I've been putting it on sometimes in the winter when it's really cold and I expect to have to park it outdoors somewhere for a while. Since I rarely drive it hard in the winter I've often just left the cover on for some time. For me the cover is kind of part of the winter kit, along with the winter wheels, winter mats and autosocks in the trunk. My car also lives in a humidity controlled warm garage and I would never let such a nice car live outside.

But as said these engines shouldn't have a cover in the first place considering how smoking hot they get.

The only added value of the cover seems to be that it may protect against water that seeps in through the vents but that only seems relevant for cars that are left outside in rain or snow for extended periods.

 

The mechanics I know would not be working on the engine or peripherals without ripping that cover off first. Takes 20 seconds to do that but perhaps a mechanic will chime in and present an opinion.

To me, the so-called older design is a much better design that has a bit more curves and of course hides the ugly oil filter housing. As a matter of fact when my cover was taken off the day I bought the car I stared at the oil filter housing and mine was downright ugly with a gash on it from a wrench. I painted the housing black from the ugly grey and that also covered the stupid yellow dot on the top.

 

The service manual section on doing an oil change shows the engine cover removed. It's easy enough to pop off and allows better access to the filter. I also removed mine within a day or two of taking delivery of the car. I have thought that it would have been cool if Jaguar had painted the supercharger housing gold in homage to the way the E Type engines had gold paint on the top of the engine.

 

Sorry to revisit this old thread but I have been trying to identify and purchase the rubber (grommet?) that fits the appearance cover (underneath) so as to attach the cover to the two ball joints. Has anyone found these?

bond
2012 XF Portfolio