If I am able to find a replacement-fender in the same color, is it likely to match or due to varying sun-exposure of differing 11+ year-old vehicles I would be better off buying just any color and then painting it?

 

It may not be a perfect match, but you are always better off getting the panel in your color. If anything, it will be jambed in the right color and you don't need to edge the panel. paint in the jambs is not exposed to sun or weather elements as much as the outside so it tends to retain the original color hue.

if you replace the fender and need to paint it complete, then you will need to blend the hood and the front door. otherwise, you may not end up getting a perfect match and the freshly painted panel will always stand out.

 

I agree with Tirefriar, if it is the same color but doesn't quite match it would be less work than if it were a different color. If it is a solid color, it might be close enough that you might not notice a variation. If it is a metallic, you might notice more of a variation.

If it were me, I'd try to find a panel that is the same color and then go from there.

 

I've never been that lucky in over forty years of jaguar ownership!

Better to concentrate on finding a panel with no rust and decent paint. This will reduce the paint shop prep time and the eventual cost.

Graham

 

The color is Quartz metallic - appears that it would be a difficult color to match, both from sun and that it was only offered in one year, 2002.

 

If you can find the correct color, the panel may or maynot match. But it wouldn't need to be cut in; which would be painting the jambs, under the hood, door jamb and etc. One of the problems with a different color panel, that is just overcoated, if you get a door ding, it's possible that you would see the different color where the paint chipped off. If it were me, and I got a different color panel, I'd strip it down to metal, cut it in, then prime and paint.

 

Drec, thank you for the guidance, very good points. By the way, would you happen to speak any Yiddish? Drec is a dirty word... :0

 

I think this is probably the main thing to accurately choose the shade by name. Hope you can pick it up. If anything, try the site https://create.vista.com/colors/