Hey guys,

I have been working on other projects but I still can't shake my love for XJS's. So I am still on the look out and possibly entertaining purchasing one. I have posted about the one in question before.

One thing I always wondered about was the condition of the roof. Trim on the roof was very decayed and the roof panel almost looked sunken in the corners relative to the trim. Additionally there is a strange overlapping of trim - is that normal?

I'm assuming neither are normal and it stems maybe from a botched windshield replacement or something.

 

The trim overlap is normal. It can be a bit tidier, but often not. Once the windcreen seal starts to go a bit, it often pushes up this overlap.

At the corner of the roof (your lower arrow in the pic) there is, as standard, a hole that allows water to drain off the roof and down the the A pillar under the trim, and (in theory) drain out to the road somehow. In fact, this system merely rots the A pillar, the windscreen surround and the inner wing!

I have always bunged up this place on the roof corner with mastic. This helps prevent the aforesaid rot, and has no effect on the car or any noticeable effect on the passengers getting in or out in wet weather.

 

So the A Pillar/ roof joint is most likely rotting? I am a little confused, what is actually rotting - the rubber seals? Are those easily replaceable?

 

I am not sure if we are talking about the same thing. What I am trying to describe the windcreeen seal, a huge rubber surround with a slot going round each side that holds the windcreen to the body.

Apart from the door seals (nothing to do with the trim round the screen) the only other seal is the screen rubber. This breaks up and perishes over time and tens to lift the trim a bit. To change it means removing the screen and refitting it with a new rubber. The trims has to be removed to do this, and in doping all this you can check the state of the bodywork under the trim, particularly the A pillar metal and scuttle corners at the bottom corners of the screen. This being a notorious rust spot.

 

merci beaucoup! I understand now