Forum:
My front off side wing is suffering from rust and I would like to remove it to either treat it or replace it. The cost of replacing the wing at my local body shop was quoted to be £150 + cost of the replacement wing. So I would like to know if I can do it myself. I can see many bolts that keep it on, but is it also welded to other body parts?
Thanks for any help, Tully
wing replacement
Theres a plastic trim in the wheel arch thats held in with little clips, but other than that the wing is held on with 6mm ( 10mm head ) bolts, theres no welding. A couple of bolts are accessed by opening the door and going in with a 1/4 drive and a longish extension. I think theres one or two behind the headlight, so grille and light out, at least one fastens onto the front and one onto the lower panel and there might be one under the wheelarch. Then there are 4 bolts along where the bonnet shuts and thats about it really. Theres the side repeater lamp to disconnect under the wing of course. Your body shop arent cheap are they, that price must include painting the wing? You could repair your wing with fibre glass as its not considered structural, but it must have no sharp edges ( rust holes). With the money you save buy some waxoyl and slap it about everywhere.
Thank you for the detailed
Thank you for the detailed information. The £150 does include a respray, which is never going to be cheap. But for that price I could, as you said, buy enough waxoyl to cover the car inside and out twice over! I'll have a word with someone who has done some fibre glassing before, thanks for the advice!