Spyderromeo

Thanks guys I have the offending parts on order already, and the source of classic parts has been bookmarked. I have to say I am very impressed with the information that readily flows from this site. From my user name Spyderromeo you will guess I have been associated with other clubs for other mark some national, some international but I have never received such quality responses so quickly. Be proud!

For those interested my car in my user pic is myself at the end of the Mulsanne straight at Le Mans in a Porsche 550 Spyder replica not really a kit car (I use it as a trackday car).but one derived from one 50 years ago (not even made anymore) it had a fibreglass body actually moulded from an original Porsche and a space frame that was so good I knew original 550 owners who used parts from them for maintenance. I still own it and it and its Covered Race trailer, but I am not sure I would like to do many laps in one anymore. The Romeo bit in my user name comes from the fact that it is Alfa flat four powered with a 5 speed gearbox, limited slip diff, inboard brakes, etc.  

Thanks again.

Spyderromeo

I have lost the rear view mirror cover on my XKR (Buckinghamshire wooded lanes!) but rather than get involved in paint jobs on primed parts I decided to replace both sides and go for a chrome finish. I can find a few sellers of the parts but their specs don't seem to be the same as my understanding of Jaguars. Can anyone enlighten me. My exact spec is an XKR 4.2 Supercharged Convertible year of manufacture 2007. This is therefore an X150 I can't find any info that says Jaguar changed the mirror covers on the X150 in 2010 yet the sellers all seem to indicate they have covers for X100's or covers for an X150 after 2010 the illustrations look the same as my car but I have learnt not to trust only absolute statements on the internet. Can any one tell me if the mirror sold as suitable for a 2010 XKR will fit my 2007 XKR. 

Spyderromeo

That's good enough for me, as it just looks good, My partner is  having her nails done on Sat morning so I will be going with her to get the colours of my choice. I do not know why Green and Orange are the colours on an XKR, do you or anyone else know? I am a bit patriotic and will be going for Red and Blue, but I am told you can buy nail varnish in these colours. I will post a shot 

Spyderromeo

My Revell model enamel came off 3 days later in a car wash I will try nail varnish ! I have found I can get pearlescent red and dayglow blue at my local nail studio. They are very convenient they keep the same hours as Turkish Barbers and open are 7 days a week. But I will try Nail Varnish let you know if it works for me. 

Spyderromeo 

On 9/16/2025 at 1:38 PM, Jimbov8 said:

This thread has a load of info with pictures on how to fix it without having to remove the dash.

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/xk-xkr-x150-33/c-drain-duck-bill-fix-my-solution-149349/

Hi Jim

Yep there are loads and loads of posts about this little baby, and it seem like everybody has had a go at it in one way or another. But loads of failures. I am going to try the close all the vents try to build up pressure (not sure where from) also  I have also ordered a endoscope from Temu £14.88 colour 4.31 inch screen how can we compete with that !! and if the air pressure doesn't work I will try the scalpel on the end of a pencil  method, there are also some methods which use silicon liquid or gel but you need adult verification to use this method. 

As an aside (I just received a 12 piece 1/2 socket set just to fit my torque wrench from Temu the quality is good, not snap-on good but it has a good ratchet, 10 sockets up to 24mm, and a extension piece, and it came in a metal case including postage for £5.81, and was here in 4 days). Brand new special offer you can buy a brand new SpaceX rocket to take you to the moon for just over £50 !! Who would be in manufacturing. 

Will let you all know what works best (may take a week of two).

Spyderromeo

I am sure this is a well known problem. I have had several proposal to cure it.

The fault occurred when I turned off the Air con so suspect melt from A/C condenser, it shows up as two streams of water dripping on either side of footwell, and is influenced by the motion of the car on bends.  I have been told that there are drain valves on to tray that collects water when A/C is defrosted. The valve is called the duckbill, and I think from my Triumph days we called it the Phart valves but I bet they are the same, Triumphs being relatively unsophisticated cars were easy to get at, because they didn't have much to get in the way . I have even found a VIN number which after this the fault is supposedly cured. The description I read said they were very difficult to get at. My workshop guy who is off work at he moment, heart plumbing! say's it is easy but you need to get up on a 4 pillar lift and poke something up the tube.

With solutions like this, my hope is  that you guy's have an easy solution. Any suggestions and full descriptions of methods would be gratefully received. 

Spyderromeo 

Bye the way I have a silver grey car Lunar Grey and the number plate and boot open surround was grey painted ( Slightly different colour to the car, there was nothing wrong with it but the new chrome one I purchased on eBay new but old stock was beautiful and after a short polish it looks absolutely fantastic well worth the effort and so easily done after a short watch of the afore mentioned you tube video, what do people call them they are not videos or DVD,s ??

