I recently acquired some XJR-100 rear silencers for my XJ Sport, and this is what the install will essentially look like:


My qualm about doing this is that I essentially have changed the aesthetic to that of a 1998-1999 XJR.

I'm thinking that I'll replace the current mesh grill with my old slats grill, to maintain the identity of a 2002 XJ Sport.

I like the 1999 XJR, and obviously it is superior to my car in terms of performance/ powertrain, but I don't really want to make the car look
any older. I mean, it's already over 10 years old.

Do you think that its worth it to maintain the factory look, with a couple of tiny mods (my heritage centre caps, bigger exhaust tips)

or, is the grill itself good looking enough (despite making the car identify as a 1998 XJR) to keep?

I'll include pictures of my grill set-ups.

I think, independently, (pretending that there is no difference between R and non-R,) that the mesh looks a bit better.

Any thoughts? Just thought I'd ask a casual opinion... I've never liked the idea of making a "copy", like, turning (or trying) a 540i into an M5, for example.

 

Definitely go with the "R" accessories.

Consider it not so much a copy of anything, but an improvement of one particular example.

$0.02 and all that.

... if in the end you cannot stand the mesh, then they can have a home over here

 

Hi Ian,

First of all I have to say that this is a beautyful car you have! (Even if it's not black.)

I would definitely go for the XJR Exhaust! It makes the car look a lot more beefy than the std "straw-tips".
Also I would keep the mesh grille. (Looks darn good with the silver surround you have.)
Both parts won't make your car look older of age or like some "copy" of a "bigger" model here!

The "old" looks may just come from mounting 1st generation XJR rims to your car. Even though I personnally think that the style of these 18 Inchs is still pretty modern.
And only experts (and you of course) will determine a car with these rims as a 98/99 Model.
If that bothers you much, did you consider an upgrade to the newer style XJR rims AKA Asteroids?
The Asteroids have been std for pre 99 XJRs but also a factory option to any XJ model!
What are the original rims an XJ sport came with? I simply don't know, as my setup is Penta wheels with winter tires and Asteroids for the summer.
(And I like both of them!)

Cheers,

David

 

I like and prefer chrome grills over mesh ones this is why I say chromed up lol

Well, exhaust tips, you can go for XJR if you like it better .
For instance, I will be going for AMG tips when I take a delivery of my E Class ,not just because of wanna be because I like rectangular tips over oval ones

 

Unless you know a lot about X308s or have the ability to identify between a X300 & 308 from a mile away, like me, no one will regard the car as being old.

The X308 will never be old, it will be timeless. Which is why my Boss's wife prefers me to take her places in my XJ8 rather then his 18month old Mercedes R Class.

Nuff Said

 

Yeah, 'nuff said.
Hope she's worth "taking her around".

 

Christ No! LOL she is in her 70s! But she has appointments she needs to go to but my boss is too busy to take her so will usually use a spare driver who will use a company owned vehicle. Which is his excuse as to why I can't use the Jag, despite the frequent requests from his wife.

 

Haha DavidN... indeed, they are the Penta. For the US market
XJ Sport, the only wheel option. And I know it isn't black...
I used to hate silver cars... until, that is, I saw this one .
Great pics btw! Love your car.

I'd like to consider myself an XJ expert lol. I do think that the
forums have given me a lot of knowledge.

Thanks guys, I appreciate the input!

 

Go with the tips and keep the mesh.

Your car looks GREAT.

 

IMO, some Asteriod rims on your car will make your car look much newer.

 

The 5 spoke wheels never looked good on the XJ8 IMO but it was a fashion of the times. Back in the 90s there were loads of cars running round with 3 spoke alloys on, which looked cr*p then and worse now!

I like the Lunar, Starburst and crown wheels, but I hate the Milan wheels. I have the Celtic wheels on my car which came fitted from new.

 

3 Spoke rims are super ugly on cars from the 90s. I have seen a 2 spoke rim that takes the cake for the all time absolute worst.

Pentas look a bit aftermarket in comparison to the asteriods IMO.

I'm one of those people that thinks wire wheels on the XJ looks horrible. The crown rims IMO, are the worst of all the X308 AND X300 OEM rims. I'm glad I dumped mine. Although not OEM, the rims from the early XK8s on the XJ looks just as bad as crown rims too.

The XJR-100 rims are the best IMO.

 

AMEN!
Dave

 

I've associated the Penta wheels with the XJ since the V8 one came out, so I can't say I agree with them looking "aftermarket" in any way.

The N/A VDP had by far the ugliest wheels of the XJ. The supercharged VDP had nice "solar" 17"s. Liked them.

