I've read on the Jag Forum in the last year or two that a Jag dealer could (and would) easily and quickly change a computer setting on an '09 Jag XK to cause the low-beam headlights to function as daytime running lights and turn on automatically whenever the car was started. In fact, several guys on the forum have said that their local Jag dealer was happy to do it for them at NO COST! I just got home from my local Jag dealer in Columbus Ohio (home of the "UNDISPUTED NATIONAL CHAMPION OHIO STATE BUCKEYES")) where I spoke to the Service Advisor, who in turn went back and talked to a Jag Service Tech ... who said they've tried doing it for Jag XK customers, but that their (Byers Jag's) computer won't allow them to do it! I feel like I'm either being lied to or that they don't know what the hell they're doing. Any ideas on what I should do now? Thanks ... and ... GO BUCKS!

 

What you should do - calm down. It doesn't matter why they won't do it, perhaps its beyond the comfort zone for that mechanic who knows but tossing out accusations that they are l lairs is rather extreme at best. If you don't like their answer then simply call the next dealership, speak "CALMLY" to the service manager and/or tech, and inquire without the emotion. Personally I'd respect and appreciate it if someone didn't feel comfortable doing something rather than trying to learn on my dollar...

 

They are a real, live Jaguar Dealership, for God's sake! Aren't ALL Jag Dealers SUPPOSE to know how to fix all Jags and accommodate all of their customers? Aren't they ALL SUPPOSE to have Jag-trained technicians? Aren't they all SUPPOSE to have complete how-to Service Manuals as well as Jag Computer Manuals? Aren't they all SUPPOSE have the ability to fix, adjust, repair and replace every part on every Jag? Why in the hell should I have to drive across town to find a COMPETENT Jaguar Dealership. And ... why are you defending and/or excusing them? Can't THEY call a competent Jag Dealer and find out how to do what they're already suppose to know how to do? I thought the old saying was ... "customer service will make or break a company". I'm not asking for the moon ... just a simple 5 minute setting change on my Jag's computer ... which only THEY have the ability to access. This is the typical response for modern-day Corporate America's idea of customers service. The Jag Service Advisor didn't offer to call someone, or to look into it and get back to me, or to call Jag's Regional Manager ... nothing! Just ... "We can't do it." And if you think I should be satisfied with that ... then I have to wonder how YOU treat YOUR customers.

 

To answer your question as to whether every dealership is supposed to know how to fix everything wrong with every car they sell the answer is no, that's an idealistic not realistic world mentality. Each dealership has people who specialize in certain areas of certain cars (is one person might best their transmission person for XKR's another might be a electric specialist. This comes from my being married to someone who is with Bev Hills Mercedes for over 25 years so I have great knowledge of dealership inner workings). This is especially true in smaller towns with far less mechanics. To answer if I'm defending them the answer is "somewhat", you gave us a very one-sided view so I/we hardly have the information needed to make that judgment and wouldn't care to even if given it. You've given us only limited information but yet it was brimming with a caustic emotional reaction. You don't know the reason(s) why they said they can't do it but as you say "a typical response" in today's culture you then accuse them of lying and got extremely emotional, just as you did with my response. Clearly it is in their best interest to not service someone who flies off the handle easily without knowing the facts, I've turned away a number of people in the past due to knowing it would be impossible to please them

I treat my clients with the utmost respect, admit when I'm wrong, give them the chance to fix their mistakes, never call them lairs especially in the absence on any supporting fact, make threats or get emotional until such point as they've put themselves into the position... I also do not ask people who feel uncomfortable doing something to experiment at my expense possibly to the detriment of my things. Yes they could have called other dealerships but that hardly justifies the reaction seen here.

I've had my share of run-ins with dealerships, so much so that I took Porsche (Rusnak Porsche in Westlake Village)to the BBB then retained an excellent lawyer fighting them on a Lemon Law so I also am not ignorant to how dealerships can treat their clients well and others times like a pariah yet even when treated horribly I did not going into an emotional rage (I did tell the president of Porsche to F himself though in front of 9 of the top people in the region to their amazement) but did so in a calm soothing manner.

 

Don't jump on me... but it may be a function of the parameters of the software. If they have it configured for the US, there may not be an option to activate the DRL functionality, as DRLs are not required in the US.
Maybe they have to change the 'country' to Canada, or something, to get the option to appear.
If the dealer has never done that, or is against their policy, they probably won't do it. Another dealer may be more lenient.

 

I wonder just how many times in a given tech's career a customer in the US shows up at a dealership asking to have the DLRs turned on.

That task is way, way out of standard, routine work.

 

Try another Jaguar dealer, or at least call ahead to see if they can accommodate your request before driving out.

