so i just got in an accident..

[ddavidv]

You've done good work with getting the parts. My hat is off to you.
Late to this party are I, but here's what I'd do with regards to the fender...
First, you need to have the shop 'edge' the fender. This is painting the periphery of it so the underhood edges and so forth will be painted the body color. That's a quick and easy thing to do, only takes them a half hour. You should do that with any of the other parts getting sprayed body color.
You can then attach the panels to the car and take the entire thing to the shop for proper color matching and painting. Now, if they have to straighten the front radiator support, this is the point you'd have that done also. They will probably want the fender to assure proper alignment.
You can attempt a color match without the car being there by removing and handing them the damaged fender or the fuel door, but that's not a guarantee. White can actually be tough.

After you're done getting it fixed, time for you to do some autocrosses or take a track day or two and learn how not to do this again. ;)

[Jean]

You need the valance, lower lip, brake ducts, fog lights or fog light delete covers. The plastic bumper valance uses different brake ducts/covers vs. the big bumpers.

[SynSyx]

ddavidv, thanks for the excellent advice. luckily, I didnt have a valence so the parts are not on the car, so i will have them 'edged' before I really begin. I just bought a used valence (in red) that will be shipped on Monday, here are some pics:







I'm gonna order the brake ducts, new fogs, and a lower lip from bavauto or somewhere.

The front radiator support is a little bent, but the owner of the valence I'm buying offered to pull his radiator support for me. By the radiator support I mean the long 'carrier' piece that connects the front of the two fenders, and the two vertical supports on either side of the radiator. Or, I could just have mine repaired, since I think it is only bent and not actually broken anywhere. Advice on what to do about that? It might be cheaper to just buy new ones, but if they are a PITA to remove then it might be worth it to repair the ones I have, and then the other ones wouldnt have to be painted (they are black)

So yeah thats where I stand, valence is on the way, once it comes i'll have it and the bumper edged, mounted, and then color matched, and then I can utilize all the other goodies ive picked up :D

[Desaevious]

I'm so glad you're putting this together. Sadly sometimes an accident is a good way to redo things and make them your own.

[SynSyx]

hey guys i need advice regarding having a body shop fix my radiator supports or just get new ones from a donor car (they are black), i could leave them unpainted, or paint them

[Desaevious]

You could just grab them off the donor car...the fact that they're black is just your preference. Do what you want with the color.

[SynSyx]

yeah thats the option i was leaning towards, but i wasnt sure how hard they are to remove/replace. i will do that, and probably keep them black

[deutschman]

man im sorry! this sucks. my first car, a 2002, had its life ended in this fashion. my friend rear ended me at about 12-15mph and fucked up my rear. car got totaled all the damage was not that bad. she went right over my bumper. i miss my car!
but now i have an e30 : )

[ddavidv]

Radiator support is welded into the car, is it not?
If so, fix what you have. Far easier than chopping and welding.
If they are bolted, we may not be talking about the same thing. Or, I could have my head up my ass. :)

[SynSyx]

BAH! I just checked, you're right, they are welded right under the headlights, on the radiator side. I guess I'll have to have the body shop straighten mine out.

Another thing, is this piece replaceable, or should I just have this repaired as well:

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/5123/valence2np9.jpg

mine is bent on the drivers side, at the top, where the bottom of the grills screw into it

[nando]

if you are doing a plastic bumper conversion you replace that whole peice anyway with the new valance you got.

and yeah, the radiator support is welded. I had a new one put in for a few hundred, but yours looks like it would be easier to just straighten out.

[SynSyx]

if you are doing a plastic bumper conversion you replace that whole peice anyway with the new valance you got.

and yeah, the radiator support is welded. I had a new one put in for a few hundred, but yours looks like it would be easier to just straighten out.

oh okay thats good news

what about the lowest black rubber lip thing that connects with 5 screws (see sig), does that stay mounted or replaced or what?

[nando]

you need an is or i lip for a later car. the early one can be made to fit but it wasn't really meant for that valance.

[Danny]

I have an I lip for sale!

[SynSyx]

whats the difference between and i and an is lip, and are they absolutely necessary, or can I hold off for now and get one some time down the road?