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Howdy all. New owner of 2004 XJ8 VandenPlaaaaaas (hope I'm saying that right). Just took delivery last night from a BAT auction last week. What a difference from my '87 XJ6! Only 32K miles and it looks and drives like that. It's grey with slate interior. I'll go through the inspection, registration, taxation and licensing next week. Just wanted to introduce myself here though I've been on the XJ6 S3 forum for about a year. I just ordered a right rear tail light assembly, surprisingly reasonable prices on eBay, as this one is cracked and the chrome bezel is broken. Mine only came with the keys and not the flip key fob. Is it possible to buy the fob, program it and switch out the actual metal key part or if I buy the fob and program it will it affect the regular stand alone key? Thanks...........Jack.
Howdy all. New owner of 2004 XJ8 VandenPlaaaaaas (hope I'm saying that right). Just took delivery last night from a BAT auction last week. What a difference from my '87 XJ6! Only 32K miles and it looks and drives like that. It's grey with slate interior. I'll go through the inspection, registration, taxation and licensing next week. Just wanted to introduce myself here though I've been on the XJ6 S3 forum for about a year. I just ordered a right rear tail light assembly, surprisingly reasonable prices on eBay, as this one is cracked and the chrome bezel is broken. Mine only came with the keys and not the flip key fob. Is it possible to buy the fob, program it and switch out the actual metal key part or if I buy the fob and program it will it affect the regular stand alone key? Thanks...........Jack.
Greetings, Jack
How does your key start the car? The immobilizer chip is part of the fob, and the key is just a metal stub mounted in the fob.
Anyway, a big welcome to the forum, this place has helped my out of many difficulties in the last six years or so. The X350 is a very different car to the Series 3. I too have one of each, as you can see by my signature.
Pete, lovely XJ6. Mine is grey though I was wanting a brighter color but fell in love with the red interior. Mine, although a base model, also has the pepperpots. The keys that came with the XJ8 do have the big chip head on them but no remotes and I was thinking of switching over to the flip key/remote. Not essential but just the right way to do things..........Jack.
Last edited by jbellK75; Aug 11, 2025 at 10:18 AM.
Pete, lovely XJ6. Mine is grey though I was wanting a brighter color but fell in love with the red interior. Mine, although a base model, also has the pepperpots. The keys that came with the XJ8 do have the big chip head on them but no remotes and I was thinking of switching over to the flip key/remote. Not essential but just the right way to do things..........Jack.
Thanks, Jack,
That XJ6 is a very rare Middle East spec 1984 XJ12 with full VdP trim from new. Converted to RHD in New Zealand around 1986. I've had it since 1993. I've just recommissioned it and am sorting out some aircon problems.
Can you show us a pic of your keys? I've only ever seen the flip out key for the X350. Perhaps someone has converted them to the earlier x300 type.
The car came with three keys, one like the valet key you pictured and two more similar but with a more squared off chip head. There is also a small metallic "cap" on the key ring whose use I have no idea.
Hi Jack,
Those are definitely aftermarket keys, probably from a mall key shop. The metal clip is the male part of a 'click to connect' metal part that joins groups of keys together. The previous owner probably just unclipped the keys and kept the other part. The pdf about the keys that was shared earlier will show you the correct key and fob for the car, and how to make it work properly. As you already have three working keys, you will be able to add more.
My car came with only one key, so I got a key from AliExpress and had it cut. Then I had to visit my local Jaguar independent workshop and he coded the key to the car with the Jaguar maintenance program SDD.
Hi Jack,
Those are definitely aftermarket keys, probably from a mall key shop. The metal clip is the male part of a 'click to connect' metal part that joins groups of keys together. The previous owner probably just unclipped the keys and kept the other part. The pdf about the keys that was shared earlier will show you the correct key and fob for the car, and how to make it work properly. As you already have three working keys, you will be able to add more.
My car came with only one key, so I got a key from AliExpress and had it cut. Then I had to visit my local Jaguar independent workshop and he coded the key to the car with the Jaguar maintenance program SDD.
Pete M
Got it. Thanks Pete. The way the thread was going I was beginning to think mine were aftermarket keys, as well as no logo on the keys. Curiously, after finally driving the XJ8 around today getting emissions check and title and licensing, though it is better in every way than my XJ6, I feel more like giving the "royal wave" in the 6 than in the 8.
Last edited by jbellK75; Aug 12, 2025 at 02:15 PM.
The single key, looks like a modified, valet key to me.
Filed down on the end, to open the trunk's lock
I have two, one for each car.
No more wories about a button being pressed.
Finding windows & sun roof opened by accident .