Spyderromeo 

Sounds like a good plan, I think if I administer the protection myself I will do a good job,  but I have been told by a few people that they don't think there is any DIY job that is as thorough as a professional one and it can't be done really well without access to a full 4 post lift, and that access and visibility are key to a good job. Just a point to think about.

Spyderromeo   

On 9/13/2025 at 12:12 PM, Spyderromeo said:

Excuse me I  am new here and I bet you all have made your own comments about the change to "jaguar" lower case whispered and in pink. What a load of tosh. We don't need to go this way. We will have synthetic petrol forever you know, we will grow it! and it's even greener than electric. see Christian Von Koenigsegg rants about it (I thought about it before him but he is slightly more well known) so we don't need to go electric unless unless you really want just a means of getting from A to B and believe it or not some do!! or you are a David millipede supporter and they are becoming a rare breed. They are giving them electronic sound already you know, as people are missing the "engine" in motor car That means great thunderous, flame snorting Blower Jaguars can lead the way into the future. I am maybe a little different to a lot of you but I have just purchased my LAST Jag (I am 75, still 35, in the brain, and they want to take my licence away anyway) It is a !Removed! marvel of a machine a XKR 4.2 "Blower" convertible with a flappy paddle gear change. 

There, got that lot of my chest! but I am a great reveler in and on You Tube, and there is consistently a you tuber who puts out fabulous portrayals of car from the past, he, she or they, take a classic and I guess Photoshop modernise, it, see the video "The 2026|Jaguar GT Is Finally Here" I thought Ian Callum was a good designer, but in his absence I would swap for this guy, whoever he is any day. Let me know what you think. 

By the way one of my foibles is the fact that I am one of the senior engineers responsible for the TR6, and the Dolomite, BIW only. So you can make any comments based on this fact. 

Jim

 

Sorry about the  crazy characters in the description of my car I am going to blame software as it was not there when I checked it. XKR  X150 4.2 litre blower convertible.

Jim 

I am well aware of these vid's heritage, but, thanks for pointing out they are from AI sources. Not that in this instant AI is a problem ( I will save my AI rant till a later date).  I know all the bad things about them.  but you have to give credit to the results. The same source did a fabulous recreation of the VW Beetle, Morris Minor and the E Type.  I would happily drive around in this particular Jaguar futuristic AI design, but I would not drive the pink and yellow creations! from should I say "new jag". The aim of the post was to point out a really acceptable development of what I trust this community, I have assumed would  like to move on to. I don't know if I am correct so let's test it. 

I also wanted to get my point about IC engines out into the open, I know I am not the first, but we really don't need to think for the conceivable future we will need to drive around lugging vast amounts of lead in batteries, that really have not developed where everyone said they would. I love the sound of burning petrol but will, if absolutely necessary drive an electric car. But at the moment we get most of our electric from burning fossil fuels so we are trying to walk, before we can even stand up, so what's the point. I see most Automotive Co's around the Globe are coming around to this line of thinking except for new jag who are ditching a wonderful heritage and going for something that still has massive problems. 

Spyderromeo

On 9/6/2025 at 9:11 PM, Mark Saville said:

I have a 2009 XK 4.2, looking at rustproofing the underside, could anyone recommend a treatment centre in the West Kent/M25 area, thanks 

Mark 

Just responded to your cover request I hope it answers your question, it really does do the job nicely. We obviously have similar ideas onward next to the corrosion It's not my first job as the subframes on my XKR have been Lanogarded they haven't been done long hence the lack of urgency, whilst I find out how good it is. I have been a motorist a long time and Waxoyl has always been around and I have never heard a word of complaint, however I noticed Lanogard recently once again no words of negativity, but I don't know if one is better than the other, if you get any feedback please forward it as I will be making my decision in the next few months.

