bubbling dashboard on my XF
Veteran Member
Joined: May 2011
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Blackcoog, My dealer quoted 8 hours to RnR the dash ($1200 just for labor). Would really love to see your series of removal pics.
Also, I called around a few trim specialists, and was given crazy high quotes ($1500+) and told it won't look as good as factory. Who glued your dash?
Also, I called around a few trim specialists, and was given crazy high quotes ($1500+) and told it won't look as good as factory. Who glued your dash?
https://goo.gl/photos/YSGVfiVAYJN2sBfY7
I brought the dash and leather (which I removed) to a mom and pop upholstery shop and paid them $150 to glue it back down. I then re-installed it on my own. No issues since. It isn't perfect but it's damn close.
Last edited by Blackcoog; Feb 14, 2017 at 09:44 AM.
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Joined: Jan 2012
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From: Houston
Huge thanks for posting these pics!
But looking at the pics, I might have to break down and just pay for a new dash from a Jag parts specialist. The dash is everything when it comes to the appearance of the interior. It's so prominent.
Looking at your pics of the glued dash, you can see the double stitching is not lined up perfectly like the factory dash. I am guessing it's next to impossible for a trimmer to get it perfect using the type of contact cement that they use versus the factory's vacuum method.
I might still try to have mine glued, and if it doesn't look good, I will just have to eat the $200-$300 cost and cough up 10x that for a factory dash.
But looking at the pics, I might have to break down and just pay for a new dash from a Jag parts specialist. The dash is everything when it comes to the appearance of the interior. It's so prominent.
Looking at your pics of the glued dash, you can see the double stitching is not lined up perfectly like the factory dash. I am guessing it's next to impossible for a trimmer to get it perfect using the type of contact cement that they use versus the factory's vacuum method.
I might still try to have mine glued, and if it doesn't look good, I will just have to eat the $200-$300 cost and cough up 10x that for a factory dash.
I'm not sure how much this will help but I created an album with all of the dash removal pictures I took. I was attempting to snap a photo of every bolt I took out so I could go in reverse order when re-installing. That means the pictures are in order for removal. The difficult part is trying to figure out which bolt each picture is referring to since some pictures have more than a few in them. I started pointing at them to make it easier. I should have done that the entire time. I went through and added a comments to try and help those looking at the pictures. Watch that You-tube XF dash removal video. It gives some pointers and is a good starting point.
https://goo.gl/photos/YSGVfiVAYJN2sBfY7
I brought the dash and leather (which I removed) to a mom and pop upholstery shop and paid them $150 to glue it back down. I then re-installed it on my own. No issues since. It isn't perfect but it's damn close.
https://goo.gl/photos/YSGVfiVAYJN2sBfY7
I brought the dash and leather (which I removed) to a mom and pop upholstery shop and paid them $150 to glue it back down. I then re-installed it on my own. No issues since. It isn't perfect but it's damn close.
Veteran Member
Joined: Jan 2012
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From: Houston
Did you negotiate with the dealer or the manufacturer? Tell us more about your technique?
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 9
Likes: 1
From: San Diego, CA
Bubbling Dash on 2011 Jaguar XF
Anyone know of an upholstery shop in the San Diego, CA area that has experience fixing bubbling dashes without replacing the entire thing? I don't want to pay $3000 to the dealer or to a near-dealer.
Thanks.
TKnock
Thanks.
TKnock
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 5
Likes: 2
From: Los Angeles
Go at Jaguar Head Office
I do not know of anyone in SD, however, I can confirm after repeatedly beating Jaguar of North America head office, I got them to replace it, with parts and labor for $600, despite the fact it ought to be FREE/Covered as a defect.
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In other news, after test driving a 2018 XF, XE, F Pace, F Type.. I was so disappointed by the poor attention to detail, antiquated controls, cheap plastic switches, poor ergonomics, that I was forced to go with a sedan that, if we changed the emblem, it is what the Jaguar XF SHOULD have been.
Please go test drive the Volvo S90 T6 Inscription with the B&W audio system. Ensure the car is loaded (around $69K), and see what you think.
Ex Volvo Hater,
Dahmooser
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In other news, after test driving a 2018 XF, XE, F Pace, F Type.. I was so disappointed by the poor attention to detail, antiquated controls, cheap plastic switches, poor ergonomics, that I was forced to go with a sedan that, if we changed the emblem, it is what the Jaguar XF SHOULD have been.
