Hello,

I'm new to the forum hoping I can get some advice on keeping or selling my mom's car. As most would appreciate on here, it is a beautiful car, it was put into service on January 2007 when we got it. We are the original owners. It has always been parked in our garage when not in use.

My basic question is should we keep it until the mileage gets up to a high number such as 70,000 miles? It is currently 9 years old and it has had these problems. I would like to tap anybody's knowledge and experience with this automobile to help me determine if we should keep it or lease a new one. The car drives great, and the body is in excellent shape. It has been in some minor fender benders, mostly parking. I'd say about three, by my mom not me!

The Problems it has had:

- The A/C water drain got clogged up, so on a trip from Orlando to Miami the interior got a puddle of water. The dealer (has always been dealer serviced) had to take down the dashboard to repair it. Then after they did that we noticed a little air was blowing by the front vent on the dash (which would blow air when you put it on defrost). The dealer had to take the dashboard down again to change all the ducts in there because they were worn out. They only charged for the part but not the labor since they said they should have caught it the first time. All this cost about $5,500 at the dealer.

- The plastic pipe on the coolant tank that connects to the hose, just fell off. It cracked so they put in a a new coolant tank.

- Today we got it back since it would not start, the dealer said the battery was weak and it led to the engine flooding out. They changed the fuel filter and did the induction service and a new battery. $160 labor just to change the battery. the total cost for everything was about $1,200.00

- Some time ago, the Jaguar ornament just fell off, we had to get a new one.

- Some years ago, the plastic part behind the from passenger seats popped out, we took them to a local body shop that came up with some ingenious fix. At the dealer they might have made us get new seats!

- Under factory warranty the navigation system went bad.

- Under the extended warranty Bushings had to be changed a couple of years ago, I can't remember if they were the front or back ones. Also the garage door opening button quit working, they changed that whole top/ceiling console.

Battery and Brakes I consider maintenance items. I wish I was like Jay Leno and could just keep all my old cars in a museum but that is not the case. So back to my original question, do you think it has more problems coming down the line? I think that since we drive it so little it gets some of these problems such as the clogged A/C drain and fuel system. It rarely goes on the highway.

Thanks for your input.

 

Sounds like your Dealer is taking advantage of your wallet.
Labor to replace battery is redicious. I know of no place that charges labor if you purchase battery from them.
The AC Drain is another rip off.

Before any future repairs, obtain estimates from independent jag repair shops or another Dealer.

These cars become expensive to maintain. Expect to replace worn out suspension parts, rubber/plastic hoses, etc.

 

Since you mentioned bushings had worn out, I'm guessing this is a car that doesn't have low miles because it sits in storage for lengths of time, but rather is used to make lots of short trips around town.

My Grandfather had done the same thing with his 1997 Cadillac... bought it brand new, and after 15 years it only had 30k miles. But it was driven almost every day: 1/2 mile here, 1 mile there, always in city traffic. In my opinion, nothing is worse for an engine. I doubt his ever got up to full operating temperature. That's terrible for an engine because moisture is not boiled out of the oil, seals make lots of thermal cycles, plastic cracks, leaks develop, etc.

Anyway, the coolant tank is a very common failure from the plastic aging, i wouldn't make much of that. Bushings are also a very common failure on these cars. The issue with the a/c drain and defrost actuator are not typical. I would definitely worry about loosing air springs next (rubber is aging just like the bushings), and at the dealer you'll be getting a bill for $3000+ on the front springs. Whether it's worth it to keep for you is going to have to be your decision.

 

I definitely think you should sell it...

...to me!

 

With a mileage like that the car is barely into its service life. The editor of our UK Jaguar Enthusiasts Club had a 2004 that went to 230k miles before impact with a deer got the car written off. In this months magazine, in the X350 section, a 2008 car is reported as being purchased with mileage at 406k miles, yes, 406,000 miles !! picture shows an absolutely immaculate car. Yes, of course it has been well maintained and no scrimping on servicing, but it shows how these cars can do the miles.


However, your problem is you aren't doing the miles. These cars need using and taking out and up to reasonable speeds if they are to keep working properly; they are not town shopping trolleys. Other thing to mention is that if you can find an experienced Jaguar specialist not too far away, take your car there for service, as Jaguar main agents do charge big labour rates. Also main agents have to use Jaguar-sourced spare parts, and these are not cheap. Independent shops are free to use after-market stuff which also includes OEM parts from the original suppliers to Jaguar but sold directly to Jaguar spares specialists and then sold to you or the shop via the internet. Substantial savings are possible.

 

It does not look like it is being driven and it also looks like the dealer is totally taking advantage of you. $160 labor to change the battery? Really? Wait until the air shocks go bad.

If you are not going to drive it, sell it. The low mileage will attract more potential buyers allowing you to price the car at the higher end of the scale. If you are going to keep it, ditch the dealer service and find an independent outfit to service your car.

 

If its something you would like to own keep it...If not sell it and put it towards something you really want...With that mileage and being 1 owner with records it will pull good $$$$

 

My 2004 XJ8 has 147k miles on it and it still looks almost new. I love the car and plan to keep it for another 100k if I can.

I have replaced the front shocks and compressor this winter as it gets cold here in the winter and I was losing air in the shocks. At 145k miles, I regarded that as almost a maintenance repair. The Arnott shocks cost me $850 and the compressor as a preventive measure $400. Since you're in the Deep South where winters are warm, you may never have that problem. I had one problem on the road 7 or 8 years ago that caused me some grief--the thermostat went bad and I was forced to spend dealer prices on the road to get it fixed. At 120k the transmission was losing fluid, so I had a full flush/refill with a new pan. The headliner is now drooping in the rear so I will have to have that repaired at a cost of $500 or so. That's everything we've had to do mechanically to the car in 12 years. We have maintained the car properly, with oil changes, tires, brakes and checkups, but in my opinion the car has been a great choice. I'm sure there will be more maintenance items, just because of the high mileage, but so far so good.

If you have a need for a full size quality vehicle, I recommend you keep it. If you want to sell it, let me know and maybe we can work something out...lol.

Dan
2004 XJ8
1989 560SL
1983 911SC

 

Why not just change the compressor seal...Thats most likely all the old one needed...

 

I had already replaced the seal a year or two earlier.

 

You won't find another car that looks as stunning as yours anymore. If you keep it, find a better mechanic. If you sell, you could get s good price with your low miles.

 

Thank You everyone for your comments and insights.

I agree that I should not take it to the dealer anymore, it's that they are honest and know what they are doing but there has to be a Jaguar repair shop in Miami that's honest, knowledgeable and better priced. I have a Corvette and I have a good relationship and get good pricing with the Chevy dealer but I don't know how universal some repairs would be, they do service the used cars they get to sell.

@Fraser Mitchell I didn't know about how the parts pricing worked. That's good to know!

@Mhamilton and @Fraser Mitchell @Lagonia
you are precisely right, this car's life has consisted mostly of very short trips about 2 or 3 miles. It's first road trip to Orlando was last summer which is when the A/C drain problem appeared. It rarely gets to go over 30 or 40 mph. I drive to Fort Lauderdale every few weeks, I'll start taking it out some more.

@Dan B. that's amazing how many miles you have and the great service it has given you and also the one F.M. mentioned with 406k miles.

We are going to keep it, it is a beautiful car and the paint is like new, except the part where it was in an accident you can tell the paint is not glossy in the part of the frame where the door closes on.

Thanks again everyone for your comments, and if I didn't mention you here I read and appreciate everyone's reply.