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For 14 years I've been lifting the boot lid from the edge of the rear spoiler.
Finally cracked off today after grabbing it from that edge again.. The piece that extends over the rear mudguard just snapped off.
Not easy to glue back together.
Looks like the spoiler assembly is in two pieces, a base and the top part. Anyone know if it's stuck or screwed on to the boot lid?
Spent a bit of time assessing the situation. Noticed that the spoiler adhesive/mastic has broken away. The X202 spoiler pokes through five holes in the boot. Held in by the adhesive and by the spoilers base flimsy and partly broken four clips. Still unsure whether the spoiler is a two piece assembly. Couldn't find any accurate diagrams so will have to pull the whole thing off.
Probably just as well as since the adhesive's broken down it's now letting moisture in the boot and due to water and moisture ingress its started to form minor rust around the spoiler holes in the boot lid; a bigger problem.
Still love to know if anyone's attempted this before. Some photos below:
Don't ever grab the spoiler by the corner! Centre boot hole. This one probably jut to help align it up. Spoiler must be in two pieces. LH inner hole. Smaller clip. One flap found broken. No one has touched the car here before. RH inner hole. One flap also broken RH outer hole. Looks like the outer hole clips are larger. Top flap also broken. Showing evidence of moisture ingress and start of corrosion. Boot rubber stop also visible in photo. Rear of vehicle. Not sure if its an adhesive or tape.
Managed to only find the X204 spoiler instructions. Can't tell if its only stuck on.
The 2004 built (05 model year) STR spoiler is not the same as the early version. (The change was on VIN13088)
The later one is fixed on with double sided tape and does not go past the edge of the boot.
The earlier version does have internal fixings, the later one does not.
The earlier spoiler is in two parts, the later one is in one part.
The boot shape is also changed so the two spoilers are not interchangable.
Mellow
Last edited by M-e-l-l-o-w; Dec 12, 2022 at 09:33 AM.
The back half of my 04 STR was hit by a wild hail storm in July 2022. The hail ***** obliterated my rear spoiler (Along with about 30 big hail dents in the trunk lid and quarter panels.) Insurance wants/ed to total the car.
(4 of my other Jaguars were totaled by our insurance company, I purchased back one of them for my winter driver, and the other 3 went bye-bye.)
I've been looking for a replacement trunk and spoiler for my car since July 2022.
Regarding the spoiler, I believe that they are manufactured out of cheap-*** plastic that deteriorates over the years, until it becomes very brittle. I am worried that if I end up purchasing another 15 year old spoiler that it will be rotten.
If anyone knows of an aftermarket OEM 03-04 shaped aftermarket one that is still available let me know. (Not the Arden, or Polish one off of Ebay.)
Same damage on my S type R by unknow parties.
I ordered from these guys painted when I was on vacation in Virginia as they don't ship to Australia. Was able to bring it back checked baggage.
Fixing is double sided tape.
After my last post, I found an OEM 03 rear spoiler for sale on Flea-bay. Since this spoiler would be 20 years old, I am/was concerned about the condition of the plastic more than the paint. I wrote the seller asking specifically if there were any cracks in the spoiler and how the condition of the mounting tabs. Here was the seller's response.
"Trunk lid spoiler is already removed , all tabs are on and not broken, no cracks.."
I received the spoiler 3 days ago. Guess what, there is a crack in the most prevalent area for our spoilers to crack, and 2 of the tabs are broke off. I immediately wrote the seller commenting that the spoiler is cracked, and tabs are broken. I suspect, like so many used car parts sellers do, there is a low wage employee that strips the parts off the vehicle, and then inspects their condition. Then, so that the part puller doesn't look bad doing their job, they mark the parts as being in great condition. Then the seller, who is trying to sell the parts, reads that the part is in great condition, and does not even look at the parts they are selling.
Over the weekend, I tried to seal the crack. First I tried Gorilla super glue. Didn't work. Next I tried Gorilla Glue, waited 24 hours, didn't hold.
Now I am looking at trying to find a low viscosity/liquid glue that will bond to the plastic. I believe that trying epoxies will not work because epoxy will be to thick to get enough into the crack to bond and seal it.
Yes, that's the same end spot where mine broke off, just on the other side; RHS, drivers side, the side where the driver hops out and grabs the boot! The crack you show is on the LHS, being a LHD car.
Possible though its transit or removal damage as you've mentioned. They should give it to you for free!
As I mentioned mine broke off on that end spot because I regularly kept grabbing the boot from the spoiler ends.
I wouldn't call the spoiler ends technically a weak spot BUT most will grab to shut the boot from the ends and that's where the problem lies and makes it a weak spot.
Tijoe, you don't mention whether you've been able to separate the spoiler into its two parts. Doing so I would've thought would expose the underneath of the top half of the spoiler where your crack is. This should give you the ability to glue AND reinforce it from underneath; perhaps with a heated steel brace that would slightly melt into the plastic.
As per my first photo the factory did place a bit of glue under my RH top end of the spoiler but its only a marginal amount; it needed far more glue under my RH end. I plan to reinforce the underneath of the top half of the spoiler of the other non broken end when I manage (if I manage!) to separate the spoiler in its two pieces.
Epoxy is probably going to be your best bet even though it may not get all the way into the crack. Although I don't like the idea of possibly weakening the epoxy by putting in a heated brace underneath after the epoxy sets. Maybe set the crack in epoxy first and then epoxy in a brace/s underneath instead of using heat? I have the same challenge..
As I've shown, broken clips do little in holding in the base/bottom half of the spoiler in place, with the tape appearing to do all the holding. Both my clips were broken with the spoiler never having been removed.
Had a look at West Aussie's link for the 'Carid' retailer. Not cheap, its in fiberglass, don't know if its in two pieces or how original it looks etc etc..
I too a careful look at my hail damaged/destroyed spoiler to see how the 2 pieces are affixed to each other. The inner piece and outer piece are bonded to each other. No way would I ever try to take the one I purchased apart.
The plastic on the spoiler I removed from my STR is so rotten the all I have to to is touch it and it shatters. I suspect that the used one I just purchased is probably about as fragile.
(In the first 2 images, I circled areas where there is adhesive holding the 2 parts together.)
In the third image, I think I will figure out a way to bond/glue/secure/reinforce the outer painted section to the inner support piece. Circled in red
I forgot to comment: I will experiment with my destroyed spoiler pieces to find out what product/s work best to bond the crack and reinforce the bottom area I circled in my last post.
I wonder if filling the cavity with P40 (stranded fibreglass filler) on both broken pieces and joining them together immediately (whilst still wet) would work. Of course, it would need some filing, sanding and painting afterwards to make the repair invisible.
I tried something similar years ago on my Alfa Romeo spoiler. The fix lasted until I wrote the car off, seven years later.
Mmm, great news that the upper and lower pieces are bonded/glued together.. I should have guessed that.
The plastic used is very thick and strong but appears to have poor tensile or impact strength.
Bonding the crack in that area you've circled does seem like a good idea if you can work out an appropriate adhesive.
In my case, looks like I may need to glue in an internal bridge protruding out first to give some support. Let that set and then glue in the small broken end piece.
Rear Spoiler STR
