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That is the most forceful reason. My wife always wants something newer too. Now that I have both a 1995 X300 and and 2005 X350, and when the X350 now starts drawing attention for repairs, wife says the same thing. In my case, the pilot has the final say. The wife's wish is only a convenient excuse - I have been trying hard to convince her that depreciation of newer cars, rather than down time and periodic repairs of trusted models, is the real wallet-breaker in car ownership.
Installed a new Uro cup holder and removed the rear seats and parcel shelf so I could get at the rear speaker. Removed the speaker and re-glued it. Hopefully this will stop the awful rattle that has been coming from the back.
My body colored (Titanium) painted side/wing mirror covers were exhibiting some pretty severe paint failure after 20 years, with both the clear and color base peeling off.
I've personally never been a huge fan of the painted mirror covers, instead preferring the chrome covers.
Now, on the XJR, most of the chrome trim such as on the grill and trunk garnish are also body colored, but on at least the Titanium colored cars in the US this was not the case. On that color combination the US XJRs have chrome exterior trim just like any other XJ6/XJ12 except the side/wing mirrors being painted.
You can see that exemplified at the following link, and yes they have the color mislabeled as "Kingfisher Blue" versus the actual "Titanium". I've asked them for years to fix it, but to no avail
So instead of getting my covers repainted for a couple hundred $$ or more, or spending $150 each for OEM chrome covers, I thought I'd first try some of the cheap "stuck on" chrome covers since regardless I'd have to repaint or replace my existing covers anyway.
But even "cheap" many of these cover kits were about $100 for the pair, which I thought was too expensive since I suspected they would be poor quality in fit and finish, but I found some in Germany for about $30/pair.
So long story short, these things are great. They fit the stock mirror shape and contour almost perfectly. And the chrome and general finish all around is very good. They come with 3M tape to adhere them, which probably works fine. But I pulled the tape off and used epoxy, so they're never coming off. BTW, they are glued to the OEM installed cover, so they CAN come off, but the same way the original cover comes off.
I don't know how long the inexpensive chrome finish will hold up to the elements, but for $30 I'm willing to see. Worst case I still have to buy some of the OEM chrome caps one day and snap them on.
I'll try to remember to get some photos, but for anyone that doesn't know better, they look OEM. And although they are glued/stuck on top of the existing cover, they don't look wrong from the outside or most importantly from the drivers perspective. There of course is a small raised chrome lip around the mirror housing, but it looks reasonably factory if you don't know better.
If you are looking for an inexpensive way to clean up damaged mirrors, I recommend considering these.
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Last edited by al_roethlisberger; Jun 11, 2017 at 07:43 AM.
Uro, not Euro, is a brand. Universally I would NEVER buy URO products as my experience is they are crap but, they are the only one, other than Jaguar themselves, that makes a replacement cup holder.
That is the most forceful reason. My wife always wants something newer too. Now that I have both a 1995 X300 and and 2005 X350, and when the X350 now starts drawing attention for repairs, wife says the same thing. In my case, the pilot has the final say. The wife's wish is only a convenient excuse - I have been trying hard to convince her that depreciation of newer cars, rather than down time and periodic repairs of trusted models, is the real wallet-breaker in car ownership.
headlamps had condensation and reflectors were dull,removed and poured,"windex",into opening,sloshed it around,used a fan to help it dry,much better,much brighter...
The X308 series of headlight assembly will from what I have read fit the X300 . The X300 design is inferior to the X308 in terms of the silvering on the back coming off as you clean them . The glass may or may not be softer to resist the chipping . I polished my glass off with 1000 grit wet sandpaper and drill to little improvement . You can possibly do the polishing and then spray a clear coat paint over the glass ( and fill the chips ) and it may or may not be effected by the heat . There are post and instruction elsewhere on this forum covering this X300 / X308 swap . I have given up on the X300 series and will go with the X308 . If you let the salvage yard know that you want some things off of a X308 they will E-mail you as one comes in or they can be found on E - bay . Before you remove the assembly mark the up 12 O'clock position on both the chrome rings and the lens for they can be very difficult to install correctly to follow the form of the sheet metal and the Valeo label will be oriented correctly . A clue that you got it right is the chrome will stick out evenly all around the sheet metal holes they come through as in pick above . Been there done that . Before popping the assembly out of the bracket ball pawls spray with some lubricant before you break them , very bad . Put a long screwdriver behind the the pawls and carefully pop them loose . Good time to polish the chrome and lubricate the lens aiming adjustment screws .The head headlight wiring I believe will have to be modified as do the Tail lights as they fit also with better wider plastic chrome . The plastic tail lights as well as the all marker lights can be polished out as you remove them with one of those plastic lens repair kits and makes a big difference . My Lady P had the mounting brackets on both sides busted by the previous owner .
