After two months of cutting out panels and repairing rust damage, we finally buttoned up all of the affected panels and applied copious amounts of seam sealer to ensure the problem area is dealt with, and hopefully, prevent recurrence. It would appear the designers at Jaguar thought it a good idea to allow the water from the sunroof drain to spout out into the area behind the front fenders. This design flaw eventually causes water to pool in the area where the front fenders attach to the rocker panel. The result: Water gets into the foot-wells, soaking the sound insulation, and eventually rots out your floor, your toe boards, your rocker panels, your fender bottoms, and the panel that your forward jacking points share.

I am considering extending the drain tubes so that they actually drain under the car, rather than in the rocker box. Has anyone ever conducted this modification?

Below is a picture of the area with the tube in the top right corner.

 

I would extend the tubes absolutely, especially since you are now able to do it.

there are drain grommets that could be adapted at the bottom of the rocker panel.

a trip to a salvage yard will yield many options.

 

Very interesting.
My roof drain isn't Anything like that! Perhaps another difference between Series ll & lll, but mine comes out just over the door switches.

There's no evidence water ever exited there.
(';')

 

Hmm, that sure explains the rust starting on that spot on the fender bottoms. Good catch, unless you take the fender off, you'd never see that short tube.

 

When I did a bare metal respray to my 86 XJ, I had the front wings (fenders) off. The area, wire brushed (where the water dumps out) and then applied POR 15 to the body as well as the inside of the front fenders.
Seems OK so far, but then the car is a California car and had very little rust on it to start with except for the corners of the front and back windscreens. Because of the damage from the leak at the rear screen (water had leaked in and down behind the sear seat squab) and it had puddled on the floor there, so I applied POR 15 that area as well, then the rest of the floor ,..both sides..

 

I think that ending the drain tubes inside the car is just plain dumb !
and it's a british car ... doesn't it rain 85 - 90% of the time there.
I love my jaguar . . but ----- ahh

 

It only rains 89% of the time! I know as I'm always out there when it does.