully you'll be lucky like I was and have both. BTW, where is Brookfield, NS?

I replaced the front right fender on my W210. I definitely pulled the headlight assembly to do it. I'm positive that I pulled the bumper also, but I can't remember whether I had to, or if I only did it to do some grinding, filling and painting on the part of the left fender underneath the headlight.

Removing bumpers is easier than you'd think. But I recall having some problem disconnecting a wire (to the temperature sensor?) which resulted in me leaving the bumper on the floor right beneath where I was working.

My right fender was rusted away at the heel (spot between the wheel and front door). I think there were two bolts there, and the threaded steel holes behind the fender that they attached to were rusted away. I was going to tap a new hole to thread into, but I wound up trading the car before I got to it.

You have to disconnect the parking lights before you remove the bumper - you sort of force your way betweeen the fender liner and bumper, then reach in and squeeze a plastic clip that lets the light assembly pop out.

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1996 C280 289K Traded
1997 E420 167K Traded
2001 S430 240K Traded
2010 E550 4matic 80K
2000 GMC Jimmy 198K Gone to Boneyard
2003 Camry LE 196K
2011 Mazda3 i Sport 31K

On my 2002 E430 - I just replaced the fender a few weeks ago.

You do have to remove the bumper
DIY: How to remove front bumper (W210) - MBWorld.org Forums

I did not need to remove the headlight; it was obvious that it wasn't in the way.

The side skirts do need to come off to access the 2 bolts that are concealed behind them. Remove the screws along the bottom of the car; then it will pop off with a little prying (there are circular/cylindrical clips that hold it in just below the black strip).

There's a bolt that's hidden in the door frame (open the door and you'll see it).

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Daily Driver: 02 E430 4MATIC
In the family: '03 E500 // '04 ML500 // 64 220SE

I live perhaps 90 miles from you. If you have not already. Get the car up on a hoist and check for chassis rust. Yours may be fine but if the car is local you have to look. Mercedes driven year round usually do not wear out locally. Instead they rust out.

No pick and pull yards locally that I have been made aware of. You might throw a free add on kijiji asking for some as well.

Local rust free fenders may be scarce. You are pretty close to the auto wreckers that serve the Halifax market so you may have a good chance though.


I have even had used rust free fenders shipped in from the southern states for 123s. There may be cheap aftermarket fenders available for your model but if so usually they are not as good as the originals on the 123s anyways. .