Looking to buy a 1998-03 XJR whats the best year and what problems do these cars commonly have?
#1
04-08-2007 | 12:25 AM
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Looking to buy a 1998-03 XJR whats the best year and what problems do these cars commonly have?
Hi I’m looking to buy a Black 1998-2003 XJR with under 50,000 mile and was wondering what the best year was and what problems do these cars commonly have?
I like the 1998-99 because of the wheels and the interior color combo of tan or light grey seats with the black carpet and black wood (I’ve seen many pictures of the 2000-03 and they don’t seem to have black wood anymore) but I don’t like how they kept the steering wheel regular wood looks out of place maybe it could get refinished in black, and I know the brakes are bigger in 99.
In 2000 they changed to Alpine speakers from the Harmon Kardon is their a difference in quality?
2001 The added heated rear seat which I don’t care too much about.
2002 they added sport-tuned computer suspension which I’m thinking would make a big difference in performance and handling any comments on that would be great also they added navigation which would be cool but not mandatory.
2002 XJR 100 with the BBS wheels and Brembo brakes body color trim around the windows (which I don’t like) gray stained bird's-eye maple veneer interior trim, Momo-brand gear knob, charcoal leather sport seats double-stitched in contrasting red (The Red Stitching is cool but does not match anything on the car, with the range rover the interior stitching is the exterior body color but I guess in this case the car is black and the charcoal seats are almost black). The driver's seat adjusts in 12 ways and all seats are heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel with an "R" logo (which I also don’t like you need a wood wheel in a luxury vehicle)
2003 R1 Package I’m thinking being similar to 2002 XJR 100 with the BBS wheels and Brembo brakes.
I like the 1999 the best but just wondering reliability quality & the added features in the years after making a big difference I also heard of transmission problems with the R wondering if they fixed the problem in a certain year?
I like the 1998-99 because of the wheels and the interior color combo of tan or light grey seats with the black carpet and black wood (I’ve seen many pictures of the 2000-03 and they don’t seem to have black wood anymore) but I don’t like how they kept the steering wheel regular wood looks out of place maybe it could get refinished in black, and I know the brakes are bigger in 99.
In 2000 they changed to Alpine speakers from the Harmon Kardon is their a difference in quality?
2001 The added heated rear seat which I don’t care too much about.
2002 they added sport-tuned computer suspension which I’m thinking would make a big difference in performance and handling any comments on that would be great also they added navigation which would be cool but not mandatory.
2002 XJR 100 with the BBS wheels and Brembo brakes body color trim around the windows (which I don’t like) gray stained bird's-eye maple veneer interior trim, Momo-brand gear knob, charcoal leather sport seats double-stitched in contrasting red (The Red Stitching is cool but does not match anything on the car, with the range rover the interior stitching is the exterior body color but I guess in this case the car is black and the charcoal seats are almost black). The driver's seat adjusts in 12 ways and all seats are heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel with an "R" logo (which I also don’t like you need a wood wheel in a luxury vehicle)
2003 R1 Package I’m thinking being similar to 2002 XJR 100 with the BBS wheels and Brembo brakes.
I like the 1999 the best but just wondering reliability quality & the added features in the years after making a big difference I also heard of transmission problems with the R wondering if they fixed the problem in a certain year?
#2
04-08-2007 | 07:07 PM
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RE: Looking to buy a 1998-03 XJR whats the best year and what problems do these cars commonly have?
You and I are in the same boat. I am going to PA to look at a 2000 on Tuesday. I already looked at a '99 in Tampa and it was extremely nice. TheHK sound system was superior. However, I opted for the '00 over the '99 because of some engine components. I am still in the learning mode, but I believe the '99 has a plastic timing chain tensioner and plastic impellers on the water pump. Both are prone to failure. It's my understanding that plastic impellers and chain tensionerwere not used in 2000. (I hope someone corrects me if I am in error.) My BIGGEST concern is over the cylinder wall (Nikasil) issues. I dont know how prevalent failures are, but from what I understand, it's a huge costif/when there is a failure (replacing the engine with a new one or rebuilding the one in the car). Also, the car in PA still has a little bit of the Extra Miles warranty left - which is definately a plus, along with all the service records from day one. I dont know if there are any engine differences between '00 and '01 which would make an '01 preferable, but I think the Nikasil coating was done away withbeginning withthe 2002 model year, which would make me breathe a bit easier. However, the differences in cost between the years is appreciable.
#3
04-08-2007 | 07:51 PM
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RE: Looking to buy a 1998-03 XJR whats the best year and what problems do these cars commonly have?
I found a little more out about the Nikasil issue. It seems that Jaguars built between 1998-2000 were the only ones who used Nikasil so if you own a 2001 or newer model, you are in the clear. In 2000 Jaguar began to switch to steel liners to rectify the problem. Cars with 6 digits in their vin# at the end have Nikasil, cars with 5 digits at the end of their vin# have steel liners. I was happy to find this info because the VIN on the 2000 XJRI am flying to PA to see on Tuesday ends infive digits. The '99 I looked at ended in 6 digits. I guessthat meansI'm in the clear for the 2000 (atleast with the Nikasilconcern). Whew!!
