Recently noticed that the access to the left hand headlamp, from the engine bay, is an open hole as the right hand access has a plastic cover moulding. Is that correct or am I missing a part?

 

you are missing the other cover. I have 2 covers on my 2002 XKR. I can’t imagine other years would have only one cover.

Z

PS: I find it easier to just remove the wheel access to the headlight for any bulb maintenance.

 

I am referring to the headlamp access between the power steering reservoir and the left headlamp assembly. Should there be a plastic cover part?

 

I know you are . The answer is:

yes.

 

I'm sure you mean this cover:

Available from various sources. I got two new ones through Ebay for my '03 XK8 - the foam/rubber seals were collapsed and leaky.

 

It would be a black plastic piece to fill the access hole to the lh headlamp assembly just in front of the power steering reservoir. Need a part number or some other means to search for one.

 

Maybe this? And did you pull thee one cover you do have to see if it has a part number? They should be the same.

 

It would be vaguely rectangular about 10”x6” with a couple of bends over near 90 degrees

 

Rex - I happen to be working on another project on my XK8, so the hood is up. Here are a couple of pictures of the area you are describing. I still feel you are looking for the clear, funny-shaped cover. The black round cover on the back of the headlight housing can only be reached through an access panel on the wheel well lining.

 

It would be in the second picture but it looks as if yours is open between the power steering reservoir and the back of the headlamp assembly, just as is mine. Odd how the right hand side has a cover piece and not the left?

 

Rex - I think I see what you are looking at. They look like machined or punched out areas left and right of the radiator housing, and you can see the back and top of the headlight housings, plus headlight aiming stuff. Both of these are open on my car ('03) and it does not look like they were ever fitted with covers. Here are two pictures, left & right.

 

My right side is covered

 

what year is your car ? If I’ve missed it my apologies.

Could your cover be homemade , or adapted from another car ?

my 2002 is the same as @flydutch 2003: no covers on either side, I don’t think they were std from the factory with anything there.

 

Mine is 1999 and the right hand cover is factory.

 

A lot of things changed after the early two years

 

Funnily enough, one of my headlights kept getting condensation/water stuck in it, so I ended up removing the cover so it would evaporate and haven't had the problem since. Possibly a previous owner of your car did the same. I have kept the cover in the glove box though and put it back on in summer...

 

My 2001 also has a cover on the right hand side, but not the left. Mine is a right hand drive car.

The picture is with the cover (and the wing) removed:-