I had grown frustrated with the numerous scratches and scuffs on the soft-touch rear AC panel trim of my vehicle whereas the rest of the interior looks really nice. It astonishes me that so many surfaces in automobiles are crafted from this terrible material. As a solution, I acquired the leather wrapped version from a damaged Supersport and successfully incorporated it into my XJL, where it blends seamlessly with the existing interior. I think it looks rather nice.

I will provide a detail of the replacement process, even though it may appear to be a straightforward task.

I also intend to "fix" the original trim (remove all the sticky bits) and give it a new coat of paint and put it up for sale on ebay. Could you recommend the most suitable spray paint for this task?

Tools required: Plastic tool to pry trim, torx screwdriver, towels, tweezers

See pictures below.


Before



After



Before. To remove the panel, pry around the bottom area using a plastic tool to release 2 tabs located at the bottom (see image further down below). To release tabs at the top, you will need to raise the storage compartment cover so that the trim piece that sits at the hinge is free to move out.



After. To install the panel again, push it at the hinge intersection from top first (try opening / closing storage compartment cover to ease it in) and once top tabs are in, you can push at the bottom to secure the bottom tabs.



Tab clips: these metal clips go on to the tabs on the panel. There are 4 nos. Careful when taking out the panel as these can stay behind and drop into the rectangular holes. Use tweezers to pick them out.



Green tabs (with metal clips attached) clip into red rectangular holes. Each of the vents is secured by 4 screws and same goes for the control panel.



This trim piece is attached to the panel via 3 torx screws



Trim piece removed from old panel and screwed to new panel



Leather VS soft plastic

 

Nice! Never knew there were a leather wrapped option. I will be on the lookout for one

Love it!

 

I have been watching ebay for one in black. So far I have only seen a blue one there. If you have blue trim then you may be in luck. This blue one even has the light up vents in it too.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/30490859593...3Avlp_homepage

 

is one of us colorblind that looks fully black to me, and what XJ comes with blue interior?

 

I agree the pic makes it look very ebony. However the seller describes it as Navy.

There are some pics on here of the Navy interior. I think Bernie has it not sure who else.

 

Another variation I was not aware of?
You made me go look and on my XJR it also has the stitching as shown above. Kind of feels like plastic in my car as it's a pretty hard surface.
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Definitely leather-wrapped in 2011 Supersport.