[xj-s] XJS'95: Differences European vs US models

XJ-S
1

Dear Jag-lover,

Last month I bought a Californian XJS '95 4.0 liter convertible
which will arrive next week in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. I’m
quite excited and I can barely sleep anymore:-) I do have two
questions that I’d like to address to this forum.

Could someone please tell me if '95 XJS models exported to the US,
have been modified to the US standards and differ from the European
models?

The car has 110K miles on the clock. The AJ16 engines are claimed
to be quite robust, but is that actually true? Does anyone have
experience with high milage XJS '95 models and tell me what I can
expect and where I should pay attention to?

Thx in advance,

Victor
(Recent Jag-lover:-)–
beke001
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2

In reply to a message from beke001 sent Fri 5 Nov 2004:

If it’s a California car, expect lower performance than a European
market one, and expect to see all kinds of strange plumbing in it.
California has the strictest emissions laws in the country. I live
in Ohio, and could not legally live in California with my XJS
running to Ohio standards. The more emissions stuff tacked onto a
car reduce horsepower.

On the plus side, you have to have your emissions checked yearly in
California, and the only way to pass is to have a perfectly running
vehicle. If it passed it’s most recent test within the last year,
I can pretty much assure you a well maintained car.

Also, nothing is stopping you from removing all the emissions stuff
required for Califorinia. Enjoy the car, and get used to the dopey
grin on your face every time you drive it.–
Tom, 89 XJS Coupe
Reynoldsburg Ohio, United States
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3

At 17:16 2004-11-05 +0100, Mr442nt wrote:

On the plus side, you have to have your emissions checked yearly in
California,

Actually, that’s every OTHER year.

(not much of a plus given the waste of time, added aggravation, and
additional cost of the test and “certificate”)
— '88 Jaguar XJ-SC 5.3L V12 (LHD) ‘Black Cat’
Sean Straw '85 Jaguar XJ-S 5.3L V12 (LHD) ‘Bad Kitty’
Sonoma County, California '91 Jaguar XJ40 4.0L (LHD) ‘Trevor’
http://jaguar.professional.org/ '69 Buick GranSport 455 V8

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4

If it’s a California car, expect lower performance than a European
market one, and expect to see all kinds of strange plumbing in it.
California has the strictest emissions laws in the country. The more
emissions stuff tacked onto a
car reduce horsepower.

On the plus side, you have to have your emissions checked yearly in

To give a little clarification from a CA resident:

Emissions tests are required every other year, not every year, for cars
built in even years, they are tested in odd years and vice versa. Further,
there is not MOT or safety inspection as in some states, so you can have a
poorly maintained car that passes emissions and it will pass the test with
bad wheel bearings poor brakes etc.

Emissions standards in California are the strictest in the Unites States,
however, from what I have seen, all modern Jaguars exported to the US are
built to meet California standards. I purchased both of my Jaguars from out
of state, one originally from Michigan, the other from New York, but bought
from Missouri and both cars were built to CA standards.

The logic is that it was probably more expensive for Jaguar to have
different versions of cars than to just pick the state that had the most
strict regulations and build all cars to that spec. The major components are
extra catalytic converters and air recirculation. I would do nothing with
the car, the performance is not seriously affected, and its better for your
air to keep it the way it is.

Daniel
1994 XJ12
1995 XJS 4.0

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5

In reply to a message from beke001 sent Fri 5 Nov 2004:

I have 142K miles on an AJ16 engine and it is still running very
well. The US versions differ than UK versions in these ways: EGR
valve, Electronic air(smog) pump, four oxygen sensors,and perhaps a
different catalytic converter layout. The ECU is also mapped
differently. These engines are coil on plug. Some have experienced
metal deterioration of the cam cover, in particular in the spark
plug holes. Look to the cam cover for signs that the paint is bad,
and evidence in the spark plug holes of black powdery substance.
If this is the case, remove the cover, use aircraft stripper, and
re-paint the cover. This should stop additional metal corrosion.
There are different theories as to the cause of this problem.–
The original message included these comments:

Could someone please tell me if '95 XJS models exported to the US,
have been modified to the US standards and differ from the European
models?
The car has 110K miles on the clock. The AJ16 engines are claimed
to be quite robust, but is that actually true? Does anyone have
experience with high milage XJS '95 models and tell me what I can
expect and where I should pay attention to?

