Quote:After doing some research I found that I was in fact correct, my XFR does not have any method (like most cars) to display critical information about the car itself. Coolant temperature, air/fuel details, voltage, boost, etc. I *sort of* understand the reasoning by Jaguar (wait until the idiot light comes on) but having owned several high performance cars I just do not feel good about not knowing what is going on with my engine.

I did not have a desire to wire up any kind of guages into my interior. A while back I found a wireless OBDII adapter on Amazon when I was looking for gifts for my younger brother for his birthday It was so cheap I figured it was junk but the reviews were so good that I thought I would give it a try. My brother loved it, it worked perfectly on his S4 with the Torque app on his Android phone.

Fast forward to today. I remembered the adapter and pulled the trigger on it for $23.99. The best thing about Amazon Prime is if it sucks you can send it back for free

Here is what you need: BAFX Products ™ - PIC18F2480 Bluetooth OBD2 scan tool - For check engine light and other diagnostics - Android compatible : Amazon.com : Automotive

Here is what it looks like:


Installation is as easy as it gets. Plug it into the OBDII port underneath the steering wheel. It did not get in the way of my leg at all while in driving position...it might get in the way while getting in and out of the car but it's not a huge device.


Next step is to download the Torque app (for free, paid version is like $5.00) onto your devices. I found it in the Android store, I am honestly not sure if a version is available for Apple. I am assuming it is. Connect to the Bluetooth adapter, start up the program and boom!

On my Nexus 7:


A screenshot from my Galaxy S4:


You certainly could keep an old Android phone (I've got an S2 collecting dust) or tablet in the car and have it mounted in some way. I will honestly just boot up the app on my phone or tablet every now and then if I plan to give the car a good romp. The only big challenge I can see so far is that it looks like the Bluetooth adapter stays on even when the car is off. So you would have to either unplug it every time you leave the car or figure out some way to install a switch onto it. I don't know how much power that little thing draws (probably not much) but from what I hear about the stock battery it's probably not a good idea to have anything constantly drawing on it.

Here is my current setup with the pro version and one of the carbon skins. It's definitely a work in progress but I'm trying to get a feel for which data points this car can display. So far it looks like oil temp and EGT do not work. Have also not had a chance to test the accuracy of the hp/tq or 0-60 readings but I set them up on their own page:




I love how you can customize the background (mine is a front shot of an xfr) but it will take some playing around with to get it properly centered.

SlimKlim Wrote:I have that same bluetooth contraption in the VW, didn't realize it never turns off.... it hasn't eaten up my battery yet, but maybe I should store it in the glovebox when I'm not using it.

The novelty of seeing boost and throttle position all the time wore off after about a week, but its proven to be worth its weight in gold on an out of warranty VW (and E39 and jake's E36 etc) just for the code scanning, logging and clearing functionality.

WRXtranceformed Wrote:I really like the verbal notification it gives when the car is warmed up and you can flog on it. That's what I have been using it for most of the time.

V1GiLaNtE Wrote:

WRXtranceformed Wrote:I really like the verbal notification it gives when the car is warmed up and you can flog on it. That's what I have been using it for most of the time.

Now that, I actually find handy. I see the importance of monitoring the other components but at least that's a solid go/no go indicator if you're out driving and feel like beating on it DD'ing to work. Say, somebody in any other fancy car decides they think the Shaguar can't play games. :thumbup:

WRXtranceformed Wrote:So I talked up the mechanic, he test drove it and told me that the clutch packs in the active diff lock up when accelerating straight and are supposed to release during turns. Some of the early ones never released though and this is one of them.

Quote:in some cases they need to install OEM filters with back to back serial numbers to insure identical tolerances.

Jake Wrote:

WRXtranceformed Wrote:So I talked up the mechanic, he test drove it and told me that the clutch packs in the active diff lock up when accelerating straight and are supposed to release during turns. Some of the early ones never released though and this is one of them.

Quote:in some cases they need to install OEM filters with back to back serial numbers to insure identical tolerances.

Is this the part where I make a nonsensical wisecrack about Jaguar ownership?

WRXtranceformed Wrote:Shoot...tell me that this wasn't the weekend you guys are coming down...

WRXtranceformed Wrote:You can hoon around in the GMC Terrain I rented.....

WRXtranceformed Wrote:You can hoon around in the GMC Terrain I rented...