Hi guys,

I had a bit of a drama in my 2008 Portfolio XKR over xmas, I bought a large mocha at a well-known drivethrough, and the $&%*#! girl didnt push the lid on properly, which I didnt notice until I was driving down the freeway.

Long story short I went to pick up the cup, the loose top popped off, the cup immediately collapsed and I dumped about a half a pint of hot sugary mocha straight down the shifter slot and all into the start button. Luckily nothing immediately malfunctioned as I was driving along.

I got off the freeway and cleaned it up as soon as I could but now the start button and shifter have dried out they're all kinda crunchy/sticky and not good-feeling at all.

I want to be able to take the start button and shifter mechanism out the car to clean them properly, but dont want to damage the wood trim or anything else by being ham-fisted.

I just hazarded a guess that the wood trim is held down only by the chrome shifter bezel, and it in turn is held down just with the 2 Torx-like security bolts at the bottom end. I already removed those bolts but still nothing is even slightly loose/moving. I guess it could still be just being held in place by dry/sticky coffee but I wanted to ask you guys for sure before I start prying/damaging stuff.

Also since its the portfolio ed I have the Portfolio gear shift knob. I'll probably need to take it off the shifter shaft too to just remove the shift gate. I read here the "standard" ones just unscrew, and I can't see any kind of locking screw (could there be one under the leather?), but when I tried unscrewing it (anticlockwise), it only turns a little (maybe 10 or 20 degrees) and tightens right up again. Same going back the other way.

Any information around any secret hidden screws/how the gear knob/shift gate trim/wood facia are actually secured and how best to remove them (since I'm paranoid about even slightly damaging the wood or metal trim) would be MUCH appreciated.

Thanks,
Neil

 

Those screws were just for decoration. Get some nylon panel trim tools or equivalent that won't damage/scratch surfaces. Put shifter in neutral. Slide ashtray cover open. Carefully but with some force you need to lift the entire wood panel up. I start by the ashtray and work my way back, it is going to probably take some force so take your time and be careful. There are about 6 or so tabs holding it in place. Once you ahve it up you will need to disconnect the start button and speed limiter button. Good luck.

 

There's a number of vid's along with this one to show what is need with the dash of an XF

It will give you some idea of what up are up against and some procedures that should be applicable to the center console

 

Thanks! Should I remove the metal gearshift bezel first somehow or is it joined to the wood trim so you just lift it with the metal bezel in place?
Does the portfolio shift knob really for sure just unscrew?

 

It's an entirely different model, so my advice isn't worth much, but on my 2010 the chrome piece is attached to the wood trim and they came off as a unit. There is likely a diagram of the piece somewhere that will give you a rough idea of where on the panel the friction clips are located, so you can pry near them and not damage the panel.

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/994755...in/photostream

 

Here are a few photos I took when I fitted an ACM to my 07 XKR. The lever surround is held on by some sprung metal pieces but as the others have said you will have to remove the veneer plus surround in one piece. I think you also will have to move the gear lever to neutral before starting so that the veneer will clear it.

 

U102768, is that how your XK came?(the look of it) Instead of the wood grain look you have the ****(the damn name escapes me this early in the morning but it's the silver and black pattern) Just wondering if it came like that or you did it. I like the look and would like to change mine to it.

 

As I mentioned before no need to remove the knob if you shift it to neutral, but yes it does unscrew and has thread lock so some effort would be needed. As u102768 noted, the bezel is attached to the trim with a metal wire retainer on the under side, again not something that needs to be taken apart.

 

Thanks guys!
Robbing I believe the name you are looking for is "machine-turned" or "engine-spun" aluminium

 

Machine turn or engine spun looks like this



U102768 is an aluminum carbon fiber look or braid.

 

I have to replace my center piece because it was hit by something and put a dime size chunk into it. Looks bad. Is there a good place to buy these pieces? I would like to look at going back with your exact look Jahummer.

 

Ugh, I switched over to carbon fiber last year and after trying to sell my engine turn kit since last year it finally sold a couple of months ago. You can try a Jag dealer to see if they are still available.

control panel surround C2010441
shifter console surround C2P10443
ash tray cover C2P10445

JAGUAR X150 XK XKR ENGINE TURN SPUN ALUMINUM PORTFOLIO CONSOLE DASH TRIM PANELS | eBay

 

I think I like the carbon fiber better. Did you purchase those from the dealer? Sorry for all of the questions and thank you for the help.

 

I had them made using the original burl that came with the car, of course any wood would work. I doubt you could use any of the "metal" trim options. There are plenty of the wood pieces on eBay from time to time.

 

Aluminium Weave apparently. They got a bit more fancy on the later cars and had many more options.

 

hydro dipped or wrapped? They look great.

 

Neither, only real carbon fiber everywhere. I also picked up a portfolio shift knob and will replace the leather with carbon fiber.

 

Rich Oak FTW!

 

So I got nearly everything off, disassembled, cleaned, reassembled and ready to go back in the car. So now at least all the switches and shifter operate as smoothly as ever again.
All thats left to do is remove/clean the ashtray assembly (as the sliding ashtray cover mechanism is also all gummed up).
There were two bolts either side of the ashtray securing it that I already removed (see pic) but there still seems to be something else securing it, located way back under the bottom of the stereo, possibly under a structural-looking piece of metal. Please can someone tell me if/how its possible to remove the ashtray assembly without having to rip the whole dashboard apart?