–
uncle
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6

In reply to a message from beke001 sent Fri 5 Nov 2004:

I stand corrected. I didn’t realize it is every other year. Also,
it is a good point about other issues not being figured into an
emissions test, like suspension, frame, etc. On the flip side,
California cars are desired due to the favorable climate. The body
and frame of a California car will usually be in much better shape
than say an Ohio car like mine where they love using enough salt on
the roads to turn Lake Erie into the Dead Sea.

Most likely today all US cars are the same, but in years past,
there were different systems installed for California cars.

As to not having reduced performance, I respectfully disagree. I
have a friend in Canada with several ‘‘Canadian Market’’ Jags,
several with V12’s, and they don’t have all the pollution control
plumbing, they came with higher compression engines than the US
cars, and are a bit quicker. At least speaking of the late 80’s,
early 90’s cars, the US market got the most ‘‘de-tuned’’ of the group.

There is also a reason why folks who modify cars for racetrack use
remove all emissions systems, to gain horsepower. Anytime your
engine has to do anything in addidtion to transferring power to the
wheels, that is power NOT going to the wheels.

My Canadian friend also states, and I trust his information, that
the cars for the European market were the most powerful, moreso
even than the Canadian cars. He has one with a European market
engine and he says it runs circles around his other V12’s. I am
using his info since I have only owned and driven one V12 car in my
life, the one I bought, so I really have nothing to compare it to.

Just my two bits.–
Tom, 89 XJS Coupe
Reynoldsburg Ohio, United States
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7

In reply to a message from Mr442nt sent Fri 5 Nov 2004:

Its been very obvious to me having had the benefit of driving many
vehicles in europe and the US that the increased emmission controls
sap the power of US models. I had several UK spec Audi’s in the
late 80’s and early 90’s. One, a 4 banger Audi sport 1.8 that would
blow away most US spec V8 auto’s with my 5 speed manual. Even small
engine rentals in Europe feel quicker than many rental cars I drive
in the US that have 3.5 V6’s.
I owned an Audi 97 A6 2.8 here in the US and it was noticably
sluggish compared to the UK cars. Mind you that was partly due to
the lousy gear ratios in the 4 speed automatic. I don’t doubt that
all the XJS’cars in the US had similar emmission kits based on the
low volume, but I do know that the Chevy Astro van I got in 93 in
California had a special CA cat.
I am not well enough informed to know what differences apply to new
production cars now in CA.

Keith–
The original message included these comments:

Most likely today all US cars are the same, but in years past,
there were different systems installed for California cars.
As to not having reduced performance, I respectfully disagree. I
have a friend in Canada with several ‘‘Canadian Market’’ Jags,
several with V12’s, and they don’t have all the pollution control
plumbing, they came with higher compression engines than the US
cars, and are a bit quicker. At least speaking of the late 80’s,

–
XJS 4.0 CV GA USA
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8

I do not disagree with your statements. I did not say there were no
performance differences, just that they are minor.

Speaking only on modern Jaguars, the difference is neglibible. For example,
the HP rating on a Euro XJR? 400. Whats the US rating? 390. I don’t see a
significant difference here.

The older V12s do see more of a noticable increase, but the 6 cylinders in
the US are all post 92 and they all have a US HP rating of around 240, and
are pretty peppy. Its generally agreed that removing exhaust restrictions on
a typical car and opening up the intakes will gain you no more than a 10-15%
increase in power, and in a very heavy car, it is almost unnoticable.

Call me a environmentalist but I just dont see a need to remove the
emissions controls on a 6 cylinder XJS unless being used for racing , and it
was my impression the questioner did not have that in mind. For race
applications the differences are much more noticable. Id say leave
everything in place unless the catalytic converters are bad in which case
gut them.