The X308 is a happy medium as far as wheels/ styling goes. It fits a 5 spoke perfectly I think. It even looks ok with wire wheels (have seen some XJ6 wires on a LWB XJ6, looked fine). No new car can look normal with 16"s, whereas the polished aluminium wheels from the XJ6 looked great on the X300. The 17" XJ220-based wheels on the X300 XJR looked great too. The 19" BBS Montreal is a little on the "spoke-laden" side for me, but I believe they look perfect on the car.

No new Jaguar could look normal with 16"s. Can you imagine a new one with anything smaller than 19"s? The styling depends on huge wheels. Our car, for example, can't handle 20"s from a styling standpoint though.

@ you two... I never saw any three-spoke wheels in the '90s. That was the mid 1980s/ Like the Saab 900 Turbo? My desktop background has a Saab equipped with 3-spoke alloys. I think it looks cool for its time.

Asteroids are gorgeous, but the lack of a lip means that kerb-collisions are going to be even more conspicuous. But I like the way they look very much.

My Penta wheels have been accented by the addition of my sexy centre-caps though, so mind that detail

To disprove the theory that the XK8 wheels didn't look good on an XJ, a pic is attached. They sure didn't looks very good on the XK8 though.

 

I also must suggest getting the mina gallery lower mesh grille insert, it looks much better than the vertical lower grille slat.

I have it and very much prefer it to stock

Jaguar XJ8 XJR Lower Mesh Grille Grill for Jaguar XJ8 XJR

 

We can't debate on rims here! There are so many different opinions, which is actually a good thing.
I personnally HATE the Crown wheels as much as the Celtics. My car came with exactly these two sets of wheels.
First mod was to sell them all and get some acceptable wheels.

I like Penta and Asteroids most! And as I couldn't decide between one of them I bought them both.
But I have to admit that with the 18 Inch rims the car immediately lost it's jaguarish comfortable gliding style of driving.
With the 18 Inch wheels it drives pretty "hard" and almost a little inconvenient and tramlining is a big issue.
Probably with the 17 Inch Solar rims you will get the best of both worlds in terms of appearance and comfort.
But they are pretty hard to find as they have only been mounted on the Daimler Super V8 (Supercharged VDP).

My 2 (Euro-)Cents

David

 

You can say that again! I test drove a 22k XJ8 (base, base, base) and it rode so much better than mine. The sidewalls were soft, so the cornering was obviously not as good. But it rode really well. DavidN, our cars have stiffer springs and shock absorbers, and I believe the rear suspension geometry was uprated, (plus, we have anti-roll bars in front and rear, N/A cars don't other than us)

The XJ8 has softer seats too. It's a soft, competent car. Love the softness. I'm under 20, though. Hard suspension is fine, I'm not 50 I love having the Pentas instead of some comfort, just the looks justify them.

Modern Benzes seem to ride about like my car. Don't know whether that speaks for Benz, for coming so far in the last 10 years,




or, Maybe that Jag made some futuristic suspension feel for the XJ.

 

I assume you're addressing Burmaz and myself?
Well in Europe in the 90s there were many, many, many cars fitted with 3 spokes both standard and after market. Factory fitted on: Vauxhall Corsa, Vauxhall Tigra, Range Rover MK2, Land Rover Discovery MK1 & 2, VW Polo, Suzuki Vitara, Ford Escort MK6 & 7 and many others, and they were sold to customisers everywhere.

As far as suspension goes, Sport suspension was a non cost option in the UK in some years, so there are many XJ8s with fluted interiors and sports suspension. Mine for instance is fitted with S/S and Celtic wheels, and corners like it is on rails. This is with the standard Jaguar recommended tyres too.

Now wheel sizes again is a personal thing. I think now wheels are too big, my Dad's MG ZT has 18in wheels, which look fine but are the biggest I'd go. My Coach has 22.5in wheels, which is smaller than some SUV wheels on todays market.

 

Here are some 3 spoke rims.....

Not pretty

 

Yes, "you two" was Stu and Jon. sorry to be vague.

The Viper is awesome... when I was a kid, all I cared about were the Viper GTS and the Jaguar XJ220. The wheels... idk

@Stu 1986... Those MG wheels look excellent! Love those cars.

I did know that Sport suspension was a no-cost option in the UK... in the US, it was an option ($3000 or so) and trim level. It included non-piped sport seats (XJR seats), Pirelli P-Zero summer rubber, and the sports suspension. The only US spec option for wheels were Penta alloys. Also, there was no 3.2 V8 available either. UK spec sports were often equipped with this excellent stained birds-eye walnut, which was only available on the 1990s "R" in the US.

Why, Jaguar? So few options for us 'Mericans!

And the three spokes... I know, they aren't pretty. They are kind of cool as a period piece though.