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Jaguar X-Type Wire Mesh Grill Installation

Darel — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 23:47:43 +0000

The Jaguar X-Type hasn’t changed much since it was introduced in 2002. In fact even a Jaguar enthusiast would be hard pressed to tell the difference between an original year model vehicle and a brand new car, that is until you get to the grill. Along with new color choices, the 2008 model X-Type sports a Bright Mesh Grill, which adds a sporty touch and provides one of the only visual cues to distinguish the new model.

But if you’ve got a few bucks in your bank account, and have about an hour to spare, you can update your X-Type’s grill, and leave your friends and neighbors wondering where you got all that money for a “new” Jaguar.

Don’t be intimidated by this do-it-yourself project. The installation is relatively easy and even the least mechanically inclined among us should be able to get through it without much trouble. If not, you may want to get rid of your Jaguar altogether and think seriously about not driving at all. It is rather complicated, what with all the buttons and pedals and such.

Reasonably priced aftermarket mesh grill kits are all over eBay. I picked up a nice one from Welsh Enterprises for about $40.00 USD (yes, forty American dollars) including shipping. The grill kits on Welsh Enterprises’ own website are more expensive, so I’m not sure if the grills they sell on eBay are seconds. Nevertheless, the product quality is certainly up to spec, and their customer service is spot on. Shipping took less than a week.

You’ll need the following tools to install the grill:

10mm socket wrench
Torx T-25 tool
Phillips screwdriver
Standard screwdriver with thin blade
Cutting tool (jigsaw, Dremel, etc.)
Sanding tool (rasp, small drum sander, etc.)

To get started, lift the bonnet and locate the four 10mm bolts that fasten the grill assembly to the bottom of the bonnet. They should come off without much effort, and after the first twist, you can probably unbolt them with just your fingers.

Once the grill assembly is removed, you’ll need to unscrew the three Torx screws that secure the rear part of the grill to the two-pieces in front (one in the bottom center and one in each lower corner).

There are plastic tabs on the top of the grill that fit together when the grill is fully assembled. The tabs closest to the end are snapped into place. You will need to use a small flat screwdriver or a thin rigid blade to carefully pry the end tabs apart.

Once the back piece is removed, you can easily unfasten the rest of the screws from the grill assembly.

Separate the chrome surround from the plastic frame, and be especially careful not to damage the frame as we will be using it to secure the wire mesh insert into place after the vanes have been removed. Be careful not to lose the two rubber stoppers near the bottom corners of the grill assembly.

Now would be a good time to make sure that the wire mesh insert fits properly. You don’t want to drive around a Jaguar with a toothless grin while you’re waiting on a replacement part.

Use a cutting tool to remove the vanes from the insert. The vanes provide much of the structural integrity of the plastic frame, so if you are using a reciprocating cutting tool like a jigsaw, you may want to leave a few vanes in place to keep the frame from flopping about while you’re cutting. A high speed pneumatic rotary cutter or a Dremel tool might be a better choice.

After the vanes have been cut away, use a small drum sander or a rasp to clean and smooth the inside of the plastic frame. This will keep the leftover plastic from being visible once the wire mesh insert is installed.

After aligning the chrome surround and the wire mesh insert, attach the plastic frame to the chrome surround, starting with the center screw. Adjust the frame and wire mesh insert as necessary, and then attach the remaining screws.

Reposition the rear portion of the grill assembly. Align the tabs and carefully snap the corner tabs back into place.

Reattach the three Torx screws to the grill assembly and then bolt the completed grill assembly onto the bonnet.

Now stand back and admire your Jag’s sparkling new smile!

Old and busted.

New Hotness!

Jaguar Leaper Logo Carbon Fiber Wallpaper 1440×900

Darel — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 19:40:26 +0000

I hope you enjoy this Jaguar wallpaper that I put together in Corel Photopaint. The wallpaper is sized for 1440×900 pixel widescreen desktops. Credit goes to Ebin for the original carbon fiber wallpaper design.

Click to download (1440×900 PNG)

Jaguar X-Type Photo Montage

Darel — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 22:44:30 +0000

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Reset a Jaguar X-Type sunroof/moonroof to the closed position

Darel — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 19:41:35 +0000

The first day I had my Jaguar X-Type, I noticed the sunroof wouldn’t close completely. The glass panel would slide forward, but wouldn’t lift into the closed position without some manual adjustment. This is a common problem, and Jaguar has an easy fix that doesn’t require any technical or mechanical knowledge. Just follow the directions below to recalibrate your X-Type sunroof to the proper closed position.

Press the sunroof switch forward to move the sliding roof panel into the tilted position.
Release the sunroof switch.
Press and hold the sunroof switch forward until the sliding roof panel moves slightly. This may take 30 seconds or more.
Release the sunroof switch.
Immediately press and hold the sunroof switch in the forward position. The sliding roof panel will move down and rearward to the open position, and then forward into the closed position. Do not release the sunroof switch until the sliding roof panel has stopped completely.
Your sunroof panel should now be aligned.

Thanks to SpartanX at www.JaguarForums.com for this information.