I had a Remote Top customer this week come across something unusual. He had a fairly early built 2000. Jaguar made a major wiring harness change between 1999 and 2000 XK8/R model years, which is why I have different versions for '96-99 and '00-'06. It looks like in early 2000, they ran short of the correct colored wiring, and used some available wire with color coded heat shrink tubing on the ends instead.

Here is a photo of what should be a brown/green wire, which is actually white/purple with brown/green sleeves. If you look carefully, there is another white purple behind it with red/yellow sleeves for what should be a red/yellow wire.

 

That's a bit "Hillbilly" I would say. Come on Jaguar...

 

The Brits have always been known for their "creative" wiring.

 

could have been down to there USA owner"The ford motor comp"

 

It is tough to say where they are made. Information I have says the wiring harnesses in the XK are made by the UTA division of Lear Corporation, which is American. They do have facilities around the world though.

Waiting for Xenophobe to chime in...

 

I saw some of that when wiring up my bluetooth on my 2000.

 

There is some precedent for this. Electricians sometimes have to "change the color" of a wire. For instance, when wiring up a Three Way Switch, they change the color of a "Traveler" wire from White (usually reserved for neutral) to Black with Black Tape near the ends.