Got an exceptional deal on a pair of new 21" Michelin Stealth Ultra wiper blades that I couldn't turn down, only to find out that none of their 4 adapters would work on my '05 XK8 wiper arms. Was disappointed that I would have to return the new blades, but then hit on an easy fix: I pinched the old rubber blade insert at the "keeper" end of the blade, pulled it out of the frame rails, then did the same thing with the new Michelin insert and worked it back onto the (original) rails. A little push and they locked right in. Perfect fit!


I pulled one blade off of the wiper arm to figure out the first replacement and replaced the other blade easily without removing it from the arm (make sense?). Good to know that I don't have to buy proprietary ($$$) blades from my local Jag dealer...

 

Trico 45-205 wiper blade refills fit my wife's 2006 XK8 perfectly. They last about a year in our moderate climate. About $4 each at my local Carquest Auto Parts store....

The highest-quality refills I have found for her car are the PIAA 94053 inserts which are considerably more expensive (about $10 each). But they typically last her twice as long as the Trico refills....

 

NAPA has an exact fit and will even put them on for you. About $12 or so for the insert and blade together.

 

Might you have the part number still?

 

Orthodoxie, The Michelin Stealth Ultra 21" wiper blade I used was part #8521.

 

The blade I got from NAPA
The Bosch Excel plus #41521 is an exact fit and the mountings are correct with no mods. $11.97 at NAPA.

 

I've bought new wiper blades (whole blade - not a refill) for my 2003 XKR from various places and various brands every year or two. Never had one not fit.

 

Redline,

The XK Windshield Wiper Assembly is made so the Washer nozzles will not hit anything...Should never use another Assembly.....Just change the Rubber Wiper with a refill....Go to eBay and order a set of Trico 47-600 Break to fit Blades for about 10 Bucks and go find those Jaguar Assemblies you just threw away! Go look! You'll see what I mean! They are made that way on purpose!

Billy Clyde in Houston

 

Thanks to all for all the great advice! As soon as I run out of these Michelin refills, I'll get on Amazon.com for one of these mentioned (I don't live within 15 miles of a NAPA store).

 

You can also purchase them new from a Jaguar Parts supplier like SNG for a reasonable price. Here is the good part. They look exactly like the blade assemblies on a Honda of approximately the same time period. The attachment is the same. Jaguar probably used the same supplier as a lot of other manufacturers.

 

On the one hand I don't doubt you, but on the other hand I haven't used to original blades since the free maintenance on my 03 jag ran out (think it was for four years, so 13 years ago). I've never had any issues with the washer nozzles being obstructed and/or not adequately spraying the windshield.

My 2003 XKR uses standard Universal hook, also called J Hook, style connectors to attach wiper blades. I think this type is the most common type of blade attachment used on cars for quite a few years, certainly predating my 2003 model by years. It is pretty easy to change the blades and if anyone has any confusion there are lots of videos and instructions on the internet on how to do this. I literally can't recall the last time I changed wiper blades on any car that didn't use this type of attachment.

 

Isimon, As I said above, Whatever you want to do is OK with me....I don't really care! But if you want to keep the Jaguar a Jaguar, you should try to keep it stock! You know, the way it came from the Factory...but as I said above, who cares......I really don't!!

Billy Clyde in Houston

 

I recently switched to Silicone wipers: PIAA 95053 Super Silicone Wiper Blade - 21" 525mm (Pack of 1)
Click below to see them on Amazon:

Love these.

 

All good info, but how the hell do you get the old blades off a 2008 XKR without screwing up the arms?!

 

Firecat17? - I'm not sure how you replace the blades on a 08 XKR but if you had an X-100 Jaguar, you would do it as follows......My God Man it couldn't be all that hard!!! Maybe you should take it to the Dealer!

If you had an X-100, you would grab ahold of the Wiper Arm and pull it straight out until it stops then turn the Blade upside down....You will see a little trigger on the Blade portion which you push down then push the entire Blade Holder down toward the Windshield until it gets passed the Hook in the Arm and then slide the Blade holder off the Arm....When you put it back on...Make sure the low portion on the Blade is on the side with the washer gizmo.....so they won't hit. Or go to Page 7/17 in your Driver's Handbook and look at the Picture.....The Blade refills can be bought on eBay or Amazon...If your Blade Holders are stock, you will need TRICO #47-600 Break-to-Fit 16" to 22" 6mm Square Claw Refill Blades. Ain't nothing to it!!!

Billy Clyde in Houston

 

 

"Gently"....

 

I've learned the hard way to put a thick rag over the window when any blade is changed. With the blade removed the arm can snap back to the window and crack it. :-)

 

All this talk about wipers guess I better see if mine work, can't remember the last time I got her wet. Tend to keep her at home if it's going to rain

 

Thanks for the input fellas. It's not my first rodeo with blade replacements... The XKR is different, inasmuch as the arms don't lift high enough to allow for the 90 degree rotation of the blade to access the detent locking mechanism. The shop detail says you should park the wipers midway on the windscreen to remove the blades. I'll try that method and see if that works.