Over the last year or so I have driven two V8 SWB XJs, 2011 and 2012, and a 2013 supercharged V6. Today it was the turn of a 2012 V8 Base.

The Good:

First thing I noticed was that it was MUCH more responsive to the throttle than the 2011 I drove a year ago. WTH? Makes me wonder if the 2011 had been run on regular and the ECM was pulling a bunch of timing.

I also noted the 2012 rode better than the 2013, despite Jaguar telling us that the 2013 had changes to improve the ride. It was very quiet over freeway bridge joins and totally flattened one notorious piece of local freeway. Now I wonder if the 2013 had some crazy inflation pressures.

The Questionable:

Do all the 5.0 V8s have a tappet like noise at idle? In general driving it was very quiet and tuneful when whipped a little. For sure it started more quietly than the V6 I tried. That was a proper bucket of bolts.

The Base model does not come with rear air controls. I think I'm going to take the hardcase view that I don't intend to sit there.

The Bad:

I'll be trading a 2008 XKR with under 45K on the clock. Ah well, maybe it's time.

 

Does it sound "clicky" like bad lifters, or "squealy", like a bad serpentine belt?
There was a bad batch of camshafts that got into some of the "early build" 2012 XJs, with the V-8. I had one of them (s/n #86). The indication was a "squealy" sound, most notable when the car was sitting, with the engine idling.

 

Lots of things can make a "ticking" sound at startup, including:
(1) expansion of exhaust components while the engine is heating up
(2) the high pressure direct injection fuel system;
(3) engine misfire due to arcing plug wire, fouled plug, or bad ignition coil;
(4) timing chain tensioners; and others.

See:
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...g-sound-91608/
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...e-noise-88084/
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...-wrong-145779/

 

Regarding the rear controls, it is no big deal. It IS great if people want to tweak their own temperature and know how to do it properly but in practice they never seem to know what to do , if they turn their "auto" off or their fan speed to low then it switches the main auto off in the front as well !
You then find yourself asking them how they would like the temperature.
At least without the controls this would not happen.
I know it can be locked but then with the people I have in the back of the car it makes it look as if you have it the child locks on haha

 

In my opinion the lack of rear controls would indicate the system is a 2 zone system and not a 4 zone system. However, I'll bet that the comfort level will be just as good as the 4 zone system

 

I suspect this may be a direct injection noise or possibly cam tensioner. The motor is silky smooth and powerful so I can't see it being a dead cylinder.

 

Do you know that the prober oil is in the engine?

 

Have had my '12 for 2 years and now have 20,000 miles and no noise at idle. It rides so smooth and is very quiet.

 

Yeah, I might take it to get the noise listened diagnosed.