Project Shaguar XFR

[Mike]

i do not like any of those mods you've listed. maybe black oem grill. maybe. maybe black out the light housings if that's even possible? you're so MURDAAHHHHH.

[WRXtranceformed]

Reposted from the XF forums, was able to get Torque set up to monitor critical info about the car:

After doing some research I found that I was in fact correct, my XFR does not have any method (like most cars) to display critical information about the car itself. Coolant temperature, air/fuel details, voltage, boost, etc. I *sort of* understand the reasoning by Jaguar (wait until the idiot light comes on) but having owned several high performance cars I just do not feel good about not knowing what is going on with my engine.

I did not have a desire to wire up any kind of guages into my interior. A while back I found a wireless OBDII adapter on Amazon when I was looking for gifts for my younger brother for his birthday It was so cheap I figured it was junk but the reviews were so good that I thought I would give it a try. My brother loved it, it worked perfectly on his S4 with the Torque app on his Android phone.

Fast forward to today. I remembered the adapter and pulled the trigger on it for $23.99. The best thing about Amazon Prime is if it sucks you can send it back for free

Here is what you need: BAFX Products ™ - PIC18F2480 Bluetooth OBD2 scan tool - For check engine light and other diagnostics - Android compatible : Amazon.com : Automotive

Here is what it looks like:


Installation is as easy as it gets. Plug it into the OBDII port underneath the steering wheel. It did not get in the way of my leg at all while in driving position...it might get in the way while getting in and out of the car but it's not a huge device.


Next step is to download the Torque app (for free, paid version is like $5.00) onto your devices. I found it in the Android store, I am honestly not sure if a version is available for Apple. I am assuming it is. Connect to the Bluetooth adapter, start up the program and boom!

On my Nexus 7:


A screenshot from my Galaxy S4:


You certainly could keep an old Android phone (I've got an S2 collecting dust) or tablet in the car and have it mounted in some way. I will honestly just boot up the app on my phone or tablet every now and then if I plan to give the car a good romp. The only big challenge I can see so far is that it looks like the Bluetooth adapter stays on even when the car is off. So you would have to either unplug it every time you leave the car or figure out some way to install a switch onto it. I don't know how much power that little thing draws (probably not much) but from what I hear about the stock battery it's probably not a good idea to have anything constantly drawing on it.

Here is my current setup with the pro version and one of the carbon skins. It's definitely a work in progress but I'm trying to get a feel for which data points this car can display. So far it looks like oil temp and EGT do not work. Have also not had a chance to test the accuracy of the hp/tq or 0-60 readings but I set them up on their own page:




I love how you can customize the background (mine is a front shot of an xfr) but it will take some playing around with to get it properly centered.

I've also got a service appointment set up for Thursday to meet the local Jaguar dealership service team. There is nothing wrong with the car but I have a feeling I will want to make these guys best buddies should I ever decide to own this thing outside of the warranty.....and I also want to feel them out for how receptive they are to light modifications (specifically really only an axleback exhaust....might already be working out a deal :wink: ). I am also going to have them look at the water pump to see if it needs to be replaced as there was a TSB on those within a certain VIN range.

[SlimKlim]

I have that same bluetooth contraption in the VW, didn't realize it never turns off.... it hasn't eaten up my battery yet, but maybe I should store it in the glovebox when I'm not using it.

The novelty of seeing boost and throttle position all the time wore off after about a week, but its proven to be worth its weight in gold on an out of warranty VW (and E39 and jake's E36 etc) just for the code scanning, logging and clearing functionality.

[WRXtranceformed]

I have that same bluetooth contraption in the VW, didn't realize it never turns off.... it hasn't eaten up my battery yet, but maybe I should store it in the glovebox when I'm not using it.

The novelty of seeing boost and throttle position all the time wore off after about a week, but its proven to be worth its weight in gold on an out of warranty VW (and E39 and jake's E36 etc) just for the code scanning, logging and clearing functionality.

Yeah I know what you mean. I really like the verbal notification it gives when the car is warmed up and you can flog on it. That's what I have been using it for most of the time. There is also a knock meter plug in that is super valuable especially as the quality of gas drops toward the winter months. I'm not really concerned with the hp/torque stuff, if I find a cheap club dyno day I may put it up on the rollers but I know pretty much what it should dyno at stock based on what others have seen.

I actually returned that today within the Prime window and picked this up instead:
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It performs the same function but is way smaller. The old one stuck out pretty far, although it didn't mostly interfere with my legs I shouldn't have to worry about this one. Got good reviews from another user in the community and it's cheaper so that works for me.

[V1GiLaNtE]

I really like the verbal notification it gives when the car is warmed up and you can flog on it. That's what I have been using it for most of the time.

Now that, I actually find handy. I see the importance of monitoring the other components but at least that's a solid go/no go indicator if you're out driving and feel like beating on it DD'ing to work. Say, somebody in any other fancy car decides they think the Shaguar can't play games. :thumbup:

[WRXtranceformed]

I really like the verbal notification it gives when the car is warmed up and you can flog on it. That's what I have been using it for most of the time.

