Nice, thanks for the tip!

 

I was missing one rear car seat latch cover and looking at prices for replacements I just couldn't justify the cost so while standing my garage I noticed an old dust pan looked to have almost the exact curve as the latch cover so with a little tracing and a sharp blade I came up with a cheap solution. Maybe some day I'll bite the bullet for a replacement but for now it works for me 😁

 

That actually looks better than the original. Probably last longer too!!

I have one about to fall apart so dripped some epoxy around the edges to keep it together but not hopeful it won't disintegrate soon...

 

Was looking for items that carry my family’s coat of arms out of Spain and I just happened to come accross this lovely and authentic grill badge. Since I had to respray the grill molding on the front end due to peeling clear coat, I took advantage and installed it to see how it would look. The seller told me that he bought it at a toll in Spain when he crossed thru the city gates of Toledo, Spain. I really dig the personalized touch that comes with a cool euro badge on my X358.

Feel free to bash or love!

 

How can that be bashed?! Adding a bit of Spanish heraldic flair is never going to look bad on a Jag. Admiral Nelson might disagree but that's about it!

 

Thanks zenderman. My land yacht def looks proper and she makes a great entrance each time I take her for a spin!

 

Out with old, in with new, lucky me, got to do the other side today. I knew both needed doing but I was trying to get away with front right holding steady for at least the summer. More beer money that way... But no, she popped!! Overnight lowering turned into a hiss while driving home after a romantic dinner with my seniora, and air suspension warning. Glad nothing else popped and hissed that day..... Double glad I had the help of son number two today who is home for a break before starting uni in september, and also gym ripped so I was able to save my old warn out muscles from any real stress struggling to put the new shock in position. And there you, one short drive with front end bottomed out and compressor finally kicked in (what a horrible moment that always is...), suspension raised, raised some more, and raised too far!! So yes, next will be a calibration. Maniana...

These Miessler units are great quality and have the CATS doodaa thingemy whatsit so well worth the 500€ they cost (including 21% VAT). And yes, the upper arm needs replacing....

 

Am I wrong thinking Arnott sells a simplified (a CATS-less) version of the air-struts?

When replacing mine I was actually considering Miessler, but I couldn't convince myself the significantly lower price (even compared to Arnott) wasn't a red flag.
Also back then it wasn't clear to me that the Arnott air-struts don't have the CATS magic component.

 

Euro 500 =811 AUD+shipping to Oz......... gulp

 

Probably a little less without the 21% VAT I had to pay but yeah, shipping is going to be fun....

 

Miessler have the CATS, Arnott do not and what convinced me was my buddy who owns Alffismo .com and knows his parts manufacturers well, says he has used Miessler on his Touareg and Cayenne and does not like Arnott. He says they're cheap and nasty. I know people are happy with them on their Jags so who knows... He has a Giulia QV too btw, makes no sense to sell Alfa parts and only drive around in VAG products lol

 

Thanks for the info re Miessler struts.
As a matter of interest did you disconnect the battery before fitting them?
I recently fitted a strut and the car pressurised and just came up to the correct level.
Battery was not "looking" ie disconnected.

 

I know it's good practice but I hear that the XJ as with most "modern oldies" can get a bit weird if you disconnect the battery so unless I'm planning on doing some welding, I leave it connected for most jobs. But you have a good point!! If the car is asleep and doesn't detect wheels off and go into jacking mode, you save yourself the 30 second trip down the road with front bottomed out and nervousness of not knowing if you messed up and it will never raise!!

 

So Union Flag deposited on my BRG XJ's lovely round bum.... Had to be done. The Triumph has Union Flag logos so the Jag should have one too!! What do we say? Yay or nay to the Bri'ish flag??

 

@zenderman seems like rather unusual color 👍🏻

 

I think the camera added a bit of blue.... It's the Jag BRG, or British Racing Green. Looks greener in person.

 

Love the color. I have a 2004 that needs some work. Looking for input for suspension and oil leak issues

 

When I saw the advertised I thought it was black.... it changes depending on the light, but yes very classic green. Struts and oil leaks are the never ending story with these old girls...

 

Suspension on an X350 is not that hard to DIY as to getting at and 'managing' the replacement of every part in it.

Preservation of air-struts - OEM (WITH ECAT ....or aftermarket - without dynamic damping) and conversion to "coil-overs' are all well covered.

Oil leaks I don't yet have any significant experience with. My 2005 has a bit over 100,000 miles on it, but the motor only has about HALF that.

 

OIl leaks can be, at least what I have seen up to now:
engine:
- valve cover gaskests, including the rings that seal the sparkplug wells. The leaks by the spark plgus can only be seen if you remove the coils.
- oil pan gasket
- oil filter housing/support

transmission:
- oil pan (I did not have this yet)
- the big cable connector at the rear of the transmission.
- the transmission cooling lines can start to leak where metal hose meets rubber hose.

All relatively easy to fix, with the cable connector of the transmission being the more complicated one, in my view.

Best regards,

Thomas