I've searched, but haven't found an answer, so can anyone tell me if an aftermarket remote start can be fitted to work with a 2003 XJ8? Here in the Northeast, it gets COLD in the winter and it would be a nice touch to be able to warm up my kitty before heading out into the breach.

Advice, recommendations and links are most welcome.

Thanks!

 

I'd be interested too, NE FLA is no picnic in the summer to jump into without "pre cooling"

 

I've got a OEM Jaguar block heater that's never been fitted to a car here. The plug is supposed to go on the front bumper but it would totally ruin the car's looks so it would be a good idea to relocate in the engine bay somewhere. I know of a seller in the UK who has a stock of these New Old Stock units.

I think remote start can be fitted to any car but it would have to be in place of the Jaguar system instead of part of it. I've seen after market remote start systems fitted to new Volkswagen cars so I imagine it would be possible on the Jaguar's 15 year old system.

 

I did a lot of research for a remote start when I had my XJ8 in Alaska. The long and short is they can be fitted but it is an ordeal. Due to the anti-theft system a key that the system recognizes must be mounted in the vehicle and permanently connected so that use of the ignition is allowed by the SLM.
This would preclude the computers shutting down and leave ignition circuit live with security off. You can't arm security or lock the car because the key is in the car.
In the end it was just to much of a risk and bother, so it was trudging out at 4:30 in the morning and starting it up.

 

My local stereo guy who did my work van says its not a problem, they do Mercs, Beemers and others as well.

 

I a guessing it would be a combination of the key being in proximity of the exciter ring and the exciter ring connection being interrupted until the start was needed.(relay)

 

It might be similar to when I was looking at one for me 328, where there was a separate module that was mounted in the car somewhere, with a spare key enclosed, so when the starter went to signal the vehicle, it saw there was a proper key in place, and allowed it. Obviously a bit more involved than the cheap plug and play car starters of old that were almost a single wire hookup (my Ford Taurus back in the day). But there are ways, it's a matter of cost and effort.

 

Don't do it!

I have seen a lot of electrical systems in luxury and exotic cars thoroughly trashed by the addition of an aftermarket start system or, in the early days, alarm systems.

The first question usually asked of exotic owners when someone has electrical gremlins is, "do you have an aftermarket alarm or start system installed?"

The entire car is engineered so that it cannot be started by anyone but the owner with the correct chip key, you are trying to bypass all those safeguards and computers/technology. Given the fragile nature of the electrical systems on our cars, it would be just another thing to cause failures.

One wrong wire placement or circuit tap and you are in deep trouble.

And just because it works today does not mean it will still work in a month, or two or a year.

If the feature is a must have, get a car that has it as original equipment.
Vector

 

Thanks everyone for the input. I've also asked around at my local club and the consensus is about the same....I'm asking for trouble. These cars are complex enough and can have electrical gremlins all on their own, so why introduce outside influences? (Plus, everyone knows that once you damage a wire and let that Lucus Smoke out, you're in for a heap trouble).

Guess I'm just gonna have to get the wife up and out a little earlier so she can warm up the car before she finishes shoveling the driveway and cleaning off her car. (Just kidding!!!!)


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No, don't you know you can easily buy replacement Lucas smoke:
Lucas Replacement Smoke Kit

Marelli smoke for my Italian car is not readily available though, lol!
Vector

 

OMG, LMFAO...

 

The "Lord Of Darkness" rears it's head lol.

 

Indeed

 

I did one a while back and even did a writeup here with instructions if you want to dig through my old posts. Its doable, however it's tricky as the BCM inputs run on positive ground so you gotta use relays if the start module you're using is not too fancy. There is also a sequence of wires that have to connect that has to be followed in order for the car to crank.

 

adam699: Thanks for the reply and for the previous write-up. I did see it and it looks good. It also looks complex enough that I will probably not do it. The risks outweigh the reward and I am not even sure that I will be driving this car in the winter (I have a Dodge Ram 2500HD 4x4). It's good to know that the option is available if I decide that I really need it.

Thanks again for the write up. Very good info.