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In 2019 I noticed my threads in the top seams of my 2001 xk8 were fraying, so I decided to get a new top, headliner and new seat upholstery. I bought the seat upholstery earlier but decided to let a custom shop do it all.
Eight hours and $1080 to install new front seat covers. A little excessive in my opinion as I had installed seat heaters in my previous 2000 xk8 years before and not all that hard.
Headliner $461 in material and 5 hours $675 to do
New black German canvas top $914 and 12 hours $1620 to complete total $4750
When I picked up the car the passenger seat headrest would not respond to the motor. The owner and tech came to see and the tech starts beating on the hearest to make it go down. I stopped them and said I would fix it when I got home. I had fixed this issue before and when they recovered the seat they extended the sheath so the cable would not engage. So I got home and moved the seat forward and saw this.
And the discovered that the bottom flap was not installed.
There were other issues. They covered the hole for the manual operation of the top.
And I found the plug in the console.
There were other issues and about a month later, when I lowered the top, the latch and the screws fell off the convertible top front rail. The other screws were all loose, too. And the fir plug was missing from the header rubber.
I sent some emails detailing some of the issues to the shop and he basically apologized and said the car should never have left the shop like it was.
I gave him a 2 star yelp review detailing all the issues.
It has been 6 years and 5000 miles and the car usually stayed in the garage, I have been retired for 11 years, and only used it for short trips: Starbucks coffee runs, golf outings.. Any long trips were done the Volvo wagon.
Recently the telescoping function on the steering failed and I had to lower the top to pull the driver seat so I could pull the steering column. After fixing the steering I raised the top and heard cracking sounds. The top had torn in several places. I drove over to the shop, owner was not in, but assistant took pictures. I later called the owner and he was upset about my previous review and he told me the top had a 5 year warranty and said he would not fix it even if I paid him.
So he now got a 1 star review.
So I started the look at replacing the top myself and found these videos
Jaguar XK8 Convertible Roof Replacement Part 1.
top is in great condition, headliner is one piece where mine is 2 piece., a little wear near the window.
I will clean up and maybe reinforce from back side. okay for me as I am likely to move on to another jaguar in near future.
It seems you just can't find good tradesmen these days no matter what you pay.
My wife and I (both of the baby boomer generation) always joke about how virtually NOTHING gets done right the first time these days. Whether it is something like making a hotel reservation, getting something repaired, or ordering a piece of furniture we have gotten in the habit of expecting it will not be correct. If you have this philosophy you will not be as disappointed.
not sure if I will remove with top extended or lowered. we will see what is easier.
Then I can R&R any of the rubber seals if necessary.
my paint looks good from five feet but the clear coat is coming off and it looks like I got sapped by a tree sometime since spending all that money on the top, so this car needs a complete paint job (estimate $15K) and I can find a really nice one for much less
The entire car is covered with these spots where the sap ate down to the paint
and all this since I did all the timing chains and top hydraulic lines ten years ago.
I painted my red 1969 2002 BMW in 1980, but I will not paint another.
Last edited by stevepaa; Oct 4, 2025 at 12:12 PM.
Reason: more
removed it when compressed and set aside , positioned "new" and lowered brackets to catch bolt on each side, then finagled a little to seat everything. 15 minutes. two men, my son in law helped as it was too heavy and awkward for my wife
the hardest part of completing this job is to screw in the bolts attaching the tack strip to the body. locate the track strip as close to the body as you can
then get 2 long bolts to help locate the tack strip in position
then get a socket that can grip the head of the small bolts
working from the middle screw in the bolts not tight
when you get to the ends you will need to push on the tack strip to align the holes in the tack strip with the body inserts, I used a rubber mallet
turns out I am short 4 bolts, another issue from the guys who did this before
really not easy getting these bolts in, I was getting leg cramps and sweating profusely
Well, what do you know! I was insert ing the last bolt into position and it slipped down into the rear quarter window space. Be sure to put a rag under that last holed to catch the screw. The screw fell into the channel which empties into the quarter window space. I had a spare screw and was able to screw it in as shown.
A better way to install that screw is to remove these parts and the you can get your hand into the area.
I will complete what ever I need to do for the top and get to the window, although that JTIS removal process says to remove the convertible top first thing??!
Well, what do you know! I was insert ing the last bolt into position and it slipped down into the rear quarter window space. Be sure to put a rag under that last holed to catch the screw. The screw fell into the channel which empties into the quarter window space. I had a spare screw and was able to screw it in as shown.
A better way to install that screw is to remove these parts and the you can get your hand into the area.
I will complete what ever I need to do for the top and get to the window, although that JTIS removal process says to remove the convertible top first thing??!
If you're looking to do the window regulators, sure, it's easier if the top isn't on. But jagrepair.com has a great write-up on how to DIY with the top installed.
Last edited by Y2KJag; Oct 8, 2025 at 08:43 PM.
Reason: Typos
to get my window system part way out I removed the window stop and the stud
both inhibit removal of the window
then it was fairly easy to lift it up
and down in the bottom was the screw barley visible
got it out and now progressing on the top reinstallation
just a clarification , the edge of the top does NOT fit into that well back there, it attaches to the vertical adjacent wall. the well is a drainage well for any water that gets in there
the JTIS instructions are really useful and take pictures of every step
Have not owned a Jaguar since the 1990's, but hunting for a good deal on a 2003/2004 XKR convertible at this point. Given the "good deal" part, i expect the top to have some notable wear, so i have been looking for instructional resources on how to replace a top (along with any other good mechanical instruction).
Now, i did find the two brothers in the youtube series "Jaguar XK8 Convertible Roof Replacement" episodes 1 through 3, but as enjoyable (?) as it was watching them from afar bantering for a couple of hours, there sure wasn't too much technical videography, now was there? Or perhaps i missed something?
And so, i wonder if anyone has knowledge of any video that was able to focus on the specific mechanical processes rather than the, well, human element.
I do have more tools than i have ever used (i think it is a neurosis) and not afraid to, well, afraid but still, go ahead into repair areas that could get me in trouble, but i really, really, would prefer no regrets!
I keep hoping i will find the right car any day now (started conceiving this last June), expecting to travel as far as CO from home in VA just to try to get something within my $ range/color choices. If i were rich the hunt would have been over months ago but i just can't get Elon to believe i am his long lost uncle.
replacing convertible top
