Re: Where to find/make Subaru 2002 Legacy body parts?

On 2025-10-20 23:07:25 +0000, VanguardLH said:
> 
> Subaru 2002 Legacy L wagon
> 94K miles
> 
> Car is in really good shape, except for some rust.  The rear fenders are
> rusting through.  There are holes in the left rear (driver side) fender,
> and a bubble-through is peeking out in the right rear (passenger side)
> fender.
> 
> I've tried several body shops, but they won't touch it, the rust is too
> bad, or they can't get parts.  It's a 23-year old car, so no big
> surprise that parts are no longer available.  It isn't just the outer
> fenders that are needed (that have the rust holes), but also the inner
> quarter panel that has the flange to which the outer fenders are
> attached.  The inner quarter panel has the flange to which the outer
> fender panel attaches, and the flange is always rusting away.  So, outer
> fender, inner quarter panel, and on both sides.
> 
> No one I've contacted can find the replacement parts.  There are places
> to find used parts (e.g., car-part.com), but anything that will fit will
> be as old as my old car, and be rusted.  Don't want to replace a rusted
> inner quarter panel and outer fender panel with parts already rusted.
> 
> Estimates, if the parts were available, have been $5K per side, or $10K
> total (barring surprises), so usually the advice has been to not bother
> with the rust repair, let this one degrade into a rust bucket, and buy
> another car.  But I really like this car.  Other than the fender rust, I
> can't get a used car in such great condition for $10K.
> 
> When I bought it 2 years used, it had 64K miles.  I had it inspected by
> a car shop for $150 to see if it was a good buy, and it was.  Very
> reliable in the 21 years that I've had it.  I did get nailed with
> Subaru's screw up in the manifold gasket that had to get replaced, but
> overall the car has been a good runner.  In the 21 years that I've owned
> it, I've put on all of 30K miles.  I don't drive much, and much of what
> I buy gets delivered, including groceries.  94K miles is low for this
> boxer engine which typically is good for 300K miles.  Everything is in
> superb shape except those rusting rear fenders.
> 
> But I can't get the parts!  car-part.com lists some parts at various
> grades (A, B, C, X), but clicking on the pics brings up a page saying
> "invalid selection", but there is nothing else on which to click to see
> the part.  I can find fenders there, and fender inner panels (which I
> assume are the inner quarter panels).  Besides the part cost, I'm sure
> there is a shipping cost.

You could try a local car wreckers yard. Some of them are also linked 
with others, so might be able to source the parts and get them shipped 
in for you. Being second-hand, they could need some dent removal or 
minor rust repairs, and likely a repaint. The problem with body panels 
is the size and weight makes shipping costs very pricey.  :-(



> Of the body shops that I've visited, most are oriented toward collision
> repair, and won't touch rust repairs.  I found one independent shop that
> quoted a cost for rust repair of the LH rear fender ($5400), but I think
> he forgot to include the inner quarter panel.

Yep, I found that out when trying to get some rust repairs done on my 
car a couple of years ago. The two times before that it was easy to get 
rust repairs done, but now many panelbeater shops simply won't do rust 
repairs. It could well be some modern 'health and safety' nonsense that 
makes it too expensive for them to get insurance cover, etc.



> I like this car, and owned it for 21 years of its 23-year lifespan.
> Miles seems low for a car this old, so it'd be nice to keep it another
> 10 years, or more.  Just not sure I want to toss $10K, or more, into
> making it look nice.

My Nissan car is 31 years old and I've had it for 27 years. Mechanical 
parts are difficult to get, and new body parts impossible. I had to get 
second-hand boot/trunk lid gas support struts from a car wrecker - 
they've lasted quite a few years so far. I also got a couple of new 
exterior door handles shipped over to New Zealand from a car wrecker in 
Australia (it was cheaper than buying them form a New Zealand car 
wrecker) to replace a broken one.

At some stage I simply won't be able to get a replacement for some 
necessary mechanical part and then I'll be forced to replace it with a 
newer car.  :-(