Hi All, Greetings from Ireland!
Long story but over the past 3 years I've struggled with the air suspension on my 2005 XJ Sovereign, standard wheelbase. Firstly a compressor replacement, then a front ride height sensor and 2 front air springs in January 25 because in Ireland here for the roadworthiness test they do a side to side measurement on the shock absorbers to check they are in balance (30% imbalance is the fail level) and last month 2 rear ride height sensors because one was throwing a fault code and the car sitting 1" to 1 1/2" too high. Sensors fitted but still too high and after deflating completely took 8 hours to reflate and is now still too high. Then last Friday a loud bang and we thing the left rear bag has blown out. The front springs were aftermarket (probably Chinese) and admittedly cheap but rode hard when installed. I have been told that aftermarket air springs can cause spurious faults with the air suspension system but I'm not buying OEM Jaguar front ones at horrendous cost.

So essentially I've had it with the air suspension and want to fit the coil replacements. I've driven myself distracted by researching on the internet what to replace them with. All of the options seem to be US or Chinese based - are their none in Europe to buy?

I know there are numerous posts on this in all forums but a lot of advice stretches back 10 years sometimes and I can't find any recent 'where to buy' recommendations.

I don't want a super duper set, just reliable old springs and the ability to switch off the air suspension warnings for the roadworthiness test (any orange light or dashboard warning is a fail condition here in Ireland). It's a 2005 MY.
I'd like it to ride nice and comfortable, it's not a corner carver or a track machine, I've Bridgestone Weather Control A005 EVO 235/50 R18 101V XL tyres all round if that's relevant - it rains a lot here and it rides nice on those. But I have to say I do see the value in a set with adjustable damping/ valving and spring height - if it isn't going to cause the Jaguar to fail inspection as a too-modified car.
All advice gratefully received please! Thanks Nick

 

Being in the US, I don't know about European availability, but I have to highly recommend the Arnott coilovers. My air system was pretty much hopeless, with very high water intrusion, so while troubleshooting, I decided it simply wasn't worth it. The Arnott has a module to disable the CATS warning after changing the struts, although somewhere on here, somebody has posted how to kill the message with resistors at the CATS connectors after replacing the struts using a vendor that does not include the module.

My first troubleshooting step was to rebuild the compressor, and on disassembly I found the dryer chamber to actually be a water tank, so I knew the system had serious water intrusion, and there fore rusted valves. Went to coilovers and have never looked back. Car rides great, is 100% reliable, and no suspension dash messages.

 

Hi Thanks - yes I've been through most of the 'changes' needed - from teh compressor upwards. I'm considering the Arnott's system - or preferably a cheaper alternative if someone can recommend a reasonably priced but still quality alternative since it will cost me shipping and tax from the US.

 

The cheaper ones won't have the module to kill the dash message. Arnott is the only one I know of that has that. Like I said, somewhere someone has posted resistor values to use at the CATS connectors, but I can't find that now.

 

Thanks - but being a 2005 I don't think I need that module (correct me if I'm wrong) - I can just unplug the air suspension module behind the back seat - yes?

 

Ooh, maybe so. Didn't even see your sig line!

 

I've heard the S-Type coilovers are almost a direct fit but require re-drilling a hole - anyone know if this is correct and which hole please?

 

That depends on when in 2005 your car was built. If the VIN of you car is lower than G49700, then yes, otherwise I fear that you will need the module.

2005 is a transition year, and for MY2006,which started after the summer break in 2005, Jaguar made big changes.

Best regards,

Thomas

 

Thanks Thomas - VIN is xxG48694 - so I think I've just sqeaked under the wire!

 

Hi Thomas - You're in Germany yes, Nuremberg -? Where would I best buy the coilovers in Germany (ie: in Europe so I only pay reasonable postage not import tax). Also ideally a black pair (although I could paint them) so they look factory when looking underneath for the annual inspection. I have to say I would favour an adjustable ride height and rebound set. And what about the S-Type coilovers - do they fit right in?
On reading the forum several people - Woodford XJR in Kentucky installed the S-Type coilovers and several people (Dam Birch and Indy X358) installed the MaxSpeeding coilovers 6 months ago.
Do you (or anyone else) have any opinion on this please?
Many thanks , Nick

 

S-Type struts do require the body mount holes to be modified. I used a set struts from a S-Type V6 car on my o5 XJR. I think XF Struts will fit without modification.

