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Fog Lights
Modification: This modification is an updated modification of another modification! Originally, I removed the ugly rectangular-shaped Jaguar Hella fog lights and replaced with round, bullet shaped, chromed Hella fog lamps. These are available from any auto parts store, or see the Round Hella lamps compliment quad round headlamps Hella Web Site for more information. I special ordered them in the USA from Pep Boys (about $90 USD each). However, these were designed to be mounted rightside up, and the scatter pattern on the glass lenses could not ne turned around the "proper" way. However, the biggest problem was that water kept collecting in the bottom of the lenses. Eventually, it caused the reflective silver on the inside of the unit to flake off. Lastly, at $90 USD each, this was not all that cheap an upgrade! And while better looking and more effective than the factory units, I needed another replacement.

J.C. Whitney offers some inexpensive, but attractive and useful fog/driving lamps for only $29.99 USD a set. (Stock #73BS6025T). They are made in China, but are of good quality. Even if they fail, they are inexpensive enough to throw away and install another set. The lense is about the same size as the Hella with a relatively flat chrome case. There is a substantial gasket to keep out water. I did not follow their instructions, and used the stock (black) ground wire connected to an "o" connector to the base of the lights as a ground (the instructions said the housing would be the ground). Effect: As before with the Hellas, I think the new lights even more enhance the front appearance of the car. The chrome housing and round shape greatly compliment the four round front headlamps of my U.S. spec car, and the orange lenses match the turn indicators and such. These lights, even more so than the Hellas and the original stock rectangular lamps, are 100 watt bubs so are much, much, brighter. I also bought (for $7 extra) two replacement lenses in clear (stock #73BS6027R) for summer night driving. Be warned though that the stock 5 AMP fuse (located under the left side driver's steering wheel) will blow the first time you light these lamps with their higher wattage bulbs, so I switched it out to a 15 AMP fuse without problems.

Relocation of Third Brake Light
Modification: Remove the trunk mounted third brake light housing and relocate the lights in place of the trunk mounted backup lights (Convertible XJ-S only) and color the clear backup lenses to red.

Effect: The rear lines of the XJ-S convertible are beautiful, but I feel it is marred by the plastic housing for the third brake light. I moved the wiring for the brake lights to the back up light module built into the trunk lid. This was easier than I thought once I figured it out (just like any other mod I have done!)

First, the third brake light is plugged into an electrical harness connector in the left rear of the boot (trunk). I unplugged it and used a wire cutter to cut it just below where it goes into the hole up below the light. The rear lense of the center brake light has two screws that allow access to the inside of the unit. There are two nuts at the bottom of the unit (inside the trunk lid). Undoing them doesn't remove the assembly from the trunk though. There are two retaining clips that I grabbed with a large pair of pliers. Wiggling out the clips is what loosened the assembly from the trunk lid. I then removed the black plastic dust cover at the key assembly point on the inside of the trunk. The standard backup lights have a green/red power wirte and black ground. Fortunately, there is another electrical coupler harness for these two sets of two wires (one for each backup light). I unhooked these, cut off the ends leading to the lights, and had to splice in a longer wire to meet under the cover area. I also had to splice into the original wire that connects from the car wiring harness to the third brake light some extra length and fished this new now longer wire up the left "V" support on the inside of the trunk lid (the right side of the vee is all the existing wiring going to the rear of the trunk lid-- power trunk lock, backup lights [old] and license plate wires). At this point the third brake light wires end (power and ground) were all in proximity to the two sets of green/red and black (ground) wires to the two backup lights. I used one of those wire joiner twister thingies to join the three black ground wires together and the three power wire together.

I agonized over figuring out ways of coloring the clear lenses to "brake light red". Again, it was really simple once I figured out how. I went to an Artist Supply store and bought some "red acetate". This is simply a thin piece of red tinted plastic sheet, 8 1/2" by 11". It cost just 87 cents (USD) with tax! I then took the two clear backup lenses off and traced an outline on the acetate, then carefully cut inside the lines to fit inside the lenses. I trimmed it to fit perfectly. It is just the right shade of "brake light red" too.

The three holes in the trunk were capped with a domed head bolt and appropriate black washers to prevent water leak into the trunk. It looks great, AND it looks "factory". Now the trunk lid has a smooth, unbroken, longer look then before.

High Voltage Halogen Headlamps (Future)
Modification: Replace the stock incidesent head lamps with Halogen H4s Effect: Better night time viewing and high speed driving ability. The stock headlamps--like any on all non current USA spec cars--is pretty poor. The USA has trailed the rest of the world in having up-to-date, common sense automotive lighting regulations. Hurray for all of you in France and Germany-- you have literally "seen the light"!

Kirby Palm's "The Book" for XJ-S owners describes an R4 Halogen (flat lense) bolt in headlamp available from J.C. Whitney. It is available in three wattages from around 55w through 120w. they advertise it as "for off road driving use only". Palm's book documents the installation (for a free down loadable copy, see Kirby Palm's XJ-S 'The Book').

Beforewarned that installation of any bulb above the lowest has a tendancy to melt wires in your harness! I got this first hand from someone who got burned by this (pun intended ;-). That is what I plan to do to--play it safe and not get too greedy. Plus, my other XJ-S friends that have done this mod report no hassles by the local or state traffic police, and their car passes local inspections. Sounds like the way to go.

Halogen Rear Backup Light (Future)
Modification: Install a high output square backup lights under the rear bumper. Because of the modification above, another backup light location will be required. (Note: I have not located just the right looking light at this time. It is important that it not looked tacked on or after market. In fact I am endevouring to execute these last two modifications to look like the car came this way from Jaguar.) Effect: Provide a slightly stronger and safer rear backup lighting capability, and perhaps, if wired correctly, allow me to rearward "flash" people with their bright ligts on? ;-) Again, if done correctly, this will be suggestive of the clean design of the E-type--one whose smooth rear lines are second to none.