Executive British Saloon with option of Violence
Discussion
That was ChatGPTs description of my car. I like it!
The car is a 2010 Jaguar XFR, on 124k. I've had it approx 3 years, having recently sold it, and subsequently buying it back after approx 6 weeks! The number one thing people say is... timing chain issues.... Well, no. The early XFRs have the Tsubaki chain. A note on that, skip if not interested.
TIMING CHAIN SECTION START
From what I understand, the Tsubaki timing-chain setup appears to be the better engineered system, not necessarily because the chain alone is stronger, but because of the way the whole guide and tensioner arrangement is designed.
The key issue with the problematic early INA setup is that the steel tensioner plunger can wear directly into the aluminum guide. Once that happens, the tensioner effectively loses part of its adjustment range, which can allow slack to develop in the chain. That slack is what can then lead to timing-chain rattle and, in more serious cases, the possibility of the timing jumping.
By comparison, the Tsubaki setup uses a more durable interface where the tensioner acts on the guide, so it should maintain chain tension more consistently over time.
I also change the oil every 3k miles, warm it up properly and generally treat it with mechanical sympathy. I also had it audibly inspected by a Jaguar technician (As failure mode is audible) and absolutely no issue.
TIMING CHAIN SECTION END
You can clearly see the car, and will have your own views on it, but I think its a fantastic looking machine. Inside, is also a nice place to be, with heated/cooled red leather.
What I can't show you, and I know I need to, is the sound! It has stock cats, into an X-Pipe, then right out the back. The X Pipe makes it more Maserati and less American Muscle, although I would say the engine tone generally fits in between the two. The beauty of a V8 is that even with a straight pipe it doesn't drone, and on the motorway the exhaust note is hardly audible at all, and even around town, if you are gentle with the throttle its only a little louder than it was with back boxes on (A previous configuration I had with the car).
It has a upper charger pulley and map, and was producing 565bhp on the last map.
I did take it to track, in Feb, to Bedford Autodrome, where it held up very well in very heavy rain in terms of handling and grip. The brakes though, even with fresh fluid and new pads (yellow stuffs ! they are no longer a track pad post 2024, I didn't know that!) we're bad. Hence, I sold it, bought a track car, did some track days, then bought the Jag back. The track car was a Clio RS 200 MK4 EDC Stage 2, and it was really great also, in particular the nicest sounding 4 pot I've owned - the gearbox was absolutely fine!
I've ceramic coated it, and undersealed it. There is no rust.
In terms of plans, the yellowstuffs - not because of track work because I'm not going there, but because they emit a light brake dust which is really annoying me right now. I will go back to redstuffs at some point.
Other than fixing few cosmetic niggles, its just cleaning and maintenance, and sharing both the noise and looks with others, including you lot!
The car is a 2010 Jaguar XFR, on 124k. I've had it approx 3 years, having recently sold it, and subsequently buying it back after approx 6 weeks! The number one thing people say is... timing chain issues.... Well, no. The early XFRs have the Tsubaki chain. A note on that, skip if not interested.
TIMING CHAIN SECTION START
From what I understand, the Tsubaki timing-chain setup appears to be the better engineered system, not necessarily because the chain alone is stronger, but because of the way the whole guide and tensioner arrangement is designed.
The key issue with the problematic early INA setup is that the steel tensioner plunger can wear directly into the aluminum guide. Once that happens, the tensioner effectively loses part of its adjustment range, which can allow slack to develop in the chain. That slack is what can then lead to timing-chain rattle and, in more serious cases, the possibility of the timing jumping.
By comparison, the Tsubaki setup uses a more durable interface where the tensioner acts on the guide, so it should maintain chain tension more consistently over time.
I also change the oil every 3k miles, warm it up properly and generally treat it with mechanical sympathy. I also had it audibly inspected by a Jaguar technician (As failure mode is audible) and absolutely no issue.
TIMING CHAIN SECTION END
You can clearly see the car, and will have your own views on it, but I think its a fantastic looking machine. Inside, is also a nice place to be, with heated/cooled red leather.
What I can't show you, and I know I need to, is the sound! It has stock cats, into an X-Pipe, then right out the back. The X Pipe makes it more Maserati and less American Muscle, although I would say the engine tone generally fits in between the two. The beauty of a V8 is that even with a straight pipe it doesn't drone, and on the motorway the exhaust note is hardly audible at all, and even around town, if you are gentle with the throttle its only a little louder than it was with back boxes on (A previous configuration I had with the car).
It has a upper charger pulley and map, and was producing 565bhp on the last map.
I did take it to track, in Feb, to Bedford Autodrome, where it held up very well in very heavy rain in terms of handling and grip. The brakes though, even with fresh fluid and new pads (yellow stuffs ! they are no longer a track pad post 2024, I didn't know that!) we're bad. Hence, I sold it, bought a track car, did some track days, then bought the Jag back. The track car was a Clio RS 200 MK4 EDC Stage 2, and it was really great also, in particular the nicest sounding 4 pot I've owned - the gearbox was absolutely fine!
I've ceramic coated it, and undersealed it. There is no rust.
In terms of plans, the yellowstuffs - not because of track work because I'm not going there, but because they emit a light brake dust which is really annoying me right now. I will go back to redstuffs at some point.
Other than fixing few cosmetic niggles, its just cleaning and maintenance, and sharing both the noise and looks with others, including you lot!
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