Best I can come up with is that the two tabs the black and white arrows are pointing to needs to be bent back to be able to remove the 'fastener'. And then you unscrew the entire screw? Not very elegant, but am I missing something?

I just noticed there is a RESET button behind the upper tube housing. Is it a safety device you press when the hood is up, then press again when lowering?

My XF just arrived yesterday with a dead hood strut, I ordered a new one, and it just came. therefore my lack of knowledge - along with the manual's lack of information on the subject.

Biba