Ok so this has been talked about in the past, I've searched, read, and even performed the work a few times myself but I've encountered a bit of a fender problem this time.

I had to replace the pass. side fender on my S4 TII due to rust issues. I ended up getting replacement parts for both the pass side, which is s4, and the drivers side which is S5 (I'm talking about the parts I got. What was on the car were S4 fenders). Other than the moldings and molding mount holes they are the same.

Remove bad S4 pass side fender and replace with good S4 pass side fender. A.O.K.

Remove drivers side fender, remove door, hang new door, align new door, install new S5 fender. It doesn't align for ****. Not only is the body line between the door and fender completely off but there the S5 fender is wider. There is about 1/8" lip between the door and fender.

My first thought is that my door is completely out of alignment. So I stare at it for a bit then go get the old drivers side fender, S4, and hang it. Perfect. No alignment needed, everything matches up, no lip, no out of wack gap. From top to bottom and side to side it's dead on.

I've removed and reinstalled fenders many times. S4 -> S4, S5 -> S5, S4 -> S5...no problems. This is my first encounter of going S5 -> S4 and it's not right. Maybe the fender is f'd up?

The car was in a hit and run (though carfax did come up 100% clean) where the door and the rear quarter were damaged. The drivers fender had been replaced before (again, carfax was clean) it had not been mounted properly and you could tell it was repainted. There is no major accident damage. Everything in the engine bay is original, the frame is straight and untouched, damage appears to only have been cosmetic.

So any thoughts? Have any of you used S5 fenders on your S4 without a problem? I wish I had a S5 pass. side fender to intsall and see what happens but I don't. That side has less variables to put into the mix. Sorry for the fender question but there aren't very many definitive answers on the S4 S5 fender questions.

 

i have an s5 fender on my passenger side of my vert and it lines up perfectly, it sounds like maybe the middle brace by the door is bent out too much.

 

Yep, I have a S5 fender on my 10th AE. They match up just fine. Your fender or door alignment must be off.

 

Thanks Ice. I went out to work on it again after work and I've decided the S5 fender I have is not straight. No matter what I do it doesn't fit properly. I put the other fender I have on and it's perfect. Thanks for the input.

 

hmm i hope i dont run into too much trouble with my body swap . .
(s5 doors and fenders onto '88)

 

I think you'll be ok. Seems the majority is but I'd be curious to know how it goes for you.