I also love the 08+ XJs. Especially the XJR. I know fifth gear reviewed it and didn't like how it looked but I think it looks agressive. Only thing that sucks is that they got rid of the leaper. It would have still looked good on the XJ's.

 

Thanks WhiteSTR. I am not out of shape but I found new muscles aching in my body that I thought I didn't have!
Master Deep: The leaper is a $500 option. Europe mandates due to pedestrian safety during crash that NO car originating in Europe can have a hood ornament. The royal Rolls not to be outdone has come up with a innovative idea where the hood ornament goes down into a hood (a la james bond style) when the car reaches a certain speed (I think 25mpg) & comes back up when you slow down or park. I saw it on TopGear.

I read up online & bought one on JCWhitney for $50 but am chicken to drill holes in the hood & actually install it.
________
stock picks

 

I believe they can be adjusted on the touch screen in one of the setting formats. It lets you turn them on or off and adjust sensitivity and loudness.
It was somewhere in the owners manual on how to do it. Can't look right now, wife has the car.

 

How does Benz and Maybach get away with it then? I thought like 98% of the worlds leaders are driven in s-classes.

 

I know for a fact that Benz doesn't have the triangle anymore on the hood on the newer (08 and beyond) cars. Now it's an emblem like the Bimmers.
Haven't researched Maybach yet. I still wonder when top brass at Merc sat down in the boardroom and said " We need an upscale car... how about Maybach"
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Ignis

 

Having sat in the back of a Maybach at my dealer (Motorworks), the interior is simply ridiculous. It is a much better car for being chauffeured in than a Rolls. I like the understated design plus they are far rarer than rollers.

They took the hood ornament off even the 2008+ s-class in europe? Wow. That was one of the defining characteristics of that car.

 

I know I keep posting the same picture, but I've only got the one so far. This was taken as it was getting dark with your typical Scottish summer's evening of cloud and imminent rain.



I am chuffed with the result on a 4 year old car. It is all down to Autoglym products, who proudly claim as recommended by Aston Martin and Jaguar.
Maybe we will get a sunny day, like you get in the US or maybe I should just photo it in the rain as it should be!

 

Nice one Delta....lookin good
You really need about 10 different pics from all angles though and don't fofget under the bonnet....How about Loch Ness or similar in the background on a sunny day? That'd be some pic

 

I will get more pictures Jim. Going to Argyll soon to visit friends, so I will try and get some nice shots there. As for under the bonnet, its mainly plastic covers. I dont know if diesels do nice shiny exhaust pipes!

 

Argyll will provide some stunning locations for a photoshoot opportunity, nice one
I know under the bonnet is mostly plastic covers, but cleaned n shined up well with any tyre shine type product and some time with a small paintbrush to get any debris out of tricky areas makes the area look very nice. I usually always wash the underside of the bonnet area as well to keep it clean and in good condition.
As for the shiny pipes on a diesel - yes it is possible. The tailpipes on my A6 are as new / better. Always part of my wash routine. I took some wire wool to them some time ago then finished with some really fine grit wet n dry with some Autosol and they are BLING BLING shiny.
Just a thought, but your car lloks great with the pics posted so far....What do you look at when you see a really nice car in front of you at traffic lights / traffic jams / junctions etc? For me its usually the whole pic closely followed by the details.....especially on a Jag, where the wispy exhaust vapour trails usually catch your eye and take them back to the trailpipes.....

Anyways....lookin forward to the pics

Jim

 

This is after doing the Perfect Shine process. (http://www.autopia-carcare.com/inf-perfect.html)

 

Had a brilliant run today. The car cruises and accelerates with so little fuss it was so relaxing.



Of course it rained and rained and the so the Rainex on the side and back windows worked a treat. I don't put it on the windscreen as I find it smeers with the wipers.

 

Nice clean n shiny lookin ride there 6286.....took a few hours I'll bet?

Good lookin S delta66 with an awesome backdrop......you couldn't have picked a sunny day though could you? Not this side of next JulAugust I spose
Looks like some shiny tailpipes I see there too

 

Hi Jim. Since you mention the tail pipes, my next detailing (when it stops raining) will be the engine and those pipes. What is the best product for bringing up the shine on the chrome?

Thanks

EDIT - Autoglym metal and chrome polish is the answer.

 

I don't like Rainex on the windows. I polish them with a polymer wax such as Nu-Finish or NXT. Lasts longer and the front windscreen may never need the wipers used except in very heavy rain. Also helps with the side windows when they develop the "skreeking" sound when raising and lowering them.

 

More than a few. lol ALMOST THE WHOLE AFTERNOON!!

 

Here is the engine bay of the diesel. It is not very inspiring and involves a lot of cleaning plastic covers.





This is after a couple of hours of Autoglym rubber and plastic cleaner and tar spot remover to get at the grease. I am NOT going to use any all over degreasing agent and power washers, it will all be done by hand. I got the front panel off and fished out a crisp packet and various leaves. But I will need to get various brushes and the like to get at the hard to reach spots. As for the panels, I am no mechanic, so I will take great care and attention before I remove any of them. I also found two stray screws, one with a washer and another in a plastic plug and further investigation is required to trace their origins. The main problem is going to be the bolts and washers that have rusted. I tried Krust rust remover on one and at least it blackens it to match the plastic screws. I dont want to do any more in case I cause problems removing parts for servicing etc.

 

Decided to give the exhaust end a polish. It didn't work that well. I used Brasso.

Before......



What came off......



After......



Not much to see really. The chrome is badly pitted and no matter how hard I polished, some bits stayed black. I think I would get better results saving for new chrome parts than trying other far more expensive cleaners.

 

Delta, nice, very nice detail work!!! nice pics...

 

Thanks Rick, which reminds me, here are some pictures of the interior.....





It was in very good condition already. I gave everything a wipe with a damp cloth and a dust. I then used kitchen surface wipes to get rid of any grease particularly around the doors. Autoglym vinyl and rubber cleaner was used sparingly. I dont want to put any dashboard shine or anything that will produce reflections in the windscreen. I also find that once you start to use such products you need to keep on with them and the shine looks fake.

The aluminium trim was again just wiped with a damp cloth and dusted. It is very smooth and has a nice half matt, half gloss look to it which I don't want to change.

The main work (sorry, I should have taken before pictures) was a white bloom on parts of the vinyl around the door trim and the rubber door seal. I used a rubber dye that I got off ebay. I used Forever Black to restore the trim around the windows on my 9 year old Volvo and it is excellent. It dyes the rubber and does not leave a greasy residue that washes off in the next rain storm.