I purchased a 2007 XK 4.2 na two months ago. I was pretty happy with the sound and exhaust note except I thought I could hear a slight exhaust leak. Took it in for servicing and apparently the exhaust manifold was loose. They tightened it up and the leak sound went away but so did the exhaust note. The car was way too quiet.

I then had the rear muffler deleted but left the center resonator. The car sounds great at idle and low speed but the sound at heavy acceleration is very flappy or unrefined. Like a loud obnoxious playing card in a bicycle wheel or a child make a race car sound by blowing through his lips. Hard to describe but it’s out of character for the car. Almost like a v8 rice burner.

My thinking is to next replace the resonator with an x-pipe and see if that helps. If not then buy an XKR exhaust and add that. I’m looking for a refined but loud exotic note. Like an Aston or Masarati.

Any and all advice would be appreciated!!! I feel like I ruined the sound of this beautiful refined car.

 

There's oodles of threads regarding exhaust note but keep in mind the Jag motor is a cross plane V8, similar to what Mustangs have fitted, so it will always have a bit of that American rumble. Exotic cars have flat plane crank engines which rev higher and have that infamous F1 like howl. Aston spent a considerable amount on exhaust not engineering and it would be worth researching that. Masarati's also have a cross plane variation of the Ferrari flat plane V8.

 

i refer to it as a combination of rasp and snarl (but, i like it).

you'll need mufflers. i'm pretty sure the x-pipe won't get rid of it.

 

I like the rasp and snarl, that’s what I’m trying to achieve. But instead it sounds like a high school kid cut off the mufflers on his truck.

 

My first choice would be to trade my XK for an XKR. Or you could swap out your XK exhaust system for an XKR exhaust system. Occasionally, complete 4.2L XKR exhaust systems come up for sale on Ebay, but don't hold your breath waiting.

Watch these videos and compare the sounds:

Mina Gallery exhaust

Larini exhaust

Super sprint Exhaust

Is it worth the cost? Your car, your money, your choice.

 

That's the WHOLE problem...it's not an XKR!

 

good vids

 

Here is mine.

 

An x-pipe will help extract exhaust gases but will most likely make the car even quieter. X-pipes usually do that.
Buy a Larini muffler.