Hello. I am looking for advice on how to remove the "Instrument Panel Finish Panel" - the wood veneer piece that covers the areas around the speedometer (and other gauges) and the center vent and clock. It looks like it should just pop off (held on by clips). However, the area that concerns me is circled in this photo:


It looks like part of it goes behind the leather that surrounds the screen/radio area. I'd been able to pop the clips loose around the speedometer, but it seems pretty tight in the circled area. So, the question is, do I need to remove the center console (or at least the leather area) to get the veneer off? Or can this just be wiggled off or something?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Hi SilverSurfer,

You have to remove the center console surround first. The procedure is in the manual, but simply, prise up the surround for the J-gate. Under there are a couple of torx fasteners. There are two more for the console at floor level near the rear of the front seats. That whole horse-collar piece then lifts up and back. Then you can pull off the wood trim piece.

HTH
Pete

 

Hello Pete,

I don't seem to have that information in my manual. What I have are the following books that came with the car - In-Car Telephone, Passport to Service, Touch-Screen, and Owner's Manual. Now, looking through the Owner's Manual (both the Handbook Contents and the Index), I cannot find anything about the removing the center piece. In fact, I've leafed through the entire manual and couldn't find any instructions. So, am I missing a manual?

What is the "J-Gate"? Is that the touch-screen, etc.?

Thanks.

 

Silversurfer111

You definately need to remove the whole center console. I believe that includes the radio/touch screen and front piano black trim piece as well. Some screws for the back air vents and electric controls, outlets as well and a few screws in the center console as well. I have replaced my center trim piece, the one you reference, with a junkyard one, when the AC vent broke.

RyeJag

 

Are there instructions somewhere online? As stated, my Owner's Manual doesn't have any info on removing any of this stuff and I don't want to miss a screw and be yanking on something and break it ... not on a 15-16 year old car. I've done a few searches and keep find info for other cars and other types of Jaguars, but not the XJ8.

 

Do a Google search eg Jaguar x350 centre console wood trim removal

 

Hi
I'm sure that the service manual is available from the site mentioned in the sticky post at the top of this forum.
Check out Jagrepair.com, they have a gold mine of useful information.
The Jaguar Enthusiasts Club give this link for a manual download. https://www.pdf-archive.com/2016/07/...rkshop-manual/
The floor console removal is at 76.25.01 and the instrument cluster at 88.20.01.

Pete

 

I spent a great deal of time compiling the X350/X358 - 'How To' / DIY Repair & Maintenance 'sticky'. Clearly this has been a wasted effort.
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...enance-246865/

The full Workshop Manual or the individual sections can be downloaded from there.

Graham

 

Not a wasted effort. I simply didn't see the sticky posts there. All that needs to be done is post a link to your effort, just as you've done here. I do appreciate it (and your effort in compiling this information). I'll look at it now. Thanks.

 

Hi Graham,
Your efforts are most definitely not wasted, I have found this section a real diamond mine for valuable information. Its format has however changed recently, so I missed the link to the manual to give to SilverSurfer. Thanks very much for your efforts in posting this information, it is greatly appreciated.
Pete M

 

Absolutely not wasted, Graham. Can't thank you enough for the work that went into compiling and posting that info. Sometimes in the heat of battle, we want the quickest solution possible and forget to check all the sources available to us. Thank you.

 

Note: adjust steering column out all the way then pull top of panel from cluster out, easier with finger nails then after that pulls out you will have finger space to pull by the clock and air vents, pull out and up and whole thing comes releases. To reinstall put bottom clips in holes followed by top pushing with little force under dash panel may have to tilt panel upon reinstall on Slight angel be careful not to hit the air bag thing that there not sure the name I did mine and the cluster light has been on ever since not sure if metal clips touched soldered nubs and short something . Didnt fix cant figure out the bname and havent had time to harass the deal tech to just tell me the damb name without paying .

 

Hi Rocco,
Have you not been following the thread information above?
the surround for the touch screen and the center console must be removed before the wood panel can be removed.
It's very easy. And once again, all this is in the service manual in section 76.25.01
1. Lift out the wood trim panel around the shifter.
2. Remove two screws at the front of the console.
3. Remove two screws at the base of the rear of the console near the inner back corners of the front seats.
4. Remove the rear climate control from the console.
5. Lift the console to the rear, clear of the touch screen and instrument panel.
6. THEN the wood trim can be removed from the instrument panel.

Pete M

 

as per usual, the biggest PITA was disconnecting a connector - this time it was one of those in the rear A/C console

 

When installing the wood veneer piece back, I would suggest to first carefully push-in both the ends - while preventing direct contact between the veneer and the vent outlets - and only then finish by pushing-in the center of the veneer.
This is what I did to my A/C vent outlet by pushing the left end of the veneer last: