2023 Super Duty OE Style Fender Flares

A few years ago I installed a new set of Fender Flares on my Flame Red AEV equipped TJ Wrangler. They came textured, but I used an electric Palm Sander and sanded them smooth. The painter used a primer filler/sealer. After a quick wet sanding, they were painted. They did the same thing on my Black Hard Top, painting it to match. It looked fantastic. A few months later while I was getting gas, a guy approached me complementing on it looks. After a few minutes, he asked if I'd sell it. (dumb-dumb) I said sure, everything I own is for sale. He made me a ridiculous offer .. Can't believe I said yes. (stupid-stupid :unsure: me) ..!!
 
Just installed the Rough Country Fender Flares. Install took quite awhile, probably my fault but couldn’t get the holes lines up as I went along. Would have been easier without the wheels on.
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Has anyone had the Bushwacker OE flares painted. Curious what that would cost.
 
Has anyone had the Bushwacker OE flares painted. Curious what that would cost.
Mine were originally 350 but when they found out it was a tri-color, it went up to 650. That varies a ton, as one guy posted that he paid 250/ea
 
Finally pick my painted flairs up and installed them. I had them painted by a dealer. When I took them down I asked them if they wanted to gas filler door to color match and make sure the Azure Gray was matched. They said no and just wanted the VIN and not just the color. They say they needed it to ensure the color match. Why? I don't know but there was a piece of tape with the truck's build date and some numbers on the flairs when I picked them up. Here's the result.

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Finally pick my painted flairs up and installed them. I had them painted by a dealer. When I took them down I asked them if they wanted to gas filler door to color match and make sure the Azure Gray was matched. They said no and just wanted the VIN and not just the color. They say they needed it to ensure the color match. Why? I don't know but there was a piece of tape with the truck's build date and some numbers on the flairs when I picked them up. Here's the result.

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Looks great!
 
Finally pick my painted flairs up and installed them. I had them painted by a dealer. When I took them down I asked them if they wanted to gas filler door to color match and make sure the Azure Gray was matched. They said no and just wanted the VIN and not just the color. They say they needed it to ensure the color match. Why? I don't know but there was a piece of tape with the truck's build date and some numbers on the flairs when I picked them up. Here's the result.

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If you read my debacle, leaving the filler door was a good idea
 
Finally pick my painted flairs up and installed them. I had them painted by a dealer. When I took them down I asked them if they wanted to gas filler door to color match and make sure the Azure Gray was matched. They said no and just wanted the VIN and not just the color. They say they needed it to ensure the color match. Why? I don't know but there was a piece of tape with the truck's build date and some numbers on the flairs when I picked them up. Here's the result.
did you get the flares directly from Ford or are they from Bushwacker?
what Ford shop painted them?
 
Finally pick my painted flairs up and installed them. I had them painted by a dealer. When I took them down I asked them if they wanted to gas filler door to color match and make sure the Azure Gray was matched. They said no and just wanted the VIN and not just the color. They say they needed it to ensure the color match. Why? I don't know but there was a piece of tape with the truck's build date and some numbers on the flairs when I picked them up. Here's the result.

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Most likely, there were some variations in the paint. Long ago, I used to mix paint for body shops and dealerships, and just because they have the paint code, doesn't necessarily mean they can match it. Having a sample to compare the paint chips to will ensure they make the RIGHT version of the color. Most paint shops have two ways of matching, with a scanner they can place on a panel to retrieve the correct formula and/or they have paint ship book with a hole in the middle of the chip they will place on the sample piece to visually match it. Usually has to do with the metallics and pearls that are in the modern paints.
 
did you get the flares directly from Ford or are they from Bushwacker?
what Ford shop painted them?
They're the Bushwacker flairs from Ford Performance. I got them with Ford Pass points and then took them into Ken Grody Ford to get painted.


Most likely, there were some variations in the paint. Long ago, I used to mix paint for body shops and dealerships, and just because they have the paint code, doesn't necessarily mean they can match it. Having a sample to compare the paint chips to will ensure they make the RIGHT version of the color. Most paint shops have two ways of matching, with a scanner they can place on a panel to retrieve the correct formula and/or they have paint ship book with a hole in the middle of the chip they will place on the sample piece to visually match it. Usually has to do with the metallics and pearls that are in the modern paints.
I offered to leave something to paint match as I was concerned. They didn't want it. It appears they looked up the truck itself and not just the paint color to come up with the right mix. The paint shop never saw my truck and its a perfect match so whatever they did they did it right. The parts were painted and packaged nicely behind the counter when I got there. We opened it up an took one outside to check the match. This color changes drastically in different light and the flairs do too. So was it just the standard paint code or something they checked with Ford specific to the truck? I don't know.

