Adding VDP tables & seatbacks to your XJ8 - in 30 mins or less.
#1
Adding VDP tables & seatbacks to your XJ8 - in 30 mins or less.
I picked up some seatbacks and tray tables from eBay awhile ago and finally spent some time trying to figure it out - which turns out to be pretty easy.
Please ignore the messy car, it's what I'm working on!
Move the seat all the way forward
Remove two screws at the bottom of the seat back
Pull the bottom outward slightly to release the clips
The exposed seat. We need to remove a couple things to make the new ones sit properly as non VDP cars have extra padding and support up top. Also, if your motorized headrests aren't working (as my drivers one wasn't) its probably because the chrome rods have popped out of the white plastic piece in the center of the picture.
Take out 4 screws that the tray tables will screw into, i have a portion lifted up do you can see the upper ones
There are 2 hidden screws way up top that hold a support bar and are just in compressed pulp board, I fought getting these screws out properly on the drivers side but for the passengers i decided I would just tear the board then work the screws out by hand. Much faster, but if you plan on returning to stock at some point then this wouldn't be an option.
You can take out some foam or just leave it, as it will now compress enough for the VDP backs.
Place the new VDP backs on and locate one of the screw holes with the tray table holes. Once you do, put a screw in the to hold the seat back.
Now put one screw in one side of the tray tables, this will keep the seatback located
Screw in the remaining screws
and enjoy!
I did not get the seat controls for the passenger seat, when I get those I will update this thread.
Please ignore the messy car, it's what I'm working on!
Move the seat all the way forward
Remove two screws at the bottom of the seat back
Pull the bottom outward slightly to release the clips
The exposed seat. We need to remove a couple things to make the new ones sit properly as non VDP cars have extra padding and support up top. Also, if your motorized headrests aren't working (as my drivers one wasn't) its probably because the chrome rods have popped out of the white plastic piece in the center of the picture.
Take out 4 screws that the tray tables will screw into, i have a portion lifted up do you can see the upper ones
There are 2 hidden screws way up top that hold a support bar and are just in compressed pulp board, I fought getting these screws out properly on the drivers side but for the passengers i decided I would just tear the board then work the screws out by hand. Much faster, but if you plan on returning to stock at some point then this wouldn't be an option.
You can take out some foam or just leave it, as it will now compress enough for the VDP backs.
Place the new VDP backs on and locate one of the screw holes with the tray table holes. Once you do, put a screw in the to hold the seat back.
Now put one screw in one side of the tray tables, this will keep the seatback located
Screw in the remaining screws
and enjoy!
I did not get the seat controls for the passenger seat, when I get those I will update this thread.
The following 20 users liked this post by Probesport:
Dan R (03-25-2014),
DCJAGMAN (02-12-2019),
eurosport (04-13-2013),
Forcedair1 (04-22-2015),
hjsteadman (05-20-2019),
and 15 others liked this post.
#2
#4
Headrest question
Nice job on the install. Potential future project for me? I do have a stupid question, I am a newer owner to an 01 XJ8 and cannot figure out how to tilt the headrest. Can get it to go up and down but driver headrest is tilted forward and prefer upright to match rest of car. (lol)
Read your install and now wondering if something is not working?
Any thoughts?
Thank you
Read your install and now wondering if something is not working?
Any thoughts?
Thank you
#6
#7
Nice job on the install. Potential future project for me? I do have a stupid question, I am a newer owner to an 01 XJ8 and cannot figure out how to tilt the headrest. Can get it to go up and down but driver headrest is tilted forward and prefer upright to match rest of car. (lol)
Read your install and now wondering if something is not working?
Any thoughts?
Thank you
Read your install and now wondering if something is not working?
Any thoughts?
Thank you
Trending Topics
#8
I had posted a thread a while back asking if the table backs would fit the XJR. The XJR seats are different from XJ8/VDP. Also, I thought that the passanger seat back on the VDP had a switch to allow the person in the back seat to move the passanger front seat back and forth. Didn't see that switch in the pictures. So, can anyone chime in and confirm that this mod will work on the XJR? Also, important to note that the table wood must match the rest of the interior trim.
#11
The following 3 users liked this post by Probesport:
#12
just bought a set and going to attempt to put on 04 XJ8-i know the removal of the seat panels are different cause i looked for the bottom screws-there were none-so if anyone is intrested on knowing the outcome-let me know and ill try to do as this guy did with syep by step instalation wish me luck-i WILL get them to work- i know in 05 the tables are much different and i dont like them as i do theses-so i hope i get then today sat the 26th or 27th
The following 2 users liked this post by davedella:
joeldietzjr (05-02-2013),
MMfields (08-23-2021)
#13
I did this when I put 01 xj8 seats in my 99 VDP. I left the metal brace in there if i remember correctly. I did get longer screws because the foam didnt really want to compress on my xj8 seats and the screws were much easier to start this way. Wiring wasnt terribly hard. My switches are different from yours, but the wiring can be removed from the VDP and cut out. basically you tap into the seat switch wires with each circuit. I made all of my splices just above the passenger seat module where the wires come from the factory seat switches.
The hardest part of this was reading british wiring diagrams because some of my wires were different colors. I dont know if that was due to trim level or year model. The british use strange abbreviations for colors, but it was easy to figure out. Dont forget to plug the wires in before you put the seat back on lol. I did this and got mad at myself thinking I messed up the wiring job. Great photos. You should do that for the wiring part too! I should have taken pictures of mine, but there was a slightly unattractive gap at the front sides of my seat backs. It was small, but enough to get my attention, no body else had mentioned noticing it to me. I wish I would have taken pictures before I sold it.
The hardest part of this was reading british wiring diagrams because some of my wires were different colors. I dont know if that was due to trim level or year model. The british use strange abbreviations for colors, but it was easy to figure out. Dont forget to plug the wires in before you put the seat back on lol. I did this and got mad at myself thinking I messed up the wiring job. Great photos. You should do that for the wiring part too! I should have taken pictures of mine, but there was a slightly unattractive gap at the front sides of my seat backs. It was small, but enough to get my attention, no body else had mentioned noticing it to me. I wish I would have taken pictures before I sold it.
The following users liked this post:
joeldietzjr (05-02-2013)
#14
Picnic tables
just bought a set and going to attempt to put on 04 XJ8-i know the removal of the seat panels are different cause i looked for the bottom screws-there were none-so if anyone is intrested on knowing the outcome-let me know and ill try to do as this guy did with syep by step instalation wish me luck-i WILL get them to work- i know in 05 the tables are much different and i dont like them as i do theses-so i hope i get then today sat the 26th or 27th
Cheers
#15
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Glasgow, Scotland UK
Posts: 47,302
Received 9,007 Likes
on
4,113 Posts
The following users liked this post:
joeldietzjr (08-09-2013)
#16
#17
Your rear seat control is the one I'm use to seeing.
Good write up and an upgrade I plan on doing myself once I pull the seat backs from the donor VDP.
Chris
#18
I made a feeble effort to find an easy way to hook up the rear seat control, but it looked like a daunting task, lots of spark chasing and splicing. For now the white multi plug from the switch is securely zip tied into the seat back, ready when I decide to give it a real try.
Vector
Vector
#19
I made a feeble effort to find an easy way to hook up the rear seat control, but it looked like a daunting task, lots of spark chasing and splicing. For now the white multi plug from the switch is securely zip tied into the seat back, ready when I decide to give it a real try.
Vector
Vector