I love my XK8, but I feel that long old style antenna is so ugly! Is it relatively easy to replace it, or even possible, with say what you see on the SL500's of the early 2000s? No antenna would be even better aesthetically so as not to break up the wonderful lines. Any suggestions, etc?

 

There are a couple of threads on here, on this subject.
You can put a switch inline to stop it going up, or as I have done to my XJ6 (and plan to do on XKR), mount a hidden antenna in the trunk and disconnect the existing one, leaving it in place, but not operational.
The hidden antennae I purchased from www.tunetrapper.com. Quite economical, and work really well. It could perhaps work even better mounted externally under the rear bumper as a previous poster did.
Do a forum search, and you should come up with the previous threads.

 

I installed a tune trapper in the rear bumper. I would say it worked about as well as well as the stock unit. However, I subsequently installed a car pc with a directed hd radio, and it didn't work very well, so I purchased From amazon an amplified power antenna which works better than any antenna I ever used.
Amazon.com: Hidden Antenna - Fits Car, Truck, Motorcycle, Harley, Boat, Golf Cart, Campers, Amplified Antenna AM FM WB for Harley FLHT FLHX Universal Fit For All Custom Applications AM FM Car Radio Stereo Windshield Hidden Antenna: Automotive

 

If you can replace the antenna, as described above, then I don't see a reason you couldn't completely remove the old antenna, fill in the hole and paint over it. The only problem is that the paint job could get expensive if you have to paint a large area of the car to get it to blend in to the rest of the car.

Mark

 

I rarely use the radio so I just have the disconnect switch so it won't go up when I'm listening to CDs.

 

I pulled the fuse on mine and still get good reception.
#9 fuse in the trunck

 

How do you disconnect it? I'm not sure where the fuse is, I mostly listen to CDs anyways. I don't want to remove it just not have it go up.

 

[quote= I purchased From amazon an amplified power antenna which works better than any antenna I ever used.
[/quote]

SJ, where did you mount it? I've got a coupe so the metal roof may compromise the placement?

 

I mounted it at the bottom of the rear glass. It is a bout 2 inces long, by 1/2 inch wide and deep, quite small.

 

One of the easiest and certainly most rewarding modifications: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...antenna-24564/

 

This thread made me smile.

I like my aerial; it reminds of all the "cool" people who had automatic ones when I was a kid. When I got the car it had been bent and I have spent ages straightening it and smoothing it with wet and dry sand paper...

Doesn't anyone else like their aerial?

 

I didnt mind the look, but it was NOISY when the top was down and I was over 45 mph.

 

It's in the Luggage Compartment fuse box. Fuse No 9 (10 amp).

Make sure the antenna is down when you remove the fuse and it will no longer operate when you use the radio / CD / tape until you replace the fuse.

Graham

 

Has anyone tried one of the small carbon fiber types that are for sale on ebay?

 

thanks! pulled the fuse and that ugly thing stays put!