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An interesting spot! Any idea whether cars -52 and -53 are Portfolios and in Australia?
Today I drove and enjoyed life, until I noticed my headlights were looking a bit cloudy on the upper part. I had noticed this before, but it seemed to disappear when wiped with a wet sponge, though now I realized it soon re-appeared. I was rather shocked when I had a closer look:
What is this? Have the headlights perhaps been polished before (maybe right before I bought the car half a year ago) and this is some crappy clearcoat job failing?
My previous 2007 XK had this in the worst way. It looked like it was sandblasted. I bought the car knowing it had that damage. Luckily.. it can be fixed by wet sanding and polishing. I had a mobile service do it for $120 (he spent hours working on them). It made them look brand new. The crazing look isn’t the most common repair (the guy was nervous as he didn’t know if he could fix it). Wet sanding through the various grits did wonders. Here’s a before and after pic.
Reverse Park Assist Camera activated!!! Stoked about this one!!!
Thanks to Cambo for the SDD and instructions, Jahummer for the parts list and some of the parts as well, and to Cee Jay for helping me along the past week... No way this gets done without you guys, I owe you all.
Thanks,
Aaron
Today I spent half an hour and an irrational amount of money on two small pieces of Jaguar-branded plastic to make an aesthetic change that probably no one I know will notice. It wasn't necessarily that much money, but it's pretty ridiculous for what it is and is one of those things that you do when the wife is asleep so that you don't have to try to explain why it was something that just needed to be done. The good news is I think I'm finally done fiddling with the car's aesthetics and have it pretty much where I want it
Last edited by Simon Tan; May 15, 2018 at 11:52 PM.
A cheap one, but I was happy to find one quick that was an upside down mount and bought it quick. I can always buy a better one and swap it now that the hard part is done.
Are those clear? I thought you couldn't buy clear side markers here.
I thought the same thing after reading some of the previous threads, but there were actually quite a few places in the US stocking them when I looked up the part numbers. Those links are to the best place I found including shipping. Got 'em in 2 business days.
Are those clear? I thought you couldn't buy clear side markers here.
Well, I guess you can buy them, but that doesn’t make them legal, unless Standard No. 108 was revised to allow them. The regulation originally said ‘amber’ color for those in the front side of the car.
Today I spent half an hour and an irrational amount of money on two small pieces of Jaguar-branded plastic to make an aesthetic change that probably no one I know will notice. It wasn't necessarily that much money, but it's pretty ridiculous for what it is and is one of those things that you do when the wife is asleep so that you don't have to try to explain why it was something that just needed to be done. The good news is I think I'm finally done fiddling with the car's aesthetics and have it pretty much where I want it
Looks great! One of the best upgrades I did to my XKR. As stated, they were much easier to get than I thought. 2-3 days.
Well, I guess you can buy them, but that doesn’t make them legal, unless Standard No. 108 was revised to allow them. The regulation originally said ‘amber’ color for those in the front side of the car.
I guess you can call me a rebel, but I've also been living on the wrong side of the law for years now with no front license plate on any of my cars
I wonder what % of cops are even aware of Standard No. 108.
Last edited by Simon Tan; May 16, 2018 at 08:11 AM.
A cheap one, but I was happy to find one quick that was an upside down mount and bought it quick. I can always buy a better one and swap it now that the hard part is done.
Yes mine is a cheap one from amazon as well... I picked up this one
and installed it into an OEM plinth/finisher I bought second hand from Jahummer. It's probably not as good as OEM, but I wasn't even going to entertain an OEM camera before knowing I could get it working. I think I have about $500 into the reverse camera already... But I am extremely happy to finally get it working.
Reverse Park Assist Camera activated!!! Stoked about this one!!!
Aaron
Originally Posted by Cee Jay
Exactly what brand of camera do you have installed? The screen looks a lot like mine...
Noauka by any chance?
A cheap one, but I was happy to find one quick that was an upside down mount and bought it quick. I can always buy a better one and swap it now that the hard part is done.
Originally Posted by TexasTraveler
Yes mine is a cheap one from amazon as well... I picked up this one https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and installed it into an OEM plinth/finisher I bought second hand from Jahummer. It's probably not as good as OEM, but I wasn't even going to entertain an OEM camera before knowing I could get it working. I think I have about $500 into the reverse camera already... But I am extremely happy to finally get it working.
Nice job, Cee Jay and TT! I highly doubt the OEM camera Jaguar spec'd 6 years ago is any better than what you guys got. Here's a pic of the image from the OEM camera in perfect bright light conditions. In the dark, it's even grainier.
Took some pics today. All that polishing and we’ve had 4 days of rain/ clouds in S Fla. I’ll take some pics when the Sun comes out.
