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Well. It’s been four months since I purchased our low mile 96 xj.
Was able to fix the steering column for free.
Sagging headliner out back, with pins.
Loosen up the throttle cable a bit with lube and usage.
Love the car so far. Since I mostly take the train to work, all my cars get used on weekends only and maybe after work to do minor chores. At times I have hard time deciding which car to drive and it always comes down to between the XJ and my w126. I think I do a fair job of giving them equal amounts of exercise. I still think that w126 is a stronger car, but that’s just me. I’m having a hard time getting used to Jags small seats. Compared to MB. I’m 5.11. And it takes time to adjust to the snug fit of the Jag. I do appreciate the classic dimensions so this is not a complaint, just an observation.
All 4 speakers did decide to develop a pop and can not be bothered to be played anything louder than say 25% of the volume.
I am planning to upgrade the speakers and radio but I dread taking the door panels off. MB in that regard still has a good sound system with just and upgraded head unit and a small amp.
Im gonna wait till it warms up a bit until I get into the doors. I would even pay someone to do the job if I knew for sure they wouldn’t break clips and some hardware more than me. It would kill me to find the car return with some new rattles after the work is done. Currently the car has zero rattles or squeaks. I appreciate this immensely in a car.
Other than that, love the car. I even started to enjoy the higher revs of the 4.0 more often. It’s a whole different animal past 2500 rpm. The younger me would laugh at 245 hp, but at 40 I find it fully capable. Heck my 420sel only has 201 and while I feel the car is underpowered, it’s never slow in regular traffic and I find it’s period correct acceleration a big part of its charm.
I’ll admit I do keep an eye out for a v12 car. Xj or XJS which I always lusted after. Not so much for power, but for mystique and exclusivity. Time will tell what future brings.
The door panel is very easy and no special clips to break
Replacement fir trees are at the local auto parts store on the rack
The fir tree clip removal tool can be found cheap at Harbor Freight
To remove the door panel there is a screw at the very front of the smaller top section under the black rubber round seal
There is a stubby screw under the small square plastic cover in the door release handle bowl , don't loose the screw
There is one Philips screw from the bottom on the small section of the door handle , you'll have to wiggle around with the Philips to get the angle right
There are 2 Philips screws under the armrest section
The 5 or so fir tree clips are on the very bottom edge and just a standard flat blade screwdriver works to prey off
The door speaker size is in the pic below
Last edited by Lady Penelope; 02-06-2019 at 02:09 AM.
At the risk of disagreeing with Lady P, there is a part which you will likely break when removing the front door cards. It is called a Door case mounting guide, part number GNA1374AC. Look it up in the Jaguar classic parts website, where the schematic will be helpful in showing you where it is, and why you will likely break it.
There is a "blade" of sprung steel which lies horizontally on the door card, pointing in towards the door. The edge is bent downwards, and hooks over the lip of a plastic clip which slides into the metal of the door interior. As the door card is fitted, the hook slides over the lip of the plastic clip, and helps to hold the middle of the doorcard below the handle on to the door frame. When removing the door card, unless you can push the sprung steel blade upwards, you will break the plastic lip, and when you reassemble the door, you will feel the door card moving when you pull the door closed with the handle. Ask me how I know this.......!!
Country, could you be more specific about what I can do to not make that mistake? Pics? I really enjoy the tightness of the car and lack of rattles. I’d hate to ruin that.
As for speakers. I’d like to to use 6.5 inch focal or morel unit. I’ll check crutchfield if they fit. If not, JL or infinity speakers will be used.
X-300 door clip and retainer are not universal. Later Jaguar 1998 used different style of clip. I broke several clips once. Fortunately, I got bunch for free at a local junk yard. The clip has a hook that hook to a wire frame on door panel.
Use proper tools to remove and save you lots of headache. The wood panel in door does not pop out. You need to push the wood panel in slightly and slight it forward to release it. see the photo below in the third ebay listing.
Use proper tools to remove and save you lots of headache. The wood panel in door does not pop out. You need to push the wood panel in slightly and slight it forward to release it.
Just to clarify what I believe annamiata is describing is that once you have the interior door handle trim removed, you gently pry the forward edge of the wood trim outward so it will clear the plastic panel, then push the middle of the wood trim and slide it forward. It has metal clips that hook rearward to engage holes in the plastic panel, so you just need to gently pry the forward edge out just enough for it to clear the recess in the plastic trim so you can slide the entire wood trim piece forward to disengage the clips/hooks.
One other thing to be aware of is there is a sneaky screw that sits behind the rubber air vent channel in the top door panel. Just pull back the rubber and it's easy to remove when you know it's there.
02-05-2019, 05:58 AM
After 4 month.
