Hi all,

Back to Jaguar Forums where my love for the brand started at age 16 with my X-Type. I've had plenty of cars along the way, C63 AMG, Aston Martin V8 Vantage, etc., but am back with the latest, my XKR-S with a whopping 4,800 miles.

I only have a few pictures as of now given that I flew into Dallas, TX to see the car and will be having it shipped to Northern California over the next few days to start my light modification / refresh journey on the car.

As of now, I have a few things planned:

1) Full front end paint protection film given how immaculate and rock chip free the car is
2) Front and rear wheel spacers to give it a slightly better stance
3) New Michelin PS4S tires - The car is currently on it's factory set from 2012!
4) A full detail including paint correction and ceramic coating( Crystal Serum Light and EXO V4) application done by myself
5) Renew all fluid in car, Oil Change, Diff, Trans, etc.

Now what we're all actually waiting for:

 

Make certain you wrap the carbon bits as well, more costly than paint to replace/repair and replacements will be a challenge. The front air dam’s especially prone to damage.

Seeing you’ve gone from the X152 to the ultimate X150, would be interested in your observance of the differences.

 

Stunning beast! Great choice.

 

Absolutely gorgeous. I may or may not be on the lookout for an XKR-S GT in 2023 and you're not helping my wife's cause.

 

Gorgeous automobile. My XKR only has 40 times as many miles as yours and is still a pleasure to drive everyday. May you have as great an experience as I have had and most of the rest of us on this forum. These are exceptional cars.

 

You got an extra $169k laying around? How about kicking some into the kitty, buy us all a few rounds of alcoholic drinks?

 

I haven't driven the XKR-S too much. It's still in Texas waiting to be shipped, but from my limited 30-minute test drive, it's vastly different in just about every way from the F-Type. Granted, I had the V6 so the lack of power was most obvious, but besides that, a few differences I noted.

1) The XKR-S hydraulic steering was a little less twitchy than the F-Type's electric steering, especially off-center. The XKR-S felt more like a GT car, which suits this car really well.
2) The size difference of the cars is very apparent. The F-Type feels very darty; turn the wheel and the car just moves in that direction where as that feeling in the XKR-S is slightly more gradual.
3) I find the build quality, fit and finish to be higher on the XKR-S for obvious reasons given the price point
4) Sound system - I haven't yet compared the Bowers and Wilkins to the Meridian sound so cannot comment there
5) Ride comfort - Also quite difficult given that I had conventional shocks and struts on my lowered V6 F-Type vs. the XKR-S is must more technically sophisticated.

Once I get the car back to the Bay Area, I'll start my "Build Journal" which is basically just a blog of my caretaking and modifications.

Thank you all!

 

We're off to the San Francisco Bay Area.

Plans over the next two weeks once it arrives:
1) Full front-end STEK paint protection film, side sills TBD but I think I'll probably pull the trigger on these too
2) 20MM front spacers, 15MM rear spacers
3) Paint Correction and application of Cquartz UK 3.0
4) Pulling fuse 19 (I think that's the fuse for the valvetronic exhaust)
5) Oil change with LiquiMoly LiquiMoly Special Tec (STJLR.51.5122) and Mahle OX 774D
6) Bovee 1000 Bluetooth Adaptor
7) Brake Fluid Change with ATE SL.6 Dot 4





I'm also dying for a new steering wheel since I don't think the factory wheel suits the XKR-S personality. Will most likely order something like this down the line:

 

No need to pull fuse 19. Turn dynamic mode on and you're good to go. Turn it off to drive up to the country club.

 

I’m 30 years old, so no country clubs on the horizon just yet.

So Dynamic mode opens up the exhaust immediately regardless of rev range?

 

Jaggx....Before you get around to changing your tires with the Pilot 4S.....be careful to check the dates, as they had stopped production for some time, and you don't want an older tire. Ask for the production dates!!

 

I’ve noticed that 255/35/20 is out of stock. Do we know why this is the case and why they’ve stopped production?

 

It's a very popular tire and I don't believe they are discontinuing such a sought after tire. Yes it's super expensive but for a reason. I'd call Michelin directly to get an answer. When I called Tirerack they were able to give me manufacturer dates which helped. Good luck.

 

Alright, here's probably why you don't find many XKR-S' with spacers: There's no provision on the factory wheels and the factory studs are far too long. I don't necessarily want to cut the studs, so I might have to deal with this horrible fitment for the time being.




Conclusion: No spacers, regardless of size, will fit on an XKR-S with factory XKR-S wheels unless you want to cut the studs.

That being said, I now have brand new 15mm and 20mm hubcentric spacers if anyone wants them. DM me.

 

Interesting…previous Jag wheels I’ve had, had pockets in the wheel hub for the spacer bolts to fit into….

 

I know, right? When I have my F-Type, the Tornado wheels (I think they're called that) had pockets. I might shave the studs in the front, and go with a smaller spacer 5MM spacer in the rear. There really isn't a ton of room back there, especially with the 305/30/20 Michelin PS4S that I'm going with.

I'm hoping a 5MM spacer leaves with me enough stud to engage 6.5 turns.

 

Well, ain’t that a kick in the nuts.
And the shape of the front side of the wheel probably doesn’t have depth enough for you to drill out your own ‘pockets’ to fit the studs (even if it didn’t compromise the wheel integrity).

 

Yup. I was very much looking forward to a better stance. Will have to wait a few days until I decide whether to shave the studs or not.

 

Just playing devils advocate here, but you could always try different wheels, either some with the correct offset, or some that work with the spacers.

 

I might buy aftermarket wheels down the road. I really like the factory wheels and want to keep this car OE more so than I have with other cars I've had in the past. I don't plan on lowering the XKR-S, and I don't plan on going with a flashy wheel like I did with my Aston Martin Vantage or Jaguar F-Type. I feel that a flashy wheel with stock ride height would look quite odd.

This was my Vantage. It was WAY too low. Drove my nuts driving it sometimes.