Any questions , just ask
Thanks , Parker
Last edited by Lady Penelope; Jun 16, 2017 at 06:56 PM.
I don't worry too much about headlights, as my cars seem to get though them at the rate of 2 or 3 a year, smashed by stones thrown up by other cars.
It is getting expensive - NZD$250 per secondhand light! New, they are apparently about 250 pounds stirling from the UK
Nothing exciting today, Changed oil and filter, cleaned air filter and added some injector cleaner.
While I had it up I also installed a new front undertray, I think I'm averaging one a year as this is the third I've replaced after purchasing the X300 with one being held together with cable ties.
From the previous post just wanted to add that I've already done the X308 tail light upgrade on my X300 and have had a set of X308 head light that I've been meaning to get around to fitting as well.
To look at and compare side by side they appear to be a direct changeover and dimensionally the same. The wiring loom and globes are different however I was lucky enough to pick up the loom of an X308 with the lights.
all my lenses are heavily pitted,due to 200,000 miles of use,any suggestions on repair???
Be aware that while the X308 lens assemblies will technically fit and snap into the X300 plastic brackets, the "parking/city light" is moved to the high beam on the X308 lens and may hit the side of the bracket cutout making it very difficult to change and subject to breaking as the socket is very brittle. If fitting the X308 headlight lenses, I therefore recommend also fitting the X308 plastic headlight brackets as that has the correct cutout for the modified bulb sockets.
Also be aware that the X308 lenses use a different bulb and the connector is different. So you have to either cut off our your X300 headlight connectors and connect the X308 bulb socket connectors, or do like I've done and build a converter connection from X300 to X308 that is plug & play as I don't like cutting stock harnesses.
The other challenge with used X308 lenses is that they usually are "sand blasted" too. I've bought several uses lenses over the years and they all are a mess, and the chipping is very noticeable being clear versus fluted like on the 300. While there are methods I've seen employed to polish lenses, it seems like a lot of work and I'm suspect to what that means once the glass is thinned out.
So I'd also recommend keeping an eye out for some new or gently used X308 lenses or complete headlight assembly.
Normally the new headlights are $500-600 as a set per side, and can be $100-200 per lens new. So they are very expensive new. But if you keep an eye out on eBay you can occasionally find a new lens or set for a lot less. It may take a few months or year to assemble a full set affordably this way, but it can be done if you keep checking.
And finally, once you get a set of un-chipped lenses, I'd recommend some clear headlight lens protector vinyl that just sticks on. There are several vendors that sell kits specific to the car, or others that sell generic round pieces based on diameter. This will keep the lenses defended from rocks and keep them like new so you don't have to revisit this process in a few years.
Good luck!
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Last edited by al_roethlisberger; Jun 17, 2017 at 12:10 PM.
polished the rear tailight lenses,started with system one cutting polish
,power drill 1000,2000,3000,4000 grit foam pads and finished with micro fiber cloth...much better now. before
Nice difference . May or may not be aware that the chrome rings around the tail light can be removed from the color lens body and protects the plastic chrome material from buffing damage . The crack can be repaired at this time as you can flex the crack as a glue ( recommendations on which ones ? ) wicks or seeps in , block sanding the access off . Look at an X308 and you will see the amazing difference their headlights make in the upgraded design . My Lady Penelope keeps whispering in my ear that she wants them . As an solution to the chipping of the X300 design Al_Roethlisberger has good tips but my reflector chrome is too far gone . As you clean and polish the side marker lights you may want to clean the area connectors you see and protect them with some bulb grease for I found mine in bad shape and intermittent .
Thanks , Parker
Last edited by Lady Penelope; Jun 18, 2017 at 12:50 PM.
Nice Job, I know it may be a little vain but one of the primary reasons I changed out my X300 taillights for a set off an X308. was for the chrome trimming, Also my original red ones were well passed they're used by date.
