Does anyone know if the dealer can change the amount of power steering assist?

I ask because I have 2 2011 XF Premiums, and one definitely requires less steering effort than the other. The one that takes less steering effort also has had the paddle shifters turned off when in D.

So I am thinking the previous owner had the steering assist changed at the same time as the paddle behavior.

I asked the dealer this morning, but they didn't think it could be changed.

On my previous Kia Optima (horrible car, but we won't get into that), the dealer could change the level of assist to one of 3 levels, so it is a possibility with at least some cars.

 

Do you have the same tires on both? Is the mileage the same on both sets?

I ask because as my Kumhos have worn the steering has become lighter. My friend has the Sumitomos and his steering has become heavier with time.

 

No, that is a difference between the 2 cars. I bought the gray XF used with only 23K miles, and they had just put on new Hankook tires. I bought the white one new, and it still has life left on the stock Continental tires with about 26K miles.

I might try swapping the wheels between the two cars to see if that makes a change.

 

I'd try it just to see. I ride motorcycles and the brand of tire and the state of wear has a significant impact of steering feel and overall handling.

 

Steering assist is fixed. Alignment is adjustable. Different steering effort results from tire pressure, tire design or alignment differences between two otherwise identical cars.

If your power steering seems heavy in any XF then something is not right.

 

If these cars have variable rate power steering and it feels the same around town as it does on the hiway, then the p.s. module may be defective.
We had one of the early X-Types and the steering felt "heavy" around town compared to other X-Types. Dealer replaced module and then all was well.

 

ZF servotronic is a variable assist power steering system.

All Jaguars use it.

New XE and the new version of the F Type will have electric power assist. Electric power assist is programmable.