Yesterday I took the door panel off in cold weather. Snapped 3 or 4 of the fir tree retainers (called fir tree because their profile looks like a pine tree).

Had to replace them and as I was studying the task I figured why not take a couple of photos that may help someone down the road. Don't laugh but I also realized I'd spent quite a few minutes "figuring things out." So maybe this will save you some time.

Findings:

1) you can use generic fasteners from your local auto parts store. See photo of a 10 pack I picked up from NAPA auto parts for $4.50.

2) the green plastic receptacles on the door card are not created equal. There are at least 3 different functional configurations.
a) the one in the upper corner closest to the dashboard is flush (height) with the door receptacle.
b) the other ones top out well below the mating surface of the door. (This will be explained below)
c) each receptacle has a keyhole notch to receive the fastener. Some have zero space inside between the rear wall and the top of the keyhole's arch cutout. Others have enough gap that trimming is unnecessary.

The generic brands of fasteners have 2 or 3 levels of fastener discs (see photo). If you are mounting on a receptacle from category b, just use disc #1 at the top. Allowing the one or two remaining disc surfaces to protrude above the green receptacle is of no consequence. (I wanted a lot if time trying to get it to fit with disc 1 and 2, or cutting off 1 and trimming #2. All unnecessary)

NAPA brand $4.50 for #10 fastenera


Aee the 3 levels of mounting disks discussed

Note fastener mounts well below door plane.

This one mounts at door plane level. Must cut upper disks off


If you are working with the receptacle from a above, you must cut the fastener down to the 1 mounting disc at the bottom.

Scissors or wire cutters work just fine.

When working with receptacles with zero clearance, just lope off the top hemisphere of the mounting disk with your scissors.

if you are like me you'll look at the doors receptacle holes and wonder, "will the fastener hit the window?"
I checked - no way. Even in the upper corners there is plenty of room, way more than the length of the fastener.

Two last things:
Getting the fir tree right in the middle of the green plastic holder makes reassembling much easier.

You should not have to force any of the new fir trees into place. They just slip right in when you're using the right disk with the right profile.

In the past I violated both of those points:-) . Glad I finally figured it out.

Yes, these are probably the only components Jaguar sells for a reasonable price. But if you're like me, NAPA is much closer so, win-win :-).

John

 

Just had to remove and install my door panels and ran into the same problem. I also had to improvise but not as clean as your solution. Good info.

 

Good info. I hate it when those brittle little fasteners break. Your fingers look like mine - January skin, lotion, lotion.

 

Jimmy, I was gonna respond, "wait,that's my girlfriend's fingers" (ha ha) but I could just imagine where this thread would go. . .think I'll just say I know what you mean.

At least we, in southern half of New Jersey, seem to have escaped the snow so far. My (real) girlfriend just told me they got 3+ inches up there. What will her hands look like after all that shoveling?

John