I am considering adding an STR to the stable, and I have a few questions that I hope you all can answer.

1. What are the primary issues to check for when buying an STR - beyond the usual items common to all cars?
2. Is there an engine or transmission difference between '03-'05 and '06-'07? Some sources indicate that VVT was added on '06+ (AJ34S). Is this true?
3. Are the Brembo brake calipers compatible with '06+ vehicles?
4. Does the car's audio system have an Aux input?

Cheers!

 

1. see the stickies at the top of the s type forum for a lengthy read .
2. no but some internal hardware software upgrades were carried out .
3. yes and no , the disks are also different and would need swapping .but this would leave you with no park brake .
4. no . there are some cheep work arounds though. also a costly factory option .

 

Appreciate the reply, Datsports. Does #2 mean that all STR's came with the AJ34S or the AJ33S?

 

sorry i was only referring to the transmission . yes you are correct there was an update to vvt in the later R versions
and also some major changes to the ECM hardware also .

 

The biggest thing is can you do your own work?
This forum has all the problems figured out by now and fixes have been posted. But using a dealer will make the car a money pit.
Remember they are old cars at this point in time.
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https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s...-s-type-72948/

 

2006 got a smog pump as well. Compare the electrical schematics available at jagrepair.com between '05 and '06 and some of the differences become apparent.

 

A big ditto to post 5.....as i am learning

 

My 06 STR does not have a smog pump. The Diesel version has a smog pump. Not available in North America.

 

Sorry I did not answer your question?
Yes 2006-2008 STR's got VVT. Now we don't really know if this was for more power (Because the 2006-2008 STR's are not any faster) or as has been posted it was more for emissions control.
But when the XF was introduced the 4.2L SC engine was rated at 420HP which is more than the stock STR (390HP). So possibly a bit more power too?

Not sure if the Brembo package will bolt on to the 2006-2008 models but I will say there did NOT seem to be any reduction in braking performance when it was dropped so I guess it was mostly for the bling (looks).
I would NOT spend any money on adding Brembo's unless you just want to. It is surprising to me but Jaguar seems to have dropped Brembo's completely and Jag's braking performance continues to improve so maybe not as much difference as I first thought?
My 2014 XJR has tremendous brakes but still not Brembo's?
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The 06 braking was not Brembo but the Brakes and calipers that came with the car are excellent. The front calipers and rotors are very large in size. Not sure if they are exactly the same size as Brembo. Must be close. There is no separate small caliper for parking brake. Cheaper for parts, These brakes are very easy to change, single piston. No seized up or worn parking brake or extra pads.
I was told by Jag when I bought the car that it has 400 HP. the brochure also mentions it in the spec page and the STR page.
http://www.auto-brochures.com/makes/...-Type_2006.pdf

 

Some time around then the cars did get SAIR if that's what is meant.

 

A smog pump should be there on 2006. See pages 82 and 83 on the attached. 2005 does not have these components.

 

Attachment exceeded the size limits. Go to jagrepair.com for the PDF

 

I see figure 03-9 in the electrical diagram. says for V8-4.2 NA normally aspirated. nothing on the SC engine. Been all over the front bumpers and covers on mine, nothing back there.

 

Brembos: The 03/04 STR Brembos should fit on the front spindles of an 06. Shouldn't bad a swap on the front. For the rears you would have to replace the hub carriers with the 03/04 versions and then put on the separate Brembo brake calipers and the Brembo E-brakes. Likely have to swap out the electric E-brake cables due to routing differences, but they might mate up.
As many likely know, the Brembos are fixed calipers versus floating calipers used on 90% of the cars in the USA. Floating calipers only have caliper pistons on one side of the caliper, fixed calipers have pistons on both sides.
For one time stopping power, both stop about the same. Fixed calipers have an advantage over floating calipers when it comes to heat dissipation, brake fade and stopping power during repeated heavy braking. (Autocross, track racking, heavy duty twisty-windy mountain roads.) For normal day-to-day driving you would never notice any differences.

I am not sure (Never tested this) that the Brembo OEM fixed calipers used on Jaguars are really that much better than floating calipers versus Radial mount aftermarket Fixed calipers intended for racing. OEM Brembo fixed calipers could be "detuned" for cost reduction so that they really aren't much better than floating calipers.
As an example, my brother tracked his Corvette that came with OEM "Alcon calipers" He boiled the brake fluid and had terrible brake fade, as well as rapid pad wear. He ended up putting on Wilwood racing calipers / rotors and these problems went away.