Let's see some Sexy 308 Pictures
#641
#643
Nice work, looks like a lot hours and late nights. What about the Probe...did you wedge a Coyote motor in it or go twin turbo?
#644
Pgt engine.
#646
The X-308's ZF five-speed automatic became problematic as it aged. The transmission fluid was synthetic and according to the manufacturer never needed to be changed. It was "sealed for life." Ha ha.
Problem was, as cars passed 80k miles metal dust accumulated in the fluid to the point the magnets and filters were rendered useless. Eventually the transmission would fail. On one of my 308s, a 1998 XJ, the ZF tranny failed at 83k miles. Repair cost $5000 for a rebuilt unit and $1000 for installation. (This was a good ten years ago.)
Nevertheless I love the X-308; I think it's the high point of the classic XJ sedan. (I love the new XJ too but it's a completely different car.) Apart from its tranny, and after I replaced the plastic timing gear and water pump, my '98 was super reliable.
But I wanted a supercharged version and lucked upon a very fresh '01 VDP Supercharged. Only around 250 of these were built and it was a fabulous car, with the VDP's extra leather and legroom and the blown 4.0's 370 hp.
For some dumb reason I can't remember, I sold it. A couple years later I picked up my current X-308, a 2001 Emerald over Ivory XJR with 80k miles on it. The previous owner was a woman who barely touched the gas pedal.
I'm extremely fortunate to have an honest, non-dealer, Jag-only repair shop nearby (Continental Imports, Oakland, CA), and the owner and chief wrench Juan replaced the failure-prone timing gear and plastic water pump. This time I asked him to go a step further and contemplate preventive maintenance on the transmission. I wanted to keep this car a long time and take it on road trips, and didn't want to be constantly worrying about sudden transmission failure.
As the car broke 100,000 miles, Juan proposed he do an exhaustive cleaning of the transmission innards. Not only would he drain the old fluid, he'd go inside and clean the gunk out of the torque converter and other hard-to-reach places. He'd replace all magnets and filters and top it off with fresh new fluid.
I'm coming up to my tenth year of ownership of this fantastic car, which remains tight and as fast as new and gets more than a thousand miles out of a quart of Mobil 1. At my last oil change Juan checked the transmission fluid and it was still clean. The car now has 152k miles on the clock and runs to perfection. On his YouTube show Matt Farah, noted car journalist, took a spin with a guy whose X-350 XJR had 220k miles on it and was similarly tight, fast, and trouble-free.
Juan tells me his other X-308 owners, people like me who don't have thousands to spare maintaining exotic sedans, are experiencing remarkably low cost of ownership as the years go by. For that reason I would recommend X-308 owners on this board check out their car's ZF automatic as the mileage goes up. Have your wrench drain a sample of the transmission fluid and assess its degree of contamination. A thorough cleaning could save it from premature self-destruction.
Problem was, as cars passed 80k miles metal dust accumulated in the fluid to the point the magnets and filters were rendered useless. Eventually the transmission would fail. On one of my 308s, a 1998 XJ, the ZF tranny failed at 83k miles. Repair cost $5000 for a rebuilt unit and $1000 for installation. (This was a good ten years ago.)
Nevertheless I love the X-308; I think it's the high point of the classic XJ sedan. (I love the new XJ too but it's a completely different car.) Apart from its tranny, and after I replaced the plastic timing gear and water pump, my '98 was super reliable.
But I wanted a supercharged version and lucked upon a very fresh '01 VDP Supercharged. Only around 250 of these were built and it was a fabulous car, with the VDP's extra leather and legroom and the blown 4.0's 370 hp.
For some dumb reason I can't remember, I sold it. A couple years later I picked up my current X-308, a 2001 Emerald over Ivory XJR with 80k miles on it. The previous owner was a woman who barely touched the gas pedal.
I'm extremely fortunate to have an honest, non-dealer, Jag-only repair shop nearby (Continental Imports, Oakland, CA), and the owner and chief wrench Juan replaced the failure-prone timing gear and plastic water pump. This time I asked him to go a step further and contemplate preventive maintenance on the transmission. I wanted to keep this car a long time and take it on road trips, and didn't want to be constantly worrying about sudden transmission failure.
