I've been reading countless threads about common problems and/or improvements found in XJL SC's from various model years. However, still not sure if later year improvements can trump(no pun intended) low mileage, well kept vehicle. I'm considering several cars spanning a range from 2011 to 2016 at $25K to $32K and,of course, wanna get the best/smartest deal for the $. Originally wanted to stay well below $20k but as I've researched good/bad seems that price range may not be realistic(or is it?). Seeking the hive's wisdom to help w/the decision. Options are:
2011--ultra low miles @ mid $20's
2012--ultra low miles@high $20's
2014--mid 40k miles@high$20's
2016--hi-40k miles@high $20's
OR is 75k miles@$16-18K best of all
Thanks for any advice!

 

Marco, I think one question that you have to ask is whether you want to be forced to deal with the Start/Stop function of the newer cars. This was introduced with the 2013 models and is in all the models since then. NOw, I recently have switched from a 2012 to a 2016 XJ. The 2012 had no Start/Stop function and my 2016, I have a button that I can permanently turn off the Start/Stop function. But, it is my understanding that from 2013 to 2015, there is a button that you have to push each time you get in the car to deactivate this function. So, not sure if that may play into your decision.

As for which car to go with, I would be looking more at what features each of the cars have and seeing what are needed and which are not. My 2012 was a basic XJ with hardly any bells and whistles. My 2016 has a fair number of bells and whistles. Do I need most of them? No, BUt, it is normally only me in the car, so, anything for the back seat is just 1 more thing that can break on the car. If you have kids on the other hand, the 2016 is a much better car for them (wireless headphones, 4 zone heating/cooling, more leg room, privacy blinds, etc). So, I would be looking at the options to help narrow things down. Of interest, I bought my 2016 with 73K miles on the ODO for $26K, but I also have the V6, not the V8. But, finding a V8 in my area is very difficult.

WHen it comes to miles, these engines should last out to over 300K miles. So, whether you are starting with 40ishK miles or 70ishK miles, I don't think it is that big of an issue. The bigger questions I would have is: when was the water pump last changed? and how often was the oil changed. I only ask the oil question as it seems there is a correlation between more often oil changes and less of a likelihood of having a guide/timing chain failure. From what I am seeing, the magical number for oil changes seems to be 7500 miles. Going more miles between seems to risk the timing chain/guides and less than that is more cost out of pocket for the more frequent oil changes. So, take this for what it is worth.

 

Thermo, like you, I also on a 2016 XJ 3.0

I am not aware of any button that will “permanently” turn off the stop/start feature

There is a button that is easily pushed
(not on the screen thankfully)
every time I start the car that will turn it off for that particular trip.

but not aware of a permanent off feature.

my car is a 2016 XJL portfolio so maybe there is something different because of that?

 

parnelli, my car has it always off. I can go into the radio and there is a section on the Eco-system. There you can turn it off full time. I have owned my car for over a month and it has never turned off on me. Thank goodness. If you want me to go into more detail I will. I have fiddled with the car a little bit to get the big picture things set up in the car. But, I am sure there are a few more things that I will probably end up tweaking before it is exactly how I want it.

 

I think having the updated infotainment and front facelift with adaptive LED headlights is worth the jump to 2016+

 

Thermo, when I first got my car mine never turned off either. That’s because my battery was five years old when I bought the car and was getting low as it had sat on the dealer lot for nearly 3 months without being driven or started on a regular basis


How old is your battery? That feature will
not turn the car off at stoplights if your battery is old or low

if you have a new battery in that car the on off will definitely be an issue again u til you press the button

As soon as I bought a new battery it became an issue until I would turn the button off every time I got in the car to drive it.

 

I would get the 2016.

I have a 2010 XJL and although it has many of the features mentioned above including the wireless headphones, TVs, extra room, tray tables, heated and cooling rear seats, etc it did suffer from many of the early design flaws. I have spent a lot of time and money fixing most of these.

The 2016 should have a better infotainment system, diamond stitched leather seats, soft-close doors, non-sticky buttons and generally have more of the early issues figured out. From what I’ve heard 2016 and onward is the sweet spot.

