I have completed my next series of modifications to my 2002 XKR: Specifically, I added WhiteXKR's RealGage (thanks Steve) so now I can see my actual coolant temperature. It works great; if you haven't already gotten it, you have to buy this one. Next, I figured out a way to have my cake and eat it to. Specifically, I have the factory nav system, which I have updated to a modern system using a Garman device designed to use the original factory screen. I use this all the time because I have no natural sense of direction and the birds keep eating my bread crumbs. Regardless, I also really wanted the gages that are standard on the XK8s but I also really wanted to maintain a "stock look". That is, no gages added to the top of the dash. I found the solution a few weeks ago at a site called radar-mirror dot com. They will take your stock rear view mirror and incorporate any two electronic gages you want into the mirror, while maintaining the auto dimming function (see photo). Here, I also took advantage of WhiteXKRs RealGage to add a real oil pressure gage and a voltmeter. This works great and I love it.

Finally, I added burl walnut door cappings and inserts (see photo) because, as we used to say in high school, "you can never have too much wood".

While I really like this last mod (the wood on the door looks very classy), it is next to impossible to get burl walnut veneer to match exactly because it naturally varies in nature from a light brown to a more redish brown. The door cappings I bought are more redish brown and the factory wood in my car is more lite brown. While the contrast between these two different shades does not look bad, as the redish brown matches my steering wheel and gear shift knob, the left and right window switch panels look really out of place. Therefore, I am ordering replacements for these parts in the redish brown color of the door cappings and inserts.

I am interested in the opinions of other members regarding all of these mods but specifically the addition of the door cappings and inserts. Do you think the contrast between the two different shades of wood looks ok or not? I can order a replacement for the dash wood in a redish brown (not identical but close) for around $1200 but I'm not sure it’s either necessary or what I want (I’m still debating) and I’d appreciate some input. All opinions welcome, thanks,

Mark

 

I like the inserts, but the caps might be a bit much for my taste. For myself, I would prefer that the door tops are a continuation of the dash top color. Now if they were both done in leather, oh my...

Did the XKRs have elm rather than walnut wood? Not sure if that was standard or an optional thing but it could explain the difference in grain and color.

 

Going on your photo, I would say your original wood is elm like I have on my 2005 XKR, not walnut.

Even if you get the right species of tree, matching wood veneer is notoriously difficult. I swapped my prehistoric satnav for the more classic 3-gauge cluster and sent the original dash panel off to a specialist in the UK so they could supply me with a new 3-hole panel and veneer it to match. They did a pretty good job, but you can still see the centre panel is not quite the same grain and colour as the rest of the dash.

 

Mark,

A split decision from me. The door capping (section with the handle) looks superb but I think the insert next to the window switch is a bit OTT.

The grain pattern of all sections is a close enough match although I'd get the shades matching.

All comes down to personal taste. A lot of $$ involved will obviously influence any decision!

Graham

 

+1

I like the caps (although I think it's the wrong wood), not so sure about the inserts. Where did you get them from?

 

+1 on the inserts for me, -1 on the door caps. I would keep the inserts and just refinish the little wood switch surrounds on the door to match the inserts.

 

The attached photos are from the web page of the company from which I purchased the door cappings and inserts. The photo of the walnut looks like the factory wood that I have in my car. The factory wood in my car has long dark grains going across the wood and looks like it was cut with the grain. The elm has dark "dots" and circular patterns and looks like it was cut across the grain. At this point I'm not certain what type of wood came with my car from the factory. The bottom line is that I'm still undecided.

The company is Jaguar XK8 and XKR Interiors.

Mark

 

I agree that your original veneer seems to have the colour of elm with the grain of walnut!

 

It may very well be UV faded. If you remove the shifter bezel you will see the original color, which I'll bet was darker.

 

LOVE THE WOOD!! Can you say Bentley!!

If you restore the dash wood, it would be perfect.. I would consider getting Crystalline tint from m3 on the winshield, to preserve your investment.. I've had mine done, right after I replaced my wood.

PS. MORE PICS!! :-)

 

I had not considered the possibility of UV damage, however that does explain the grain and lighter color. The car was originally in California and then in Florida; I live in Texas so it has seen a lot of sun. I will certainly be getting new window switch panels and may well get a whole new dash. The company that makes these gives you a credit if you return your original panels to be refurbished and re-sold by them.

Mark

 

Yeah it's really tough to match woodgrains & colours.

In order to get the colour right, I'd suggest that you send one of the original pieces from your interior (maybe the surround from the window switch or the shifter surrond) when you return the door pieces and ask them to match it that way. Also lots of pics of your dash.

Like Frog's example...the only way to solve that is get hold of a complete dash set (all three pieces) because they are triple-bookmatched so the joins line up. Simply impossible to find a single piece to match.

 

All 5 pieces of the dash are matched across the width of the dash. The Side Vent sections are included in a Dash Set.

Graham

 

Of course, you're right Graham, i'll go back to the XJ section now...

 

Well, I've exchanged a couple of emails with Saul Chaplin of British Autowood and he says that it's definitely UV damage. The wood is covered with a finish that yellows with age and sun. So it looks like I'll be sending my wood off to Saul (about half the price of replacing the wood)!

Mark

 

Nice, that's really the best way to 'freshen' it up anyway. It'll come back looking fantastic!

 

The only way to do this right is to get all your panels redone when you order the side cappings. I've considered this but the wait time at British Autowood is a bit long last I checked to leave your car without any interior trim (my XKR is my daily driver). I will do this at some point so I can replace my Nav unit with the original 3 gauge cluster, but it's not a priority as I'd rather spend money on performance upgrades first.

I don't care about Nav upgrades to my XKR because Google Navigation on my phone is absolutely awesome and the three gauge cluster is much nicer and classy looking than the nav unit.


Oh, and thanks for the link to Radar Mirror. I was about to start looking for gauge options, and I think I like this the best. I'll probably be ordering from them after I install Avos twin screw kit.

 

I'm looking at having all of my interior wood refinished soon...it's all gone a bit orange over time and I'm looking for a darker brown color.

I've looked at British Autowood, Madera Concepts and a few others...the going price for refinishing everything with these guys is about $ 950. That seems too high to me. After all, there's no repair needed...just refinishing.

Why couldn't anyone experienced in wood refinishing tackle this? I've connected with a local guy here who does top quality furniture restoration work, with both solid woods and veneers. He's looked at my panels, done some investigation on the type of topcoat needed to withstand scratches, large temperature swings, the whole bit. He says he'll refinish all of my interior wood pieces to my color specs in about five days, for $ 500 total. About half what the automotive specialists want to charge.

I can't come up with a good reason not to go with him and save nearly $ 500.

 

Isn't that $950 from British Autowood for a complete re-veneering? If so, that $500 for refinishing is a rip-off. Just saying...

 

Both Madera Concepts and British Autowood quoted me about $ 950 for refinishing...stripping, staining (darker) and topcoating all wood panels. Neither mentioned re-veneering. There's also a $ 500 core charge at Madera.

My panels don't need any kind of repair, I'm just looking for a darker stain.