As the car broke 100,000 miles, Juan proposed he do an exhaustive cleaning of the transmission innards. Not only would he drain the old fluid, he'd go inside and clean the gunk out of the torque converter and other hard-to-reach places. He'd replace all magnets and filters and top it off with fresh new fluid.
I'm coming up to my tenth year of ownership of this fantastic car, which remains tight and as fast as new and gets more than a thousand miles out of a quart of Mobil 1. At my last oil change Juan checked the transmission fluid and it was still clean. The car now has 152k miles on the clock and runs to perfection. On his YouTube show Matt Farah, noted car journalist, took a spin with a guy whose X-350 XJR had 220k miles on it and was similarly tight, fast, and trouble-free.
Juan tells me his other X-308 owners, people like me who don't have thousands to spare maintaining exotic sedans, are experiencing remarkably low cost of ownership as the years go by. For that reason I would recommend X-308 owners on this board check out their car's ZF automatic as the mileage goes up. Have your wrench drain a sample of the transmission fluid and assess its degree of contamination. A thorough cleaning could save it from premature self-destruction.
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Count Iblis (10-15-2017)
#648
Beautiful vehicle. Love the classic British racing green. I have a 1999 white X-308. IMHO, this was the best sedan Jaguar ever made, a combination of classic sleek old school XJ styling on a smooth riding, relatively reliable platform. Also, this was the first car produced after Ford took over Jaguar and the quality control improved tremendously. I had my transmission fail after 100K and the second one only lasted 25K miles. I am on my 3rd transmission. Didn't even think about the option to service the transmission. How much is that costing you?
#650
My new (to me) 01 XJR. After owning an STR 7 years ago, I've been searching on and off for the perfect x308. I purchased it about two months ago from the previous owner, with 46k on the clock. More photos to come!
WIN_20160318_223955 by toplessfc3s, on Flickr
WIN_20160318_223955 by toplessfc3s, on Flickr
Last edited by dhardison; 10-13-2017 at 02:06 PM.
#651
About the cost of my transmission cleanup — it happened several years ago and I do not recall the exact amount in any more detail than to say it was a few hundred dollars. Having had no subsequent tranny problems even at the car's current advanced mileage — 152,000 — I consider it money well spent.
#652
Memory Lane Shots here.
I was looking through the photos on my computer for something I took way back in 2006, on the way through I happened upon some photos I took on a holiday to France in 2009. This was a trip I took in my first ever Jaguar, a 2001 XJ Sovereign. I'd only bought the car a couple of months before this trip, but I loved that car. It was top of the range and had everything except premium sound fitted, the engine was 4.0.
I liked these two photos, the view along the bonnet on a French Autoroute and the second is a shot of the car at Juno Beach in Normandy where my Granddad landed during WW2.
Looking dirty in this photo, but that's what 1200 miles round France will do to you.
I was looking through the photos on my computer for something I took way back in 2006, on the way through I happened upon some photos I took on a holiday to France in 2009. This was a trip I took in my first ever Jaguar, a 2001 XJ Sovereign. I'd only bought the car a couple of months before this trip, but I loved that car. It was top of the range and had everything except premium sound fitted, the engine was 4.0.
I liked these two photos, the view along the bonnet on a French Autoroute and the second is a shot of the car at Juno Beach in Normandy where my Granddad landed during WW2.
Looking dirty in this photo, but that's what 1200 miles round France will do to you.
#654
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Count Iblis (10-16-2017)
#655
#656
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ericjansen (10-16-2017)
#657
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Count Iblis (10-16-2017)
#658
alexz31ae, Was this purchased in the Columbus, OH area? I saw a similar cat on Craigslist, then saw what I think was the same car in Delaware, OH at a local shop. The shop was closed at the time and by the time I was able to swing back by to inquire it was gone.
#659
I love the E24s and I think they're under rated in the USA. Even the M635CSi. I think they look 'spot on' but have come across those who hate the way they look-which always surprises me.
#660
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Z07Brandon (02-09-2020)