My 1999 XK8 is missing the "plug" that covers the hole where I would insert the tool to manually retract the top. The picture, if it's the correct part, is the only one I've found.

I am used to discontinued, tough to find parts being expensive. But if this part is what I imagine it to be, that price is nuts.

Does anyone have an alternative solution? If not, can I get the specs for the plug? I could literally buy dozens, if not hundreds of plastic plugs for that price.

 

Unlikely to fit your car -- that plug is for the 2007 XK. At that price I would gladly leave the opening permanently uncovered....

 

Measure the hole, look up tan trim fasteners online... there's something out there to fit every hole

 

The Jaguar part # is HJA2132AAAGD (oatmeal only apparently), but showing NLA.

It looks like this:

 

There is a small hole where the 8mm Allen key goes and a larger hole which is where your fingers go to pull the roof into the closed position manually. The larger hand hole was never fitted with a cover by Jaguar whereas the smaller hole has the plug shown by MichaelH above.

Richard

 

I found one on EBay at a very cheap price for my 2004. XK8 a couple of years ago.

 

I would love to get one of these. Is anyone 3-d printing them?

 

I found this on Octoclassic.com. It's cheaper, but still not cheap.

for what it's worth, I ordered the front seat catch lever and surround, for pushing the seat forward to access the rear seat, for both sides of the vehicle. All parts seemed high quality, but had to be painted to match. Fit great and work well.

Octoclassic seems to a developed a business around 3D printing little plastic bits and bobs for a number of older cars where the parts are no longer available.

Why didn't I think of that?

 

People, this isn't Rockette Surgery. Go to your local auto parts store, or go on Amazon, and buy a 12 mm plastic plug. I got 20 white plugs for $5.49 on Amazon. I just need to paint it a matching color... or maybe a Union Jack.

I'll be selling them later for $49.95, plus parts and labor. What does the $49.95 cover? Everything except parts and labor.

 

Excellent suggestion. I just ordered a large set of various sizes from Amazon for $10.

 

I hope that it contains METRIC sizes, including 12 mm. I initially ordered the standard sizes, but the 12.6 mm plug doesn't fit properly.