My '99 XK8 coupe has a broken engine cover on the left side. The break is about an inch to the left of the "J" in the attached photo.
I don't think this cover serves any real purpose other than cover the coil pack wires. I could just leave it off, but prefer the look of the engine with the covers installed.
I've searched the 'net for a replacement and the only one I can find ('99s use a different cover set than the earlier models) is over $100 and I'm not totally sure it is the right one. So I'm thinking I can repair the separation with a plastic welder. But I don't know what kind of plastic the covers are. Can anybody tell me what kind of plastic is used? Also, is there a glue or cement that will bind the two pieces together, like JB Weld?

 

Call around the motorcycle repair shops, they will know someone who does plastic welding to repair motorcycle fairings.

I've not inspected a cover from a 99 Xk8 that closely, but it will likely be Polypropylene (PP) or maybe Polyethylene (PE), both materials cannot be glued in a permanent sense, welding only.

On the off chance it's made of ABS, like a lot of interior plastics & motorcycle fairings, this can also be welded, although it is traditionally a solvent-cemented material.

Have a look on the cover, on the back side for some markings, generally the material will be mentioned (in order for it to be recycled correctly).

 

Ebay replacement...


Jaguar X100 Engine Motor Trim Bezel Intake Manifold Cover Driver Left | eBay

 

BRGJAG,
Thanks for the eBay link. I've seen that but if you'll compare the photo of min and the one on eBay, you'll see the eBay cover has the piece broken off and not even included in the sale!

CAMBO351,
Good tip regarding motorcycle repair shops.

The built-in line is a natural place for the cover to break along with the fact that there is only one push-on rubber retainer holding that part of the cover, the missing piece, on the engine so that when removing the cover, the person removing it will stress the plastic right along the line and easily break it there.

 

My '99 XK8 had the same problem. One side about a third of the cover was missing. I was fortunate on that one as I happened on a very rare eBay offering for a brand new one. Only that side. It was pricey as well but hey, if they're that rare, they command the price.

My other side is like yours, a crack about two inches long. About two years ago I used JB Weld on the underside to bind it together. Yes, you can still see the crack from the top but it is now "tighter" and hasn't grown. My experience says it is a good fix.

 

I have repaired mine with plastic weld two part epoxy which has held up fine for several months now.

I roughed up the back side of the cover with some coarse sandpaper then used superglue to initially bond the two pieces together. Then used the plastic weld to lay in a patch about 2 inches wide centered on the break.

The covers have been off an on a few times since then without breaking again.

 

can also look at quality and quick auto wreckers and give them a call, also coventry west