Now I've stepped into it ...

I'm working on putting in a backup camera, and will be attaching the transmitter to the RR backup light. But in running the camera wire cleanly to the transmitter I need to drill a hole from the interior back out to the license plate.

So, the back black interior grille needs to come off.

Which means at least the RH lower carpeted panel must come off.

Which means the tan plastic sail panel above must come out ...

There's no exposed fasteners for the sail panel. Is it held in just by the plastic push-in plugs (and is removed by sudden force on each plug?)? Anyone else pulled this panel (with success)? Thanks.

 

I've had all the interior trim out including the sail panels, at least a couple of times and my experience is that I have been able to remove the black trunk liner (black plastic panel too) without removing the sail panel trim at least that's what I remember. If you do remove the sail panel you'll need to remove the door jam upper trim first. There's a couple of threads on the forum about trim panel removal. A word of caution, be very careful when removing the panels, you don't want to break the white clips, if you can help it. They're a bit pricey!....go figure

 

Thanks -- had searched for info, but the "sail" trim threads are actually of the front window pillars. Have found any on the sail panels (= rear)?

The black rear interior panel with the grille is interlocked under the sail panels and with the black side panels. And it also goes over the hatch's lip (and the floor mat has to be out). And there are those white plastic clips under it too . The exposed black plastic retainers came out fairly easily.

Any "lurkers" out there who have pulled out (and hopefully successfully reinstalled) this rear interior panel?

 

Bump this, because I was just about to ask it I just want the trim panels gone, nothing so noble as fixing anything.

 

Yes, it would be good to get more responses! I still need to tackle installing the camera -- it is hard to see out back, when backing up.

I also still need to install the replacement big, black center-dash bezel and refinish the shifter surround. And a number of other XF service chores. Looking like summer projects at this rate.

 

I installed the back up camera last year. What I did was to remove the knock out behind the plate, then fished the camera wire up and then made a small slit in the rubber seal, threaded it inside the car and then stuffed it behind the panels without taking off any of the panels except to the rt light so I could get at the back up wire. Now that part was a real PITA, because I had alot of trouble getting my ham hands in there. i finally ended up just scraping the wire, and wrapped the camera wire around it and taped it all. That worked. Then I velcro'd the transmitter to the back wall. Works like a champ.