Hi All,

Having spent most of my teenage years under the bonnet of my Father's series 2, I've decided that I'm finally old enough to qualify for Jag ownership

After ruling out the Series 3 and XJ40, I've decided that the X300 will be the best choice for reliable motoring. The downside is that I'm in Spain, and second-hand cars hold their value here, so bargains are few - although there seem to be more around this year. Furthermore, every car is blatantly described as 'showroom condition' in the ads even when it clearly isn't, which also makes me somewhat dubious about fine details like maintenance and mileage!

So - I'm looking for some sage advice:

- Aside from the usual driver's seat / pedals - are there any less well-known ways to spot a clocked X300?
- When I've looked for cars before here, I saw a lot with engine bays all steam cleaned - often cleaner than on the outside! Are there any signs of mechanical neglect I should look for that are harder to cover up?

Thanks in advance! Will keep you all posted if I find the cat of my dreams this Summer!

 

Congrats , X300s are the most reliable models as far as I know . If maintained correctly , your X300 should not cause any big problems at all .The engines are rock solid and very durable

 

I'm not sure about this, but I would believe a digital odometer would be difficult to roll back or "clocked" as you say. The drive train on the XJ6s are very durable. You might want to check that all things electric are working such as front and rear lights, turn signals, power seats, sun roof, heating and air conditioning. Also all the lamps and warning lights in the dash work when the key is in the run position.

If you find one you really like, an inspection by professionals/workshop might be in order if the seller would agree. Of course the cost most probably will be borne by you, but well worth it for peace of mind and to verify the car's condition. Good luck with the hunt.

Doug

 

There's a list of telltale issues to watch for when jaguar shopping.

-if the A/C compressor is shot, you are sure to be in for a mess of other issues.

-Be wary of electrical oddities, if something doesn't seem to sit right, I guarantee a can of worms and electrical issues will be opened and dumped upon you. Electrical issues are the biggest downfall of these cars.

-you'll be hard pressed to find an X300 with a sunroof in decent condition. Lifters and sliders have a tendency to give out after a usual service life.

-you will have a broken cup holder.

-If you can manage, get the car up on a lift and check freeplay in the wheel bearings, paying particular attention to the rear wheels. rear wheel bearings are an expensive repair.

-make it a point to verify that the chassis and bearings have been lubricated over the car's lifespan.

-if the transmission feels worn out, or shifts particularly hard, leave it alone.



Despite all these, the X300 is in my opinion the best XJ6 of them all. The self leveling rear suspension was done away with, eliminating costly retrofitting. The motor is bulletproof if you take care of it, extremely reliable. Fabulous vehicles in my opinion.

hope this helps :]

-pancho

 

and of course, check dipsticks and fluids, this is always an indicator of neglect or care. rough idle and sluggish acceleration are usual signs of neglect; there's not too much visual that is an indicator

 

I would add the auxilliary water pump- the one that circulates water to the heater core. My XJ6 has 235,000 miles on original engine and transmission.

 

Hi 'Sid'. Where in Spain are you located?

 

Well I have responded to this 'time waster' both on this forum and privately but he has not done me the courtesy of a response. What is it that makes people ask for help and then fail to acknowledge offers of it?
As I live in Spain and own an X300 I thought I may have been of some assistance.

 

Hi Chaps,

Thanks for the great advice - keep it coming!

biffta - No pasa nada, he estado trabajando todos los días, poco tiempo para Internet o coches!

I'm on the Costa Calida, but have driven across Spain enough times to be happy to pick the right car up from anywhere. The X300s I've seen so far seem to fall into the 'wishful thinking' category. That said, I don't mind paying an honest price as long as I know I'm getting an honest car!

Any suggestions as to where to buy a used Jag in Spain will be warmly received.

Oh, and I promise to try and get e-mail notification working so I can actually reply sooner, not later next time. Wrist-slapped Sid signing out

 

One week ago, the Moraira branch of Global cars had an X300 in stock. Can't comment on condition etc, but perhaps a call to them would reveal more. They do advertise that they will take any car to any of their branches along the Costa Blanca for viewing.

 

Thanks. Nothing on there now, but I did see one a couple of weeks ago on their site ES plated but sadly RHD. Will give them a bell. What's your view of Global - heard mixed reviews both v. good and v. bad?

Would prefer a LHD - vastly better resale and less 'conspicuous'.

All of my cars have been bought from local workshops - so there is always someone local to repair if anything goes wrong, although nothing major ever has in 250,000km of driving here. Kind of makes it hard to justify 'another car' to SWMBO when our old ones are so damn reliable.

Just hope I get the same luck with an X300, or I'll never live it down!