Jim or as I should sign out Spyderromeo

Hi Mark I to am a new member but of an XKR X150 Ragtop. One of the first thing I bought was a cover mine cost £66 ish pounds but it is really good it was purchased from Amazon and made by JUDANNA I cand find a link on any of their pages. It is black and green flashes front and back and over mirrors. If you don't go for this remember the internet is mostly US and the zipper door is on the wrong side. However the one i bought is on the right side which ever way you look at it. I am on my second Jag the first I bought from new and sold as scrap but I did get 23 years fantastic motoring out of it. I finally succumbed to rust, so number two is Aluminum chassis and body.  I wish you good motoring 

My rear boot badge has lost its coloured enamel, I looked at replacement and at £35 or £38 ish I thought better of that. As I could not work out why the two colours are green and orange, can anyone enlighten, I thought I would re-paint with Revel model enamel colours being a traditionalist even before current activities which I support I chose red and blue. They looked fabulous until I tried to touch up a tiny over paint with a scalpel only to find neither had stuck to the base and came off so easily. I put this down to the shiny chrome not having enough ability to allow the enamel to adhere. I am a little unsure about giving the shine a little rough up for fear of collateral damage. Has anyone done anything like this successfully? and How.

Jim

Great stuff two of them sorted but where do you get Fabsil I have never seen it. ( loved the psalm though what number is it? I wonder) Is there anything out there that helps with fade caused by ultra-violet (sun) I put a bit of black into my shoes now and again.

Jim 

1 hour ago, Jimbov8 said:

Have a look at this, Jim, it has all the information you need.

https://www.jaguarforum.com/posts/1687397/

Great stuff two of them sorted but where do you get Fabsil I have never seen it. ( loved the psalm though what number is it? I wonder) Is there anything out there that helps with fade caused by ultra-violet (sun) I put a bit of black into my shoes now and again.

Jim 

Excuse me I  am new here and I bet you all have made your own comments about the change to "jaguar" lower case whispered and in pink. What a load of tosh. We don't need to go this way. We will have synthetic petrol forever you know, we will grow it! and it's even greener than electric. see Christian Von Koenigsegg rants about it (I thought about it before him but he is slightly more well known) so we don't need to go electric unless unless you really want just a means of getting from A to B and believe it or not some do!! or you are a David millipede supporter and they are becoming a rare breed. They are giving them electronic sound already you know, as people are missing the "engine" in motor car That means great thunderous, flame snorting Blower Jaguars can lead the way into the future. I am maybe a little different to a lot of you but I have just purchased my LAST Jag (I am 75, still 35, in the brain, and they want to take my licence away anyway) It is a !Removed! marvel of a machine a XKR 4.2 "Blower" convertible with a flappy paddle gear change. 

There, got that lot of my chest! but I am a great reveler in and on You Tube, and there is consistently a you tuber who puts out fabulous portrayals of car from the past, he, she or they, take a classic and I guess Photoshop modernise, it, see the video "The 2026|Jaguar GT Is Finally Here" I thought Ian Callum was a good designer, but in his absence I would swap for this guy, whoever he is any day. Let me know what you think. 

By the way one of my foibles is the fact that I am one of the senior engineers responsible for the TR6, and the Dolomite, BIW only. So you can make any comments based on this fact. 

Jim

I am new to fabric rag tops in days of old they were vinyl now they are fabric. So can anybody tell me how to look after my soft top? ideally I would like to clean and protect but I would also like to  keep the colour bright I have a black top and my thoughts say it must be possible to keep the black from having a faded look. I don't know what the clubs principles are on mentioning trade names but I would like to to know were what and how plus price

Jim 2

6 hours ago, Jimbov8 said:

Hi Paul,

Do not fit your charger direct to the battery as you will bypass the battery monitoring system (BMS). The negative of your charger should go to a suitable ground point. Here is my, Jaguar recommended installation;

and what it looks like with the trim in place:

The charger you have will be fine.👍

Hi Paul

I am told that there is an easier solution, I have just acquired a XKR 4.2 supercharged convertible and when I  bought it, the seller explained to me how to do the charging/conditioning with connection in the louvre covered panel just behind the rear lights on the left hand side of the boot.

If this comment works some clever feller will answer it and I won't have to ring my seller and say I can't remember how to do it. I will keep looking and if you don't get a reply, I will ring my man up and eat a bit of humble pie. I will then tell you how you can do it slightly easier than Jim has proposed.

Jim seems to be on the ball, but I think the photos were of a coupe not a convertible.

Jim but Spiderromeo also

8 hours ago, Tuonoman said:

Hi all 

I'm new here 

I'm in the process of buying an XJR X308 of 1998 vintage , what do I need to check on these magnificent cars 

 

Martin 

Hi Martin 

I am Jim or Spyderromeo I have owned both car and can comment on both the X308 was my chariot for 23 years I bought it new in 2000 for £54.000and sold it last year for £250 as a bag of rust, the outside looked the same as it came out of the factory, but the underside was like a piece of lace curtain. But it was the best car I ever owned ask me anything you want about ownership. I now own a XKR but I can only comment on a few very exciting weeks of ownership, The only negative I can say about owning one is the stupid and ridiculous price of road tax. but I could say the same about the X308. The XKR has all the signs of being the best car in the world for the price. if it carry's on like it has done I will be very happy.

