I just wanted to share my new project I finished for a close friend of mine. He is gonna be installing this in his XKR this week.

 

Is it solid carbon fiber all the way through, or is there a core material? If there's a core, what did you use for the core and how much does the whole thing weigh?

 

I wrapped an existing steering wheel in carbon fiber. So it is an OEM wheel covered in CF. It used to have the leather grips, but I removed the leather, made the whole thing symmetrical and wrapped it.

The total weight is 3-3.5 lbs.

 

i must say, i likey! but if someone were to do something like this than you might as well to every wood panel in the interior. i think wood and carbon fiber are a horrible mix

 

I agree, I think you have to choose between the two interiors. Im sure as a transition you might be ok. But What my friend did was have me wrap the door cups, steering wheel, and then some engine bay pieces oh and the shift knob. I have a few pics here.

He sent the OEM parts to me from the dealership and kept his parts on the car until I was done.

 

Looks good...... There is a guy over here on the XKEC who has covered all his interior wood the same way, you just have to be careful 'not to go overboard' it can get addictive.

 

Doesn't covering existing trim and materials with CF actually add weight?

 

Yes it does, but why worry

Looks good

 

Huh...CF adds weight, contrasts with existing interior finish, costs more money, covers wood veneers most car owners aspire to...

...I dont get it.

 

Honestly, (well in my opinion), Unless your out Racing professionally , even then, the weight difference is so minimal. If you want to save weight on your car then Do exterior panels. Have them molded and get all CF Hoods, Trunks, Doors, Roofs. Then the weight of your car would drop significantly.

But having a jag is about luxury, comfort. Enjoying the sights, feel and sound inside and outside of your car.

Do you really thing that overlaying the trim and your steering wheel adds that much weight? If you did every piece of wood, The dash, the steering wheel, the engine bay coil covers and the corner pieces etc: what is that 5 -10 pounds.

You make that up just by going on a diet. LOL

(Im not saying your fat, just making a funny)

 

Not really a carbon fiber observation but along a similar bent, I always thought that (as a minimum) the door handle inserts should have matched the wood used on the dash. Similarly, the overhead console surround would look good in wood. I have rarely seen these pieces offered, especially the door handle inserts. I did find one place that sold the overhead console surround but the price seemed ridiculously high.


Doug

 

I think either way you go, wood or carbon, your looking at cost. Dont get me wrong the wood vaneer is beautiful. The Steering Wheel Started out as a dark wood finish. (This is the picture I took after I removed the leather)

I think it is harder to match the wood finishes then it is the carbon. (twill, plain etc)

 

I'll throw in my two cents. Two days ago I realized that I hate my wood and leather steering wheel. I've been driving my Expedition for the past two months. I noticed that the steering wheel on the Expedition was starting to get slightly worn where I rest my hand most of the time, so I went and bought a steering wheel cover that matches the rest of the interior. It is sooooo easy to grip. It feels nice and beefy in my hands. Then, when we had a 68 degree day that allowed me to drive the Jag, my hands kept slipping on the steering wheel. I hated it. I'd hate to sully the look of the Jag with a cheap steering wheel cover, but that varnished wood is hard to grip! I'm sure the carbon fiber is no better.

 

The Carbon Fiber Finish can be kind of slick. Just like a wood finish. It is a smooth finish, except the finger nubs on the back.

I get sweaty palms too when I drive, I dont like covers on any type of steering wheel, they all look kind of tacky to me.

But to each their own I suppose.

 

I am not a fan of the wood if I am honest, I am changing mine to an all leather steering wheel from an 2008 XKR, all the switch gear does basically the same stuff and I am hoping I can change a few plugs accordingly, I am also planning to get the flappy paddles to work with the gearbox speed shift. Just for my own amusement of course

All my wood will end up piano black, to match my black Recaro interior.

 

Sam
You may be able to find a factory leather wheel at a salvage yard, I've seen some XK8's and XKR's with them. Mine's a black leather, with red stitching unique to this vehicle. but I saw a 2006 XK8 with a beige leather wheel.
Doug
2001 XKR Silverstone

 

Sam, I am in complete agreement with you. The wood is pretty to look at but slick to the touch and prone to abrasion. My 2006 XKR has a thick all leather wheel that I immediately appreciated over my previous XK8.

Wood wheel : eye candy but when you want to play with it, sorry dear...headache.

Leather wheel : grab me, use me, anytime, day or night...

 

As somebody on another forum aptly pointed out: carbon fibre sounds cool until you actually see what it looks like.

 

Much easier to find a similar year XJ6 steering wheel. Many more of them available in leather and direct swap. Most people don't list them as fitting the XK8 but they do. That's what I did while mine was being refinished in piano black.

I've had my interior changed many times, trying out different finishes and wraps. Saul at British Autowood found a dash veneer set still in box, never used, and it was a unusual color that I love but it didn't have the door or center console piece so I mixed it with piano black from my previous trim I had, and added the black and chrome detail on the bottom of fascia. Similar to my XF dash "blade"

 

Looks great, nice work. Always thought the steering wheel and goofy air bag let these cars down.