Ok so ive seen chrome wheel arches on many an XJS. I learnt when I was buying that they are after market and also prone to hiding rust.

What are your guys experience with them? How do they attach? You think they are yay or nay?

I dont think I would do it to mine but interested none the less.

Not a fan.

My car has them. It all depends on the look you're going for, I guess.

The original owner, who I purchased it from, had the dealer install them along with chrome Dayton wire wheels. Combine chrome wire wheels, chrome wheel arches and chrome side molding (in addition to the chrome trim found on all XJSs) with the black exterior, and I think its a sharp look.

Also, most new cars today (aside from trucks, it seems) are going away from the chrome, so I think it makes it stand out more as a classic.

I've also seen them on cars with the stock Starfish alloys, however, and then I don't like them as much- they seem tacky to me (no offense).

If I ever get the car repainted, I'll probably take them off and return it to stock. They're a little faded from almost 30 years in the California sun.

As far as rust goes, I could see that being an issue. No problems on mine, but being from California, that doesn't say much as the whole car is mostly rust-free.

Thanks for sharing guys.

And how do they actually attach them?

Are you 90 years old and driving a Mercedes???? I won't sugar coat it...they are hideous!

These used to be popular on XJ40's too.

Nothing screams 'I've got rust I'm trying to hide' more than chrome wheel arches!

Graham

Those things are ugly

As with all Jaguar, and life, its a personal preference thing. You either like it and fit it, or you don't and don't ........

They are held on with an adhesive strip. Here in the Midwest they were prone to chemicals and water getting in behind the strips and causing fenders to rust out behind.

Pauly....back away from the wheel arches....slowly, slowly.....aaahhhh, that's better. Now breath and have an adult beverage and think of what you almost did!

My car had them when I bought it, as well as the chrome on the rocker panel.
The wheel arches were screwed in place and the chrome on the rockers were held on with 2 sided tape
I could go either way.....with the chrome additions!
I chose to go without for now.

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To each his own, but my opinion is 2 thumbs down on the chrome wheel arches.

Ha ha thanks guys. I wasnt going to get them but was just curious about them. I think they look nice but the potential rust issue would be enough to turn me away!

I had high hopes for you mate.....now, sigh, I'm not so sure!😂😂😂

They look great with a leaper in the middle of the bonnet and a neon ground effects package. ;>))

Ha ha whoa! I was only sparking conversation. I wasn't really gonna get them (although I admit I think they "look" cool)

But seriously I think I am going to convert mine to a station wagon today, says no one ever!

I think they look awful, it obviously isn't a place that any factory has ever put chrome, so it looks obviously aftermarket. To add to this, usually they are a cheaper bright chrome that you can tell is cheesy crap.

I think most are on with adhesive, could probably carefully remove with a heat gun

Wow, who knew that chrome wheel arch moldings would get everyone worked up like the leaper vs. no leaper debate-LOL.

Well once again I have a unique perspective as I bought one with the moldings on the car and one without. As with the leaper on the hood I must say the car that has the chrome wheel arch moldings has grown on me and I now cannot see the car without them on it.

To me it is a classy addition to to XJS if that is what you like. Now in all fairness all chrome wheel arch moldings and leaper hood ornaments are not created equally. I have seen some that look a bit cheap looking or have poor finish etc. and then to my eye that just distracts from the beauty of the XJS.

Here is something I discovered with having two '95 XJS' sitting next to each other in the garage. The one that has the chrome wheel arch moldings on it actually looks like it sits a little lower then the one without. This is a optical illusion as I have measured both and found them to be at equal heights but the moldings help fill in the gap between the tire and the lip of the wheel arch on the body, thereby giving the visual illusion that the car sits closer to the tire.

No matter what your preference on any add on's like the leaper or wheel arch moldings , I just hope that we would all treat other owners of these fine cars with respect.

Just keep in mind that words like hideous and awful are pretty powerful words to use to describe something that really is not that big of a deal. Makes the average guy like me not want to take one of my XJS' to a Jaguar show for fear some Jag snob will come up and say something like " I would never put those hideous looking moldings on my car ".

One thing about owning two XJS' is I have learned that what I may have not chosen for myself to put on the car may very well be something I now would not want to live without.

There is nothing "classy" about chrome wheel arches IMHO, cheap and tacky yes, classy, no. JC Whitney would be proud!