Daniel
1994 XJ12
1995 XJS 4.0----- Original Message -----
From: “Mr442nt” mr442nt@wideopenwest.com
To: xj-s@jag-lovers.org
Sent: Friday, November 05, 2004 12:34 PM
Subject: Re: [xj-s] XJS’95: Differences European vs US models

In reply to a message from beke001 sent Fri 5 Nov 2004:

I stand corrected. I didn’t realize it is every other year. Also,
it is a good point about other issues not being figured into an
emissions test, like suspension, frame, etc. On the flip side,
California cars are desired due to the favorable climate. The body
and frame of a California car will usually be in much better shape
than say an Ohio car like mine where they love using enough salt on
the roads to turn Lake Erie into the Dead Sea.

Most likely today all US cars are the same, but in years past,
there were different systems installed for California cars.

As to not having reduced performance, I respectfully disagree. I
have a friend in Canada with several ‘‘Canadian Market’’ Jags,
several with V12’s, and they don’t have all the pollution control
plumbing, they came with higher compression engines than the US
cars, and are a bit quicker. At least speaking of the late 80’s,
early 90’s cars, the US market got the most ‘‘de-tuned’’ of the group.

There is also a reason why folks who modify cars for racetrack use
remove all emissions systems, to gain horsepower. Anytime your
engine has to do anything in addidtion to transferring power to the
wheels, that is power NOT going to the wheels.

My Canadian friend also states, and I trust his information, that
the cars for the European market were the most powerful, moreso
even than the Canadian cars. He has one with a European market
engine and he says it runs circles around his other V12’s. I am
using his info since I have only owned and driven one V12 car in my
life, the one I bought, so I really have nothing to compare it to.

Just my two bits.

Tom, 89 XJS Coupe
Reynoldsburg Ohio, United States
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9

In reply to a message from beke001 sent Fri 5 Nov 2004:

Thx for your prompt replies. If I understand the replies correctly,
the US models have (other than the emision issues) no substantial
differences compared to the European versions.

Any remarks about the 110K milage? Can I expect some specific
difficulties and should I pay attention to specific parts or
elements?

It’s about 2 AM here. Will probably dream about emission standards:-
)

Victor–
Victor (xjs)
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10

I think you have it correct.

I have heard on the 6 cyl that 100K miles is the most you can expect from a
head gasket, so if it hasn’t been done already, expect to have to do that.
My XJS has only 58,000 miles and is rock solid, no major mechanical problems
whatsoever. Just the normal items that wear on a car with 100K miles you
will need to keep after. Like anything else your experience may vary!

Good luck, I much prefer to dream about XJ220s!

Daniel
1994 XJ12
1995 XJS 4.0

. If I understand the replies correctly,

the US models have (other than the emision issues) no substantial
differences compared to the European versions.

Any remarks about the 110K milage? Can I expect some specific
difficulties and should I pay attention to specific parts or
elements?

It’s about 2 AM here. Will probably dream about emission standards:-
)

Victor

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11

In reply to a message from Daniel Arsenault sent Sat 6 Nov 2004:

I could be wrong but it was my understanding that the headgasket
problems were with the AJ6 engine, not the AJ16.
Also, nobody mentioned that the Euro version of the headlights are
supposed to be brighter and more effective that the US versions.

Lee Murray '95 4.0 Convertible–
The original message included these comments:

I have heard on the 6 cyl that 100K miles is the most you can expect from a
head gasket, so if it hasn’t been done already, expect to have to do that.

–
LeRoy Murray
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12

I have heard on the 6 cyl that 100K miles is the most you can
expect from a head gasket,

My experience with the 4.0 I6 is that they can go 150K miles without a
problem and the first problem most of them have is a sticky throttle plate.
I’ve got 130K miles on mine and haven’t done a single thing to it but
routine maintenance.

Gordon

'88 XJ-SC (Lucas CEI) Bagheera (49,000 miles)
'95 XJ6 (VP) Kyriell (132,000 miles)
'99 XJR Booger (63,000 miles)
www.myjags.net
Alexandria, VA US

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