Please go test drive the Volvo S90 T6 Inscription with the B&W audio system. Ensure the car is loaded (around $69K), and see what you think.
Ex Volvo Hater,
Dahmooser
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,873
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From: Houston
And loaded, it specs out closer to $80K for a 4 cyl, which is something I can't look past either, no matter what it does 0-60.
Veteran Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,766
Likes: 246
From: Boston
>I was so disappointed by the poor attention to detail, antiquated controls, cheap plastic switches, poor ergonomics, that I
jumped when I found a '15 Portfolio with 17K miles and 30 months left on the warranty...
I don't know what TATA is thinking but they really step up their interior game
================================================== =
You dreamed of a big star -
He played a mean guitar -
He loved to drive his Jaguar...
So welcome to the machine
jumped when I found a '15 Portfolio with 17K miles and 30 months left on the warranty...
I don't know what TATA is thinking but they really step up their interior game
================================================== =
You dreamed of a big star -
He played a mean guitar -
He loved to drive his Jaguar...
So welcome to the machine
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 5
Likes: 2
From: Los Angeles
I could never get past the old man exterior and interior styling of that Volvo no matter how well it drives. Were they trying to channel the 70's Buicks and Mercury's??
And loaded, it specs out closer to $80K for a 4 cyl, which is something I can't look past either, no matter what it does 0-60.
And loaded, it specs out closer to $80K for a 4 cyl, which is something I can't look past either, no matter what it does 0-60.
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No kidding? Interesting how ideas of what looks good and what doesn't as well as our impressions can be so diverse! Did you go online and look at the 2018 S90?
The S90 isn't the looks of a Rolls, but, I think it's as good as anything out there. And everyone I've shown the car to, Porshe/Jag/Benz/BMW owner friends are all blown away by quality and style. Yes, it's 80K if you get the T8 electrified version. I got mine for far less (about 10K) that the 69K under a special plan with Costco as well as an incentive by Volvo itself.
Oh, and it does have a chilled glovebox capable of housing two wine bottles..
(crap, I sound like some kind of Volvo salesman! I'm not, I'm just so happy, like I was with my 2009 XF S)
Anyway, regarding the bubbling. You simply have to keep complaining to the North American Jaguar office NOT the dealership.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 278
Likes: 22
From: Dallas, TX
I have a 2012 XF Portfolio that had the bubbling issue. What I read here about Jaguar's unwillingness to cover the repair was discouraging. When I took it to my local dealer and explained the issue, the advisor said Jaguar simply wouldn't cover it so I might want to consider getting it recovered by an upholstery shop. I did price that out and fully intended to go that right.
But a few months passed and the car was due for service earlier this year so I took it a different dealer, closer to my job and figured I'd bring up the dash issue while there. The advisor said he'd try to get it covered under warranty but wasn't sure.
In the end, it was covered by warranty at no charge to me. I'm well beyond the original warranty but the repair was covered under the CPO warranty.
I feel fortunate.
But a few months passed and the car was due for service earlier this year so I took it a different dealer, closer to my job and figured I'd bring up the dash issue while there. The advisor said he'd try to get it covered under warranty but wasn't sure.
In the end, it was covered by warranty at no charge to me. I'm well beyond the original warranty but the repair was covered under the CPO warranty.
I feel fortunate.
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,873
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From: Houston
I didn't have any extended warranty, and the dealers here won't give anything away for free, so I had to pay half a very large bill with a 50/50 split with Jag USA to get a perfect dashboard. I wasn't going the glue route after seeing the results of another poster. It was a lot to pay, but the car has been so good to me, that it was worth it. Now both dashes have been replaced. The first one under warranty. If I was smart, I would have pulled off the grill on the speaker and started pulling up the dash on the second car while it was still under warranty given that it's guaranteed to happen in the Texas climate. Oh well, next lifetime I will do that.
The most disturbing part is how Jaguar USA is jacking up the price of the dashboard part to pay for all the goodwill and warranty replacements. It's trending at about double the price from a few years ago, which is pretty crazy since they should be selling them for less than before to makeup for their mistake of using the wrong glue.
