Hello

I got a very interesting offer for an xj350 diesel with excellent 20zoll sepang wheels
I there anyone outside who can give me some advice /information regarding the diesel
I see a lot of selling ads based on diesel engine issues some other drivers are very happy with this combination.without major faults.
Many Thanks for any further info

Jean

 

The only thing I've ever seen on the diesels, was Jeremy Clarkson referring to it as the "Magic Jag" when it delivered amazing fuel mileage. On the factory spec, without any aftermarket, its consumption has been logged as high as 55mpg; so with an 80l tank (its capacity is stated as 77-80), that's 924 miles.

 

The diesel is the least powerful of the engine options, not that it matters much my 3.0 petrol (the next least) is quite enough for me.
But for resale value, possibly the V8 is more popular, or the more optioned-up vehicles like the Vanden Plas or Super V8 ?
(Many of the options are...how should I say...Optional! So you can't tell from the base model.)
Personally I hate diesels. Chug Chug. Was OK and the expected reliable popper popper on my boat of course.
Cheers Chris
"I owned a Daihatsu Charade once. It was economical. Just sayin'. Well I cracked the block but that's nitpicking."

 

The 2.7 ltr diesel is not very common in the US so your question will be better addressed in the British subforum.

The engine is a PSA developed and Ford built unit and is considered as problematic. Due to a design and manufacturing flaws, the front main bearings of the crankshaft can spin. This does not have to happen, but when it does, it inevitably leads to a total engine loss.

Fritz

 

There were a number of issues specific to the 2.7 litre diesel which I was told about when I was running the 3 litre petrol X350 ( two between 2010 to 2019). The exhaust flexibles can crack near the manifold and you then smell diesel exhaust fumes in the cabin. There is a repair kit for this, but it is a lengthy job in labour to fit. Owners also experienced clogging-up of the DPF, and the EGR valves. There are two EGRs, one per bank of cylinders. Most shops just swap them out. There have also been cases of fuel dilution of the engine oil and diesel runaway. There are also two turbo chargers. In addition, the cambelt needs replacing at a certain mileag/age, and the fuel pump belts at the rear of the engine are normally done at the same time. This is an additional diesel maintenance job because all the petrol engines have timing chains.
The basic problem seems to be that the car needs long journeys to ensure the DPFs are kept clear, and is not suited to in-town tootling. Of course if the car will just be a weekend tripper, you're on safer ground.

My opinion is that the fuel savings of the diesel are far outweighed by the downsides of the issues I describe above, and you'd be better off buying the petrol 3 litre which is a reliable engine with very few issues at all. I ran two and the only engine-specific fault I had was leakage of the sump gasket. Of course the VED is outrageously high, but just think of it as £12 a week and ask yourself are you that poor you can't afford that. If you can't, should you be running what was a very expensive up-market saloon with costs to match ? If there is a good independent Jaguar specialist near to you this would be beneficial.

 

Unless performance is your main criteria (given that you're considering a diesel, that seems unlikely), the 3.0 petrol is the best all rounder; perfectly adequate and smooth performance, zero reliabiity problems, and fuel consumption which in normal use equals or beats the diesel. My wife and I ran a 3.0 XJ6 for several years and many thousands of miles, at a total cost of £0.21 pence per mile; about half what JimC64's diesel cost him over a similar period and mileage.

 

No experience myself beyond Jeremy's - when it was new back then, and that was a good episode - but I'd keep the hunt out for a V6 or V8 gasser for the least issues as our friend in Germany above alluded to. Even if the MPG and Sepangs are a big draw.