Lotus dealer refused to turn off my DRL's saying it was a 'safety hazard' and wouldn't do it... They knew how to as well and I would've paid out-of-pocket to do so.

 

I wouldn't have even known it was possible except for the fact that I've read several Jag owners on this very forum say that they went to their local Jag dealer and had it done, quickly and at no cost. If it's possible (and obviously it is), but they don't know how to do it, (due to 'software parameters', changing the setting to 'Canada', etc.) whose fault is that ... and whose job is that? Not mine. I'm just the customer, who can't even access the computer in my Jag. Doesn't it make more sense FOR THEM to look into how to get it done, call another Jag dealer, or check with who ever they report to (District or Regional Jag office, etc.) versus sending me away without DRLs ... and bad taste in my mouth? It can't be a 'safety hazard' issue because having DRLs is safer than NOT having them! And Columbus is NOT a small town ... it's the largest town in Ohio and the 15th largest in the entire US ... right behind San Francisco! So it isn't asking too much for a Jag Tech in Columbus to be brighter than the one I dealt with at Byers. If it was a similar issue with my NSX, Acura would have fixed it, thanked me ... and washed my car while it was there!

 

The attached is a screen shot from one of my SDD sessions on my Japanese spec '07 XKR. The bottom option is for setting up DRL. It is possible it is market dependent though so may not appear when your car is plugged in.

It would be less than a 20 minute job to change it from start to finish.

 

Thanks, u102768, that's so much more helpful than all of that BS from Leeper!

 

Do you have this dealer service your car?

 

In the real world not all dealers, and not all technicians, are the same. I know that everything and everyone is "supposed" to never disappoint us but, well, sometimes life just isn't "what it's supposed to be".

The levels of training, skill levels, and years of experience can vary widely...even among factory trained technicians. I know because I've hired and fired dozens in my time. Same for service advisors. I wouldn't expect every technician at every dealer to know everything about every Jag. If you think that's a reasonable expectation, and apparently you do, then I predict yours will be a future utterly filled with disappointment and frustration as far as Jag dealers go.



Ok, now you're sounding rational.

Of course the advisor could have and ** should have ** offered to research the matter. His (or her) unwillingness to do so is the true disappointment and failure. That would've have been good customer service. They're supposed to do that sort of thing, even when they don't like the customer.

Cheers
DD

 

This is a friendly forum and I am disappointed to see someone like Leeper, who is putting in the time to reply to your own post with his honest point of view, be disrespected. That is simply poor form.

 

a) you could change it yourself since the dealer diagnostic software is commonly available,
provided you had sufficient skills or learning ability

b) what is it you do for a living where one can expect absolute perfection, flexibility and competence
as defined not by you, but by the customer?

 

Thanks Sharx, honestly it's water off a ducks back. I expected nothing less in response based on the original posting

 

The ironic thing is that there's no credible data proving that DRLs do much for safety. Canada decided to make them mandatory several decades ago based on the findings of a study done in Sweden.

Years later a second study found that after a brief dip in the accident rate, the frequency returned to pre-DRL days. It seems that drivers become accustomed to cars with lights on and no longer 'see' them somewhat in the same manner as we don't always 'see' pedestrian, bikes, motorcycles etc.


If the OP gets this excited (and rude) over a small misunderstanding at his dealership I cannot imagine how he'll react if they want to charge him the $75.-$100 like many dealerships.

 

I don't mind the DRL's, but would like the option to shut them off if I want to. I actually like them on in a low sports car. The more I can identify myself to other drivers the better.

I would've paid out of pocket for them to disable them.

 

I agree with you Leeper, the OP going off the handle and accusing the dealer of being a liar is just childish. Accuse them of being incompetent because they don't know enough, maybe. It is yet to be seen if the dealer is right or the OP, so I cannot say either way. It is amusing to see someone fly this far off the handle over something as silly as DRL's, it isn't like the dealer has had his car for two weeks with an operating problem that they can't fix. Or jerking him around on some exorbitantly high repair cost. DRL turn on, this angry, seriously?

Regardless, like you said, the real world is that some dealers are more knowledgeable than others. Especially when it comes to the models that aren't sold in the higher unit volume. We had the same problem in my previous BMW, for some reason dealer service was grossly inaccurate and we on the forum had to keep everything straight in the community!

 

My 2¢ worth on DRL, anymore they seem to be more of a brand's accent, each maker coming up with something distinct or different to set it off from a competitor's look, and less of a safety issue.

Having grown up in the intermountain US, it was common practice to use low beams during the day when out in the countryside and I still do that today, even if I have DRLs, such as they are.

As for the core of the thread, someone once told me don't sweat the small stuff...

 

I find it funny he is upset they would not follow up on something he expects to be done for free. He seems to have a very high opinion of himself.