This stock picture below is of a (my) 2016 Portfolio's overhead controls. The piece in question is the dark rectilinear plexiglass at the top of the photograph. I cannot figure out if this serves any function or it's simply cosmetic? Anyone out there who can shed some light?

Thanks in advance...

 

It is purely cosmetic. The roof console trim is shared with other JLR models, and normally you would have a fold down sunglasses compartment instead of that filler piece. However the XJ has the sunroof glass motor directly above that and there is no space for the compartment so they just fitted that slightly-transparent black plastic filler piece. I think the reason they chose that colour was so it matched the IR transmitter fitted between the two roof blinds.

 

Thanks, one less item to be perplexed about!

Cheers...

 

So that's why the XJ does not have a sunglasses holder!!
I wondered since my cheaper S Type did have one as have all my much cheaper American cars.
Seemed an odd thing to leave out.
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I'm back again on this thread as I am getting an annoying rattle from the plexiglass part I initially inquired about. Does anyone out there know how to pop this part off so I can perhaps tighten it?

As always, thanks in advance...

 

That entire overhead compartment can easily be pried out with a pry tool. Just be sure not to damage the plastic or the headliner. Once it’s pried out, disconnect a few connectors and you can further inspect the rattle from there.

 

Green are metal clips holding the roof console to the roof.
Pink are moulded clips and hooks that hold the black part to the console.

I would recommend removing the entire console to investigate as a slip with a pry tool removing the black part could scratch it.
Remove the roof console from the rear sides where the green clips are using a bent pry tool or a kitchen fork. You have the cloth headlining in that photo, but worth noting if you have the leather headlining then be sure to use a credit card or similar behind the pry tool to protect the leather else it will get scratched.

 

Thanks! I'm on it...

 

I had the same issue and the dealership replaced it under warranty.

 

That's interesting as I mentioned it to my service adviser about a month ago and he stated, "squeaks and rattles are only covered under the warranty for first 12 months.." My XJ is a MY 2016 that just turned 20K and also has the select edition warranty. How long ago was yours covered under the warranty as I believe it is also a MY 2016?

 

I will check my service order when I get home today and post back but I'm pretty sure it was replaced 12/2019.
I told them it would make noise when cold and they replaced it, no questions asked.
The 12-month squeak and rattle is news to me.

 

Here is my service order:
C2D50956PVJ is not cheap and will cost you around $500.00

 

Wow! Your dealer replaced the main roof console component for a rattle? That is diagnosis by replacement at it's finest. Given you need to remove and transfer all of the ancillary components when you switch out C2D50956XXX you would fix the cause of the rattle while transferring them.

Having had a couple of roof consoles down to their bare components (disassembled below the supplied assembly) I can tell you there is nothing in them that can cause a rattle. Everything is screwed into place. Rattles can only be caused by external components. There are a couple of unbundled wires that could tap against the plastic if they have popped out of their guides. Something could have been assembled wrongly if it had been disassembled before (e.g. a stray screw, or a switch pad that fell out). Otherwise you're looking at clips that have dislocated, stray glass if the windscreen was ever broken, or something got under the roof lining through the opening, the blank panel tolerances, etc. The actual roof console itself (the part supplied under C2D50956XXX) has no parts itself that can rattle.

As mentioned there is a tolerance between the clip in blank cover in Dave's photos and the console housing which could allow a rattle. The fix for that is to confirm, by observation, that is the issue and then add or replace the little cloth tape pads that the locating hooks sit on to snug them up. (Those are the pink 'U's in the photo above.) Total repair cost for that is about 2 cents of tape and 5 minutes of labour. C2D50956XXX should already have the tape present, C2D48956PVJ (your as-built part based on the part they fitted) and earlier versions may not. As your rattle was only present when the car was cold that seems a likely cause, particularly if you pressed on the blank to stop it.

All dealers have a mandated vibrations and rattles kit with a wide selection of tapes, foams, greases and so on precisely for issues like that.

[ edit ]

Worth adding for Dave that his part based on the spec in his photo is C2D50952NUG.