Hi - newbie here. Sorry to launch with a grouch.

I loved my MY59 XF 3.0D S Prem Lux despite it's flat seats, invisible instruments during daylight and naff switchgear. And that it blew it's intercooler on me (luckily on a Sat morning). Traded it in June 2012, and found a 1500 mile/3 month old 3.0 S Portfolio (facelift) up North in silver with black alloys and a rare red interior, and inevitably paid through the nose.

Initially I was thrilled by the mean looker, and the improvements in the design faults of the "MK1". I soon realised that compared to the old motor, this engine is a dog. Gruff, and vibration coming through the cockpit and wheel. Revised computer takes an age to boot and chronic in operation. God awful rattle from within driver's door. Alarm goes off randomly with no show on the diagnostics. Loud "crump" from rear on acceleration and braking - diagnosed as tank slap, and mod carried out - now impossible to fill with fuel. Takes forever at a trickle. Also having to PAY to have folding rear seat retro fitted (Jag dropped it as standard for a short while before re-instating it). Service indicator showing at 8,500 miles/7 months.

Been back at the dealer for 2 days now and I'm in a standard 3.0 courtesy car of the same MY and it's silky smooth compared to mine. Mine needs an oil and filter change, owing to degradation. They say it's down to "driving style", I say something unprintable in return. Jag are paying for it. I wondering whether to reject the car.

Anyone else suffered similarly? It will be back to the Germans for me, once I can justify the cost.

 

Welcome to the forum trevgo,

Although I suspect it may be a short stay.

I hope your XF comes back from the dealer in a more satisfying condition.

Graham

 

Drivetrain is adaptive. Ask them to reset the software. The previous owner may have been a very poor driver. Or too many test drives by little old women while waiting for you to arrive (the car not the women).

Alternatively and with no points on your license may I suggest an Italian tune up? Just go out a flog the car seriously for a few tankfuls of fuel. I am confident all will be restored as the car re-adapts to a serious driver.

This assumes your diesel isn't clogged with carbon in its particulate trap.

 

Thanks for this. Somebody else suggested it could be a DPF issue, though 90% of it's miles are done blasting up and down the motorway to work on cruise. I do not have a particularly light right foot anyhow It should have had time to sort itself out by now.

I'll see what transpires over the next few days whilst the dealer has it.

 

As it has been in for 4 days, I called the dealer yesterday to inquire as to any progress and to tell them the courtesy car now has the service warning coming up (at 4,500 miles). Also has the same door rattle as mine. Something is very approximately attached behind the trim, and this needs modifying at the build stage.

He said mine won't be ready for a while as "they're still working on the DPF". So it would appear it was a DPF issue. It must have been that way when I collected it and never regenerated properly. I look forward to the de-briefing when I finally get it back. If it is ALL sorted, I can start to love the car.

 

Keep us informed. Hate to see a good man lost to BMW....

 

My cousin has the 3.0S Portfolio. It is substantially quicker than my 4.2V8.

I rode in it, no way it is a dog. Something is wrong with yours.

Gentle driving is just wrong for any Jaguar. The harder you drive the better they are.

 

I was about to say 'impossible' but you're right.
How do they make a diesel do that ?

 

Twin turbos! It's the enormous torque that makes driving the diesel so effortless, although it doesn't have the wonderful exhaust note of the V8.

 

Torque is the relevant number for acceleration. My V8 would have a higher top speed but only if the electronic speed limiter were removed.

 

Err, I don't think any of my regular passengers would call my driving style "gentle"

 

No but since you bought a previously loved XF the previous owner may have done.

 

Just had a call from the dealer to "keep me informed" (different guy from who I spoke to Friday, who's off today). Went through the list of faults.

Passenger door lock replaced as was the cause of the random alarm trigger. Uh? Doesn't sound very feasible to me, but I guess they had to do something.

Door rattle - fixed.

Oil and filter change - cause of service warning light, and done. - said it's because the car is a year old. Registered in March, but PDI'd in October 2011 which is when the service indicator is set. Never come across that in all my years driving

Fuelling problem -fixed. "You've triggered the mis-fuelling prevention by attempting to fill with the incorrect nozzle". I have done no such thing. Must have happened during the tank slap fix. Typical dealer "it's actually your fault, sir" attitude.

Rough engine.. He said Jaguar had been to check the car and it was in tolerance with no fault. "What about the DPF?" I asked. "We haven't looked at the DPF". What a flippin shambles.

I'm unsurprised. They'll say it's "perception" or "expectation", whereas I KNOW. My other half, who is not such a petrolhead as I, already noticed it but "didn't want to spoil the joy of the new car" by mentioning it. My faith has gone, and I have no confidence in this car. I cannot justify trading it 6 months after paying £42K, but if business keeps up, it will go early in 2013. Went out in a 5 series 330d S at the weekend and it felt like it was hewn out of rock in comparison with the XF. It's upsetting slating a domestic manufacturing exporter as we need far more of them, but I won't be driving British again in the foreseeable future. If they are to have longstanding international success, they have to build better cars than this.

 

Is it worth putting it on a dyno - no arguing with that.

 

Sure sorry to hear about your troubles. I can feel the disappointment from here.
the interesting thing is that I just acquired an '03 STR, with 120k miles on it, and every single person who has been in it has commented "it's amazingly tight", or something similar.

So what gives? What changed in the build-processes between those 7 or 8 years that leaves yours the way it is?

 

Err, showing my ignorance here!

What's a dyno please?

 

Sorry, a dynamometer, measures the power available at the rear wheels.
Also called a 'rolling road'.
If it isn't to the Jaguar spec then you've got 'em.

 

Ah, thanks Steve!

I wouldn't say it feels lacking in power - certainly no slower than my previous car - it's just the way it delivers (unlike the courtesy car, which does lack the ultimate thrust of the "S"). I'm promised a call from the service manager tomorrow, so I'll see what he says. I may well take it somewhere for a check. Is there any check for NVH available? That's what's the bugbear.

 

Car is back from Stratstones. 6 out of 8 issues dealt with - the pathetically slow touch screen is "how it is". A backwards step from the original - how marvellous.

Jaguar have been to drive the car and proclaimed no issue whatsoever with the engine, in which case I can only conclude that at facelift they decided to turn the 3.0S from a silky tourer into a raucous, unrefined hot hatch (without the hatch). Fine - I just wish they would be honest about it and tell their dealers to warn people trading up from original cars.

My transformation from enthusiastic advocate for the marque to utter dissatisfaction has been complete and swift. I hate the car and can't wait to see the back of it. I truly hope J D Power talk to me.

 

Before you trade in at a substantial loss try two similar cars at other dealers. If those are as you originally expected go to jag centrally preferably sales director tell him what you told us.