Spyderromeo

Jimbov you are an absolute star! the first few mins of the video show exactly what I wanted. It even had a little tip to stop damage to the chrome on the plastic next to it. Thank you I just wasn't sure anyone would answer such a random question never mind such a fabulous accurate close up how to do it. Providing the weather is okay I will change over to a nice new shiny chrome number plate area. It is a new car to me and when I bought it the paintwork on the whole light cluster was a bit rough and really the only item that needed attention. Thanks again

Spiderromeo   

Hi I am new to this, and maybe I am starting this in the wrong place, if I am can someone point me in the right direction. 

The problem is associated with the rear number plate lights and bezel. When I say bezel it is the complete chrome or painted boot lock, light and boot wide JAGUAR logo. I have just bought a new chrome unit less lights lock initiating button i.e just the chrome plastic molding ( I thought it had a "u" in it but my spell detector says no)  any way I want to take the old one of but don't want to break the lenses, They are obviously brittle and I can find lots of places were I can get a screw driver but I don't want to break the lens by doing it wrong. Has  anyone done this little job recently and can remember where is the right place and in what direction or to be blunt how do you do it.

jim (Spyderromeo)  Do I sign off with my real name or my member name?

I have an old track day replica spyder 550 Porsche as well 

Well let's see if I can stick a pic on the site 

I welcome any comments, as I have to understand what you, the experts, are doing. I have got to keep plugging away until I find out how the J.O. site works (what's the real nickname). I want to join in and get involved. As I have said, I have spent years in the industry, deciding how your cars should be produced, without the opportunity to really hear what you wanted, let alone think about what to do about it. I am absolutely in awe of my XKR. I think the one I have bought is a wonderful example. I keep slipping outside to have another sneak view of it. What a car! I think love comes into it!

But it's not the best one in the UK, I want to make it that way. So research is required, and any help will be appreciated.

I have one of the best replica 550 Spyders in Europe, maybe the world and need to put my mind and fingers to the NEW "JAG". I am a compulsive.

Jim Spyderromero

12 hours ago, LairdScooby said:

Welcome aboard Jim. Sorry to hear of the fate of your XJ but things sometimes happen that way - might not seem like it at the time but it's probably for the best.

Hope you enjoy Zero!

Thanks for the comment. You are absolutely correct. That's why I bought an aluminium-bodied car this time. I have had a varied career, but spent thirty years in the motor industry building cars. I have always had the same intention; it's only now I can afford to buy what I wanted all along. I was in senior management, but not that senior that I could affect what we made. And I am an engineer and know that aluminium is not completely the answer but it is getting nearer. 

Jim

My other cars are a Suzuki Swift Sports (just a day-to-day car but fun) and a track car a fibreglass-bodied, but properly chassisied Porsche 550 Spyder copy, with an Alfa flat four Engine.

My general nickname is Spyderromeo

Hi From Jim 

Just signing in as a new member, but not really, I joined in last year as I was about to lose the battle with my 4Ltre XJ8 308 I think. I hereby confirm that I lost the battle, and Cat, as she was known to the family, has gone to the great scrap yard in the sky. She was a fabulous car I bought her new for about 54k in 2000 and had 23years of wonderful driving in her. She looked just like the day I bought her, as I always kept on top of the bodywork, but she then went and failed the MOT. A local engineer then agreed to do a quality welding job for me, only to take all of the £1000 to do the underside, have it totally dismantled, cut up and on axle stands, all the new parts made ready for reassembly, he then went and died on me! I know what I should not have done, but. End of story.

However, I did make contact with Mark on here, member name Ashton, who helped me enormously with his knowledge of X150 models he was Chassis engineer on the  X150, amongst other things. He led me along all the bewildering nuances of the XK range, which he won't ever really know how much I valued this.  Eventually, after quite some time sorting out what I really wanted and then realising as a 75-year-old pensioner I could not afford one, but I came very close and have just taken over the new "Jag". This one is called Zero (let you know why this name at a later point in time)  She is a Silver Grey XKR 4.2 litre Convertible. I have to say I am besotted with this monster, what a car, and it seems well looked after. That's part two, concluded, recorded and reported. I will report again as I get used to Zero and keep you all informed. 

I am new to this forum and not sure how things work, but I thought the best way to find out is to do it my way (first post) and see what comes out of any response.

Best Jim