I recently purchase a 2011 XJ with 38k on the clock and it is pretty clean. Overall, very happy with the vehicle thus far. One feature that was installed was the leaper hood ornament. Upon review it was not installed correctly or had broken and was not properly fixed. I am not a huge fan of the leaper myself, thinking of options other than replacing it and interested in outside opinions. Current options are:

1. Replace the leaper hood ornament $189 on Amazon
2. Send out to body shop to fill and paint $500ish
3. Badge over with growler emblem: $25

 

$500 vs. $25, i would badge over it with the growler. I was never a fan of the leaper on these either, it just doesnt look right.

That being said, its kinda silly to have 2 growler logos within a foot of each other, so if you have the $500 to burn, that is going to be the best actual looking, IMO.

 

get rid of the leaper!!!

I hate the look of them on these rounded bodied cars. IMHO the leaper looks like someone stuck a dildoe on the hood of their XJ and drove around with it!

 

Tend to agree with 1bad55chevy it does look like a ***** and says more about the person driving than of the Jaguar Marque.

 

It's not stock and needs to go!
I agree that was for old Jags like my 2005 S Type R.
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I'd take it to the best body shop I could find, and have it properly removed.

Dwayne

 

This leaper thing is funny, because I once had a Mark 2 and loved the leaper. As you drove along there it was in front leading the way with the scenery flowing around the car reflected on the beautiful curves of the wings. Magic !!

However, when Jaguar brought out the Mark 10 they put a much smaller leaper onto it. This small leaper was also fitted onto the 420 (the last development of the Mark 2/S-type body shell). These also looked good with the styling approaching that of the XJ of 1968. This, however, didn't have a leaper because UK legislation made it difficult to fit one legally.

In the USA they can be legally fitted, and I have to say, on most of the new Jaguars the traditionally-sized leapers are a bit too big. What I did on my X350 XJ6 was buy chrome stick-on leapers (LH & RH), and put them on the wings behind the front wheel arches. These did look good, but needed replacement every 18 months as the salt got to them. Now I have an X358, these won't fit because of the stupid false vents on the wings. Not one of Ian Callum's best styling efforts !

 

Are you sure they're false on the X358? Regarding the X150, Callum said:

 

(X358) The wheel arch is completely sealed. Without pulling it off, the only thing the side vents could draw air through is the engine bay. But the engine bay is also sealed in that area. Personally, I don't understand how Ian Callum became so successful.
(Either that or you'd have to claim Jaguar couldn't solve a cooling problem like other cars)

As to the leaper, it went out with the XJ6 S1 with few exceptions. Although I'm not necessarily a fan of the X351, the "splattered leaper" on the back is just fine. I'm a fan of the leaper, which now consigns me to having one on a keychain ring.

And it beats me why the sequence goes X350 - X358 - X351, but we can surely "credit" Ian Callum.

 

My 2001 XJR had a beautiful factory installed leaper as did almost all x308s

 

I agree. But if you want to save around $500, here's another inexpensive alternative: badge over the hole with the Jaguar Heritage logo center cap. It's an easy DIY mod. Set of 4 delivered $20. See my ad in the Forum classifieds. PM me if you're interested.

Outside diameter 2-1/4", inside diameter across clips 2".

 

So far this year I've seen leapers on an X358, XK(150), and an F-Type!

 

The Leaper issues seems to be, "Whatever the traffic will bear" so to say.

 

Upon review, I found the leaper was being held on by a coat hanger (sweet). Ended up buying this
When it got to my house I found the secondary plug, designed for correct alignment, was not correctly aligned with the factory leaper.

I ended up using the the base from the OEM leaper and installed the leaper with spring from the new emblem.

All in all a success in my mind, fixed a saggy leaper for $20. Once I decide to drop more $$$$ into it I will most likely have it removed.

Thanks for all the input here!!!!