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Thread: M Coupe rear fender removal how-to?

  1. #1
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    M Coupe rear fender removal how-to?

    I tried a search but no luck...can someone point to or provide instructions for removing the driver side rear fender on an M coupe? The Bentley manual and BMW TIS don't have instructions for this. Thanks!

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    Quote Originally Posted by GAJ View Post
    I tried a search but no luck...can someone point to or provide instructions for removing the driver side rear fender on an M coupe? The Bentley manual and BMW TIS don't have instructions for this. Thanks!
    Rear fenders on the Coupes are NOT easily removable. They are not bolted on as vert rear fenders. Coupe rear fenders are welded on....so unless you have a real need to remove, I would suggest not to do it, and do on the car repair. If you remove the rear fender you would also need to remove the rear glass first which is another complication.

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    mcoupemindy is offline Senior Member BMW CCA Member
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    Quote Originally Posted by schernov View Post
    Rear fenders on the Coupes are NOT easily removable. They are not bolted on as vert rear fenders. Coupe rear fenders are welded on....so unless you have a real need to remove, I would suggest not to do it, and do on the car repair. If you remove the rear fender you would also need to remove the rear glass first which is another complication.
    Umm ... are you sure on that?

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    Quote Originally Posted by 1996BMW328I View Post
    Umm ... are you sure on that?
    I am. A friend of mine just had his coupe worked on and damage was to rear quarter. Originally, he asked if they can take the quarter off and repair it off the car as he thought it was fairly simple, but it was a huge pain and it was decided against it as he did not want the windows removed/reinstalled/resealed and the whole rewelding did not look like fun either....

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by schernov View Post
    I am. A friend of mine just had his coupe worked on and damage was to rear quarter. Originally, he asked if they can take the quarter off and repair it off the car as he thought it was fairly simple, but it was a huge pain and it was decided against it as he did not want the windows removed/reinstalled/resealed and the whole rewelding did not look like fun either....
    He is correct, electronic welding ensures our fenders can NOT be removed without welded reinstilation.

  6. #6
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    Both of my Coupes had repairs done to this panel. One was a replacement and the other was a repaint to fix some defects, both needed major disassemby and window removal, new window seals etc....the replacement was an insurance claim in excess of $3000 and the repaint was out of pocket and I paid $1K+. Protect these panels!! They are a pita to repair.
    997 Carrera 2S..the choice of 2 out of 3 Top Gear presenters.

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    I see. Thanks for the feedback.

  8. #8
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    Coupe rear fenders are bolted...



    You need to strip the rear interior sides and a few other things to gain access
    Last edited by Ghery; 12-23-2008 at 01:47 AM.

  9. #9
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    mcoupemindy is offline Senior Member BMW CCA Member
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sound Of Speed View Post
    Coupe rear fenders are bolted...



    You need to strip the rear interior sides and a few other things to gain access
    Ding, ding ... the winnar!

    I was trying to find a picture myself, and keeping my mouth shut until then.

  10. #10
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    I'm bringing an old post back from the past, and would like to contribute some useful information.
    I'm working on a project 2.8 Coupe that has a salvage title. It had a rear clip (tail and trunkfloor) from an M replaced on early in its life. I'm tidying up some of the previous work at the same time I'm installing Randy Forbes kit. I contacted Randy about removing the rear fenders for access, but he wasn't positive if they came off without a lot of work.
    A search of our forum shows some correct information, and a lot of mis-information.
    The Bentley manual (page 410-3) states "Coupe rear fenders are attached with electronic welds and ate not normally replaceable...". WRONG!
    Well, since the rear interior is out for the subframe work anyway, I started unbolting what appeared to be fender attaching fasteners. There are (4) 10mm bolts under the rear quarter window, and one more above the taillight. There are (4) 8mm bolts under the trim on the doorpost, and two more where the bumper meets the fender. There is one phillips screw where the rocker and fender meet in the wheelwell. THATS IT!
    I had both fenders off in less than 10 minutes. The quarter glass bottom rubber keys into a groove at the top edge of the fender, and will be harder to re-assemble, but you don't have to remove any glass.
    By far the hardest part of removing the Coupe rear fenders is dismantling the interior for access.
    Removing the fenders will also allow me to repaint the car a different color, allowing access to all the edges that would otherwise be sandwiched between panels.
    Man, I despise the Boston Green on my Coupe!

  11. #11
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    Glad you found what you were looking for, and that the glass remains intact.

    Either a weak soapy water solution, or a water/alcohol solution does wonders when moving and seating rubber.

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    Oh wow, I didn't realize the rear fenders were bolted in. One of mine has a small rust spot that needs addressing, a small ding in the fender lip, and the rear bumper cover is about to get replaced. It looks like this'll save me some $ at the body shop, but take quite a bit of time to dismantle.

    I like boston green. Very classy on these cars.
    "If the Corvette is a rebellious child of the extended automotive family, the M coupe is the blackest of sheep." - via Car & Driver

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by adonnan View Post
    Oh wow, I didn't realize the rear fenders were bolted in. One of mine has a small rust spot that needs addressing, a small ding in the fender lip, and the rear bumper cover is about to get replaced. It looks like this'll save me some $ at the body shop, but take quite a bit of time to dismantle.

    I like boston green. Very classy on these cars.
    Classy and the most popular color among the brainy, also among the least OVERALL popular color, see a pattern here?

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    It's kinda archeology here but I crashed my whole quarter and I need to do something with it. While looking for some info, I managed to find this thread.

    Unfortunately the photo here pictures Compact, not Coupe. If you are Coupe owner, bad news - cutting and welding is the thing to do.

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    Alvarin, from what I can see, this appears to be a coupe in the photo, there is no compact, only roadster and coupe. Hope you get your damage sorted out!!

  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by SteveG66 View Post
    Alvarin, from what I can see, this appears to be a coupe in the photo, there is no compact, only roadster and coupe. Hope you get your damage sorted out!!
    I've Never heard of a "compact?, gotta love the posts that are "sure" of the wrong info.,and tell me not to believe a photo,and my lying eyes.

  17. #17
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    I think he is referring to a 318ti Compact, but that picture is a Z3 Coupe.

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by Alavarin View Post
    It's kinda archeology here but I crashed my whole quarter and I need to do something with it. While looking for some info, I managed to find this thread.

    Unfortunately the photo here pictures Compact, not Coupe. If you are Coupe owner, bad news - cutting and welding is the thing to do.
    Uhh that is 100% a Z3 coupe...

    Going into my TENTH YEAR of providing high quality reproduction BMW fabrics!

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  19. #19
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    Another coupe repair pic in case it helps anyone. This was from 3-4 years ago when my coupe got tagged. I ended up repainting the whole thing (glass out and everything). Shop had a hard time getting that glass right (to my standards at least).


  20. #20
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    IMG_1196.JPGIMG_1203.JPGIMG_1211.JPGIMG_121x.jpgIMG_1164.JPG

    I hope these photos would help to remove the rear fender
    @Tripfcr
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  21. #21
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    Pulled mine today, super easy. Hardest part was removing the interior.

  22. #22
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    Yep. Here's a pic from the inside of the donor Z3 Coupe where you access the (3!) 10mm bolts below the window, one outside with the panel already removed and some arrows of where all to look for fasteners (ymmv), and a couple of the panel itself.



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