Today, while changing my bulbs, I accidentally broke the small tab that attaches to one of the bolts/nuts that holds the headlight to the body (the one near the bonnet). Now my headlight is dangling.

Do I really have to buy an entire headlight assembly just because of a tiny plastic piece?

 

Scroll down to post 62 in this thread: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...e-91230/page4/

You can use a pair of tin snips and some sheet metal to make a bracket, then clamp it tight with a good epoxy (like JB Weld) and let it set for 24 hours. Roughen the surfaces with sandpaper before gluing.

Thanks to Racediagnostics!

 

Wow, that seems like the perfect solution.

Let's see, so I need tin snips, sheet metal, JB weld and sanding paper. OK, so where can I get the sheet metal?

 

Go to Home Depot or Lowes. They sell it in sheets, usually in the heating and air-conditioning duct section. If they do not have sheets just get a small sheet metal duct section and cut it up.

 

Thanks Steve!

PS. I just noticed that one of my headlights has the power wash option and the other one doesn't. WTF?

 

It sounds like one of your headlights was replaced. Some earlier models had a one piece all glass without the washer, I would look to see if you have the washer unit for the headlights underneath the left front fender coming off the reservoir.

 

Ok, I'll check for that.

One of my headlights is all glass, and the other one has the cutout for the washer separate from the rest of the glass. Anyway, do I want the headlight washer? Sounds like they're more of a headache than being useful.

While I'm at it, I noticed that the interior of the headlight's reflective coating can be easily removed. One of mine has sections of black in it which I thought was due to water. I do prefer blacked out headlights, will wiping the reflective coat off cause visibility problems?

 

I plugged my lines I very seldom use the wipers, The chrome does wipe off. The later models come that way. I don't know if it affects any visibility at all. the later models I believe had HID bulbs.

 

My wife's 2006 XK8 has the headlight washer option. I think it's relatively useless and wastes washer fluid. Also, it's just something else to break....

 

Ok. I'm still curious about removing the reflective chrome on the headlight, I wanna do it, but not of the cost of being blind at night. :/

 

As written by Jon
Agree 100%