The most disturbing part is how Jaguar USA is jacking up the price of the dashboard part to pay for all the goodwill and warranty replacements. It's trending at about double the price from a few years ago, which is pretty crazy since they should be selling them for less than before to makeup for their mistake of using the wrong glue.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 26
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From: Sterling, Va.
I'm going to catch flak for this, but so be it.
Safety issue? C'mon.. really? Temporary blindness? Holy cow.
It's ugly, yes.
Should it be happening in a luxury brand (or any for that matter), no.
Even with that being the case, trying to get someone else to pay the bill by claiming that the light bouncing off the rippled leather causes blindness is, frankly, abuse of the system.
There. I said it.
If Jaguar wants to attract or retain customers, they should be addressing this. It was an issue with my car and I had it replaced under warranty. But having said that, my dealership goes to bat for me and worst case addresses issues like this themselves. They also sell Rolls, Bentley, Maserati, etc., so they know the caliber of service people expect when buying those brands.
If my warranty was up, or specifically did not cover the issue, I'd be pissed, but I'd get it fixed using my own research and selection of a partner company or specialist. I'd pay the bill and move on. Maybe with a Jag, maybe not.
We all make choices about warranty. For me and my family, we put value on having a warranty. We pay for new vehicles and usually sell them before the warranty is up. If you want guarantees, buy new and and then comprehensive extended warranty. If not, unfortunately you need to take your lumps and move on.
My two cents...
Safety issue? C'mon.. really? Temporary blindness? Holy cow.
It's ugly, yes.
Should it be happening in a luxury brand (or any for that matter), no.
Even with that being the case, trying to get someone else to pay the bill by claiming that the light bouncing off the rippled leather causes blindness is, frankly, abuse of the system.
There. I said it.
If Jaguar wants to attract or retain customers, they should be addressing this. It was an issue with my car and I had it replaced under warranty. But having said that, my dealership goes to bat for me and worst case addresses issues like this themselves. They also sell Rolls, Bentley, Maserati, etc., so they know the caliber of service people expect when buying those brands.
If my warranty was up, or specifically did not cover the issue, I'd be pissed, but I'd get it fixed using my own research and selection of a partner company or specialist. I'd pay the bill and move on. Maybe with a Jag, maybe not.
We all make choices about warranty. For me and my family, we put value on having a warranty. We pay for new vehicles and usually sell them before the warranty is up. If you want guarantees, buy new and and then comprehensive extended warranty. If not, unfortunately you need to take your lumps and move on.
My two cents...
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 102
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ha!
I was quoted a price of 6000+ to fix the dash 😂
this was at jaguar of beorne, tx...
they didn't even fix any of the tsb's for the sun roof rattling and a couple other things since the car was old (12 xf port)
so I guess I'll have to live with that rattling and the bubbled dash as well.. but I never noticed that on the dash until after my car was returned to me after it was stolen from from dealership a while back 🤷🏻♂️
this was at jaguar of beorne, tx...
they didn't even fix any of the tsb's for the sun roof rattling and a couple other things since the car was old (12 xf port)
so I guess I'll have to live with that rattling and the bubbled dash as well.. but I never noticed that on the dash until after my car was returned to me after it was stolen from from dealership a while back 🤷🏻♂️
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 7
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From: bel air md
my 2012 has the dash problem mainly on the driver's side half of the dash. I talked to the dealer who would not cover the repair. I asked them what the cost would be - ovre $3000 for a new dash and over $1,500 for labor.
Veteran Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,555
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From: Boston, MA USA
It's hard to imagine any manufacturer covering a cosmetic dash repair on a ten year old car
But if you take out the dash you can get an upholstery shop to reglue and staple for a fraction of the cost.
But if you take out the dash you can get an upholstery shop to reglue and staple for a fraction of the cost.
Mine has begun pulling away from the leading edge at the glass. Once I noticed it I started applying mineral oil to the dash. That softened it and slowed the shrinking process. In doing so it has given me the extra time I need before I have time to replace it. I hope this helps.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Sterling, Va.
Since this is a workmanship and materials defect issue on far more than 50% of all these cars sold, this should be covered retroactively as a repair or replacement with upgraded parts and the labor to perform said repairs. This should not even be considered an issue that we have to pay for out of pocket.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Sterling, Va.
A defect is a defect, cosmetic or not.