BMW 3 series E46 - Replacing front fender - DIY

How to replace the front fender on a BMW 3-series e46. Complete do it yourself video.

[@amothjon]

Great video mate :) And very nice of you to bring your son when you are working with the car, He will remember it when he grows up.

[@mickh1187]

replaced both my very rotten wings after watching this thanks great video

[@Nina_39-c5l]

i have to say that in my 325i i install an m3 bumper but the corner on the fenders do not fit so perfect, now i see that the black pastic piece going betwen the fender and the bumper is missing, so i will buy it....

[@الحياهجميلهفعشها]

good video

[@nelsonjma]

almost perfert very nice job :)

[@АндрейАЛЕКСАНДРОВ-п9м]

Da fehlt noch Blinker Ausbau.....

[@amache99]

only one mistake, I know this because I did the same, at 21:31 the plastic bracket you rivoted on should slide into the plastic guide attached to the chasis. it takes two people to get it in its such a pain in rhe backside.but your vid was very useful.

[@dubroof]

All videos are well documented for non professionel! Highly appreciated Mate. And your son is lucky to get such dad's introduction to mechanics

[@sabello2851]

21 -45 time. plastic fasteners are installed incorrectly.Well done that he decided to change the wing.

[@leventeioancremene9180]

Im intrested about the headlights, i want to buy. Help plz

[@johnniekewl2]

Fremragende guide, men du har monteret den udenfor "skinden" ved 22:20 hvor man faktisk kan se du bare bolter det sammen på trods af det ikk helt sidder som det skal, og det nok os derfor du døjede så meget med at skulle skubbe skærmen ind på plads for at få pyntelisten under lygten på plads men ellers fin video :)

[@christoph404]

just stick masking tape on the edge of the doors to protect from scratching when you pull the wing back, it adds another 10 minutes to the job at little cost, you mention eye protection so yep, we often forget those things in our enthusiasm to get the job done, I would also wear thick gloves when handling old panels the are showing resistance to move!! just in case, I don't want a cut from a rusty panel! :-) good job though, I've done the same on a E36

[@MrSakolphan]

Great job and looks good but as you know any car panel that is replaced, the paint will never match up exactly, I find that the silver fender is a tad lighter than the rest of the car but its not too painful to look at!

[@krisztiantamaskovacs356]

21:35 nél nem látta, hogy nincs a helyén? utána megf üti vágja? :D

[@mondeo984]

it was corrected later. Just didnt get it on video

[@krisztiantamaskovacs356]

@@mondeo984 Super :) .

[@nickamarit]

At 14:07, what is that grey "bracket"/"C-pillar" thing in front of the fender signal light's wire?

[@drmagic6960]

Great video. For me the top screw the one closes to the front window on both sides were the hardest part as it was completely stuck. Ended up having to lift up the entire fender and jiggle the screw lose after the torxs were gone. The aftermarket fender needed very little adjustment to fit very nicely.

[@Beast.unit0]

Can someone please link me to what screws or bolts i should buy??

[@xede1294]

It is not desame color

[@Pakk0r]

Great Video! Could you make a video about adjusting the hood? Because in this video it closes so smooth and without any force

[@TwerpZ]

Does anybody know where I can find the flange or have a part number for it? 11:14

[@gunerozkul9201]

Great job. It seems to be very easy. I hope I can do well too. THe color of your fender seems a little bit different. But really great job

[@ste106gti]

Very good informative video. Only criticism would be to invest in a set of axle stands.

[@viliusbivainis7883]

Hej! Looks like you have non-OEM headlights - were they okay for SYN? I have LED tail lights and I am wondering if I have to install my old tail lights for SYN?

[@mondeo984]

+Vilius Bivainis Yes I have none OEM headlight. They passed inspection without any problems. But honestly it's a piece of junk. Really bad lights I can't recommend. One light gets moisture from rain.....one does not level 100% up down any longer. The light in lumen is much lower than OEM part...I think half the lumen. So don't buy similar products it's just not worth it

[@viliusbivainis7883]

+BMW 3 Series Thanks for the tip. Your videos are great :)

[@Toxx98]

Thank you for the informative video

[@mickh1187]

going to give it a go after watching this good video

[@LogiForce86]

Wouldn't it be wise to do some rust protection on the inside of the new fender? Especially since it'll be harder to get new parts in another 10 years, so making it last longer by protecting it better than factory (cost restrictive) standards will definitely be worth while.

[@mondeo984]

100% agree with you. looking back, I would have done a better rust protection

[@arlind530d]

Who cares, who is gonna drive a car for 10 years

[@LogiForce86]

Arlind530d. Com Those who either want to preserve cars (Jay Leno type), those who just love a model, those who are poor... and the guy who just drives a car until it falls apart no matter what.

[@ricardo2572]

Do you really need to have a riverting tool or is it possible to use these old plastic-rivets again? My e46 also needs some new fenders... :) Great video btw! Thanks.

[@mondeo984]

+Ric Ardo I would say you have to get that tool. You can't reuse the old once and screws isn't possible either...the screw head would block the indicator lights. Tool is very cheap....like 15 Euro/USD

[@patrickgquarlesjr.8438]

@@mondeo984Great video. Your the only one who has address this problem. I am having a hard time finding the rivets for that part? Where can i find the rivets and the tool?

[@patrickgquarlesjr.8438]

Also did you use plastic or metal rivets for the inside fender part?

[@AmazingPaulius]

I need to do the same thing on my E46.

[@necabmwmajstor7074]

colour not very good :/

[@mondeo984]

+NecaBmw Majstor Agree. Therefore it has to go the the paintshop for a repaint. Actually the color match very good but they didn't put enough alumina powder into the paint, so depending the light condition it most certainly does look sometimes darker sometimes lighter than the rest

[@stevengreen5038]

Color is way off lol

[@ap5378]

How long the whole process including prep take you?

[@mondeo984]

+Abubakr Patel about 2 x 1 hour

[@Nikita-rr1si]

so easy thank's

[@ironmantooltime]

Was the paint colour matched or did u use the factory code? Good job :)

[@mondeo984]

It was done from a paint color scanner. Color was a good match but think there should have been more aluminium powder in the paint to give it the same match from any angle you look at it

[@ironmantooltime]

BMW 3 Series reckon I'm going to go the same way, don't want to pay to blend in two panels cheers!

[@whitedust696]

thank you

[@konstimuller4008]

Thank you!!! Greetings from germany

[@mondeo984]

Grusse aus Danemark :-)

[@vinylll]

it is china fender or oem?

[@mondeo984]

china

[@DaveSmithmoneymagnet]

You should have coated the inside of the new fender with rubberized spray to stop corrosion from coming back again... Good job though...!!!