I have just started up a YouTube Channel called JagznTech of course. It has a number of videos already and more to be uploaded as work continues on the XKR and the XJ6R.
It can be found either by searching Jagzntech on Youtube or the following link for the introduction video
Hi Roger
My name is Mike coffee and I have a Jaguar XF Sportbrake 3.0D,19 plate
I was interested in the video you did on replacing the electric struts on the XF tailgate.
First point what was the cover you had in the luggage part for the dog because I have one which is a generic cover similar to yours but not specific for the XF and it doesn’t fit that well.
The second point is I may have a problem with the struts. I have only recently bought the XF and it is under a third party warrantee which I don’t think is very comprehensive. The problem with the tailgate is it unlocks every time but does not open every time (i.e. lift up) so you have to manually try and push it up but it always closes ok. Other times it opens correctly without a problem. I thought it was because on the dash board it was saying the battery was low but the 3.0L engine starts perfect well and shows no sign of low battery. I am coming to the conclusion that the low battery has nothing to do with the issue.
Do you have add thoughts on this issue
Regards Mike Coffee
07973200035
Hi Mike,
Thanks for the comment. I purchased the cover from http://www.titancovers.co.uk/ which is specifically for the XF Sportsbrake. (Part no TBL-57E5C69F) I will say however that it came with “stick on” velcro tape that was fine on the plastic trim but did not last well on the carpet like trim which is understandable. After about a year I decided to replace the tape with trim clips which does involve drilling some holes in the trim panels but that’s much better than having a filthy boot area. If you later on decided to take out the cover you can just put the clips back in the holes and they would look OK. I also have the “Travall Guard Compatible with Jaguar XF Sportbrake 2012-2016 TDG1428 – Vehicle-Specific Dog Guard Luggage Barrier Load Separator ” from amazon which works fine.
My issue with the tailgate was that it would open fully but then drop down about 10 inches meaning it would hit you in the head or you walked into it. If you have any brown staining on the struts they are gone for sure. I too occasionally get the battery warning issue but the car does not get many longer drives. They are a bit picky on battery levels as is my XKR. Give it a good charge and see if you get the messages then.
I’ll get a photo or two of the cover fitment as soon at the weather improves as its raining/hail storm right now!
Cheers
Roger
Hi Roger,
Thanks for sharing all your craftsmanship! I have a 2003 XKR which in the past (2019 I think) had one rear wing’s worth of rot cut out and a new wing section like yours welded in, by a very well known (in the south/central region anyway) Jag independent whom I’ve known and trusted for 16 years of looking after my car. I couldn’t afford both at the time, and there was a bit of shock when I went to collect the car… they’d done a seamless job, but one rear wheel arch was flared similar to the fronts, and the other wasn’t. I wasn’t happy that this outcome wasn’t pointed out to me at the time I made the decision to only do one rear arch, and the owner very reasonably said… if by the time your other one suffers from rot, there is a flared wheel arch available I’ll do the other one at the same time for free. Wind the clock forward 6 plus years, my nearside rear is suffering from rot.. but that is the non-flared side.. so I’m thinking hang on that is the reworked one giving up the ghost before the other side?? However my trusted indi is saying.. no no you had the offside done. I’m now doubting my sanity.. so wanted to ask someone who has previously searched the marked for replacement arches… were there flared ones in 2017-2019 times.. are there any now and am I being gas-lit?
Hi Nick,
I didn’t think there were any that were advertised as “Flared” arches. By that I mean larger than standard. I did uncover the fact that that having purchased one from one supplier and one from another (a while between ordering), they were different in shape. They both had a raised lip at the edge but one had a lot more material overall. It was about 10 inches wide compared to about 6 inches for the other. It gives you a lot more material to play with when deciding where to cut to on the car. What that also meant was that the larger panel did not have as much curvature “an S Shape” as the smaller one. The “S” shape area I mean is between the lip edge. It goes out to the outer edge, curves in towards the car and then curves not quite away from the car but to the body shape. This top of the “S” was not a deep on the larger panel which confused me for quite a while. That is why I made the mold to compare them. I do remember putting the newest one on top of the previously replaced one on the car and it seemed OK. I did not notice any difference until they were both fitted and I was trying to sand them down. I did spend a while looking at various XK8s from various years and they all seemed the same. Unless you put a straight edge up against one I doubt you would see a difference. There was certainly no “orderable” difference available when I ordered both of mine. Just one option, an XK8 arch, left or right and thats it.
Does the invoice not say which side you had repaired? From outside the car, you might want to look at the inner arch where it meets the outer arch. They were originally only welded in the clock positions 9, 12 and 3. Below 9 and 3 on each side there are more welds but there should only be a spot weld or two at the 12 o’clock position. The rest is all panel sealant. You should also be able to see the repair from inside the boot if you remove some of the inner panels. That is probably the easiest and most full proof confirmation of which one was repaired. The passenger side would be easier to get too as on the drivers side there is the audio and the convertible pump on mine. You will easily see the weld line on the outer wing on the repaired side. There will be no weld line at all on the unmolested side.
Cheers
Roger