Rejoining member - just bought an X350

[robv12]

watch the bonnet cable on 350, a well known weak point, the get dry inside and where there is a sharp bend in the cable it will bind, seize and then snap, lube the catches well it may help, however if it does snap it is pig to swap, the front valance has to come off, and then IF you are lucky you can ping the right hand catch open from underneath, BUT on the left hand one it is encased in a strong metal security box with the alarm sensor attached, to stop anyone doing just what we now need to do!!, you MAY be able to butcher this one open, you will break the security switch, if you cannot get at it this way, the front bumper has to come off to get better access, this is ok if the fixings are not corroded, mine were!!, takes two men to get the bumper off safely to avoid damage, new cable is circa 30 quid as is the security switch, routing the new cable is a bit of a fiddle

My suggestion is while the bonnet opens, remove the security box on the right hand catch, let it drop and hang by one fixing, this allows the security switch to stay in place and gives you access to get at both catches

Cup holders have no lids, well they didn't on my 03 3.0 or my 06 XJR

rear wishbone arms are another known weak point, replace the whole arm, three bolts, get them from Neville at NE Jag Spares, 0191 586 7770, good guy, best price available and ships all over the world

hope this helps

[ptjs1]

The cupholders are covered by the armrest. It slides forward to cover the cupholders when they are not in use.

Paul

[timsankey]

Thanks for the tip on the cupholder cover - could have taken me a while to work that one out!

Well after a bit of a saga the car is now in tip-top condition. I'm not anything close to mechanical, so it went into a Jag garage for fixing up, and a recommendation for Barretts in Ashford for all their help.

First major problem was the missing wheel nut key - Jaguar won't sell you a spare even if you know the key number, which I didn't. The Jaguar warranty document had a convincing looking part number against the wheel nut key - according to Jaguar this is meaningless! Anyway Jaguar dealers have all the keys (apart from those dealers in France apparently) so were able to identify and remove the old bolts and fit replacement ones. I've now noted the key letter in the service book, but I don't know why as I'd never be able to buy a replacement.

Bonnect cable did indeed turn out to be the issue, a new cable has fixed this.

Reversing sensors weren't working, two sensors need replacing and part of the harness.

Main things were the rear wishbone arms and an anti-roll linkage bar which needed replacing.

Nails in both rear tyres, which along with uneven wear were unrepairable, so two new tyres as well.

Continental headlights now fitted, and she passed the Controle Technique. I'm very happy but quite a bit poorer! I'll be putting the old headlights up for sale in the spares thread if anyone needs some.

[barrywi]

Just slide forward the glovebox lid to cover them. You have to lift the catch at the front of the lid and pull forward.