Best of luck and look forward to you joining the club!

 

Parnelli, I just bought a new battery 3 weeks ago as the previous owner (or the dealership) put in a non-AGM battery into the car and the car would not keep the battery topped up for some reason. So, I bought a new battery and all has been good since. I will have to find the screen that has my Eco controls on it and spread what I am seeing. Maybe I got a car that someone figured something out on it and turned it off full time.

 

Thermo, definitely let me know if you find a feature on the screen that will turn it off permanently! Thanks

 

parnelli, well, I looked. I went to the screen on the radio that says "ECO". Gave me lots of info about the car, but I do not see anything that allows you to turn the system on and off. When I turn the car on initially, if you look on the left side of the instrument cluster, you will see an "ECO" light there and mine is green as soon as I start the car. I would think that this indicates that the system is active. Maybe I am just holding the brake pedal soft enough to keep the car stopped, but not far enough to engage the Eco system. I know you can do that if you hold the pedal just so. maybe I do it by chance/out of habit. I don't tend to hold the pedal down with a lot of force. So, maybe I just happen to drive in such a way that I do not engage the system. That is about the only answer I can give. I did find the button on the center console and I can make the ECO symbol go from green to yellow and back. So, it would appear that my system is active. Not sure what I can say about it.

 

Hmmmmm....interesting. Yeah, I just hit the button on the center console as soon as a start the car and the ECO symbol turns yellow (or is it orange now that I think about it??).
Anyway it works and turns the on the stop/start feature off for the trip. Quick and easy and good enough for me. Some of the newer cars u have to go thru the screen and find it each time u drive the car.
Total PIA

 

As usual, you guys are "da bomb" with your helpful points to be considered some of which I had no clue(start/stop for example)---thanks much!!! None of the issues are dealbreakers for me altho the start/stop issue has me thinking, Guess the proof will be in the pudding when I finally pull the trigger. Thanks again for all the help.

 

Also the start/stop can be turned off using different methods as they changed the system over the years.
On the early system with 2 batteries just disconnect the small battery and it's gone!
The second and later system did away with the second battery and used a capacitor setup. This one is a bit harder and there is a plug on a module to unplug to disable that.
Since I have the 2 battery version I don't know what plug to disconnect on the capacitor systems.
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The F-Type forum has a veeeeerrrry long thread on how to disable the capacitor driven S/S system. Basically, you can fit a module in the trunk area that stops the S/S function.

Personally, I don't mind it. One thing I have found is when I park the 575 or my wife's F-Pace in the garage, and the car shuts down under the S/S system. When I then open the drivers door the car does 3 things;

1. Turns off the engine. (One button push less) [Blank screen] Sorry engine wasn't running.
2. Selects the rotary gear selector to PARK. (Two movements less)
3. Engages the EPB. (Three movements less)

I still do not see why people get so bent out of shape about this! It used to be airbags, then TPMS and before that seatbelts.

wombat

 

That's interesting that your 575 sets the EPB when the drivers door is opened?
I still have not found out why Jaguar did not have the EPB apply when the car was turned off on the X351?
My old S Type and Lincoln LS both applied the EPB?
What changed?

Does anybody else's EPB set automatically in their X351 XJ when turned off?

It's all about goverment control.Their should not be any seat belt laws at all. You should have the freedom to decide for yourself same as Motorcycle helmets. Should you use them? I think so but it's not the governments place to force me. Now what we do need is a law the prohibits ANY law suits if your in an accident and are not wearing a seat belt or a Motorcycle helmet! You have created this hazard by your own decision ans should have to live with the results.
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For me, the start/stop feature is more about long term reliability than anything else. The hardest thing you can do to an engine is start it. Now, why would I want to start and stop my engine 20 times on a 5 mile in town trip? That is my issue with the system. I understand why they are doing it, but I do not like it.

 

Club,

My '12 XJ does not automatically set the EPB. Both the 575 and my wife's F-Pace do.

