Just gauging interest in my next project. I have commissioned the mould for a carbon fibre cover for my 5.0 xkr.

It will work out substantially cheaper than the £2k plus that Jaguar want and oddly it's being made by the supplier to their SVO branch, so I have no fears on quality.

Will post pics when it's ready.

It's going on my new pride and joy

 

Tasty, very tasty...

 

Here's my 4.2L XKR Carbon-Fiber Look Engine Appearance Cover


At only $185, hydrographic coating is a much less costly alternative to the real deal. For details and more pics, see: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...-cover-129949/ I just couldn't see spending a lot of money on a purely cosmetic item that isn't visible unless the hood is open.

Since the insulation was falling apart from age, I replaced it after I got the cover back from being coated:

OEM insulation is not available separately; you have to buy a new cover for over $100. Instead, I bought a sheet of aftermarket self-adhesive insulation for under $21. For details, see: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...-cover-128989/

Biggriff, I apologize for hijacking your thread, but I thought you'd like to know about the insulation. Of course, there's no comparison between real CF and hydrographic coating, but I just couldn't justify the cost of real CF for my needs.

Your XKR is the first Indigo Blue one I've seen and it is stunning!

Stuart

 

I've done a lot of the hydrographic coating but for the Jag I felt I couldn't get away with it. I've tried different types of hydrographic carbon fibre coatings but none look quite good enough close up.

 

This is mine...
I do like Stuart's good 'ole ingenuity in using easily obtained insulation.

 

Things are moving on nicely. This is the mould.





The company that are doing the work are someone I have made a lot of parts with. They let me see this as well.

 

$180.00 bucks. Looks great, serves the purpose well, tons of compliments in my British Car Day shows........totally OEN Jag engine cover plenum. Coated with Pinnacle Black Diamond Paint Coating.

Click the attachment to enlarge.

 

Well the first prototype is ready for fitting. More work to do but it's certainly getting there.

<a href="http://s191.photobucket.com/user/BigGriff2007/media/image.jpg2_zpsmpuywldp.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z279/BigGriff2007/image.jpg2_zpsmpuywldp.jpg" border="0" alt="JLR 5.0 engine cover photo image.jpg2_zpsmpuywldp.jpg"/></a>

 

Looking good! What years will it fit?

 

It fits all 5.0 litre engines (either normally aspirated or supercharged). Same part number across all JLR 5.0 engines.


Glad you like it.

 

Finally got five minutes to pop it on the car.

 

Looks good. What was your final cost to produce this?

 

Still working on numbers but it's going to about £950 sterling. This will be for a full carbon cover, not a skin. The manufacturer is just looking at seeing if we can get the price down.

Makes the jag one look a bit expensive.

 

Biggriff - at the expense at appearing to seem a bit "snarky". What is the compelling difference between the cover you have to offer here and the redone one from Start and Red (the Hydrographic improved part) aside from @$1000US? The weight savings are negligible, this item is purely aesthetic and only for those whom happen to look under the hood... that being said why do you feel others might be willing to pay to additional $1000? It seems rather tough to justify so do you believe the work to be worthwhile here and the the market is such that there will be enough sold to make this endeavor a positive one?

 

It's not 'snarky' at all.

The hydrographic stuff just doesn't stand up to close scrutiny (done a fair bit myself) and the proper carbon parts add a 'technical' look and proper feel. Have debated the engine cover closely as the last thing I worked on was an air box that had both performance and aesthetic benefits.

Jag makes a carbon cover do there is clearly a market, but at £2488 sterling I think they have misjudged what people will pay. This cover fits all JLR 5.0 engines so it's got a broader appeal than pure XKR parts only.

Time will tell, but if you'd just spent well over a £100k on your jag/Range Rover what would you want and more importantly be prepared to pay for?

These are British made and designed, not Chinese and from experience people with high end vehicles like products with suitable provenance and looks.

BG

 

Fair enough, your response is appreciated.

I also believe that Jag has theirs priced such that it is likely to not be seen as anything but ridiculous however they may also be seeing it from two perspectives, one of which they'd need to recover the costs of production in such low numbers coupled with what the market may be willing to pay. I've yet to see or hear of anyone who has purchased/installed one so that should tell us something

 

£2,488 are you surprised? It becomes a bragging rights product at that price point.


It will be interesting to see how it goes. I should point out I make these things for myself predominantly and then if others want them great. I'm a serial fiddler as I cant leave any car standard.


I'm suspecting the market for these covers will be the Land Rover brigade as 'options' are a big thing.

 

Are these still available?

 

Still available?

 

The one we had as a demo was loaned to a jag aftermarket distributor but haven’t heard a peep since.

I will see if the mould is still available as this is a bit of a thread resurrection