A very spontaneous Jaguar XKR
Discussion
A bit of a non post.
At risk of jinxing things, with the exception of a puncture which has been fixed, life with the old Jag has been good.
I have been playing with the paintwork though. Being frequently irritated by the swirl marks every time the sun was at the right angle, I decided to try and do something about it.
So I ordered some of Amazon's finest polishing drill attachments and very carefully began to experiment.
I tried some before and after shots but the marks never show in the picture.
It's not perfect but is much better than it was.
I should have managed to do the whole car before the PH gathering at Bicester. At the moment I have only managed to do the front, roof and rear quarters, my drive being in direct sunlight most of the time has slowed me down.
At risk of jinxing things, with the exception of a puncture which has been fixed, life with the old Jag has been good.
I have been playing with the paintwork though. Being frequently irritated by the swirl marks every time the sun was at the right angle, I decided to try and do something about it.
So I ordered some of Amazon's finest polishing drill attachments and very carefully began to experiment.
I tried some before and after shots but the marks never show in the picture.
It's not perfect but is much better than it was.
I should have managed to do the whole car before the PH gathering at Bicester. At the moment I have only managed to do the front, roof and rear quarters, my drive being in direct sunlight most of the time has slowed me down.
LanceRS said:
I have been playing with the paintwork though. Being frequently irritated by the swirl marks every time the sun was at the right angle, I decided to try and do something about it.
So I ordered some of Amazon's finest polishing drill attachments and very carefully began to experiment.
You're braver than I am - I've tried machine polishing a past daily driver and wasn't at all happy with the results. I certainly wouldn't touch my beloved Jag! Glad the results have been worth it for you.So I ordered some of Amazon's finest polishing drill attachments and very carefully began to experiment.
One of the main reasons that I started was a few marks which had not come out polishing normally. I have wanted to get the car detailed for ages but always find something more important to spend the money on.
Having had a degree of success on the specific bits, I just kept going. I haven’t got to the parts of the car thar I know have had paint yet.
I used fairly soft pads with Meguires Paint Renovator, then Auto Glym Resin Polish. On top of that, Turtle Wax Graphine spray.
Having had a degree of success on the specific bits, I just kept going. I haven’t got to the parts of the car thar I know have had paint yet.
I used fairly soft pads with Meguires Paint Renovator, then Auto Glym Resin Polish. On top of that, Turtle Wax Graphine spray.
Your efforts are very much worth it, that bonnet shot looks gorgeous. Those vents are perfectly judged by Jaguar, it's almost enough to make me question if I should have saved a bit longer and got an R too instead of my XK60. The paint on mine is a bit low quality (previous owner parked it under a tree, and the sap etched trails into the paintwork, the bonnet and roof was resprayed, but not particularly well to my standards) so not really worth the effort of your example, but every day I come home from work it makes me smile and gives me a warm glow to see those elegant lines waiting for me on the driveway. I'm away in France this next week for the Classic, but once I return I plan to start getting funds together to do right by her.
Finally, something approaching an actual update.
Yesterday I had to concede that I was not getting taller, the roof was coming down to meet me.
Apart from looking awful, it's very difficult to drive with a roof on your head. So, I did a thing.
Unsurprisingly, I made a bit of a mess of making repairs.
Spray adhesive in hand, temporary fix attempted.
Looks a bit of a mess but at least I can see where I'm going.
I have also learned the hard way that the trim panels that run along side it, come out in a certain order and if you do it wrong, plastic bits break (why are trim clips stronger than the trim that they attach).
A replacement is about £200 but as I have to MOT and tax the Sierra this month along with the boss deciding that we're moving house, it can wait a while.
Yesterday I had to concede that I was not getting taller, the roof was coming down to meet me.
Apart from looking awful, it's very difficult to drive with a roof on your head. So, I did a thing.
Unsurprisingly, I made a bit of a mess of making repairs.
Spray adhesive in hand, temporary fix attempted.
