what are everyones thoughts about after market fenders - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

mamali · #1 05-15-2010, 07:16 PM

They are reasonably cheap. Not sure to use aftermarket fenders or get used. Thanks

Aquaticedge · #2 05-15-2010, 07:23 PM

Personal Decision, if they look like what you want them to look like then go with the cheaper ones, Fwiw, the ones that come from the type of car will generally fit the car of the same type/make without cuttings drilling etc.

LUVMBDiesels · #3 05-16-2010, 06:53 AM

I have used them on cheap cars (Ford Escorts,etc) they are a lot of work to get to look right on the car (I am talking mallets and cutting!) and they do not last as long as OEM parts, one fender on that Escort only lasted a year before it started to rust!

If you can find the parts in the bone yard, get them there, if not MB still has body parts, they are more expensive, but the time saved might be worth it...

aklim · #4 05-16-2010, 08:49 AM

There is a reason why the body shop just loves to work with them vs the OEM stuff. I have personally seen it. A skilled body man can get it to look right but it is way more work.

Pili380SL · #5 05-16-2010, 09:16 AM

I put one on my Miata a few years ago. It wasn't 2 months before I couldn't take the ill fitting fender any longer. The lines weren't right, and even elongating the mounting holes didn't make it fit as well as OEM.

Wodnek · #6 05-16-2010, 10:41 AM

The 116 aftermarket fenders and wheel arches that I got from Sherman Auto Parts in Michigan fit excellent.

cmbdiesel · #7 05-17-2010, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mamali

They are reasonably cheap. Not sure to use aftermarket fenders or get used. Thanks

Depends on what you desire as a finished product. Are you planning on painting the car, or just going to try and match the fenders as well as you can? If your intent is a good looking, well painted repair, then I do not believe you will be happy with the aftermarket fenders. If you were working on a domestic auto, with the large gaps and shoddy fit that are inherent in their design, I would say go aftermarket. But on a Mercedes, with much more exacting tolerances, I feel that you will be dissappointed with the result. Look for good used fenders, they will look better and last longer. Try this site - www.car-part.com they have an excellent database of used parts suppliers. If you do go aftermarket, make sure to have the old fenders off, and test fit the new ones when you get them, you will likely have to go through a few before you get half decent looking parts. Keystone is about the best aftermarket part I've seen, don't even waste your time with Astro, and make sure that wherever you get them, that the part is CAPA certified.
Good luck

catmandoo62 · #8 05-17-2010, 08:40 AM

put some aftermarkets on my old chevy pickup.after about a week of cutting beating cussing,beer drinking said to hell with em.took em off and put used junkyard fenders on.took about 20 minutes to line up and done.aftermarkets are junk anyway you look at em.

Chad300tdt · #9 05-17-2010, 08:54 AM

I just finished a 300TD that I replaced the fenders on. I had one used OE fender and one "new" aftermarket fender. The OE fender took about 1/2 hour to fit to the car and the aftermarket fender took about 5.5 hours.

They both look better than the rusted out fenders that were there, but the aftermarket fender isn't perfect. The upper rear corner where it meets the "A Pillar" isn't shaped the same as the OE fender. It could have been reworked, but I was on a time and $$$ budget.

Here's the thread with pics:
Keeping another 123 on the road

Zeus · #10 05-17-2010, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mamali

They are reasonably cheap. Not sure to use aftermarket fenders or get used. Thanks

I installed aftermarket front fenders on my MIL's E320. They were made in Taiwan, came pre-primed. I painted them myself (got paint matched per the MB color code, used my airgun) and had them professionally clearcoated (clearcoat has cyanoacetates, you don't want to breathe that) for $50 each.

Took me about 3 hours to remove the old panels and install the new ones. Pretty easy overall.

As far as original vs. aftermarket, it simply depends on the application, IMO. If you are looking to restore a rare specimen in otherwise mint condition (unlikely if you are having panel issues), then get OEM. Otherwise, I would definitely vouch for aftermarket. Much cheaper. The fitment and quality on mine were good. Bolted right up, no issues. The primer seemed to be evenly applied and there was no rust on the fenders.

I paid $180 per fender.

As far as the W210 chassis goes, I'd almost put money on the aftermarket fenders being HIGHER quality than the POS body panels Mercedes used on these cars. Absolutely sinful. The W210 has a great engine (M112/113) and a great tranny, but the body metal is crap, crap, crap. Up here, the W210 is essentially extinct. You still see W123s and W124s, but most W210s are dead or on the way out.

Here's some pics...

Aftermarket fender after painting...

E320 before...note the amount of rust...

Fender off. Some body rust as well.

Finished. The paint matched very well. Fit was also excellent. The fenders have been on the car for close to two years now and no rust yet.

Good luck!

Zeus · #11 05-17-2010, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chad300tdt

I just finished a 300TD that I replaced the fenders on. I had one used OE fender and one "new" aftermarket fender. The OE fender took about 1/2 hour to fit to the car and the aftermarket fender took about 5.5 hours.

They both look better than the rusted out fenders that were there, but the aftermarket fender isn't perfect. The upper rear corner where it meets the "A Pillar" isn't shaped the same as the OE fender. It could have been reworked, but I was on a time and $$$ budget.

Here's the thread with pics:
Keeping another 123 on the road

Nice work man!

Lol, been there done that. I even welded a new floor into a W123, that was fun until the undercoating began smoking.

It's rewarding, but man what a lot of time and work. Ditto the POR15, nothing like it for fighting rust.

As a preventative measure - a little tip for those of us in salt-land - I usually coat the inner lip of all four wheel wells with POR15 on all my cars. If you do it carefully, it's invisible. It simply adds another barrier to an area that is prone to rust. I cover the POR15 with a rubberized undercoating. I also remove all the jack hole covers in the rocker panel and spray the entire inner compartment with Krown T40. This is a non-petroleum based rust inhibitor. I then replace the covers and wipe clean. I also use this product on the door frames, under the weather seal. These simple measures have really helped my cars stay rust-free, especially my E430 which would be rusted away at this point if not for diligent maintenance.

DieselPaul · #12 05-17-2010, 12:12 PM

I put some fenders and a hood on the W210 they were around $600 shipped for all three, cheap ones. Fit pretty well, no pics yet the car is at the painters. For cars like the W210 OEM fenders don't exist in places like Ohio.

mamali · #13 05-17-2010, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chad300tdt

I just finished a 300TD that I replaced the fenders on. I had one used OE fender and one "new" aftermarket fender. The OE fender took about 1/2 hour to fit to the car and the aftermarket fender took about 5.5 hours.

They both look better than the rusted out fenders that were there, but the aftermarket fender isn't perfect. The upper rear corner where it meets the "A Pillar" isn't shaped the same as the OE fender. It could have been reworked, but I was on a time and $$$ budget.

Here's the thread with pics:
Keeping another 123 on the road

Chad excellent job. Do you want to be my friend as well!!!!!!!!!!!!

TylerH860 · #14 05-17-2010, 03:20 PM

I replaced both fenders on the SL with aftermarket ones and it took so long to make them look right I didn't save much money, and they're still not a perfect fit.

DeliveryValve · #15 05-17-2010, 04:15 PM

Higher number produced cars like Accords and Camrys will fair better in fit then a lower production vehicle. Corrosion protection are always lacking in aftermarket body parts.

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