For those (or anyone) that were following my trials and tribulations trying to get my aftermarket key fobs to start my XJ8, success. The car came with three keys, no fobs, two regular keys and one valet key. I bought aftermarket fobs that programmed easily enough to lock/unlock but I wasn't able to program them to start the car. I cannibalized one key to get the chip and put it in one of my new fobs and that still wouldn't work, there is a scratch on it so I must have damaged it when it when I removed it. I didn't want to risk damaging any other of the good keys so I took it to an independent shop and they wanted $6-800 dollars to program my two fobs. No thank you. Well, never being one to leave well enough alone, this morning I CAREFULLY removed the chips from the two good keys, stuck them in the fobs and they worked. This morning I also replaced my trunk release motor with a $200 eBay used one.
The scary part was when my wife locked me in the trunk to make sure the emergency release was working, it did. I'm sure there's a better way to test it but she insisted that's the official Jaguar way.

 

Is there a thread about this somewhere? (I want to program a new fob/transponder using SDD.)

 

A pretty recent one, too...

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...-owner-291408/

Best regards,

Thomas

 

OK, I was worried the process involved SDD and something went wrong. Apparently SDD wasn't used this time.
Thanks @Thomas-S.

 

No SDD involved. I originally had three keys (just keys, not fobs) so tried to program my new fobs to start the car using the existing keys but it wouldn't take. After much whining and hair pulling I decided that the car already had the max number of keys programmed into it. So "damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead" I decided to remove the chips from the two working keys I had left and put them in the fobs and it finally worked.

 

Those plastic emergency trunk release handles get brittle with age. I locked my daughter in the trunk of my X350 and the plastic handle broke in her hand!

 

I like how that's where you ended the post, I like these open endings 😅

 

A broken emergency handle is not a problem. Simply grasp the cable in your teeth and pull.

 

Not all markets have the emergency handle. My Ex-Japan car has the shape in the liner, but no handle.

Pete M

 

European spec also does not foresee the emergency handle, at least not for continental Europe.

Best regards,

Thomas

 

Just called my local dealer to get a jaguar jackknife fob and tibbe key cut and programmed to my car. They quoted me $979.00 before tax.

called an automotive locksmith - he will do the job for $80.00
My car doesn't have remote start, but I am wondering if it did could locksmith program remote start too - if so that would be much cheaper. Also to OP, maybe next time save your original jag keys by programing these knock offs and then getting the chips from the knock offs ????

I have three jags, and two of them came with just one fob, one key --- biggest question to used jag ownership -- where do the previous owners always seem to lose their spare keys. And why is the one they have left always the most beat up one ?

 

Are you sure you actually mean a remote start? I don't think x350/x358 are capable of that.

 

I concur, as far as I know a remote start capability was never foreseen for these cars.

Best regards,

Thomas

 

InnerTrunk release not in car from Belgium 2003 xj8
but in German 2003 xj6

 

Interesting, The few German cars I have seen and driven all were without the inner trunk release, and my italian car does not have it, as well. Maybe it was an option here, after all?

Best regards,

Thomas

 

I think it is compulsory in some markets.

 

Yes, that's right, I think that for example it is compulsory in the USA, but I am not aware of any country in Europe where it is.

Best regards,

Thomas

 

Edward, I did try to program the aftermarket fobs but it wouldn't take. I came to the conclusion that the car already had the max number of keys programmed into it