How to get an XF trunk to open automatically 

I like it when you said, " I'll leave you with some shots of the trunk opening, to make you jealous." I'm not really bothered about having this feature on my XF, but guess what..... I like it, and I was a little jealous. Great video.

I expect this guy to start singing Careless Whisper in a second - he has the best George Michael, soothing voice I've ever heard! Thanks for this video.

Thanks so much for all your Jaguar XF videos. I recently acquired a Jag XFS and my dad would always say to me, watch your videos. He sadly passed away last Friday and whilst on RU-vid I could see his history and he was clearly a big fan :). Keep up the good work.

Did mine a while back, perfect. But i cant stress enough, "be careful when drilling", you do not want to go through your boot skin !!

I used just neodymium magnets (very strong ones) 10x10x4 mm and it does exactly same job with no drilling involved. After few months, boot is still opening flawlessly.

Hi again Hilton, you are keeping me busy working on my car!! 😄, I just upgraded my lights from your last video and I’m delighted with the result and I have just ordered all the parts to do my boot, I’m in the UK and I managed to find all the bits on eBay UK I got the links from your original video on this subject so thanks a million 👍 Regards Kevin

I don't even own a Jaguar but i like watching your work! 🇬🇧❤️🇿🇦

I've had my 2012 XF for five years now and I never knew, until this video, that 1) the boot is meant to swing up and not just limply unlock, 2) the boot will open if the key is in there! Think I'm going to have to watch a few more of your videos...

I did this to mine a while ago and flies up so fast now it could knock you out lol

Watched your video, tried it myself and am delighted that I now have a boot lid that fully opens. Many thanks 👍

Hi, I did this today and overjoyed. Its so odd that it works with this mod. Thanks again from the UK. Next i need to sort out my door handles, they're stiff when it gets to releasing the lock

I just did this yesterday, works perfect. All done in 10 minutes, it was easier than I anticipated, even the drilling was quick - with a more expensive drill bit there's definitely a difference. And I did indeed find a hardware store that sold them with 0.2-0.3 mm increments, learned again something new! The screw heads are now ~2 mm higher than the original plastic pegs, that's all it needed together with new gas struts. This is the third improvement I've done on my X250 based on your content, once again big thanks to you sir, you're doing us all a big service 🏆

Your videos are really helpful to Jaguar owners, thanks for making them.

Another great video, thanks Hilton. I'll be doing the same to my 2013 3.0D S Portfolio - which has barely moved since this time last year, sadly. I have it permanently connected to a CTEK charger, given the sensitivity of XFs to battery voltage. Possibilty not so much a problem in the heat of RSA, unlike the 'frozen' north of England!

Yeah I also did this, I'm sure you did this to your "baby" XF a while ago. I was smiling when I watched ;-)

Great result, well done and thanks so much for the informative video !

Show off 😂 now Ive gotta do mine Hilton .....thanks for the tutorial bud appreciate it and I will get on to it this week 👍

OMG this is so useful! Thank you so much! 😊👍🇬🇧

Would be great if you could do a video on how to dismantle the centre console bits and centre spear in wood effect to wrap them.

Love your videos! Very insightful. Keep up the great work Hilton.

Brilliant, very impressive tip and well described.

I don't know how, but you even topped yourself from the last time you made this video for your other XF. So, easy that I have to do this now as you commanded I do!

Excellent video. Just done this works like a dream. Thanks for posting.

I was waiting on the boot to open in outstanding back drop, of the sunset and sea. 👌🇬🇧Awesome tip 🍺🍺

WOW, what a nice discovery, thanks Hilton.

Nice job Hilton. A small change made a big difference. I suitably jealous lol :-) Just saw the new Tucson video, it's so different!. Have a good weekend. :-)

I’m the clumsiest of them all so this is not a good idea for me, but great option to have! Thank you for sharing

Good to see you back with a proper XF! I’ve had my 2012 3.0 Luxury for 3 years now, so to give it a bit of a facelift I had it de-chromed. I would include a before and after picture, but I don’t know how to. I have to say, it looks pretty cool!

Hey Hilton, thanks as always. Great job. Your the best.

Hi, after watching your(and others video's) on this topic I decided to do this mod on my XF, but did mine slightly different to you. The holes where the original plastic stops fit are 5mm diameter and this hole size is ideal to tap for an M6 thread so no need for any drilling, I hand tapped the original plain holes to accept M6(the holes tap quite easily even with a cheap tap set), and used M6 x 10mm long stainless bolts with a washer under the head, you can then easily add or remove washers to get the right amount of tension needed, looks neat and works perfect. I've also tried cheap aftermarket gas struts and found that some come to an abrupt stop and shake the boot lid at the end of it's travel. The original gas struts on XF boots were made by Stabilus and their part number is Stabilus 246897, In 2020 I paid just under £29 for 2 with an ebay coupon, they're exactly the same as originals but without the Jaguar logo. Please note, all gas struts will operate different depending on temperature, my boot fully opens around 5 degrees Celsius or above, but opens less below that temperature.

