When I was shopping for my XJ, all the ones I saw had badly scuffed aluminum door sills. Mine isn't too bad but I want to refinish them.

Anyone done this to their XJ yet? Any tips you may want to offer for a savvy DIYer?

 

I haven't done it, but if I were to do it I would start with Scotch-brite 7440 H-D hand pad, then their 7446 blending pad, followed by their 6446 extra duty pad, and finally their 7447 general purpose pad. I would then have the sills clear hard anodized coated. Hard anodizing produces a hard, wear- and abrasion-resistant coating of aluminum oxide on the surface of aluminum alloys.

 

Hmm, that's interesting. I might try this and post the results.


Thanks, John!

 

Why not just get them chromed?

 

To chrome plate aluminum you need to use three layers, copper, nickle and then chrome, at a cost three times of hard anodizing. Defects, scratches, etc. will be GREATLY more noticeable after chrome plating, to the point of total distraction by and dissatisfaction with the end appearance.

A hard anodized coating will prove more durable as it goes into the aluminum as well as depositing on it. Copper/nickle/chrome plating is only decorative in nature, and would destroy the two-tone bright/matte appearance of the OEM Jaguar door sills.