Hi everyone, Dave from New Zealand saying hello.

I've just accidentally acquired an XJR (shopping for an MX-5 for the wife but got distracted, you all know how it goes....). I've been a Jag fan since my Dad owned an (original) S type when I was a kid. I owned an XJ6 SIII for years, put 160,000km on it, and loved every second (even the expensive ones), but I've been back in a "mundane" car for a while - XJs aren't exactly practical as the sole family car. But now we're back to being a 2 car family, and I'm back to being owned by a cat.

The new toy's in the shop getting the tensioners done now (thanks, guys, for all the threads pointing out the buyer-bewares and the must-fixes), and I have a set of new discs and pads to replace the worn-out and juddery front Brembos waiting in the garage for when it gets back. Centrics, since I'm not paying $NZ2000 for OEM. A gamble on fit and quality: we'll see how it works out, I tend to be easy on brakes.

Then it's time for some fun. One of the things I always loved about pressing on in the XJ6 was the way it made it perfectly clear that gentlemen don't drive like that, then pulled up its skirts and chased down some hot hatches. I'm expecting the XJR will give me that in spades.

 

Welcome to this friendly forum, I'm sure you'll love the girl once she's sorted.
A useful tip from another member - before doing the disks slacken off the wheel nuts to finger tight, accelerate like mad a few feet then stamp on the brakes.
It breaks the disks free of the hubs and saves hours bladdering away at them with a hide hammer.

 

Welcome to the forum Dave,

And welcome back to Jaguars. If you enjoyed the Series III, it's going to take surgery to get the grin off your face when the XJR is ready!

Graham

 

Welcome to the forum Dave,

Good to have you with us.
Did the wife get a car?


You should add your car details to your signature to help others to help you.

 

@Steveinfrance: thanks for the tip, I wish I'd known that one years ago. Though in all honesty I'm undecided as to whether to do it myself or take it down to my local mechanic: in principle discs are easy (give or take getting them off), but the stories on this and other forums of people fighting with the caliper bolts on the Brembos make me think maybe I should just pay a guy with a hoist and a big air wrench.

@Norri: She's inheriting my 05 Golf GTi. I'm forgiven though, she likes jags too. If I'd instead bought the mint E36 M3 that also got my attention, I'd be sleeping on the couch right now!

 

Welcome to the forum.

Good to see you.

We've got more than a few 'handy' members from around you, why not look them up in the Regional section. I'm sure that someone would give you a hand with the job.

Might cost you a cold one or two.