Hi all, I wonder if anyone can shed light on this. I bought a couple years ago the best car I've ever owned, a 2005 Jag Super V8 in racing green. Love the car, it's been relatively trouble free, although I've spent a couple grand on repairs, nothing terribly serious. However, the "badge" on the back does not identify it as a Super V8, instead it's XL and below that Portfolio. It was my understanding the portfolio edition was not released until 2006 model year. Anyone know any history they can share explaining this? I've attached a picture of the rear of the car. Thanks!

 

I cant help with the history info but it doesn't say XL..... it says XJ, because its the XJ body style. I am sure someone here can offer info on the history on the portfolio version. Glad you love your car.....they are special.

 

Those are not factory badges.

The XJ badge looks like it's off an X358 or maybe X351

The Portfolio badge is crooked and not in the right place.

The R badge is off something else alltogether, probably an Audi or VW Golf by the looks.

Sorry but someone has slapped badges on, it's not anything special.

Your car is not a Portfolio model.

 

I saw it when the post 1st came up, but you know how you see something, but don't wanna be the 1 to say anything,,,,,,,, that was me last night

 

Someone had to be the bearer of bad news

 

Hi John, yes, thanks. I know it's XJ, XL was the result of very late (for me) night typing.

 

Cambo and Marque, thanks and no worries, I bought the car believing it was a SV8, and had a feeling the goofball PO might have done that. I'm less disappointed in the fact that it's not "Portfolio" than I am in the fact that it does not have the original badging. I suspect there's no practical way to remove the fake badging to replace it with original. It's not like putting lipstick on a pig, it's a damn nice car. It's more like putting Harley Davidson badging on your Honda, just kind of stupid. This is the only thing about the car I don't like.

 

Actually, you can remove the fake ones & replace them with whatever your car actually is, same as they did. Is it a SWB? (I'd imagine so, as I've not seen an L in the green, but I can definitely be wrong)

Anyways, if you don't feel comfortable doing it, you could take it to a body shop; it'd take them all of 10 mins...

 

So are they glued, or are the holes in the sheet metal to fasten them? If glued I was worried about the paint when removed. If holes I was worried extras might have been glued. It's LWB, per the VIN it's a Super V8, 2005. All the Super V8's are LWB.

 

It's just 3m like tape. A good heat gun to it, & you can pull them off. That's why I say, if you don't feel comfortable, just go to a body/paint shop; It'll take them no time to do that...

 

Heat gun and dental floss has worked for me in the past

 

I tried a hair dryer and dental floss. The floss would get chewed up and break.
Next I went with 25 lb fishing line. It worked much better alone than the heat and floss.
There is a guy on eBay called Dr Jaguar. He lists OEM badging. Never purchased anything, shipping is high.

 

Rich, go to the top of this page. Under the "Tools" tab, see a drop down for VIN decoder. Type in your VIN and you will know exactly which model you have.

 

Slight correction, early ones come in SWB, I know because I've got one

 

Rich,

If you have a friend who plays guitar, ask for a used high E string or B string. The thin music wire, used like a cheese cutter, works great to separate the double-sided tape that holds the badges to the body. Keep the wire pulled up tight to the underside of the badge and there's little risk of scratching the body paint, but if you're worried, just apply some blue painter's tape around the badge before you use the wire. Once the badge is removed, you can carefully clean away the remaining tape residue with a combination of rubbing away the "foam" part of the tape, then using a hair dryer (not a heat gun) to soften the remaining adhesive, followed by a mild solvent like 3M Adhesive Remover or Goo Gone.

I ordered new OEM badges for our XJR from jaguarmerriamparts.com. There are also eBay sellers who offer badges that may or may not be OEM.

Cheers,

Don

 

WD-40 works great.

 

I'll ask this here too; (asked in my thread but everyone is here now so)

But can someone tell me the difference between a Super V8 & PORTFOLIO? Is it just the colors?..

 

I'll ask this here too; (asked in my thread but everyone is here now so)

But can someone tell me the difference between a Super V8 & PORTFOLIO? Is it just the colors?.. Or???

 

A portfolio has the different exterior & interior colours (as you noted), solid aluminum wing vents and alloy gear surround, special treadplates, extra speakers and more veneer finishes.

 

Oh ok, thanks for clearing it up! It's somewhat what thought, but just wasn't 100% clear...