Looks a bit of a mess but at least I can see where I'm going.
I have also learned the hard way that the trim panels that run along side it, come out in a certain order and if you do it wrong, plastic bits break (why are trim clips stronger than the trim that they attach).
A replacement is about £200 but as I have to MOT and tax the Sierra this month along with the boss deciding that we're moving house, it can wait a while.
Lance,
I had the same issue with my XKR as have many XKR owners. As a temporary fix, I got a paint syringe from a local paint store, filled it with a fairly thin fabric adhesive, poked tiny holes with a finish nail, and put the syringe needle through the holes to deposit a drop or two of adhesive about every 8" or so across the roof. After putting the adhesive and pressing it in place for about 30 seconds at each puncture, my headliner was back up and on the warm charcoal roof barely showed. Sometime soon, I will do a proper redo of the headliner, but for now, at least I'm not wearing a veil.
I had the same issue with my XKR as have many XKR owners. As a temporary fix, I got a paint syringe from a local paint store, filled it with a fairly thin fabric adhesive, poked tiny holes with a finish nail, and put the syringe needle through the holes to deposit a drop or two of adhesive about every 8" or so across the roof. After putting the adhesive and pressing it in place for about 30 seconds at each puncture, my headliner was back up and on the warm charcoal roof barely showed. Sometime soon, I will do a proper redo of the headliner, but for now, at least I'm not wearing a veil.
Thanks. Must have worked better than my attempts which failed when we briefly had summer. The headlining is currently held up with old fashion staples 
If anyone wants to come and laugh at it tomorrow, please do, I'm always up for a chat.
In the meantime, yesterday evening was spent having another go at the headlights.
Definitely not perfect, certainly an improvement.
If anyone wants to come and laugh at it tomorrow, please do, I'm always up for a chat.
In the meantime, yesterday evening was spent having another go at the headlights.
Definitely not perfect, certainly an improvement.
I did another thing and as usual had a varying degree of success.
With an MOT on the horizon, I decided that I really would have to finally sort out the rear light.
New replacements are nearly £600! I managed to find someone willing to strip it down and mend it for about a third of that.
So I now have fully functional lights and have managed to spend a slightly less horrendous amount.
No prizes for spotting the issue. Bugger.
I still need to sort out the headlining and, having been a bit enthusiastic cleaning it, I have managed to move the steering wheel retrim further up my list of priorities.
Other than that, it’s been a busy month or so, I seem to have found that I am at an event of some sort every weekend, anyone at Bicester on Sunday may well spot it in the car park.
With an MOT on the horizon, I decided that I really would have to finally sort out the rear light.
New replacements are nearly £600! I managed to find someone willing to strip it down and mend it for about a third of that.
So I now have fully functional lights and have managed to spend a slightly less horrendous amount.
No prizes for spotting the issue. Bugger.
I still need to sort out the headlining and, having been a bit enthusiastic cleaning it, I have managed to move the steering wheel retrim further up my list of priorities.
Other than that, it’s been a busy month or so, I seem to have found that I am at an event of some sort every weekend, anyone at Bicester on Sunday may well spot it in the car park.
Edited by LanceRS on Friday 6th October 19:53
Finally time for a proper moan about owning this car. However it's not the car's fault.
Ridiculous expense is the problem. The service and MOT, not a problem. Not cheap but what do you expect for one of these?
Next up this month is the tax. Nearly £700! What a rip off. I knew that it was coming and as mentioned before,the best plan is to pay and forget quickly.
What I wasn't expecting and has really annoyed me in my insurance renewal. How is it reasonable for it to have doubled? I've managed to get to 50 and I've just been given the largest quote I've ever had.
Tomorrow will be spent trying to get it back to something reasonable.
Rant over.
I am still loving the car and it definitely runs smoother with new plugs.
The MOT did pick up on some bushes that will needed doing eventually. This I knew because it doesn't feel quite as good as usual, but that's being picky.
Ridiculous expense is the problem. The service and MOT, not a problem. Not cheap but what do you expect for one of these?
