Hi
Just moved to Rye Brook near Connecticut border from England....and just bought a 2004 XJR. Now looking for local recommendations for servicing, basic support for my Jag. Someone who knows, understands and doesnt rip an owner off...!

Thanks to all on the forum...looking forward to getting involved with the jag owners scene here in USA.

 

Good referral: Imported Cars of Stamford. George Kakaletris 377 Elm St,Stamford, CT 06902 (203) 323-3486. My good friend who has since passed, made friends with George and who had brought all of his cars, including several old BMWs. He understands old school repairs too.

 

Thanks...will try him.

What I would like to find is a good honest place at reasonable cost that knows these cars!

 

Welcome to New York, and watch out for those potholes!

I'm in the area, and I take my '04 XJR and my '03 X-type to a local one-man shop that I've been using for about 10 years. He's not a Jag specialist, he's just a good regular mechanic. His estimates are accurate, his hourly rates aren't astronomical, and he's always been honest.

He was also willing to do an off-the-manual job - drilling a hole to access the "hidden" bolt for the oil pan on the X-Type - which was documented on this forum and which I printed out and showed him. Believe it or not, the Manual calls for 8 hours of labor to drop the transmission in order to access that hidden bolt - turning a 1-hour job into 8 hours.

Fortunately most of my issues have been routine mechanical stuff.

He's in White Plains near the train station - County Center Automotive - behind the BP station on Bank Street.

You probably know that there is a Jag dealer right nearby too - in Elmsford. I used to go to them all the time, and still do if I have more complicated problems, but my last experience there about 2 years ago was poor - to put it mildly. They had a GREAT service adviser - but he retired. The other one I never liked - and I did not trust - he's a real sourpuss.

I see you're currently having that same issue. I took the XJR in to the dealer because the Audio stopped producing sound - everything seems to work - but no sound comes out (has Nav unit). Long story short the XJR sat in the dealer's shop for 6 weeks, and was returned to me in the same condition as dropped off. During those six weeks I had to call in once a week to get updates - and put up with lame excuses - busy this week - and "may cost more to repair than the car is worth." (The car only has 40k on the clock.) The XJs have a fiber-optic loop for the audio, and it's probably the amp or a loose or dirty connector. Given the history, I can only "assume" he would check those, but communication was atrocious. "No charge" he says as he hands me back the keys.

Needless to say I was surprised and appalled to be treated that way at the Dealer's repair shop. "too busy"? really? I haven't been back since then, and won't go back until they have a different service adviser. The Audio is still "out" - but that's not my daily driver - that burbling V8 and whining supercharger are music to my ears. I may try to replace the amp myself - or just update the entire unit. Jag charges around $5k for a new unit... thanks, but no thanks.

I absolutely love the XJR - great car - and a hoot to drive.

 

Hey MB
thanks for that - very useful. I have EXACTLY the same issue on my XJR re sound. Am doing some digging - pulled amp out, trying a replacement...I think it might be a fibreoptic issue but cant find a way to test that in isolation yet...

Can you give me an idea on hourly rates - I spoken with some local garages and its everywhere from 80-150 a hour. Maybe they hear my accent and change their costs! And what about resto costs? In UK I had a good team of people to use and would pay £35-50/hr. I fancy getting stuck into a project over here but wonder if it is cheaper to ship it back home and get it done there!

 

I believe the labor rate is either $90 or $100/hour.

 

Thanks again - will check them out...

Is anyone going to the Greenwich Concours?

 

I think about going every year, but never actually made it there.
Maybe this year...

 

My Father gave me his 2002 x type 2.5 V6. It sat for 4 months so I just replaced the fuel pump mod. unit. nothing happens when you try to start it. No fuel pump starting and no engine crank when you turn the key to start position. I do not know where to start to identify which relay is the fuel pump relay, all the fuses are good and not blown. The gas tank has a fresh 12 Gallons in it. Everything went together like a breeze. It seems something is telling the factory security system to block the starting of the engine and get a blinking red light on the center console when I try the two separate key FOB's my father left me when he passed away suddenly.

 

Jamo - Sounds like what happened to me one day when i left my lights on and it drained the battery. I hooked up the jumpers, but it wouldn't even try to start. All i got was the blinking red light on the dash.

I had used the key to open the door before hooking up the jumper cables, so i think the alarm locked me out of starting it. After a few minutes i realized that might be what was going on, so i got out, closed all the doors and (with the jumpers still connected) used the keyfob to lock it, and then unlock it, and then it started right up.

Maybe you disconnected the battery when you changed the fuel pump?

Anyway, Try closing all the doors and locking the car, then unlock it.