I bought in December and had shipped from Palm Beach just after New Years. I slapped a battery tender on it, covered it and left it until spring.

Overall the car is a mechanics dream and in great shape. I have all service documents from prior owners. I'm owner number 4 but the first two were dealership to dealership so I'm guessing they were used as loaners given how long they were held. The third owner who came in at 10,000 miles, had her for most of her 9 years and had it serviced @ Jaguar Palm Beach, who sent me all of the records. The ride is fantastic!

While the dealership took high resolution pics for me, and recommended front and rear bumper covers get resprayed, I was still disappointed in the overall condition of the paint. I could have flown down and inspected it in person but it wouldn't have changed anything. Black cars.... To be clear, they were accurate in their description and I would do business with them again.

I detailed the interior and bought new mats here locally on Craigslist as they were in new condition.

While my first order of business was to change out the transmission pan/ fluid, I decided to address the paint instead.

I bought a D/A polisher, watched a lot of video, visited the detailing forum and had at it.

I washed, dried, clay barred, cut and polish, final polish and then finished with Turtlewax Color Magic color Black wax. I was going to go with a higher end wax but wanted to try the color magic as it got good reviews (and this was the least expensive). I am impressed with the end result of the wax by the way. I will likely wax again for additional protection

I have buffed out all the swirls, scratches and brought back the shine before applying the wax, enough so that I can forego the respray until the end of driving season.

Next I'll resolve the cloudy window trim and will polish the scratches out of glass.

It will be obvious that I'm no photographer and far too lazy to snap too many pictures. Note the pic from the left rear, what appears to be pitted paint, is actually the reflection of the driveway. So that's cool.

I'm retiring again this summer and looking forward to some roadtrips with my wife.

 

AAAAAaah Another XK finds a good home.. isn't it a thing a beauty my friends

 

Beautiful car. In my opinion the 2007 is the best year because of the wood on the steering wheel. I suggest that you go to British Autowood British Autowood > Gearknobs
and buy a wooden shift knob like mine....
As for the transmission oil..sometimes it's better to leave that alone as far as I am concerned. If it aint broken....

 

The Jaguar looks great. Awesome. I know you will enjoy it.

My 2009 Jaguar XKR Portfolio Edition came from Palm Beach Jaguar. Great guys for information on service history. Easy to work with.

Enjoy the ride. Next time, skip the wax and apply a nano ceramic paint coating. Then just wash and dry thereafter. No wax ever needed. The paint surface will look fantastic.

Pinnacle Black Label Diamond Paint Coating

Also, throw away the clay bar and buy yourself a nano skin fine grade wash mitt from Amazon.

The clay bar is old school.


It will the best $40.00 you ever spent on a detail product for a car.

...

 

Welcome to the '07 club!
Well done on the exterior work. Need to do that myself sometime, as I haven't gone beyond just washing the car since getting it 18 months ago.

 

The car looks beautiful. Congratulations and enjoy!

 

Beautiful car and great finish!! Congratulations you are in for a lot of pleasure.

 

Congrats, looks fantastic!

 

Looks awesome! SO SHINY!

 

Congratulations, such a great looking car! Love the design of the XK, you'll really be enjoying those road trips.

 

I just grabbed an 2010R, and still have to sell my '07. Identical interiors except the 2010 has a black headliner (and that annoying hockey puck shifter)
I've sure been thinkin' hard about swapping steering wheels cause I loved the wood as well.
Both are heated, but I don't know about the R logo on the bottom spoke would transfer to the wooden wheel.
I would loose the cranberry stitching too.... but.....
<sigh>


Congrats OP, she is a sweetheart and your gonna lover her like no other car you have owned.
V

 

Nice looking ride. Smart decision on keeping it on a battery tender.

 

A handsome automobile...Congrats and enjoy!!!

 

I miss mine, great car,enjoy.

 

Hey Rich,

How do those nano mits handle traditional waxed surfaces?

 

Great looking ride there mate! It's always a treat to open that door and take off.
Happy Motoring....

 

I would suggest to strip the wax from the surface.

Using a detergent like Dawn dishwashing soap will do the job. Then follow my process above.

If you use the same process above and apply a nano ceramic paint coating after polishing, you will not need to use a wax product. The shine and reflective qualities will be excellent, and water beading is fantastic.

The nano skin wash mitt is the key to a glass like smooth paint finish. Using a clay bar is old school.

Place a thin sandwich baggie over your hand and slide it over the surface of the paint. If the surface feels like sandpaper, you need to nano skin the paint. This process will prove there are contaminants on the paint surface. You will feel it.

The mitt will eliminate all of the rough surface of the paint and turn into a glass like finish.

These mitts are the latest technology in automotive detailing as well as a paint coating or paint sealant.

If you wish to use a paint sealant, I highly suggest Blackfire Crystal Paint Seal These products are so easy to use.

http://www.autogeek.net/blackfire-crystal-seal.html


It would be my hope that any Jaguar owner that reads this post, apply these detail techniques to achieve an outstanding quality
DIY detail job. I would guarantee you will not be disappointed with the results.

..

 

Strip the wax? I just spent a few hours applying "old school" wax. I guess I'll take a look at the mustang. It could probably benefit from "The Mit"
Thanks for the info.

 

In today's world of modern detailing, the wax product is not really needed. Yes, it is a lot of work to hand wax, but did you wax over all the contaminants on the paint surface?

That is the main question.

Do the sandwich baggie test.......if the surface feels like sandpaper, then you just spent all your time embedding the contaminants into the paint surface. The micro abrasiveness of the surface will collect even more. You can't see it, but it is there.

Do the Mustang, and my bet is, you will end up doing the Jaguar all over again. It will be worth every minute doing it.

..

 

I second that welcomed to the 07 club !!