Aftermarket fenders good or bad?

[noid]

Need new fenders what are the disadvantages when going with aftermarket?

[TwoJ's]

A while back I sent someone on here a PM asking him about which body shop he had taken his car to and if he would recommend it. He had posted something about getting his car fixed, and he was fairly local to me (Gig harbor or Tacoma I think). I don't remember exactly who it was, but here is a paraphrase of what he told me: He was happy with the body shop, but he said he mentioned something to the guy about the fender fitment not being perfect. I think he said the guy got a little offended and said that it wasn't his fault, but the aftermarket fender was to blame.

This was almost two years ago and I'm just going off memory here. I ended up buying a straight used fender from Joe Funk, so I don't have any first hand experience. But, as far as advantages and disadvantages, I think that a straight OEM fender is going to fit better than an aftermarket one. The advantage of aftermarket is that they are easy to find, cheap and they're brand new. It's more difficult to find a perfect used fender. Most of the fenders on parts cars are not perfect, and I like to avoid any unnecessary body work if at all possible. Again, this is with no first hand knowledge of aftermarket stuff. There may be high quality fenders that you can get, I just don't know.

And having said all of that, I am considering buying an aftermarket fender for my f150. It's a truck so I don't need perfect fitment, and I'm having trouble finding a reasonably prices used one.

[atomic]

Aftermarket panels do not fit as well as OEM parts do from what I have seen on other car manufactures. So much so, years ago when my Infiniti Q45 had been backed into in a parking lot. I requested that only OEM parts be used for the fix...

[Huff]

I've seen nothing but BAD aftermarket fenders. You are way better off just picking up a straight one from a junkyard or buying a used one..

[-Jelko-]

Well i bought new aftermarket passenger side fender...i will post pics when i got car back from body shop

[joshh]

So you're asking after you bought it.
I pray for you (not really). But I do hope it works well. Personally I'd rather used old fenders and have to fix a few dents than try new after market ones. Good luck.

[mattdk318i]

aftermarket fenders dent if you even look at them hard. Ive got both examples here at my house. And the stock fender is obviously thicker and better quality

[James Crivellone]

A while back I sent someone on here a PM asking him about which body shop he had taken his car to and if he would recommend it. He had posted something about getting his car fixed, and he was fairly local to me (Gig harbor or Tacoma I think). I don't remember exactly who it was, but here is a paraphrase of what he told me: He was happy with the body shop, but he said he mentioned something to the guy about the fender fitment not being perfect. I think he said the guy got a little offended and said that it wasn't his fault, but the aftermarket fender was to blame.

This was almost two years ago and I'm just going off memory here. I ended up buying a straight used fender from Joe Funk, so I don't have any first hand experience. But, as far as advantages and disadvantages, I think that a straight OEM fender is going to fit better than an aftermarket one. The advantage of aftermarket is that they are easy to find, cheap and they're brand new. It's more difficult to find a perfect used fender. Most of the fenders on parts cars are not perfect, and I like to avoid any unnecessary body work if at all possible. Again, this is with no first hand knowledge of aftermarket stuff. There may be high quality fenders that you can get, I just don't know.

And having said all of that, I am considering buying an aftermarket fender for my f150. It's a truck so I don't need perfect fitment, and I'm having trouble finding a reasonably prices used one.

That was Kruzen I bet

[jbombdizzle]

What do you need a fender for I might be able to get you one. they are black or bronzit though ill have to look into it

[DCColegrove]

from what I've see...

I'd prefer OEM (or even a used OE) over a knock off any day,

Aside from bad fitment they have corrosion issues.

[nefarious7907]

I have an aftermarket drivers side fender and it fits like crap around the outside curve of the headlight surrounds. Think like a 3/4 gap. It bugs the crap out of me I will replace it with an OEM sooner or later but I'm busy with FI :)

[Rigmaster]

Aftermarket fenders are GREAT..................for race cars or POS DD/Beaters.

If you have a nice car, just get OEM fenders- they do fit better and the quality is better. BUT, most aftermarket fenders are ALOT better than they were ~8-10 years ago, when most of you guys were in diapers....... ;)


So, to summarize for those with ADD/ADHD:


really nice car or rich guy owner- use OEM fenders
POS/Beater or Broke-ass baggypants owner- aftermarket are OK



;)

[Farbin Kaiber]

I bought a set of aftermarket units because my car had the side repeaters cut into the ones on the car. One I pulled off was A/M and one was OEM. I tried to install the new A/M units and I couldn't even get 'em on. I've boxed 'em up and am leaving the repeaters and getting another used OEM one for the other side.