Jaguar Owner ‘Converted’
To Arnott’s Quality Aftermarket Parts and Service
“The entire Coil Conversion process took me about 1 hour a corner.
The hardest part of the install was getting the back seat out!”
“Arnott’s Coil Conversion kit relieved me of the anxiety
of dealing with a succession of air suspension failures. I really want to thank Arnott
for providing quality aftermarket parts for owners of specialty vehicles …
… it’s really nice to know they’re out there.”
— Jim Wilkins, Prescott, AZ
Customer: James Wilkins
Location: Prescott, Arizona
Occupation: Majority Owner and Managing Member, Centillion Industries LLC
Automobile: 2005 Jaguar XJ8L (X350 Chassis)
Arnott Aftermarket Part: C-2290 Coil Conversion Kit for Jaguar XJ Series
The Car and Driver
James (Jim) Wilkins is a corporate executive and auto enthusiast from Prescott, Arizona. Wilkins is Majority Owner and Managing Member of Centillion Industries LLC, also based in Prescott. Centillion specializes in ‘Global Manufacturing Solutions.’
Wilkins became acquainted with Arnott Air Suspension Products when he became disenchanted with the reliability of the Original Equipment air suspension components on his 2005 Jaguar XJ8L.
“I didn’t enjoy driving because I was constantly worrying about the potential of failing air suspension parts,” said Wilkins.
The Challenge
“I’m not a hardcore auto mechanic,” said Wilkins. “I worked on cars as a youth, but in recent years I pretty much have left auto maintenance and repair to the professionals. But after purchasing a 2005 Jaguar XJ8L, and finding out the nearest Jaguar dealer was 100 miles away in Phoenix, I decided to personally address my concerns about the car’s air shocks leaking down in cold weather.
“The system was working properly, but at 150,000 miles and 10 years old, plus the ‘low suspension’ warning lights coming on regularly, I felt the air suspension was on the verge of a major breakdown. Between the air suspension, the compressor, and the drier, I just didn’t want to deal with a succession of failures.”
Search for a Solution
Wilkins said he started researching the Internet and Internet-based forums for applicable aftermarket air suspension products and found Arnott was mentioned the most often, and more often than not, the comments were positive.
“Most of the people on the forums I went to are Jag or driving enthusiasts, so I gave their reviews and commentary quite a bit of weight,” said Wilkins. “I liked the OE Jaguar CATS system but in addition to my distance from the dealer, OE pricing was quite high and I would still be left with the potential of future costly repairs.”
Wilkins decided a ‘coilover,’ or Coil Spring Conversion Kit, was a good choice and would eliminate air suspension concerns for good.
Discoveries
“I found that Arnott offered what seemed to be a quality, affordable Coil Conversion Kit,” said Wilkins. “What I also discovered was that Arnott offered pre-sales support.”
Working with Arnott: The Purchase
During a toll-free telephone conversation with one of Arnott’s knowledgeable and courteous Technical Support representatives, Wilkins was able to discuss the way the Conversion Kit in general was designed to perform, plus he learned about the specifics of its design, construction, and intended ride quality.
“I was told Arnott carefully engineered the coil springs for performance and ride height, and that users especially liked it for its K Factor.”
Failure Light Shines On The Competition
Wilkins continued his research by calling at least one of Arnott’s competitors in the aftermarket air suspension products marketplace, and was told: “go online … it’s all there.”
“The online information I was told to access was sketchy and incomplete,” said Wilkins. “So the pre-sales support from Arnott was a big factor in my purchase decision. After that, there was no question.”
Working with Arnott: The Install
“At Centillion, we have a lot of warehouse space, so I brought the Jaguar in to work one day and took advantage of the facility,” Wilkins said. “Beyond that, I was very pleased to see Arnott made an Installation Video available. It was thorough and professional.
“The entire Coil Conversion process took me about 1 hour a corner. The conversion went just the way it showed on the video. The hardest part of the install was getting the back seat out!”
How The Suspension Met The Road
“I was very pleased with the handling … I felt it was improved,” said Wilkins. “I also really appreciated the car’s ride height. For example, I have a steep driveway, and before I did the conversion I had to be careful of where and how I parked or I would bottom out. I no longer had that worry.
“In addition, not long after the conversion, I packed up the Jaguar with my sister and brother-in-law in the back seat, and a load of luggage in the trunk for an overnight trip … and the car was fine! There were no leveling concerns … it was NOT nose-high. The Coil Conversion handled the weight perfectly.”
“Arnott’s Coil Conversion kit relieved me of the anxiety of dealing with a succession of air suspension failures. I really want to thank Arnott for providing quality aftermarket parts for owners of specialty vehicles … it’s really nice to know they’re out there.”
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For more information about Arnott Air Suspension Products, visit www.arnottindustries.com … or call Arnott toll-free at 800 251-8993. You can also email Arnott: [email protected].
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