 

Thanks Woodford XJR - Yes I saw your car - looks good. I need to figure out how to see the difference between the standard Comfort suspension and the sport / sport adaptive suspension. Some have green markings on the springs, some green and orange, some white, some a green label on the top of the shock mount, some a red/ black label on the bottom of the shock ....

 

Hi All,
I think I'm going to go S-Type comfort coils. But .... :
I'm trying (unsuccessfully at the moment) to identify the comfort springs/ shocks from the sport/ adaptive suspension. Reason is I want to put a set of comfort shocks/ springs under my 2005 XJ instead of the problematic air suspension and the S-Type spring/ shock unit is a known move and the comfort ones give virtually the same driving characteristics as the XJ without the perennial grief of the air suspension going wrong at no notice.

Can you please help me figure out how the difference between the standard Comfort suspension and the sport / sport adaptive suspension. Some secondhand units I've seen have green markings on the springs, some green and orange, some white, some a green label on the top of the shock mount, some a red/ black label on the bottom of the shock, some a yellow stripe on the spring and a yellow dot on the bottom of the shock (XF standard/ comfort?) .... and so it goes on. I know the Bilstein shocks are the sport and the Sachs shocks are the comfort but there my knowledge ends.
Should I post this as a separate thread?

 

Hi Nick,

I have been offlline for a few days, sorry...
Unfortunately, I do not know where to buy a set of coilovers here in Germany, as I am still running the car on the airsuspension and plan to so for as long as possible... Furthermore, here in Germany you need a set of coilovers that are approved for the X350. Just replacing the air suspension with the coilovers of the S-Type would most probably be a beaureaucratic nightmare to get the car road legal.

Good luck with the project!

Best regards,

Thomas

 

Hi Thomas,
Many thanks for the replies. Yes the Tuv is quite strict. I've found a rear set in Holland and potentially some front ones in Spain. We'll see how we go.

 

Hi All,
Well the S Type Comfort spec front and rear struts/ coils are in. Car sits at a good ride height. My mechanic was about to take it for a test drive when the orange and red air suspension warning light came on - 'air suspension fault' and 'vehicle sits too low'. The air suspension module under the back seat is disconnected (I'll have to check he actually removed power to it, not just the wires from the height sensors) and the height sensors still in the car.
It's a 2005 XJ with the VIN ending in xxG48694, below the cut off of G49700, the transition from model year 2005 to MY2006.
Any advice as to what to do now please gents? - reset the computer, clear codes? Hard battery reset? If I do that won't the codes come back as soon as the car is started up again? I need the warning lights out for the annual inspection.
Thanks Nick

 

If your scan tool can query the air suspension module for codes, then it's not disconnected. I think for you car it just needs ALL the connectors unplugged. Even for the newer cars and the Arnott CATS-error override adapter, that adapter just sits in the wires of the connector, but the connectors are unplugged from the module.

Of course, you have to take the back seat out again to get to it...

 

Hi Wfooshee,
Thanks - yes he connected everything from the air suspension module, even the voltage. So although it's in the car it's as if it is not there, electronically.
He didn't disconnect or remove the ride height sensors but they connect to the body anyway not the air springs don't they? After the test drive it didn't knock off the warning lights (but I guess they stay on until the ignition is turned off & back on again). He's doing a battery hard reset now.
There has to be something still connected ...
You removed the air suspension in your XJ didn't you - what year is yours again and what system did you use?
Thanks, Nick

 

Interestingly my mechanic is saying the fault codes only relate to the instrument cluster. it is not receiving the information form the air suspension. Could that be normal? Could that be the height sensors?
How to remove it?
Is it possible the 2005 car could have had a software update to a later generation of software (I know I had a gearbox reflash some while ago - could that be it?) How to tell if it has the 2005 software or a later software?
Sorry for all the questions.
Thansk Nick

 

I've just spent 10 hours reading through the air suspension posts and come across the very informative one from @Rigajag - very helpful.
So do I also need to remove Fuse F6 in the engine compartment and fuses F12 & F52 in the boot fuse box also to stop the Air suspension error messages? I think so.