New 2012 Jaguar XKR-S Owner - Is there anything I should know?
 

Hi Everyone,

My name is Justin and I just joined the forums because I just purchased a 2012 Jaguar XKR-S with about 4,500 miles on it. I was just wondering if any current or previous owners had any information which is useful to know while owning this car.

Thanks,
Justin

Use the search function for threads on this subject. Review 'stickies' section on forum.

Where is the "stickies" section? Also, how to I add multiple cars to my account?

Welcome and enjoy the car. If you got it at a dealer then ask them to run the Vin# to see if any TSB's are open on the car. If you bought independent call or go to a dealer to get the car history info. Good luck.

Yeah, drive it like you've nicked it and you will have a constant grin!:icon_steer:

Really???? NOBODY has said anything about "Hook Up a CTEK"???
So anyway, Hook up a CTEK Battery Maintainer (or any other brand, but CTEK is much preferred in this forum) because these cars a a bit finicky when it comes to marginal voltage drops. When the battery drops power even a little bit, several Gremlins come out and play around with stuff like Nav Screens and Dash Lights.

Seriously, why doesn't CTEK already HAVE a Sticky in here???
MODERATORS!!!!!! Take heed!

Plus one on the ctek. Mine is permanently installed and lives in the vacant spare wheel well, with just the plug poking out. Park up, drop an extension lead in the boot, slam and go.

Without it you will get used to random headlamp and park brake faults cropping up on start up.

"Stickies" section is the permanently pinned posts at the top of the forum.

As already said, battery is the weak point. The only other thing is the water pump - doesn't affect many people, but if you ever get a 'low coolant' or engine temp. warning, or smell cooking coolant when you stop, DON'T drive on until you've checked the coolant level and checked the engine for leaks.

A few pictures would be nice.

I haven't picked the car up yet but I will post some pictures once I get it.

Thanks everyone for the information regarding the battery charger. Do you connect the charger directly to the battery? I believe I will use a NOCO charger because I have one of those laying around.

On the 5.0 cars, there's a battery monitor on the -ve terminal - it can become confused if you connect the charger direct to the terminal, because the charging current doesn't pass through it. So, connect the red clip directly to the +ve terminal, but connect the black clip to a convenient chassis ground - I use the metal frame that holds the nav system & bluetooth unit, which is just to the right of the battery, but anything screwed into the chassis will do.

Congratulations and welcome. Check to ensure your NOCO charger is also a battery maintainer. I use an Optimate 6 battery charger/maintainer and find it works great. However, I need to move my negative connection to a chassis ground point. Although, I haven't had any problems with the way it is now directly connected to the battery.0

I don't think dire consequences were predicted - it was a recommendation from Jaguar, to make sure that the battery monitor always has an accurate view of battery charge state. If the monitor believes the battery is low, it tells the ECM, which then starts turning off non-essential items. That's something you don't want to have happen unnecessarily.

Beware the handling. Better than other XK's but the A$$ will want to come around VERY easily!!

Welcome aboard. You are in for a constant "joy ride" in your XKR-S.

Any pics?

I should be picking it up Friday. I will take some pictures then.

Welcome Jagstin,
Since Jaguar has decided that gauges are no longer needed, and you don't even get a dipstick with which to check your oil, you might want to get the Torque app for your cellphone along with the plug in transmitter, so that you have a better idea of what your car is doing, especially if you are going to track your car as some of us do.

Enjoy your new car, there's a lot to like, and I'm sure you'll love it.

Hi again. I picked up the car Friday. I am very happy with the purchase. The car is absolutely gorgeous. It looks more like an exotic than a Jaguar. One of the only issues with the car is I cant seem to find a unlock button inside the car. For example if I drive up to someone and they want to get into the passenger seat I have to leave over to the passenger door from the drivers seat and unlock the passenger door for them.

Thanks again,
Justin

Just pull on the drivers side door handle to unlock both. Welcome to the forum. XKs are a special breed and you've got the top dog. Now get some pics posted!

Just pull your door handle slightly and it opens passenger door lock.
Congratulations on your purchase, you'll have a great time.

Hi guys,
I have realized in this car that when I remove the key from the ignition or exit the car my phone charger (which has a light) and my radar detector do not shut off. Will they continuously stay on and drain my battery or will they eventually shut off. Right now I am manually plugging and unplugging my radar detector every time I enter or exit the car and that is quite annoying.

They will stay on. I manually unplug my charger each time I leave the car.

The car runs in a stand by mode for around 30 minutes unless you lock it. Hence the reason everyone recommends a battery tender of some sort. This car sucks the battery and does not like low voltage. All kinds of gremlins appear if it gets low. I know the Nav DVD is back there spinning during this mode. Just lock the car and it (should) all shut down.

So far all the things I want to do to the car are:

Install a battery maintainer
Install a Curb-Alert unit
(Possibly) Install a Escort Passport 9500ci Radar and Laser Detector + Laser Sifter

Does anyone have any experience with the Curb-Alert or custom installed radar detector and laser shiftier.

Thanks,
Justin

If you lock the car, the accessory sockets switch off immediately. I leave my V1 plugged in permanently.

I have the K40 Calibre front and rear radar detectors + a front laser detector installed in my 12 vert. Which is the third Jaguar I had one in. I am pleased with it. It is not cheap, the installation runs about $2k. I've grown to count on it so much that I feel like I'm driving nude when I'm driving my wife's car. They have a new model out which has more bells and whistles. Here is their website: K40 Radar Detectors and Laser Jammers | K40 Electronics

door locks
 

I just posted a question about the unlock feature. You will find that, in single point entry mode, when you & your passenger are entering your locked car using keyless entry, the ONLY way to unlock your passenger's door is for YOU to get in, close your door, lock it by pushing the open lever inward, then unlock it by pulling the open lever out. My Jag dealer said that's just the way it is. (Unless you literally reach across and manually open the door, but you still have to be in the car.) Or hit the unlock button on the key fob twice, which, the whole point of keyless entry is, duh, not needing the fob. Does ANYONE have a fix for this, so when you open driver door, all it takes is a flip of lever, rather than get in, close door, lock, unlock?

From inside the car, I reach across and flip the door opener on the passenger side to open the door. from outside the car double click the door open button to open both doors. you can change the way the doors open by changing the program. I forget which screen leads to it but you can download an owners manual. Just type in owners manual in the xk forum and you will find the link to downloading a pdf file. Good luck and welcome aboard.

Some Pictures
 

Hi Everyone,

I know its quite late but attached are some pictures of the car. In my defense it takes time to compile nice shots like these.

Hope you enjoy,
Justin


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...0687304b83.jpg


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...13ffcee47c.jpg


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...bd1b0bd75f.png


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...ee5b2649fd.jpg


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...403fb2d640.jpg

New 2012 Jaguar XKR-S Owner - Is there anything I should know?
 

Looks so aggressive in the white/black color scheme I love it !

Mine's an '09, but ...
 

That was my biggest mystery too when I first got mine, but the answer's so obvious, I never found it, because I was looking for a conventional power door lock switch or a button!

Unless there's been a change since '09, the inside chrome door handle itself is the door lock & unlock "switch"!

When you pull up to pick someone up and both doors are locked, gently pull your driver side chrome door handle toward you - not enough to open your door - just enough to bring the chrome handle itself to its 'unlock' position - simultaneously causes the passenger door handle to do the same thing!

Now, since both doors are unlocked, your passenger can easily open their door.

Beautiful!