Next up this month is the tax. Nearly £700! What a rip off. I knew that it was coming and as mentioned before,the best plan is to pay and forget quickly.
What I wasn't expecting and has really annoyed me in my insurance renewal. How is it reasonable for it to have doubled? I've managed to get to 50 and I've just been given the largest quote I've ever had.
Tomorrow will be spent trying to get it back to something reasonable.
Rant over.
I am still loving the car and it definitely runs smoother with new plugs.
The MOT did pick up on some bushes that will needed doing eventually. This I knew because it doesn't feel quite as good as usual, but that's being picky.
My sympathies on the tax, it crept up on me too. If it's any consolation, I pay the same as you for my 4.2 N/A XK. Gratefully, Insurance is something I've got a few more months to prepare for as that's not up until May for myself. My current "record" was set by my 3rd car, a much loved and dearly missed A70 Supra Turbo Manual, which cost the then 23 year old me a princely £1,030 for a year. Fingers crossed I can avoid that sort of fright!
I've not long crested 60K miles so hopefully it's a few services off still, but what sort of mileage was your XKR on when you did the plugs?
I've not long crested 60K miles so hopefully it's a few services off still, but what sort of mileage was your XKR on when you did the plugs?
That’s about what they wanted me to pay now!
The service was a 95k so the plugs have lasted well. The advice was that this was the nearest service to the recommended plug change. I was going to have them done in any event, much like the gearbox, I’m not convinced that these things go on forever.
The service was a 95k so the plugs have lasted well. The advice was that this was the nearest service to the recommended plug change. I was going to have them done in any event, much like the gearbox, I’m not convinced that these things go on forever.
Outrageous! I hope, and indeed fully anticipate you'll do better than that!
I believe the plugs are usually somewhere around 80k, so you've done well! Ive already preemptively done the gearbox filter and oil on the service at the beginning of the month. With the service history not being as fully documented as I'd like (i have stamps, but im missing a couple of invoices), I decided to get it done for my own peace of mind.
I believe the plugs are usually somewhere around 80k, so you've done well! Ive already preemptively done the gearbox filter and oil on the service at the beginning of the month. With the service history not being as fully documented as I'd like (i have stamps, but im missing a couple of invoices), I decided to get it done for my own peace of mind.
LanceRS said:
Finally time for a proper moan about owning this car. However it's not the car's fault.
Ridiculous expense is the problem. The service and MOT, not a problem. Not cheap but what do you expect for one of these?
Next up this month is the tax. Nearly £700! What a rip off. I knew that it was coming and as mentioned before,the best plan is to pay and forget quickly.
What I wasn't expecting and has really annoyed me in my insurance renewal. How is it reasonable for it to have doubled? I've managed to get to 50 and I've just been given the largest quote I've ever had.
Tomorrow will be spent trying to get it back to something reasonable.
Rant over.
I am still loving the car and it definitely runs smoother with new plugs.
The MOT did pick up on some bushes that will needed doing eventually. This I knew because it doesn't feel quite as good as usual, but that's being picky.
Might help - someone mentioned the best time to get a quote (on average) is when your renewal is 21 days away. It'll be a little higher before this and will also steadily increase until 15 days away, and after this it apparently skyrockets.Ridiculous expense is the problem. The service and MOT, not a problem. Not cheap but what do you expect for one of these?
Next up this month is the tax. Nearly £700! What a rip off. I knew that it was coming and as mentioned before,the best plan is to pay and forget quickly.
What I wasn't expecting and has really annoyed me in my insurance renewal. How is it reasonable for it to have doubled? I've managed to get to 50 and I've just been given the largest quote I've ever had.
Tomorrow will be spent trying to get it back to something reasonable.
Rant over.
I am still loving the car and it definitely runs smoother with new plugs.
The MOT did pick up on some bushes that will needed doing eventually. This I knew because it doesn't feel quite as good as usual, but that's being picky.
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