I caught the left (nearside) front wing or fender on my 2001 XJR when reversing out of a parking space with full lock on DOH! The lamp-post jumped out in front of me. Quite a big dent, and torn through the steel so not repairable. This happened a while ago, and I'm just getting round to fixing it now, but it winds me up every time I look at it and is spoiling the fun of the car for me.

I bought a wing for £80 from a small specialist breakers in Dorking Surrey. Great little set up they have there and the folk that own the place (Jon and his two fine sons) could not be more helpful. I was like a child in a sweet shop in their yard. They're decent people so if you need something for your XJ then give them a shout. Simply Performance. I'm not affiliated in any way, just feeding back on excellent help.

Anyway, the wing is the correct colour silver, couple scratches that I can live with, and almost nil rust in the two usual places. Pin striping is similar but not exact match...I've got other minor rust issues to sort, so will resolve the scratches and pin striping when I get the rust items covered - it will not look too bad in the mean time.

I've checked through the forum history for help with remove and re-install and I've ordered some plastic clips off a well known auction site, also using a link from this forum. Here are the threads I used.

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...esolved-79115/

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...removal-89171/

Will let you all know how I get on...but I would not start to tackle a job like this if I didn't know I have a great forum like this as back up.

So thanks in advance.

It will give me a change of pace from working on the Spitfire - I'm officially half way through the welding, so maybe only 2 more years hard graft to complete it!

Happy Motoring.

 

Well, I took off the wing to replace it, following guidance on this site. Went OK, but unfortunately found an ugly hole in the front closure plate of the sill (normal rust spot just behind the mud flap region). I could not, in all conscience, just put the new wing on over it. Welded in a small patch in the closure plate and another on the inboard side of the sill close to the jacking point. My welding is strong, but not pretty - however, this is an out of sight location.

Then I made a real blunder...I thought I'd put a coat of black Hammerite smooth paint over the previously rusty area and the weld patches; whilst I was at it I also coated the inside of the replacement wing in the usual rust-prone areas, thinking this will be a good thing to delay future rust problems. What I FAILED TO REALISE is that Hammerite paint is a nightmare to overcoat.

I believe Hammerite is an Alkyd based paint system. The thinners in celllulose, 2-pack, and acrylic paints will all react with Hammerite even long after it is cured. Aargh!

Any suggestions? Currently I am planning to use an acrylic primer (rattle can) very carefully in super-light coats in the hope that the paint will cure and stick before the carrier (toluene I think) has a chance to react. Gradually build up coats; then top coat with acrylic finish, again from a rattle can.

I have heard that U-pol Barcoat might work - anyone tried that over Hammerite?

These locations are out of the way, so need not be a great finish. But I can't leave them black!

 

I tried the super thin layers of acrylic primer over the Hammerite and by and large it has worked well. After about 5 primer coats, 5 top coats, and a couple coats clear acrylic lacquer it looks nice and smooth and shiny...colour match not perfect but close enough for a sill and under a wheel arch. A week after final coat, still looks good.

There are a couple of small inside corners where the finish has a slight wrinkle to it in places where paint accumulates a little heavier. Overall looks not too bad, but it was a good lesson NEVER to use Hammerite on your car body unless you plan to top coat the whole car in Hammerite!

Live and learn.