Now that, I actually find handy. I see the importance of monitoring the other components but at least that's a solid go/no go indicator if you're out driving and feel like beating on it DD'ing to work. Say, somebody in any other fancy car decides they think the Shaguar can't play games. :thumbup:

Haha yep! A 550i tried last night :wink:

[WRXtranceformed]

Brought her in to the dealership to have them go over the car and to meet the mechanic / service tech that I would be cashburning with over the next few years. That relationship stuff from my experience goes a long way when you have stuff come up with your car.

Good news and bad news

Good news:
- Car is essentially flawless except as seen below. Previous owner was meticulous and they mentioned that it was one of the newest looking 2010's they have ever seen. Service was performed as needed (other than seen below)
- I negotiated with the parts guy and got some discounts on some accessories I wanted (all weather mats etc)
- They do not care from a warranty standpoint if I install an aftermarket exhaust :twisted:

Bad news:
- Differential is toast, they are replacing it under warranty :lol: I had noticed a light shudder when accelerating even under light throttle only while turning. I assumed that it was just the trac system being a little overzealous with 460 torques but you know what they say about assuming. So I talked up the mechanic, he test drove it and told me that the clutch packs in the active diff lock up when accelerating straight and are supposed to release during turns. Some of the early ones never released though and this is one of them. It was so light and almost unnoticeable that it was likely the previous owner and mechanics in the past never caught it. So the good news is that I am super happy I bought the extended warranty (for stuff like this) because parts alone are about $3500. It also wasn't my fault so I feel good about that
- This year's service was not completed other than an oil change by the dealership who sold it (I think the gentleman passed away last November, Rachael stalked his obituary down in Wisconsin). Full fluids / bunch of other stuff / plus the part cost for OEM air filters to replace two K&N intakes the prior owner installed is around a grand. I talked to the mechanic about it and had done some prior research and K&N filters are really NOT good for this particular car because of MAF sensitivity. In fact, according to a Jag tech on the forums, in some cases they need to install OEM filters with back to back serial numbers to insure identical tolerances. There is a plus side to that in that I can flip the K&N Filters on Ebay for close to the part cost of the OEM filters. The other positive is that I should be good on service for another year.

So I am super happy I brought the car in just to have a pulse check because now I know exactly what I am working with. Also super happy I don't have to replace that diff out of warranty

[Jake]

So I talked up the mechanic, he test drove it and told me that the clutch packs in the active diff lock up when accelerating straight and are supposed to release during turns. Some of the early ones never released though and this is one of them.

in some cases they need to install OEM filters with back to back serial numbers to insure identical tolerances.

Is this the part where I make a nonsensical wisecrack about Jaguar ownership?

[WRXtranceformed]

While I was there the sales guy also showed me two new XJ-Rs they had in stock. Was was the standard and one was the long wheelsbase. Wow...haha. 550hp, 0-60 in 4.2-4.3s AMG fighter:




(the above pic is an OEM gunmetal colored wheel on an identical black color to mine. I actually like it a lot better than gloss black and could be an option for the future)

Sticker of $122K hock:

[WRXtranceformed]

So I talked up the mechanic, he test drove it and told me that the clutch packs in the active diff lock up when accelerating straight and are supposed to release during turns. Some of the early ones never released though and this is one of them.

in some cases they need to install OEM filters with back to back serial numbers to insure identical tolerances.

Is this the part where I make a nonsensical wisecrack about Jaguar ownership?

The difference between me and you: I probably won't own this car like this outside of warranty I thought we went over this already?

[CaptainHenreh]

Sooooo car is "fully armed and operational" this weekend, right?

[WRXtranceformed]

Shoot...tell me that this wasn't the weekend you guys are coming down...

[CaptainHenreh]

Shoot...tell me that this wasn't the weekend you guys are coming down...

[WRXtranceformed]

Sorry bro!! I wasn't expecting to not have my car this weekend And after they flagged it for a warranty repair of that type they couldn't let it go.

You can hoon around in the GMC Terrain I rented and head up with us to the Renaissance Festival!

[V1GiLaNtE]

You can hoon around in the GMC Terrain I rented.....

Just doesn't seem the same..

[CaptainHenreh]

You can hoon around in the GMC Terrain I rented...

[ScottyB]

:lol:

dude nah. jag or nothing.

[WRXtranceformed]

The black beast made it onto the Evolution Auto FB page and their new website!

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.facebook.com/EvolutionAutoSalon?hc_location=stream">https://www.facebook.com/EvolutionAutoS ... ion=stream</a><!-- m -->

You can see it on the end on one of the first flash pics:

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[Jeff]

What a sharp looking car. I agree with others that say leave the chrome (maybe not the grille).

[WRXtranceformed]

Got the car back today, holy cow what a difference. They did a full injector service and carbon build up cleaning (pretty common in DI cars), swapped the K&N filters back to OEM and obviously fixed the diff. Night and day performance from a turn while stopping and during low speed turns, complete night and day difference in terms of power delivery, responsiveness and acceleration. The car was a beast before but it apparently was holding back. It's clear I am going to want to keep this thing well taken care of to get the most out of it.

I think I'm going to head out tonight to "fill up on some gas"