Should I expect a lot of expensive repairs with a 2006 x350 or are they reliable and just the odd thing going wrong even with a FSH

 

While I didn't spend to much in vehicle repairs initially, 2004 purchased in 2008, in the last year and a half I've spent well over $5K. I also need to take care of some front suspension repairs which I may or may not do myself. So if large repair bills get your undies in a bunch then you may not want a Jaguar. As for me I like the car well enough to put up with them for now.

 

1) Reliability: I would say these cars are reliable on the whole. My indy says the x350 is probably most reliable jag he's seen and he works on pre and post x350s.

2) Maintenance: The rub with these cars is that maintenance is not cheap; everything costs more than a Honda/Toyota etc. Brakes/tires/hoses/fluids etc are on the higher end. Labor at even the Indy shops is more than at your local garage. Also at the age of anywhere from 5-10 years in age, these cars are starting to need replacing of maintenance items...so that comes into the picture as well.

I like the car, so like @Donsxj8, I accept it. I also self medicate by telling myself that the repairs are cheaper than if I go out and buy a new car.

 

so what about taking out an extended warranty when buying one of these cats. Would they cover the kind of repairs we're talking about or are they a waste of money

 

Hi Dino,

There have been many reports on this forum of members who have had substantial, expensive repair work done under an extended warranty. Use the search function to review some of these reports. Of course, it will all come down to the actual warranty you are able to secure on the car you purchase.

And please don't forget to visit our New Member Area - Intro a MUST - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum and post an introduction to give us some info about yourself and the kind of X350 you would most like to own.

Cheers,

Don

 

My car had a lot of teething problems as it approached the 60k mark, but that's (not coincidentally) when the factory warranty ends. Trans seal leak, trans cooler lines, and fluid change pop to mind ($500+ in parts). Also had the cooling system issue with the plastic failing. But since then (20K miles) it's been as reliable as any other car (knock on wood).

The trick with these cars is that if you're depending on a dealer or specialist, you're going to pay through the nose for anything that goes wrong. If you DIY and spend some time shopping around for parts, then it's not much more expensive than anything else. Most notably, the suspension bushings. Dealer will replace the rear lower control arms for $500 each + labor. You can buy the bushings aftermarket for $150 and install them yourself with the right tools and an afternoon.

 

You are absolutley right.

Also read this forum and the Uk one so that you know where the fault will be and where the component is before it happens!!

eg plastic header tank,blower control module etc.

 

You will have to read the contract, and the fine print, to decide that!

With a newish car, low risk to (factory) Warranty Company may be worth it. If you hit a big problem, which is unfactored, design or manufacturing issue.

With an older car 2006+, higher risk to (independent) warranty company, with items / areas not covered, and limit on costs to repair or replace.
Generally not worth the paper written on.

But depends on the contract.

Warranty companies are not charities.

Read, all the posts on the modals you are interested in and pick a good one, and do the planned and preventative maintenance, or at least cost it into the ownership.

 

While reliable is not the first word I would use to describe the X350, I have to say ours is turning out to be just that. Luck of the draw? Maybe, but I did unearth a folder in the glovebox with a whopping $8k that I could count in repair receipts. All of it done at the dealer and one local indie, and all of it I would have done myself for a fraction of the cost.

Between this forum and a decent set of tools, you can actually work on these cars. As someone mentioned, I read up as much as I could on the boards and sure enough I experienced a couple of issues and already knew what to do. Parts are coming down in price and are readily available ATM.

I've replaced a headlight, transmission cooler lines, and the radiator overflow tank...all purchased via ebay or amazon. For us, the fun of owning one of these outstanding motors has been well worth the maintenance.

 

I bought my 2005 new. The only things I have had to replace beyond normal mx is the throttle body and the radiator overflow tank. There were other parts, but they were our fault, not the car's.

 

The cars are reliable in that you almost never get stranded at the roadside. Many owners have taken them well beyond 200k miles.
However they can suffer from what I call, "unfair wear and tear", being parts needing replacement at far shorter intervals than you would expect like suspension bushes. Some of these parts can be expensive, especially if you buy from Jaguar main agents, but if you trawl the internet those same parts from the same manufacturer that supplied Jaguar can be less than half the Jaguar price. And there are also after market parts like brake pads, discs etc where very reputable manufacturers supply at less cost.

However, these car are never cheap to keep on the road.