Got in my 2011 XJ base this evening and found that while the stalk moved into the high beam position (away from me) the lights stayed on low beam. When I pulled the stalk toward me the high beams did flick on as intended.

I thought that was the totality of the experience until I put the car in park...engine still running...and the low beam lights completely went out.

Any thoughts would be appreciated! Thank you.

 

If your headlight stalk selector switch is set for "auto" operation, the high beams will not go on if the view ahead is not dark enough (as in when illuminated by oncoming headlights, or ambient light conditions do not warrant the use of high beams), unless you pull on the stalk as when "flashing to pass" or telling the passing lane hog ahead of you to either pass or get out of the way.
Likewise, I suspect the headlights might go out once you put the car in Park because it assumes you don't need headlights when the car is parked, just parking lights .

 

It might be a bug or might be a feature ! What does the Owner Handbook say, anything ? Does it work OK at night ? If it does, it sounds like it is intentional.

 

As the risk of admitting my own stupidity, I thought I would reply to my own questions since the issue has been resolved. Somehow I turned the light switch on the stalk to off. But I have the car set for running lights so when I started her up, all looked normal. But, of course, with running lights only you don't get high beams and when you put the car in park they go off.

Not my proudest moment but I wanted to bring closure to the issue.

 

Thanks for the update. Today's car are so feature laden, that it's easy to get a bit frustrated when things con't go as expected. So no apology needed, we've all been there.

 

I agree with John.
When buying a Jaguar of any age it's advisable to have a brick wall handy for banging your head against.

 

One of my pet peeves it with DTLs and non auto light setting either being off or not available so many drivers are forgetting to put their lights on at night. While the driver can see the rest of us may not see them as there are no tail or marker lights illuminated.