After 4 years of fabulous X300 ownership I today realised I might have been sold a dud...
When I purchased the car the headliner sagged at the back but since the rear seat is rarely used and the sunroof trim held it up ok for the front seat passengers it didn't worry me. I put it on the longer term to do list.
I did notice that my internal sunroof trim boards were around the wrong way ie the large board was at the rear and the small board at the front. I thought no worries I'll fix that when the headliner gets done.
Recently I purchased a fibreglass board ready to install and today I removed the old headliner.
Imagine my surprise to find most of the board didn't exist! Only the edges, the rest had been cut away with some lame attempt to glue it to some foam on the sunroof mechanism. I thought this odd. Now I think I don't even have an X300 sunroof motor/mechanism, it looks different to all other pictures I have seen. The motor is mounted at the rear. Is it from an XJ40?
So in summary, I don't think my X300 headliner board will fit because I don't think I have an X300 sunroof mechanism fitted. And I can't slide the internal trim boards out the back of the sunroof mechanism because it is has no openings plus there is a motor at the back.
Some pictures are attached. Can anyone confirm that this is not the correct sunroof mechanism for an X300? Is it from an XJ40? If so I think I will have to source an X300 unit in order to be able to fit my new headliner.

 

I should confirm, the sunroof works perfectly. It slides and tilts. Only issue it the interior trim boards are around the wrong way

 

After some ringing around it has been suggested that I may have an after-market sunroof fitted which may prevent me from fitting a genuine X300 unit.
Can anyone confirm the dimensions of a genuine X300 sunroof? Thanks

 

Marke,

All the X300 sunroof assemblies I have seen have the motor at the front right behind the map light/garage door console. I just spent an semi-profitable morning working on my own 1996 VDP sunroof and it does not resemble yours.

A quick look at the cost of sunroof bits suggests a reason why yours was replaced with an aftermarket unit. (Tilt/lift mechanisms run up to $400 CDN each!)

The panels, on the other hand, do look identical to mine (only reversed). If so, it may be possible - as it in the regular X300 configuration - to tilt the sunroof and remove the panels through the gap. I have no idea how the panels will be attached in your case, but in mine a gentle tug disengages the large panel (watch out for the springs between the panel and the roof), enabling it to be withdrawn. The smaller panel is attached to its guide by a plastic tabs front and back (easily broken) and a spring metal clip that covers the back (front in your case?) plastic tabs. Remove the metal clips first. It too can then be withdrawn through the gap. This can be made easier by removing the metal sunroof piece itself, usually secured by 3 Torx bolts on either side. These are visible when the large panel is removed.

Hope this helps.

 

Hi there. Probably of little use to you, but if you need any parts for your sunroof I may be able to help. Unfortunately, I'm in Ireland.............


My donor car has a sunroof whereas my daily driver doesn't, so it is surplus to requirement. Might be of use to you if postage costs aren't prohibitive?

 

If postage is prohibitive, I'd certainly be interested as I'm in northern ireland, sunroof developed mind of its own and driving me daft!

cheers and slainte

c

 

Hi nibs, As a tour coach driver I get up North on a regular basis and will be up that way later next week. Unfortunately I'm on tour at the moment, so no access to the car. But if you let me know what you need and some contact details, I could organise it for when I'm up that way again.


No problem.

 

Brilliant mate

Control module would be a start but I suspect it's going to end up more than that as the damned thing has not only developed a life of its own but is messing up the remote locking (I think because the security system thinks the sunroof is still open)

Best email to get me on is work one as outlook on laptop is playing me up (again) - chris.lennon-at-delni.gov.uk and i'll send you mobile number

I'm belfast based but out and about across the north a fair bit - keady and newry I think thursday morning and enniskillen monday week

Any bits you need for your x300? I've various odds and ends I may be able to help with

Thanks, cheers and slainte

chris

 

Well I decided to leave the sunroof untouched. Even though the sunroof dimensions match the jaguar dimensions the whole unit is not X300. It actually looks similar to the semi-factory sunroof they were fitting to XJS's in the 80s. It works (possibly better than the OEM jaguar sunroof from what I've read) and sourcing a fully working OEM sunroof in Australia would not be quick or easy.
So that meant to fit my new fibreglass headliner board I had to peel off all the new fabric and attack it with the cut off wheel and make some trial and error modifications, see attached pic. Not pretty and a pita. Anyway the modifications are complete and it gets new fabric glued on tomorrow.
I still have a problem in that I haven't been able to work out how to remove the large rectangular inner sunroof panel. On my sunroof it is at the rear (smaller panel at the front), and therefore does not tilt up with the sunroof. It just runs in the tracks so I can slide it back and forth. But there is no way to slide it out the back because the sunroof unit is completely closed in at the back. At this rate it may stay like that for a few years...

 

No worries nibs, I have a whole Sovereign as a donor car, the only issue being that it's a 3.2 and my daily driver is a 4.0 litre, so different engine, gearbox, diff, but otherwise, useful for lots of odds and ends.


I'll send you an email and we'll sort something out. Whenever I'm in the North I'm always based in, or at least visiting, Belfast, so it should work out ok.


Can you let me know what and where the control module is, what am I looking for etc. and I'll take it out when I'm back home, around the 21st.


All the best.

 

OOH, lots of bits and pieces possibly!

What state are the exhaust manifolds in? Both mine are cracked but I've got one uncracked one somewhere so need to check if it's front or back as reluctant to go to the hassle of replacing one at a time

I'm snowed under for next week or two but will be seeing what else may need replaced

Thanks

c

 

Well, for what it's worth, I'm happy to pass on any parts that will never be of any use to me, but exhaust manifolds don't fall into that category. Sorry, but anything else that might be of use, just ask.

 

Might get a chance to do some puddling about with the car this weekend so will have a look what else may be needed - all depends upon weather and energy after this week's running about so about to go check fluids before tomorrow's keady and newry run - enniskillen jaunt coming up Monday as well

Your help is really appreciated

cheers

chris