I did paint the calipers last week with G2 caliper paint. I used a Porsche GT metallic color (metallic as a brush on didn’t turn out a well as I would have liked.. I’ll try another color this summer). Just thought I’d share.
When I got the car, it had OEM silver grills. I didn’t mind it, but with the polished Oronas, it was a little too much. I didn’t like the Oronas on the XK.. but I’m starting to like them more. The polished seems to be more rare than the painted versions. I think it works well with Ultimate Black Mettalic. I’m also eyeing those upgraded hood vents.. cool mod.
When I got the car, it had OEM silver grills. I didn’t mind it, but with the polished Oronas, it was a little too much. I didn’t like the Oronas on the XK.. but I’m starting to like them more. The polished seems to be more rare than the painted versions. I think it works well with Ultimate Black Mettalic. I’m also eyeing those upgraded hood vents.. cool mod.
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The optional hood vents are definitely a nice upgrade - probably even more so on a dark car like yours. The black mesh and chrome would match your black grill with chrome surrounds perfectly.
Clear acrylic tends to haze over time; UV damage softens it and then it picks up scratches & pitting. Toothpaste, particularly baking powder types, is the answer - does a great job of polishing acrylics.
Originally Posted by Cee Jay
I usually go the body-work way. Wet sand with first 400 to get the majority of crap off, then 1000, 1500 and finally 3000. After that, polishing compound.
Of course, then a clear coat of some kind will be needed, one with UV protection.
Aon, yours does look like a failed clear coat.
Originally Posted by S-Typer
My previous 2007 XK had this in the worst way. It looked like it was sandblasted. I bought the car knowing it had that damage. Luckily.. it can be fixed by wet sanding and polishing. I had a mobile service do it for $120 (he spent hours working on them). It made them look brand new. The crazing look isn’t the most common repair (the guy was nervous as he didn’t know if he could fix it). Wet sanding through the various grits did wonders. Here’s a before and after pic.
Thank you all! The replies, and the photos, went to a big way of alleviating fears of headlight replacement. S-Typer, yours did indeed look worse off than mine, area-wise, not sure of the depth of the crazing though. Were they clear coated after polishing?
Today I took the car to a recommended body shop for them to take a look at it. They tried polishing it a bit as a test, but said it requires sanding. Clear coating will also be done. To make things easier, I'll remove the headlight units and take only them to the shop.
Originally Posted by S-Typer
When I got the car, it had OEM silver grills. I didn’t mind it, but with the polished Oronas, it was a little too much. I didn’t like the Oronas on the XK.. but I’m starting to like them more. The polished seems to be more rare than the painted versions. I think it works well with Ultimate Black Mettalic. I’m also eyeing those upgraded hood vents.. cool mod.
Your car looks great; I like the lack of colour. The polished wheels go well with the chrome details on the car, and I do like the silver calipers. I might have to copy that...
Yes mine is a cheap one from amazon as well... I picked up this one https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and installed it into an OEM plinth/finisher I bought second hand from Jahummer. It's probably not as good as OEM, but I wasn't even going to entertain an OEM camera before knowing I could get it working. I think I have about $500 into the reverse camera already... But I am extremely happy to finally get it working.
The OEM camera is not that great and not worth the price. I also don’t have guidelines like yours because the OEM requires LIN.
As an added bonus you also got updated LED plate lamps and hatch release too!
As an added bonus you also got updated LED plate lamps and hatch release too!
Touche... That was a nice addition, thank you sir... I also have a plinth/finisher that is body paint color now as well, which I really like... I would do it again....
Thank you all! The replies, and the photos, went to a big way of alleviating fears of headlight replacement. S-Typer, yours did indeed look worse off than mine, area-wise, not sure of the depth of the crazing though. Were they clear coated after polishing?
Today I took the car to a recommended body shop for them to take a look at it. They tried polishing it a bit as a test, but said it requires sanding. Clear coating will also be done. To make things easier, I'll remove the headlight units and take only them to the shop.
Your car looks great; I like the lack of colour. The polished wheels go well with the chrome details on the car, and I do like the silver calipers. I might have to copy that...
Thanks!
The body shops I went to thought my lights were beyond repair. After the wet sanding and polishing.. the mobile guy did a self leveling clearcoat (thin clear.. made in Germany he said).
It was supposed to last a year or two before another application. It held up great as long as I had the car.
The body shops I went to thought my lights were beyond repair. After the wet sanding and polishing.. the mobile guy did a self leveling clearcoat (thin clear.. made in Germany he said).
It was supposed to last a year or two before another application. It held up great as long as I had the car.
Good to hear, this pretty much mirrors my experience so far as the guy who looked at the lights seemed to think they may be beyond saving. He said they use the same clearcoat on headlights as they do on paint, so it ought to last. Some places here advertise that the clearcoat they put on headlights is as good or better than the factory one.
But I am extremely happy to finally get it working.
