Gen 4 Fender Flares & Mirrors-Paint or Replace

My 4th Gen is showing her age. She's always been stored outdoors that is sometimes shaded and the rest is full sun. The tops of the fender flares are faded and the mirrors are so bad that the paint is gone and now it's just bare plastic.

I was wondering if anyone had this fixed at a paint shop. I'm handy but paint is not one of my strengths and I don't have the equipment anyway. If you had this done recently, what was the cost?

Thanks

 

It isn't cheap. We paid $1750 for three fenders flare tops... looks good now, but sheesh!

 

Thanks LOSTR4, good information. Absolutely nothing is cheap anymore and 'reasonable' is almost out the door.

$1750 for just the tops is what I was hoping for those and the mirrors too. The big question is, are you happy with the results? Toyota or other reputable shop?

 

I am happy...always hard to swallow after what seems like $100 in paint, but like you said, one must "suck it up" if you're not doing it yourself...I too am not a paint guy but handy on the motor and suspension bits...I plan on keeping this forever and it will be my 8 year old's first rig...looks like new and they did a solid 8/10 paint match...good enough for my stable!

 

Try vinyl wrapping em

 

I priced that out for someone too and they said no way...BUT, it is a viable option! I was thinking the topo contour line wrap on them but it wasn't less than paint when I first proposed that...I'd love to see that, though!

 

I am contemplating on repainting my 4Runner this Sping/Summer. It is a tall task removing all exterior pieces to do it right. I will need smaller wheels and tires in order to spray the top. I just painted my 1999 Tacoma and it came out real nice for my first complete paint job. It was a long process so I am weighing the pros and cons.

 

FWIW, I had this issue with my 2002 Xterra. I DIY’ed it with DupliColor Bumper & Trim paint with excellent results. Looked like new then and all the way until I sold it several years later. As with any paint project, the key is following the prep instructions carefully.

I’d at least do a test run on one area before paying a body shop a wad of cash.


This is it when I sold it. Everything black is what I painted. They have other colors too.

 

Hi Bluesky, thanks for the reply. When I was looking at the 4Runner in 2003 they told me that the flares were black except for the Limited. Not being happy with that info and not wanting to buy the Limited I waited for the 04, which came with matching flares and mirrors.

I'm traveling right now but I plan on going to the repair shop for an estimate. It it's too high I'll probably just use duplicolor on the driver's mirror and be done with it.

 

Curious what you received for estimates when you get a chance. I’m in the same predicament with sun damage on the hood and roof.

 

I'm still traveling so no estimate yet. In December of 2015 I damaged the front bumper on our 99 Sienna. Since the hood had a number of road scars I had them paint that as well as replace the bumper. That cost $1,555. With prices still through the roof I expect repair to the fender flares to be close to $3,000 but I will post the results here when I get the estimate. As I said, my paint is holding up pretty well for a car that lives outside, other than scratches from my tandem kayak.

 

Went to the Toyota body shop today and had them work up an estimate. Total is $1,526.40. I asked about the mirrors as well but I guess he was a little absent minded and didn't include them. I didn't ask about the lower door panels but after getting home and seeing them again in the sunlight I think I want those done too, so I'll need another estimate. Wife is out of town until mid-April and they said it was going to take a week to do the work. I'll wait until she returns and go back. It's certainly in the ballpark of what I had in mind. I can go a little higher

 

Thanks for posting. $60/hr sounds reasonable, especially from a dealer shop!

 

That shop repaired the front bumper and repainted the hood on the wife's 99 Sienna. We were very pleased with the work so naturally they were my pick for this work as well.