I have a 2004 XJR which has had the air suspension replaced with Bilstein shocks by a Jag dealer before I bought the car. It rides great, but I have a question: by doing that replacement, have I lost the "Sport" mode function? When I push the button on the console, there is no dash light which illuminates.

 

When I select "sport mode" I just get a red light illuminated in the actual button itself.

If your sport mode is active you should notice that in spirited driving the gearbox "hangs" in lower gears longer before changing up. Really noticeable when you back off the pedal.

 

Thank you for responding. I do get the red light on the button itself. I figured the transmission changes would still be there, but if the suspension was somehow supposed to stiffen up, maybe that function was lost??

 

I think you should still have that function and driving you should "feel" it.

In sport mode if I drive hard on my back roads I notice that if the car shifts down to 2nd and I back off it stays in second far longer before going up to 3rd than when out of sport mode. A very noticeable difference.

 

The 'Sport' mode button only alters the change points of the transmission; it has no effect on the suspension.

The ECATS (suspension) system is entirely automatic, and switches the dampers from soft to hard in pairs; either same side, or same end, depending on whether (and how hard) the car is cormering, braking or accelerating. There's no manual input to the system.

 

Sport mode has nothing to do with the suspension. As long as it rides good like you say, then everything sounds normal.