Help Identifying This XJ
#1
09-13-2018, 07:47 AM
Help Identifying This XJ
My father-in-law is possibly going to be getting rid of his 2003 Jaguar XJ. I believe it is a XJ Sport but I am not sure. I know it's not the best picture but any help would be appreciated. Also is there anything that I should know about this car such as the good and bad of it.
Thanks,
#2
09-13-2018, 09:07 AM
Veteran Member
Like you said, the picture isn’t clear but it looks like an XJR. Those are XJR wheels and the grill looks like an XJR grill. XJR’s are supercharged and have 370 horsepower. They are wicked fast and so fun to drive! 2003 is the best year of that model because it’s the last year of production. Also, the tensioners and guides were metal from the factory rather than plastic, which could crack. If the secondary tensioners at least aren’t upgraded to metal and they crack and the timing chain skips, it could cause serious engine damage. But you wouldn’t have to worry about that with a 2003. If it’s an XJR, it also has the better transmission.
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jharrod18 (09-13-2018)
#3
09-13-2018, 09:08 AM
Veteran Member
It looks like a USA spec Sport, black grill inserts and those wheels give it away. Being an 03 there's only the trans to be concerned about and there's a part that addresses the very well known problem with the A drum. It's called a TransGo kit - I wont go into detail but its a case of fitting it and a trans service, then it should be a good reliable car.
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jharrod18 (09-13-2018)
#4
09-13-2018, 06:14 PM
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Lots of good, ....steel body, the '03 has the updated tensioners already, lots of info for any possible repairs on site here...prompt the 2nd link in my Sig for the "How To..." and you'll find (albeit an older list) of things to look for on the car by Jim Lombardi, ...should be the first post.
If your father-in-law had it since new and held on to it this long, that should say a lot. I've had my '00 since '04 and won't give it up.
If your father-in-law had it since new and held on to it this long, that should say a lot. I've had my '00 since '04 and won't give it up.
#5
09-14-2018, 07:11 AM
#6
09-14-2018, 05:16 PM
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Actually the Penta wheel is a giveaway of a SC car. But nothing says they can't be changed, they are a popular wheel. As for the grill, I believe there were 2 options for then, a body color match grill and grill trim and a stainless mesh, which may have been dipped in rubber coating? Heck, simply pop the hood and see if there's a SC in her. Another way to tell if it has an SC is to look at the exhaust tips, they should be 3".
#7
09-14-2018, 05:58 PM
Veteran Member
It could be an XJR but my default would be that it's a Sport. The 2003 XJRs came mostly with Asteroids and all of the Sports I've seen have the same wheels as the one pictured in the first post here. Also the black grill is a Sport standard. Could someone put that grill and those wheels on an XJR, of course. If you hear hoof beats think horses, not Zebras
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#8
09-14-2018, 07:56 PM
Actually the Penta wheel is a giveaway of a SC car. But nothing says they can't be changed, they are a popular wheel. As for the grill, I believe there were 2 options for then, a body color match grill and grill trim and a stainless mesh, which may have been dipped in rubber coating? Heck, simply pop the hood and see if there's a SC in her. Another way to tell if it has an SC is to look at the exhaust tips, they should be 3".
Neither of our R's came with those wheels ... and my memory was always the stainless grill on the R. My R bought used the same --- from original owner. Really think those wheels were for sports -- I have always liked them.
#9
09-15-2018, 11:51 AM
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They probably started putting them on the closeout body style of the 308 then. My 2000 only came with Pentas only if it were SC'd.
#10
09-15-2018, 11:57 AM
#11
09-16-2018, 09:26 AM
Maybe that's what they did ....on the early R's. I bought a 98VDP .. so was not really looking intently at the models until it was totaled and I purchased my 02 R (late 01)
#12
09-16-2018, 06:52 PM
I would bet those wheels have been changed by a previous owner
Also, the car may not be a 'Sport', it might just have the Sport Pack?
Jag-lovers brochures - a 2001 Model Year XJ Series Brochure
Eitehr way the engine is the key, if it's not Supercharged, then it's not an R. Whether it's a Sport, or an Executive, or a Sovereign etc etc is largely irrelevant. The spec's are the spec's
Also, the car may not be a 'Sport', it might just have the Sport Pack?
Jag-lovers brochures - a 2001 Model Year XJ Series Brochure
Eitehr way the engine is the key, if it's not Supercharged, then it's not an R. Whether it's a Sport, or an Executive, or a Sovereign etc etc is largely irrelevant. The spec's are the spec's
#13
01-29-2019, 05:35 PM
#14
01-29-2019, 11:40 PM
Looks like an XJ Sport. The XJRs had a stainless mesh grille. The XJ Sport still had a waterfall grille just blacked out. Also two dead giveaways, the trunk badge will either say XJ Sport or XJR and pop the hood, if it has a supercharger sitting on top of the engine and says supercharged all over the place it is an XJR. It will also say supercharged in the tach and XJR on the steering wheel. Also it will go like a bat out of hell and pentastar wheels were deleted in favor of asteroids for '02 and '03 XJRs. Looks like an XJ Sport but hope it is an R if so KEEP THAT CAR!
Last edited by anduha; 01-29-2019 at 11:45 PM.
#15
01-30-2019, 11:09 AM
Once I have access to the car I will be able to tell. I have just been trying to figure it out based on what I have. I know it is a XJ Sport and has around 65k miles. The one thing that I don't know is if it is super charged. The reason I bring this up is that based on the vin the vin charts I have looked at the model which is indicated in the 12th spot is F which on the chart says XJ Sedan, Super 8.
The letter H is designated as XJ Sedan.
The letter H is designated as XJ Sedan.
#16
01-30-2019, 11:38 AM
No XJ Sport was supercharged, the point of the model was to have the wheels, styling cues and interior of an XJR without the engine. Pop the hood to confirm but 90% sure not supercharged. Still a beautiful, low mileage XJ and the XJ Sport was relatively rare in the US, only imported for a few years.
#17
01-30-2019, 12:17 PM
Hi There,
If you can find a Jaguar dealership they should be able to access the records held by the manufacturer using the Vin Number. This will provide you with a full spec of the vehicle plus any factory fitted options.
In the UK Jaguar dealers do not charge for this service but, in the States, who knows.
Cheers,
Cubist
If you can find a Jaguar dealership they should be able to access the records held by the manufacturer using the Vin Number. This will provide you with a full spec of the vehicle plus any factory fitted options.
In the UK Jaguar dealers do not charge for this service but, in the States, who knows.
Cheers,
Cubist
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staffsbull (01-30-2019)
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