Fender replacement

[67Twisty]

Does anyone know of a good (economical) source for paint to match fenders? I've been perusing the bay and local yards but finding good condition brilliant red ones isn't easy.

[HereInOhio]

It really matters what your opinion of "good" is. Also red tends to be the most expensive paint color.

A few assumptions I'm making:
-You are not a body guy that wants to paint it with a spray gun. (If any interest to you I know even a $15 harbor freight gun can paint pretty nice.)
-You are not necessairly looking for a cheap paint supplier to purchase paint but more of a cheap and easy method for a diy.

Most autobody shops will mix paint and put it in a spray can. Call around. Some have two can min orders and what not but I pay $20-$30 per can depending on what type I buy. Here are your options in the order of highest quality to lowest:
-Buy a spray can of base red and a spray can of clear. This is the closest to the factory paint job. This should run about $50.
-Buy a can of enamel which is a one step process. It will be the correct color and after waxing be pretty damn close. $25
-Buy a duplicolor can (hopefully you can find a match- obviously this will dictate how off it is. Duplicolor doesnt make many german car colors. And a can of duplicolor clear. $20 total tops
-Lastly you can use a can of duplicolor without clear but the matching is the issue. $8

If youre looking for a little nicer than these diy options I would think you can get a paint shop to do it for $75-$100 off the car.

The first two should look pretty damn good.

[mtroxel]

Does anyone know of a good (economical) source for paint to match fenders? I've been perusing the bay and local yards but finding good condition brilliant red ones isn't easy.

Not sure about the whole story, but to be honest the best thing you might do is buy a used fender. I bought one from a junk yard for my maroon B5 that was in good shape. Bolted it on, polished it up and the match was better than most repaint jobs. Was only $150.

[HereInOhio]

the best thing you might do is buy a used fender.

Completely agree. I know the OP said they were not having luck finding one but from experience the new paint is always off to some degree, usually noticable. I just painted a matched maroon yesterday and it was way off, way too dark. But I found when getting a fender that was painted from the factory and weathered for the same amount of time usually you can not tell the difference at all. Plus the cost of a cheap fender (not rusted) plus paint is about the same price as finding an "expensive" painted one and the paint job is 100%, match is 99%, and you dont need to mess around running to paint stores, prepping, painting, sanding, buffing. Well worth it.

Put it this way, I recently drove 3 hours for a already painted fender for a crappy car just not have to deal with it.

[67Twisty]

My wife backed into the avant in the driveway. Slow speed accident, but it crumpled the drivers fender at the wheel well. I bent it out by hand and rubbed out the bumper marks, but it needs more skilled hands than mine to look good. Since I'm no body man, I was hoping to find a good condition replacement off a rear-end wreck and bolt in on. The car is in otherwise great condition for its age so I'd like to take care of it but no spend a lot of $$. I'm checking car-part and Clist since none of the local yards seem to have B7s let alone brilliant red ones. Hopefully I'll eventually luck out.

[HereInOhio]

I see. Not sure the amount of your damages or if theres creases but I know around here there are a few paintless dent "wizzards" that do a phenominal job. It was very reasonable, I think I paid $60 for a huge crease in a fender of a Volvo xc90 and another dent or two. Maybe somthing to look into if theres any around you.

Even better tell the wife she messed it up so now she has to fix it!!!

[texpoops]

Had to replace a fender on my S4, fender was around $75 unpainted on eBay and it cost $150 to have the fender painted at a body shop.