Do these panels come as 8 separate pieces or pre-assembled?

They ship as 8 individual panels. This lets you prep, paint, and install each piece on your own schedule and ensures you can handle fitment adjustments during installation without forcing a bulky assembly into tight spaces.

Will I need gap filler or seam tape where pieces meet?

That depends on your fitment and finish preference. Once installed, inspect the seams with primer applied — any gaps can be filled with standard body filler during prep work before final paint. Clean, tight panel alignment minimizes prep work downstream.

Can I paint all the pieces before installation, or should I install first and paint after?

Paint before installation is cleaner and faster — no masking required and better access for detail work. Just handle painted panels carefully during fitment to avoid chips. If you prefer to install first, protect the paint during mounting and make any final touch-ups after everything is secured.