As I'm starting to get serious about finally succumbing to one of these. I 'decided' to concentrate my search to 2012 and newer convert., 1-2 owners, full maintenance history and everything up to date.
Test drove a local 2015 ultimate black over charcoal, 30kmi, 1 owner, dealer maintained, performance active exhaust option, 20" wheels. Asking price close to $50k.
The car was inside a large used imports dealer warehouse among various other nice cars. It was sitting with the top down. So first look in, I was not blown away by the black interior, also maybe because although detailed, it was not to perfection, I keep my Jags cleaner. It has the optional black alcantara top liner also. Took it for a test drive, and proceeded to get blown away. The sound (in dynamic).......the power.......car was tight, no rattles or creaks, quiet and refined when just cruising. I immediately felt comfortable driving this thing.Top-up is quiet, civilized and rearward visibility not as bad as I was expecting. Some vibration thru the steering wheel and seat felt at highway speeds. The mechanic with me felt it also, so that will have to be addressed. Car has some nicks on the rims and few scratches front/rear bumpers.
Checking under the hood, it was surprisingly dirty at places, for instance over the left strut tower it was black oily film- strange. My 2016 XJ with 37kmi is much cleaner under the hood (just dusty) , and was never cleaned.
One question in my mind is how does the standard exhaust sound on the 5.0L XKR compared to this optional one, because most cars for sale don't have this option. Maybe I'l have to drive one.
So, the search goes on.

 

I too did my search for a 2012 XKR convert and found one I liked after a 6 month search. Options weren't something I was looking at but wound up getting a few good ones. Now about the exhaust note. What system was in the car as there were 2 systems offered. They also both had the valve located on/in the back box. The difference as far as I understand is the standard exhaust has 2 silencers in the center pipes and the Performance Active Exhaust (PAE) has an X pipe without the silencers. I lucked out with the PAE. You would most likely need to look under the car or see the window sheet. Good luck with your hunt.

 

Is there a separate button inside the car to operate the PAE?

 

As jagtoes said, the PAE means that there is an X pipe in place of the central resonators and there is possibly differences in the back box as well as there was on the XKR-S.

Dynamic mode and manual shift mode permanently open the valves on the back boxes which makes the exhausts louder but that is the same for non-PAE cars as well. You just have a little more noise due to the differences on the exhaust.

Otherwise, in non Dynamic drive mode, the valves will open depending on your revs and throttle angle.

 

Don't let the lack of an X pipe influence your decision too much. For about $200 installed you can add it as did I and many others. It's a simple job for a muffler shop.

 

Thanks, good to know. Your X-pipe add-on was it a Jaguar part, or just fashioned by your muffler shop?

 

Genuine Jaguar part is approximately $43,855 (total guess) and the Muffler Shop job is $200. Take your pick.
So, unless you take crazy pride in having a "Jaguar" stamp on a piece of stainless that you'll never see, go with what works for a heck of a lot less $$$.

 

I went to a muffler shop around the corner from my house, and 90 minutes later a generic X pipe was installed. Tone of the exhaust became a bit deeper, and since I understood that with a pulley and tune (which I had already done) the benefits would not really be realized without the X pipe addition, I went ahead and did it.

 

Either Dynamic or Manual shift opens the valves, or do you need to be in both dynamic and manual?

 

Nope, either should do it.

I found that there wasn't a huge difference in sound between dynamic mode and normal mode when I first got my '10 XKR but the difference is more exaggerated now that I have the X pipe.

 

If remember from a picture, on the XKR there are 2 sets of mufflers in the center of the car? which set is deleted for the x-pipe?

 

Both of them are.

 

Thanks for the pic. Is this x-pipe custom, or is this the XKR-S?

Here https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2011-jaguar-xkr-2/ there are clear pics of the underside, showing the factory mid mufflers on both side of the cross brace.

 

My window sticker lists the PAE as a $1400 option. You can get this for an XKR. This deletes the 2 silencers.

 

Thanks, that's what I meant - XKR-S 'style' exhaust. Also, from what year was the PAE option available for the XKR? the earliest I've noticed is 2013, but your's is 2012?

 

I believe it was a 5.0L option so that would be 2009 (europe) and 2010 USA.

 

Its incredible that we have advanced so far that we can choose what sound the tailpipe makes.

Which gave me an idea, we need something like that for humans. Something that amplifies it! PAE passive aggressive exhaust.

OMG, we have been in an exhaust war since the stone-ages, caves make sense now.

 

I assume going aftermarket/muffler shop on the x-pipe does not cause any issues with check engine lights/codes, etc.?

 

It doesn't cause any problems whatsoever, except your wallet will be fatter. That could POSSIBLY cause some pain in your buttocks when you sit on a hard chair.
They are just metal tubes. None could be 'better' than any other.
Now, WHERE the X-pipe is placed CAN make a difference...... There is no choice on that when you get the OEM Jaguar parts. Conventional wisdom says the best place for any X/Crossover/H-pipe is where the hottest part of the exhaust pipe is, but you'd have to do some experimentation for that.
Some people say there is more KRAKLE-POP sound when the X-pipe is towards the front. Others say there is a deeper tone when it's towards the back. OTHERS say exactly the opposite.
Mine is a bit forward of Center (of that section) and I like it fine.