The single key, looks like a modified, valet key to me.
Filed down on the end, to open the trunk's lock
I have two, one for each car.
No more wories about a button being pressed.
Finding windows & sun roof opened by accident .
I took a close look at the keys and the ends look machine finished to me, not a file down job. Regardless, I've ordered a couple of flip keys and will have them cut and program them myself.......Jack.
The black keys in your picture are just non original standard keys as used by Ford for base models,like the Ford Fiesta or Focus, that did not have a remote control for the central locking. You can see the oval where the "Ford" logo would be shown on the OEM keys.
The valet key is the same key in green.
File or grind the end down a bit with a machine.
Enables the basic or valet key, to unlock the trunk. .
Now you have a cheap, no button key, you can carry in your pocket.
Nice clean example of a VDP you snagged there. I didn't see any broken bits in the listing, so I presume it was damaged in transit?
Have you had any luck with the key fob programming? My understanding is that you should be able to do it with the basic procedure, no computer needed. If not, I'm currently figuring out where to get a proper J2354 cable from along with setting up SDD/IDS, in case you end up needing access to that.
Nice clean example of a VDP you snagged there. I didn't see any broken bits in the listing, so I presume it was damaged in transit?
Have you had any luck with the key fob programming? My understanding is that you should be able to do it with the basic procedure, no computer needed. If not, I'm currently figuring out where to get a proper J2354 cable from along with setting up SDD/IDS, in case you end up needing access to that.
I suspect it was done in transit but didn't notice it when I took delivery and since I found a replacement tail light on eBay for about $65 delivered it's not worth pursuing a claim. The glove box door was delaminating at the top and I tried to hot glue it and that worked for a day, this morning I JB Welded it and will take the clamps off tomorrow morning to see if that works. The two remotes just arrived today, aftermarket types, and I'll try programming them tomorrow. If they program then I'll have the key heads cut and program them as well. I'll also have to mount a license plate bracket on the undrilled front bumper. Already had the car out for nice drive and it is amazing.
I suspect it was done in transit but didn't notice it when I took delivery and since I found a replacement tail light on eBay for about $65 delivered it's not worth pursuing a claim. The glove box door was delaminating at the top and I tried to hot glue it and that worked for a day, this morning I JB Welded it and will take the clamps off tomorrow morning to see if that works. The two remotes just arrived today, aftermarket types, and I'll try programming them tomorrow. If they program then I'll have the key heads cut and program them as well. I'll also have to mount a license plate bracket on the undrilled front bumper. Already had the car out for nice drive and it is amazing.
Glad to hear you got it out for a drive and it went well!
Can't argue with that, shockingly cheap for those parts. Funnily enough, as much as I'm shocked that my headliner is NOT sagging, I too noticed my glovebox doing that. Haven't messed with it yet so I'm curious to hear what works for you. JB has quite the assortment of great epoxies, if you were able to match one to the material then that oughta do the trick. Man that front plate business has been heavy on my mind, I'm not at all down to drill into my bumper cover. I've actually read some of the statutes today and I've yet to find anything saying, directly or not, that it can't be in the windshield. I'm gonna finish researching that and I intend to find some sort of cover to mount it there, I'm thinking top passengers corner.
Glad to hear you got it out for a drive and it went well!
Can't argue with that, shockingly cheap for those parts. Funnily enough, as much as I'm shocked that my headliner is NOT sagging, I too noticed my glovebox doing that. Haven't messed with it yet so I'm curious to hear what works for you. JB has quite the assortment of great epoxies, if you were able to match one to the material then that oughta do the trick. Man that front plate business has been heavy on my mind, I'm not at all down to drill into my bumper cover. I've actually read some of the statutes today and I've yet to find anything saying, directly or not, that it can't be in the windshield. I'm gonna finish researching that and I intend to find some sort of cover to mount it there, I'm thinking top passengers corner.
I replaced the RR tail light this morning, pretty easy job. The damage was there before I bought the car, the back of the light was duct taped together which was a little disappointing to find. The remote fob programming went well following the instructions provided earlier in the thread by Thomas. It took me several tries but the trick is you have to flash the high beams very fast, literally as fast as you can. I used JB plastic weld on the glove box door and used a plastic syringe with an extension tip to apply it (available at any drug store, ask for oral syringe). The JB weld was pretty liquid so easy to apply. Time will tell if it will hold but hot glue is just a waste of time. I'm just going to grit my teeth and drill the front bumper cover, I found a genuine Jag front license plate bracket on eBay so the fit will be okay. Now to find a key shop that can cut the Jag key, peel the cheap tint off the windows and have it tinted properly.
New owner