This dealer has a department they call Ken Grody Customs. It does a lot of high end modifications and custom builds and are known for quality and getting it right. I never really worried or thought about that because I like to do the extra things myself and this is the dealer I use for maintenance. After I did some modifications, I was told there were only two dealers in So Cal that knew how to work on my truck and they ended up being one of them. I spoke with that department about what they do and looked at their work. They know what they're doing. They got it right.
 
They're the Bushwacker flairs from Ford Performance. I got them with Ford Pass points and then took them into Ken Grody Ford to get painted.



I offered to leave something to paint match as I was concerned. They didn't want it. It appears they looked up the truck itself and not just the paint color to come up with the right mix. The paint shop never saw my truck and its a perfect match so whatever they did they did it right. The parts were painted and packaged nicely behind the counter when I got there. We opened it up an took one outside to check the match. This color changes drastically in different light and the flairs do too. So was it just the standard paint code or something they checked with Ford specific to the truck? I don't know.

This dealer has a department they call Ken Grody Customs. It does a lot of high end modifications and custom builds and are known for quality and getting it right. I never really worried or thought about that because I like to do the extra things myself and this is the dealer I use for maintenance. After I did some modifications, I was told there were only two dealers in So Cal that knew how to work on my truck and they ended up being one of them. I spoke with that department about what they do and looked at their work. They know what they're doing. They got it right.
Could be. I know I ordered a set from Rough Country already painted and they matched really well!
 
Would like to get your opinion. I installed the paint-matched Bushwacker Ford OEM style fender flares - well, just on the right side and front only as the rear has them already through the camper.

The fender flares come with a black rubber lip/seal and I am debating to remove it and rather install a small strip of clear paint protection film to protect the fender from the flare potentially running against the paint.

I do not mind the black rubber lip when looking from the rear or the front at the fender flare, but from a 90 degree angle I think it looks weird. I notice it because I installed it. My son did not notice it until I told him.

I do not know if this will flatten out with heat and time. I am not an OCD type of person, but I want this rig to look good.

Would like to get your opinion as well.

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I would leave the rubber. I’ve seen some pretty horrible wear due to flares and I don’t think that PPF would last that long
 
I would leave the rubber. I’ve seen some pretty horrible wear due to flares and I don’t think that PPF would last that long
Seconding Matt, if you look at 2nd gen Tacomas with the factory flares removed, they all have the wear marks from the flares digging into the paint. There was somebody on Tacomaworld that went through a ton of hassle trying to avoid the wear marks through using PPF and what not. Ultimately, even with the rubber gasket you will likely get wear marks in the paint. Its more or less a permanent modification.

Not the perfect example, but
 
They're the Bushwacker flairs from Ford Performance. I got them with Ford Pass points and then took them into Ken Grody Ford to get painted.



I offered to leave something to paint match as I was concerned. They didn't want it. It appears they looked up the truck itself and not just the paint color to come up with the right mix. The paint shop never saw my truck and its a perfect match so whatever they did they did it right. The parts were painted and packaged nicely behind the counter when I got there. We opened it up an took one outside to check the match. This color changes drastically in different light and the flairs do too. So was it just the standard paint code or something they checked with Ford specific to the truck? I don't know.

This dealer has a department they call Ken Grody Customs. It does a lot of high end modifications and custom builds and are known for quality and getting it right. I never really worried or thought about that because I like to do the extra things myself and this is the dealer I use for maintenance. After I did some modifications, I was told there were only two dealers in So Cal that knew how to work on my truck and they ended up being one of them. I spoke with that department about what they do and looked at their work. They know what they're doing. They got it right.
I must have been local to you before I moved. I had looked at buying my F250 from Ken Grody Redlands, but ended up going somewhere else.
 
Would like to get your opinion. I installed the paint-matched Bushwacker Ford OEM style fender flares - well, just on the right side and front only as the rear has them already through the camper.

The fender flares come with a black rubber lip/seal and I am debating to remove it and rather install a small strip of clear paint protection film to protect the fender from the flare potentially running against the paint.

I do not mind the black rubber lip when looking from the rear or the front at the fender flare, but from a 90 degree angle I think it looks weird. I notice it because I installed it. My son did not notice it until I told him.

I do not know if this will flatten out with heat and time. I am not an OCD type of person, but I want this rig to look good.

Would like to get your opinion as well.

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Looks good!
 
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