Edit: The EPB also disengages automatically when D is selected and throttle input is applied.

With regard to seat belts, you do what you want. We have some laws in place that are there to protect the stupid.

I wear a seat belt for my own safety, I also wear one because I have respect for the First Responders that would otherwise have to scrape my remains off the road. In a contest between the human body and the cold, hard tarmac, I know where my money is going.

The easiest way to enforce the wearing of helmets/seatbelts is for insurance companies to deny all coverage (medical included) if you fail to wear protective equipment.

wombat

 

Hey guys, new to the forum and first time posting, so please be kind

My brother uses Forscan, which is a Ford Motor Company (Mazda and X-Type possibly) “software” program that allows the user to access additional vehicle programming above what a regular OBD scanner can access. For example: he was having a turn signal fast flash issue that was not due to a bulb/ LED/ wire shorting out, etc. Using the Forscan, we were able to access the body control module and reset the body control module, which in turn fixed the hyper flash. I used it on my 2010 F-150 to turn on daytime running lights, even though the vehicle did not “come stock” with DRL.

My point? Maybe there is a Forscan - like program out there for Jaguars that would allow this additional level of programming? If so, the auto S/S feature would likely be accessible.

The problem? I cannot find any such software program to date. Smartstopstart.com has been mentioned in several other posts as an entity that could offer such a program, but as of today, he/ they do not offer it for later MY Jags. I read another post, in a different thread I believe, where the author states he had the dealer turn the S/S feature off for him. So if the dealer could do that, through programming, then maybe someone else out there can do it/ offers a program. To me, this would be more beneficial VS unplugging a battery or capacitor. If I do find someone who offers this, I will share here.

Hopefully this post was appropriate and somewhat helpful.

-Respectfully

 

Here is a link to the F-Type hack. It doesn't say if it's a double battery, or a capacitor car.

If the link doesn't work just search "F-Type disable auto stop start"

I can't imagine that the XJ set-up is vastly different, and I haven't looked at my cars for the module location.

wombat

https://www.google.com/search?q=jagu...m1A_Kh4zgDA_35

 

Thanks much Wombat! With your experience I wonder if the earlier XJ's can be setup to apply the EPB when the car is shifted to P?
I can't understand why Jaguar would go to all the trouble and expense and then not use the EPB at all? In my 2014 the EPB will never even be used unless I manually apply it.

Hey pretty cool to hear Forscan! I use this on my wife's 2013 ECO Boost. Yes it can do a LOT for sure!
But Fords are real common and Jaguars are not. So what your seeing is the severe lack of an active aftermarket for Jaguar. Mainly because they sold less vehicles.

We do have a factory setup which can do a lot along the lines of Forscan called SDD (Symptom Driven Diagnostics). It's NOT made for use outside of the Jaguar dealership so it's a battle to use it but many use it including me. We don't really have anything else. The aftermarket scanners are getting better all the time but still are far behind what the SDD can do. Just remember that Jaguar will be of zero help with anything concerning SDD. We are NOT suppose to be using it!

The start/stop system was installed because it helped Jaguar meet mileage and emissions standards. So it would be highly illegal for a Jaguar dealer to try and turn this off. Next I have a working SDD and there is no option to do this. We have a deeper method of modifying the car using what's called either the VID block or the CCF (Car Configuration File) depending model and year. This is a bit dangerous and takes some experience to use as things can go downhill very fast and you soon will have a non-operational car! I have not got to that level yet.

So there MIGHT be a backdoor to doing this via the CCF/VID block modification. I have not heard if this is possible or not?

So I went with the MUCH more simple path of disconnecting my second battery. What's funny is the small battery went bad on me and we did find the replacement but it's an odd size battery and you only have one supplier. Mine came from Lithuania I think? Then several weeks/months later the S/S quit working all together. It's great no dash light and I never have to push the ECO button! Don't know how or why that happened but when I stared to ask for advice I had a very knowledgeable poster named Brutal (He is a factory Jaguar tech) told me to leave it be as the entire S/S system was failure prone and expensive to fix.

I took his advice.
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