I LOVE IT!
I will do this mod on my next one!

 

That really reminds me one of the reasons why I wanted the 05. My 97 is nice and classy, but the 05, for not having so many changes, looks so much nicer.

Good job! If this weren't an expensive mod, I'd do it to my 97 too.

 

hey was thinking about 05 taillight conv... is cutting that has to be done inside so lights will go in? is there any cutting that needs to be done on outside body?

 

No cutting outside the shape is the same, you just need to allow the depth of the light unit, you then need to fix them in place and change the wiring

 

NO... definitely no.

 

hey was thinking about 05 taillight conv... is cutting that has to be done inside so lights will go in? is there any cutting that needs to be done on outside body?

 

Would you be willing to make me a set of brackets? For a fee of course.

 

I have to wonder, is it not at all possible to just swap the outer lens of the tail lights and not having to cut holes into the body? Maybe roast them in an oven until you can separate the lens from the assembly and swap?

 

Contact Tony (known on this forum as XKRacer), at Paragon Design UK. He makes his own brackets for this conversion and they are much less expensive than anything you'll get from Jaguar. He's a top-notch guy, too.

Paragon Design UK



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Is there a how to video on this?

 

It sounds feasible, but we need someone to be a pioneer. Doing it this way would save me a lot of time and at least $200.00.

 

I'm assuming the $200 is spent on cutting up the holes?

 

I think that is the cost of the replacement brackets.

 

As an FYI, here are the instructions provided by Paragon Design UK for this conversion. Tony is very helpful, although as a general rule, you shouldn't clog his email unless you're buying products from him.

Attached below as a PDF.



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Bingo

 

That does look a lot better. I knew there was something about the look of the 2003 compared to the 1997 I used to have. That and the much better headlights.

 

You can not separate the lenses as they are ultra sonically glued together.... basically melted.....

I have seen situations where people have siliconed the units in place... very messy and nasty.

Nothing beats using the correct items but when they are costly or unavailable, needs must..... The panels I supply do the job very well and look as close to stock as you can get and cost half the price of OE..... The choice is yours at the end of the day but I know for my money I would want the job to look right rather than a bodge

 

Is the wiring the same for 2000 xk8 as the 97-99? The reason I am asking because my wires are a completed different color than the ones in tony diagram.

 

Yes Jaguar did change them... You have more orange wires.... I can put them up tomorrow when I am back at work

 

Thank you.