Gents,

I’ve been restoring a 99 XK8 in Bahrain, and the hot sunny desert climate here has had a detrimental effect on all the plastic bits on the car. And we all know how difficult it’s getting sourcing these bits, and the cost can be eye watering.

I’m lucky enough to have a donor scrap car but even then, the old plastic is brittle and the replacement part won’t last long either.

In my quest to find the seat belt retainers, I came across turbomike818 on everyone’s favourite internet auction site. He’s got access to a high quality 3D printer and this is what he provided.



Pic comparing old with new.

Of course the new black bits will need painting but the new 3D printed material is a dense polyamide with a textured finish. A lot better than what was on the car.

Chatting with turbomike818 he’s also got the seat tilt lever escutcheon, CF bezel etc. He can 3D scan parts and print them if we can provide the info.

It seems this will be the way to go for those impossible to find parts.

 

I was hoping someone would start doing this as even under British leaden grey skies my plastic interior parts are turning to crispbread. Next step is to get them printed in colour!

When I left school in the late nineties I worked in plastics factory for awhile and since I have owned an XK8 I recognise many of these parts as those being made back there. If only I had known I would of stocked up!!

 

There's often confusion about what can or cannot be posted on the forums with regard to suppliers of parts or services and I get a lot of PM's asking this question so I'll take David's post as an example.

No need to be obscure in this situation. As well as being a valid and useful topic for discussion, it's also acceptable to post a link to turbomike818's ebay listing because:

1. the OP (DavidTau) has no commercial link with the supplier - just a satisifed customer.
2. it is a RECOMMENDATION for a supplier of unobtainable parts
3. the post is INFORMATION and not ADVERTISING

It would become unacceptable if turbomike818 joined the forums to advertise his Jaguar parts. Only forum Sponsors and Vendors can do that.

Graham

 

Thank you David for that wonderful recommendation and thank you Graham for clearing that up.

Does anyone have a CAD file for the ISOFIX child car seat anchor point covers for the coupe? I’d like to get turbomike to make some for me.

 

Good to know info. Thx David and Graham.