Superb mate

Thanks

Use a drill with a depth gauge (metal rod that attached to the top) so you can use that to limit your drill depth. I bet its very easy to accidentally dent the outer skin.

Great video. Is this the same process for a 2016 XF S? Thanks!

Hi thanks so much for the tip. As I only just bought my xf 2011 year..and know nothing much about them as yet. Why did you have to remove the light. Please ?

One time my trunk latch (soft close mechanism) stopped working in sub zero freezing temperatures. I had to drive with my trunk unlatched and free to move slowly to the dealer shop. In this case I wouldn’t want the automatic opener as the trunk would be wide open on my drive due to this fault .

Does it work in cold weather too? My trunk won’t open completely if it’s cold outside (only fitted new stronger gas struts from AliExpress)

Good morning hilton. My project this weekend is to do the boot.(trunk). But does this put to much pressure on the catch. ?.

Hi Jag i am trying to find the specific screw and rubber without success. Can you please assist from where to buy it?

Hi Hilton, can you do a video of how to replace the cam belt?

Hi great video, I have just bought a 2009 xf and followed the instructions in this video but when I open it using the button it opens perfectly but the last 10% it is a lot faster than your video. Is there anything I can do to fix this?

Great video! Can you link all the used products from this video? I would like to do the same modification on my XF. Cheers!

Hey how do you fold the backseat down? Just got myself a xf

When you mentioned the inside and outside diameter measurements of the screw, what did you mean exactly? From the video it looked like you're measuring from the threads of the screw. Is the "outside" measurement the width of the threads and inside the width of the stem without the threads? Also - where did you find the 3.5 mm drills? I've never seen them with 0.5 mm increments.

Mine still opens half way, added the screws and new struts, would wd40 on the springs help? Also do you know what the black bolt covers are called, you have 2 on each side

Where do you get these ideas from?

I didnt know the boot opened by itself if the key was left in there. I gotta see if my car does that lol.

I remember you doing this to your older X250. I've given it a try, but it has never worked for me. I've replaced the struts, the springs, and even the hinges but no luck. Well, if you open it manually the first time, then it will work a few times after that. What I've noticed is that the struts seem to catch/ rub on the boot (trunk) seal which stops it from opening.

I may design and print a 3d extended grommet to do the same thing. I don't want to drill any holes unnecessarily.

What i want to know/add is soft closing doors/trunk like on the XJ on my XFR

Hi Hilton can you tell me where the parts number is for xf2008 jaguar my boot harness as broken so the boot will not open it broken when the black sleeve joint the boot and the body of the car👍

So what was the point of fitting the grommet and screw?

Hello ! I'm in the UK and have a 2012 XF 2.2D Sport LE. Can you tell me please the size of the rubber grommets you used, diameter and thickness. Great mod ! Thanks

Got a 2014 XF 2.0 - and got this issue. But I'm clumsy when it comes to cars - would you by any chance be near JHB and willing to do it for money? Also same time the driver's airvent doesn't go up or down, Jaguar said it'll cost 12k so if you have a fix for that... I'm in Germiston but work in North JHB.

I strongly believe there is no need to drill and replace nothing but the gas pumps. Anyhow I will try it on my car. Thanks

Hi Hilton my boot will not open with both fob or boot switch in the car think wires may be broken

💡👍👍👍

Gear fix 👍😀😀

I achieved the same just fitting new struts and stronger spring

I'd be grateful if you could make a video about illuminated door sills. Mine has stopped working all of a sudden and it was one the things I really loved about my Jag. Not quite sure why its stopped working

Hi Hilton from Cyprus!! I am having difficulties finding the rubber. Can you please assist?

Hi, I do like it. Just a silly question: Why did you take the lamp out? Another question. Is it possible, after the transformation, to close the trunk by touching it lightly?

Why disconnect the boot light?

I have the opposite problem, the boot will not open except by using the fob and interior button. That's a reasonable solution but I would have been tempted to use a rubber plug to stop the opener rather than the head of a screw. In the UK we don't need any more excuses for the Jag to rust ... NB I don't want it to open fully, as there is nothing worse than popping the boot from the driver's seat and then watching your luggage disappear down the road before you have opened the door ... 🤨

Help, am I missing the point because I cannot see any correlation between drilling a small hole and the boot fully opening? It would appear that without changing the spring or adding longer gas struts, the boot opens fully after a small hole is drilled. It just doesn't make sense!

Or tap the larger hole you pulled the bung out of?

Hey Hilton, thanks for another great video, and not so much for making us jealous Where do I source the gas struts from?

Mine only opens halfway still :( would changing the gas struts work or?

How do you get the boot to open when it won't open at all...?

Part number please

My boot is now quite hard to shut, is this normal?

My screen is flickering what's your fix solution

Why did u Drill holes i didnt understand it

Try opening it when the fob button malfunctions!

I think this could be done without drilling my getting a new larger oem style plug 3d printed

Hi thats cool I've just bought a xf can you do mine for me 😆

It doesn’t open automatically it just opens further

I think he dented his boot skin

Even *I* can do this at home? Well, if a mindless idiot like me can do it, anyone can...