Garry1127

The remap will be in association with an Elite four pipe back box which supposedly releases another 20hp so overall I'm looking at a 40 - 50hp increase, but the main driver is looks (4 pipe) deeper noise and a slight increase in mpg which will increase the cars touring range, gaining a slightly sharper quicker car is a bonus. I prefer the XK to the XKR as it has a smoother ride, a lovely supple feel in corners (still with little roll) and has better ground clearance.

I've been looking further into remapping my XK 5.0 NA. There is an interesting variation in how much power increase I would get from remapping the 5.0 NA engine. Superchips 28hp. Celtic tuning 30hp increase. Remap Kings 28hp increase. Hyper chips 29hp increase. But there are many others saying only a 20hp increase. Mallory Performance 20hp increase. Quantum 20hp increase. Avon Tuning 20hp increase. Chip Tuners 20hp increase. My question to the more knowledgeable out there are these differences due to different remap software or just variations in what the different companies claim?

Hello all, I thought I would post a quick update on the Mr12Volt installation in my XK. I had it carried out very swiftly and carefully by Elite and Performance Jags in Derby (£575 including installation) they also managed to thread the USB cable through into the armrest box so I could run music or load firmware updates from there, which is excellent (I thought I would lose USB connectivity) you can access the USB through the old Jag screen. For a while I had an amusing moment where in Android Auto I was playing one piece of music and then when I switched to the old Jag screen I had a different piece of music playing! That caused some confusion until I realised the Android Auto was playing music from my phone, the old Jag system from the USB stick! Problem solved by taking the USB stick out as I found I didn't need it as the car can access the music libraries stored on my phone perfectly. A month on all I can say is that this is a superb update for my XK, Android Auto (there is also Apple carplay) it starts immediately I switch the car on and I have full access to Waze and Google maps (and music apps etc) through the standard screen (no more phones or add on screens blocking the controls or wobbling and falling off their cradles). If you press the home button you can switch to the old Jaguar screen and back again. Quirks? sometimes I have to restart the Bluetooth on my phone to get Android Auto to connect and getting out of the car my phone remains locked to Bluetooth (no sound through earpiece or phone speaker until I select it) but as soon as I walk away from the car the phone corrects itself (I think the cars Bluetooth remains active for a few minutes after stopping which is useful if you just stop for a brief time such as to refuel as Waze etc. remains active and remembers its settings for a while). Phone calls can be answered through Android Auto, Steering Wheel controls all work, sound system working perfectly (and you have more options for adjusting the sound too) reversing camera working, heated and cooled seats work, heated windscreen working and the jags nav screen has a saturation option to beef up colours and I'm sure the display is slightly sharper now. The only issue I am really battling with is occasional echo of callers voices (they hear and echo of their own voices) I think this is an Android Auto issue but I'm still working on this. I have also fitted a glass anti reflection screen protector (as you would on a phone) and that has really improved legibility of the screen in bright conditions, its not perfect, by I can now see the screen in daylight most of the time whereas before with my cars light beige seats the screen was basically unusable in daylight (see below photo taken in strong sunshine - much clearer). All in all a superb upgrade to the XK.

Thanks Jim, I had not heard mention before that the unit disables the jag radio in other reviews (and presumably the CD) not a complete show stopper as you say there are alternatives. Is the USB socket in the armrest also disabled? (just wondering if it can still be used to play music from as the Mr12volt does have a usb connection though I'm not sure what's its for). Garry

Hello all, I am interested in getting this fitted to my 2015 XK, reports look good (full Android Auto on the cars original display) but I just wondered if anyone has experience of having this fitted as I have a couple of questions. I use my XKs USB socket to play music from a USB stick I have, can this functionality be retained with the Mr12Volt module fitted (it has a USB connection on it apparently). The Mr12Volt installation comes with a new graphics circuit board, does this improve the brightness and clarity of the standard car display? Ive seen reported that cars with this fitted have better audio quality, is this true? Any other issues I should be aware of? thanks

I've noticed that I can hear the power steering pump wheezing even when making normal driving corrections on tighter bends. Is it normal to hear the power steering when driving normally (in which case I've nothing to worry about) or is this abnormal?

Hello, My XKs power steering makes a wheezing noise a bit when turning sharper corners and at standstill parking etc. I've not had a conventional hydraulic power steering system for many years (electric assisted steering) so the fact the XKs steering makes a noise is this normal? Garry

Hello all, I am in the future considering changing the back box on my Jaguar 5.0 XK from the standard twin exhaust to a quad exhaust, primarily for looks and sound but there could be a power increase of up to 20hp. I think this means that I will need to declare it to my insurance company, has anyone done this? and what impact did this declaration have on their premium? Thanks

Your situation is very similar to my recent experience (I bought a very low milage XK that had a few services missed during very low annual milage years) I carefully checked over my XK before buying it in December 24, then once I bought it I took it to a jaguar specialist and had a full (change everything) service and inspection (even though the selling dealer had just serviced it) to baseline its maintenance - the car was sound no issues. Now 3000 miles later (more milage than it has done in the last 5 years combined) the car is running perfectly no issues, no increased oil consumption and as it only had 15k on it when I bought it the engine feels like it is finally being run in!

Just wondering if anyone out there has experience of remapping a standard 5.0 Xk? I have a few questions. Remapping usually sharpens up throttle response (which would be nice) but given the XK can struggle with traction in the wet, does this sharper response cause any problems? Is the 20 - 30hp/torque gain noticeable? Any improvement in mpg? thanks

Hi N6JMX, I am going to talk to and visit Elite Performance Jags (who have some interesting videos on their website of XK exhaust system mods) about what impact their options would have on the overall noise level of the XK. As most of my milage in the XK is long distance on motorways (when the drone disappears) I definitely don't wont to create more cruising noise. Garry

Hi N6 JMX, The drone definitely comes from the back of the car, my son squeezed in the back seats (quite a feat) and he could hear the drone from behind him so I am pretty sure its the back box not the centre silencers. Its not a huge problem (probably normal for a twin pipe 5.0) but as I am thinking of changing the back box for a four pipe Elite and Performance Jags one at some point I was wondering if doing this might get rid of the drone as well as looking and sounding better at other times. Garry

Hello all, At low speeds (30 - 50mph) my standard (twin exhaust) XK drones from the back rather than purrs, above this speed it is fine, its not a huge problem just a bit irritating. Just wondering if a custom back box would solve this problem (or would it make it worse?).

Hello M6JMX, I have looked under the XK and the exhaust looks standard.

Hello N6 JMX, I have the car in standard mode so not in Dynamic or sport. Are you saying that a naturally aspirated 5.0 V8 like mine should not make any pops and bangs on downshifts unless in Dynamic mode? Garry

Hi Jim, It only pops on lift off or down changing, so not continually, it has the standard exhaust and I don't drive it in dynamic mode, another XK 5.0 I drove before selecting this one did the same. Its just a bit chav like, the noise the engine makes on down changing is nice enough it doesn't need the pops which I find a bit jarring. I was hoping that there was a setting to turn it off. If I remapped the engine could I instruct the remapper to stop the popping?

I know this may sound like sacrilege to some but I find the constant popping and banging from the exhaust on overrun irritating. Is there a way to stop it?

Mint 2015 XK 5.0 with only 15,000 miles on it (soon to be a lot more as I relish driving it)