Sorry Strief, I have no answers just a few more questions to add to your list, because I also considered removing my fenders for some modifications.

1) I can find repro fenders all over the place for abour $137. Sounds too good to be true. Are they any good? Or is used OE the way to go.

2) Once you bust the seal with the heat gun, what kind of glue do you use to reinstall it.

3) One tip I may offer. I asked an MB dealer about replacing and spraying the trunk lid only on my black 560 due to a combination of water spots, scratches and dings from within. He told me that he would have to spray everything aft of the doors or I would see the color mis match. I told him, I thought black would not have a color match problem. He replied that black is the most difficult color to match??? and silver was the least difficult. So I'm thinking gold may be like silver and you may luck out with your gold 380 and be able to buy a used gold fender and not have to do a repaint.

John Roncallo