I love my F type R coupe except for one thing....... the shark fin antenna on the roof. I think it was Chris Bangle one of BMW's lead designers that introduced the now common place roof antenna that looks like a creature from the sea and sadly the bulk of the Auto industry followed his lead. I remember when the shark fin antenna was first placed on a BMW, I thought it was so awful and after all these years it still bothers me. I'm sure I am in the minority as most people tell me they like the fin on various cars but I just don't think it goes with the clean lines of the F type. For example, you don't see a fin on an Aston or a Ferrari because it would look out of place on such beautiful cars. Porsche finally caved a few years ago and added a small square with rounded corners on the roof which is still more tasteful than a fin that sticks up several inches. Our F types are so beautiful that I bought the car anyway because the rest of the car is just so stunning to look at and drive. My question is, does anyone know if our shark fin antenna is strictly for satellite radio or is it used for navigation and cell phones as well? I'm sure it won't be compatible but I want to explore the idea of going with the more low profile antenna found on the Jaguar 2009-2015 XKR and XFR. Curious to know what you guys think about our antenna's ? I never listen to satellite radio or FM radio, just the V8 for me.

 

The Roof Pod is for GPS, Digital Radio and Satellite Radio. You'll need to find something that the GPS will mount into, and something that will cover the hole in the roof as well. Below is a description of the antenna locations.







ItemDescription1Rear right quarter window glass TV antenna - TV antenna amplifier adjacent to the quarter window glass2FM2/VICS Antenna / FM2 Antenna Amplifier / Antenna Amplifier (Japan only)3Roof pod - GPS, Digital radio (L Band) and Satellite radio4AM foil antenna5AM/FM amplifier6FM wire antenna7Rear left quarter window antenna - TV/Digital radio antenna amplifier adjacent to the quarter window glass.8TV antenna amplifier9Front windshield TV antennas (mutually exclusive with heated front windshield)10VICS beacon antenna

 

This diagram you attached is very helpful, thank you ! I was hoping the antenna from the XKR would work. I know it will obviously cover the hole, I just have to find out if the antenna from the XKR will work with our cable for GPS and Radio. I will reach out to my Jaguar service advisor.

 

Well at least Jaguar had the good design sense to put it in the back in the middle unlike GMC who just slap it over the driver cab to save some wire...this really bugs me and I don't even have one!

 

OMG that truck antenna is hilariously bad !

Look how good our car looks without that wart on the roof.
The F type concept car shows how Ian Callum conceived the clean roofline before the
engineers got a hold of it. The shark fin really bums me out on such a classy design.
Hopefully, I can find another solution to an otherwise perfect car.

 

Check out the ride height on the concept. That too is how it should have come out of the factory.

 

S4OC, that bulge alternative is hideous. Until there's any more attractive alternative, I'll take the "fin".

 

I'll save you the hassle; the XK pod will not work on the F-TYPE. Just as an FYI, service advisors are usually not technical people so they aren't the people to ask when it comes down to super technical stuff.

Their job is job is to upsell service.

 

You could look into whatever the convertible has, as it has no roof antenna. I assume some of it is around the rear-view mirror.

 

WhiteTardis,

How do you know the antenna from the XK will not work on the F type ? Can you share what information you may have come across. Thanks for the help !

 

The wiring harnesses and connectors related to the nav/radio/sat radio for the F-TYPE and XK are completely different based off of the wiring diagrams for each car.

 

Well that sucks. I noticed the same roof pod from the XK was used on the XF from 2009-2015. My F type is a 2016 so I was hoping they did not make big changes to the connectors and cables from 2015 to 2016. Can you check the wiring diagrams for the XF.
Where are you finding these wiring diagrams by the way? I appreciate your help. My good friend is an electrical engineer and I would like to show him the diagrams you mentioned. I even noticed a Range Rover today with the same roof pod shown in the attached photo collage.

 

Anything you can buy from a JC Whitney catalog doesn't belong on this car.

 

Would love to get rid of the shark fin!

 

Hey guys,

I can’t seem to find anywhere here or online how to remove the shark fin antenna from my f type. Can anyone help?

 

Wouldn’t clear any speed bumps

 

agreed... this might be the cleanest/best solution.

 

I've had that panel off before. It was two years ago, but my recollection is that there is a place for a bowtie antenna of sorts that isn't fitted, at least for my market. I would prefer to not have the fin, but never investigated further. If a flat antenna could be installed, it should be a straightforward matter to fill the hole and wrap the panel with the (non-metallic) vinyl of choice.

 

Hi. I have the same problem. Purchased new part and ready to fit it but cannot find any guidance anywhere.
Did you ever get a response?

 

I don't have instructions handy but I know I did this once. I just looked at my own car and see six fasteners. There are two nuts visible when the hatch is opened, at the leading edge. Also, on each side is a small plastic cover that when removed, exposes two more, for a total of six. I can't remember if there are any others but I don't think so. I do not remember pulling off any interior panels from the liftgate. I do have a vague recollection of something like a butyl rubber seal in there.

Underneath is a styrofoam insert with an empty butterfly shaped recess that is probably for another market radio system (maybe Japan?). In any case, the service manual that OzFXR has posted clearly says the shark fin houses the GPS antenna, so I left it alone.