Hi everyone,

I have a 2008 Jaguar XKR and I also have access to a full 2011 XKR. I’m interested in converting my 2008 headlights to the 2012 facelift version (with LED DRLs and facelift styling).

I’m looking for advice from anyone who has done this before or has experience with the wiring and plug-and-play adapters. Specifically:

1. Can the 2012 facelift headlights be made to work on the 2008 car harness without cutting or splicing wires?
2. Is there a ready-made adapter harness, or does it require custom wiring / resistor / module for the LED DRLs?
3. Are there any compatibility issues I should know about, like CANBUS errors, flickering, or advanced features not working?
4. Any step-by-step guidance, photos, or supplier recommendations would be amazing.

I’d really appreciate any insights, tips, or experiences you can share. I want to do this safely and properly without damaging the car electronics.

Thanks in advance!

– Omar

People have tried, due to the price and the ton of things that you wouldn't expect, the cost to do so far exceeds the benefit. You would be MUCH further ahead if you sell your 2008 and purchase a 2012 or newer.
As a hint, the new headlights themselves are $3000 each. The harnesses and controller won't swap over from old to new, so you have to dig in way farther just for that alone.

NOT a good idea. The 2011 won't help a bit.

Here’s a thread that includes a linked thread to someone that tried it, never updated that it was successful:

2012 headlights

I do like to read these threads, for the entertainment value.