OEM vs Repro Fenders (restoration design)

[69NEWCLASSNH]

Does anyone have experience with OEM fenders vs the ones from Restoration Design?  

 

I have three choices, buy brand new OEM fenders from a local guy at twice the price of Restoration Design

Repair my fenders (swiss cheese bottoms)

Buy restoration design fenders.

 

Are the reproduction fenders the same quality as OEM?

[tedwardcairns]

I can tell you first hand that the quality of the restoration design fenders is not there.. I gave up on them and went OEM and the fenders went on with minimal fuss VS not ever getting RD to fit... 

To say I'm salty about it is an understatement... 

But that being said, you get what you pay for. 

 

Ted 

['76mintgrün'02]

Can we see pictures of the cheese please?

 

If the only problem is at the bottom, I'd say fix 'em... rather than replace them.

[Vicleonardo1]

I ordered one of the reproduction fenders from W&N. Probably the same ones ordered by Restoration Design. I had no problem with quality or install. Our cars are old and its overall integrity may have changed over the years (as I often tell my wife about myself...), so your experience may vary whether you order OEM or reproduction. 

 

Cheers! 

Edited September 28, 2017 by Vicleonardo1

[Ensign]

Here are "new" OEM fenders on Craigslist:

https://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/pts/d/bmw-2002-oem-front-fenders/6262813342.html

 

 

[TobyB]

Fwiw, the fenders from the dealership are made by a 3rd party, as well.

Last I knew, they fit ok, but they were not BMW quality.  More 'decent aftermarket' quality.

 

t

 

[02Les]

58 minutes ago, Vicleonardo1 said:

I ordered one of the reproduction fenders from W&N. Probably the same ones ordered by Restoration Design. I had no problem with quality or install. Our cars are old and its overall integrity may have changed over the years (as I often tell my wife about myself...), so your experience may vary whether you order OEM or reproduction. 

 

Cheers! 

I also had a pair of W & N fenders fitted along with their nose panel. Not perfect, but no great problem considering my local bodyshop had never seen an '02 before!

[Conserv]

I had a pair of NOS OEM fenders installed on the '76, as part of its big re-paint.  The body shop said they both went on without fuss.  They weren't really old -- white, not orange stickers -- but my general sense is that you improve your odds of a fuss-less installation with OEM fenders.  No guarantees, just better odds...

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

 

Edited September 29, 2017 by Conserv

[NYNick]

My RD fenders went on fine. It was my front nose that needed to be massaged to match because of prior incidents and rust.