2003 manual coupe 88K miles. I very much like my Crossfire, almost as much as I did my 1963 3.8 Jaguar E type 50 years ago, but after 5 years of XF ownership the constant electrical niggles are depressing. I can not help but compare the electrical simplicity of the E type to the electricians nightmare sitting in my driveway. Time now for a new M.O.T. and having trouble sorting the BAS/ESP/ABS dash warning lights, intermittent speedometer plus spoiler up not responding to dash switch with flashing light. I have no access to top end diagnostics but my device shows no stored codes or pending codes. There was a P0500 code in pending which has not returned since an erase. I have checked all 4 ABS wheel speed sensors/rings/connections, new battery and RCU and beginning to suspect the CAB being at fault. I will get to the bottom of it eventually but living in the far North of Scotland with no other local XF owners or reliable Chrysler/Mercedes specialists to to fall back on, this forum is my only sure support.
Back to the E type XF comparison........the E type capable of almost 150 mph did not have ABS or any of the other electrical comforts, in my opinion my Crossfire does not need them either. With the maximum speed limit in the UK being 70 mph who needs a spoiler or many other sensors fitted as standard to the XF So my question is, at the risk of upsetting some younger owners, has anybody disabled the ABS system? While I know I need to retain the CAB for a digital signal to the speedometer, ( what was wrong with speedo cables?), the brake servo looks big enough to work without the electrical assistance it gets.
As the spares situation becomes more difficult, if we could simplify or even get rid of the most annoying common problems, then we might encourage the next generation to contemplate ownership of this much maligned sports car.
PS Does anyone know the exact resistance figures for the ABS wheel speed sensors to test with a multi meter, can't find info in manual.