XJR8 performance upgrades
Discussion
I have recently been toying with the idea of selling my XJR as I have become a little bored with it. However, having done some research and looked at a couple of alternatives I have again realised what a great car it is and really I would be stupid to sell it.
So I am now considering some changes, particularly changing the exhaust. I think the stock Jaguar exhaust is very muffled, and whilst I don't want the loudness of my TVR for everyday use, it would be nice to hear the V8 a bit. Has anyone on here fitted one, and if so, which and with what results. I would probably just do the cat back as the cost of a whole new system is too high to justify for a 105k mile car.
Also considering the supercharger pulley upgrade, but then I am wondering if I would also need an ecu remap?
Advice much appreciated.
Cheers,
Chris
So I am now considering some changes, particularly changing the exhaust. I think the stock Jaguar exhaust is very muffled, and whilst I don't want the loudness of my TVR for everyday use, it would be nice to hear the V8 a bit. Has anyone on here fitted one, and if so, which and with what results. I would probably just do the cat back as the cost of a whole new system is too high to justify for a 105k mile car.
Also considering the supercharger pulley upgrade, but then I am wondering if I would also need an ecu remap?
Advice much appreciated.
Cheers,
Chris
Hi Chris, I agree you might regret selling. Its tough to get such a great combo of style and performance anywhere else!
I had an exhaust system manufactured in stainless by a firm called Meerkat here in Scotland. They binned the mid boxes and went straight through from the Cats back to a pair of rear boxes I got from Mina Gallery, with a balance pipe upstream and large bore piping without the flattened out sections the O/E pipes have. It sounds perfect, not loud, but throaty and mean with a really quiet tickover.
I also fitted a smaller pulley and a cold air intake with a direct feed.
Then I pitched up at Paramount and had them hook it all up on their rolling road to optimise the ECU.
It is slightly disturbing seeing your car worked out on the rollers but once it was all done I have to say the results were very impressive.
Clearly each car will vary according to mileage and what kind of life it has enjoyed previously, but for me, it was 100% money well spent.
I had an exhaust system manufactured in stainless by a firm called Meerkat here in Scotland. They binned the mid boxes and went straight through from the Cats back to a pair of rear boxes I got from Mina Gallery, with a balance pipe upstream and large bore piping without the flattened out sections the O/E pipes have. It sounds perfect, not loud, but throaty and mean with a really quiet tickover.
I also fitted a smaller pulley and a cold air intake with a direct feed.
Then I pitched up at Paramount and had them hook it all up on their rolling road to optimise the ECU.
It is slightly disturbing seeing your car worked out on the rollers but once it was all done I have to say the results were very impressive.
Clearly each car will vary according to mileage and what kind of life it has enjoyed previously, but for me, it was 100% money well spent.
The final print out for my car was 397 at the wheels and as mentioned above the exhaust does get better sounding too. I thought that was just me enjoying the car more but several people have said the same, as the stainless carbons up internally, it definitely changes tone.
Another point worth making is that the ECU seems to continue `learning` as the first few hundred miles clock up. I did feel a bit of a fuelling flat spot on really serious accelleration runs at first, but that vanished after 300 miles or so.
Another point worth making is that the ECU seems to continue `learning` as the first few hundred miles clock up. I did feel a bit of a fuelling flat spot on really serious accelleration runs at first, but that vanished after 300 miles or so.
Well, eventually I decided to go for a cat back custom made longlife stainless "mild to mid" sports exhaust.
It was made by the Longlife/Topgear head office in Bridport last week, and I am very pleased with the results. The exhaust note now has a nice deep burble to it at low revs and under acceleration, but at cruising speed it is pretty much silent. I think overall the sound has a nice balance to it so as to make the superchargerwhine less noticeable.
Apparently the exhausts take a while to settle in, but I immediately noticed the engine is a bit perkier on pick-up of throttle under normal driving.
Definitely money well spent.
Cheers, Chris.
It was made by the Longlife/Topgear head office in Bridport last week, and I am very pleased with the results. The exhaust note now has a nice deep burble to it at low revs and under acceleration, but at cruising speed it is pretty much silent. I think overall the sound has a nice balance to it so as to make the superchargerwhine less noticeable.
Apparently the exhausts take a while to settle in, but I immediately noticed the engine is a bit perkier on pick-up of throttle under normal driving.
Definitely money well spent.
Cheers, Chris.
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