This may be a question a true petrolhead cognescenti can answer... When I grew up the new car year for e.g. a 2014 actually began, if my failing and aging memory serves, in something like August or September 2013. In other words the Model Year ("MY") of e.g. 2014 was of course built a little bit before 2014 in order to be able to be for sale in 2014.

So when Jaguar says the XJs in "MY" 2013 had improved suspension what date of actual manufacture was it when they began producing the 2013's?

Thanks...

 

I don't have the specifics for the X351 but your memory isn't failing (and neither is mine at 29 years older than you). Jaguar used to introduce the new Model Year following the factory annual shutdown in August or September. There are also examples when a major update was introduced with a decimal year. This example is for X100:





This changed in 2014 with X150 when Model Year and Calendar Year were harmonised. My 2014 Model Year XK was announced in January to coincide with Calendar Year. This logical situation didn't last long and Jaguar again started introducing the new Model Year late towards the end of the Calendar Year. My 2018 Model Year F-Pace was introduced, built and sold in September 2017.

More important than the actual introduction date for a Model Year is the VIN changeover point. Here's an example for X351 of the changes in suspension air sompressor over the production cycle:





I've always thought Model Year was more a convenience for marketing than a true reflection of engineering advancement.

Graham

 

That is very helpful GGG - much appreciated; thank you! Superb information...

This is going to be a new journey for me having always been an S class and CL man. (I'll keep my CL's and CL passion tthough, if I may be allowed.... - no other car I have ever found does as many 2 car roles as well, as a well kept CL - almost silent and yet an enormously capable continental crossing ground coverer - the new S class coupe is nowhere near as good. Although my family's 1980's (?) 5.3 V12 2 door coupe was amazing, and I am yet to venture into XJS world - later,,,!) But in terms of S class vs. XJL, I am now convinced the XJL is by far the better design; Callum et al. What I intend to do, with your help if I may, is to see if my new XJL can be made to ride as near silently as an S class (esp W222). In case you are interested, the W222 S class was the closest I have come across in terms of quality to my older V12 W140 from 1999 (circa $139,000 USD when new - i.e. in 1998 money that is over 250k now...), but the W222 still fell short - it felt very, very nice, but somewhat cheap in comparison to the legendary W140, which of course has the W240 Maybach (the real Maybach) as its logical progeny. But I digress. My apologies.

My new X351 is then, thanks to you GGG, a 2013 so I should have the softer / better ride. I have the chassis number if we can check that somehow? Thanks to this forum - thank you! - I now have the Jag technical updates on the roof (should it pop) and have a number of excellent ideas from forum members to quieten the car stll further - e.g. 18 inch wheels, replacing the run flats and installing sound deadening material. In addition, what I was most impressed by on my road test was the AC system. I have another older Benz here and the AC is weaker than the XJL and so, while few think about this (I didnt...) I have to run the AC often on high fan settings, and then the fan makes a lot of darn noise... The XJL by comparison blew so ice cold on my test drive, that I could turn the fan right down and hence experienced much more tranquility and serenity, which I very much appreciated. I also know Rolls Royce recently created / commissioned a set of tires (for the latest Ghost - a remarkable car and less cheap feeling interior parts feeling than some that they (BMW) made recently) with foam deadening materials inside the tire; apparently the new Ghost is astonishingly quiet. One day I'd be interested to see what sizes those tires were, and if it will ever be possible to fit those or similar to an XJL.

Once again, many thanks GGG - terrific information.

 

The VIN will help you identify correct parts but for the detailed specification for your vehicle you need the Vehicle Summary also known as the Build Sheet. This used to be free to download from JLR TOPIx (the dealer portal) but is now chargeable.

https://topix.jaguar.jlrext.com/topi...cle/lookupForm

A Jaguar Dealer can sometimes be persuaded to print this for you.

Here's my F-Pace as an example. All selected and deleted options are listed:






With a used vehicle this enables a comparison of current equipment against the way it left the factory.

Good luck in your search for silence.

Graham

 

Thank you very much, Graham - you are a gentleman, and a very helpful soul too - thank you.

 

It's even worth asking at the parts department...

 

Thank you for that - I have been in touch with the dealer where the car came from and we will see what happens....

 

And after 6 weeks of respectfully contacting the (only) Jaguar dealer where my car was serviced several times, I have received not one call back or reply. Given I am only asking for information that will help me look after this car and hence through preventative maintenance make it more reliable (only positive for Jaguar's reputation etc.), you would think they would at least reply. But in the modern world...