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#4
04-08-2007 | 08:47 PM
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RE: Looking to buy a 1998-03 XJR whats the best year and what problems do these cars commonly have?
FL XJR I posted this in another fourm an a reply I got back was
Buy an 02 or 03, these have gen 2 tensioner pulley's, you'll get the most car for your money and will not have to worry as much about total engine failure.
Someone else posted
The earlier cars (up to 2000)had some issues with the cylinder coating (nikasil) and water pump
Tensionner seems to be less an issue on the R since they do not have VVT
All R have slightly bigger rotors ( not talking about the Brembo brakes)
The whole Audio system ,not only speakers, is different on 2000 and up
The BBS on the 2002 XJR100 are 19", all the others, being BBS or not are 18"
The tranny is Mercedes on the R and ZF on the others and is pretty reliable
You can retrofit the factory NAV for about $2K on 2000 and up
The adaptive suspension do not increase handling performance, it just allow the car to have the same performance with softer springs and consequently a slightly "softer" ride
Heated rear seats also add the rear console, a nice feature.
2001 and up have the reverse parking aid
Buy an 02 or 03, these have gen 2 tensioner pulley's, you'll get the most car for your money and will not have to worry as much about total engine failure.
Someone else posted
The earlier cars (up to 2000)had some issues with the cylinder coating (nikasil) and water pump
Tensionner seems to be less an issue on the R since they do not have VVT
All R have slightly bigger rotors ( not talking about the Brembo brakes)
The whole Audio system ,not only speakers, is different on 2000 and up
The BBS on the 2002 XJR100 are 19", all the others, being BBS or not are 18"
The tranny is Mercedes on the R and ZF on the others and is pretty reliable
You can retrofit the factory NAV for about $2K on 2000 and up
The adaptive suspension do not increase handling performance, it just allow the car to have the same performance with softer springs and consequently a slightly "softer" ride
Heated rear seats also add the rear console, a nice feature.
2001 and up have the reverse parking aid
#5
04-09-2007 | 10:13 PM
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#6
10-13-2010 | 10:26 PM
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From: Colorado
I know this is an old thread, but rather than start a new thread, i could run off the information already here.
On the subject of Adaptive Suspension: Does that mean that XJRs before 2002 do not have shocks that change rate when you put the car into sport mode? Did VDP models before 2002 have adaptive suspension?
I was under the impression that all x308 XJRs had adaptive shocks until i read that...
On the subject of Adaptive Suspension: Does that mean that XJRs before 2002 do not have shocks that change rate when you put the car into sport mode? Did VDP models before 2002 have adaptive suspension?
I was under the impression that all x308 XJRs had adaptive shocks until i read that...
#7
10-14-2010 | 09:47 AM
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#8
10-14-2010 | 02:09 PM
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From: Colorado
so is CATS what the adaptive suspension is called? i thought that was just traction control...But i dont doubt your vdp has adaptive suspension, as i have heard of a few other 01s that do.
And if someone with an 01 xjr could open up the hood, and check for a wire going to the top of you shocks, i would GREATLY appreciate it!
And if someone with an 01 xjr could open up the hood, and check for a wire going to the top of you shocks, i would GREATLY appreciate it!
#9
10-14-2010 | 02:37 PM
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From: Ellijay
I would point out that some of the information posted above 3 years ago is incorrect.
The switch from Nikasil to steel sleeves occurred on August 18, 2000 . . . at the engine plant. There is no relationship between the VINumber and model year and Nikasil or steel. An older engine may have ended up in a car assembled in August or even September as an '01 model. Check the manufacturer date on the lower driver 'B' pillar.
The switch from plastic to metal tensioners occurred on August 13, 2001. My '02 was assembled in June of '01 and had the plastic tensioners. Again, there is no relationship between model year, VIN and plastic or metal tensioners.
Any dealer can produce the engine serial number from the VIN within the Jaguar database. The serial number encodes the date of manufacturer of the engine thus the first engine with metal tensioners had a serial number of 010813HHMM (YYMMDDHHMM). The HHMM has not been reliably reported.
The switch from Nikasil to steel sleeves occurred on August 18, 2000 . . . at the engine plant. There is no relationship between the VINumber and model year and Nikasil or steel. An older engine may have ended up in a car assembled in August or even September as an '01 model. Check the manufacturer date on the lower driver 'B' pillar.
The switch from plastic to metal tensioners occurred on August 13, 2001. My '02 was assembled in June of '01 and had the plastic tensioners. Again, there is no relationship between model year, VIN and plastic or metal tensioners.
Any dealer can produce the engine serial number from the VIN within the Jaguar database. The serial number encodes the date of manufacturer of the engine thus the first engine with metal tensioners had a serial number of 010813HHMM (YYMMDDHHMM). The HHMM has not been reliably reported.
Last edited by test point; 10-14-2010 at 02:39 PM.
#11
10-15-2010 | 11:38 AM
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From: Austin
I belive my vehicle does have CATS. Its an '01 VDP S/C (they didn't get much more expenseive than this), it has traction control/ABS as well as variable (electrically controlled) dampening on the shock absorbers.... look for little plug going into dome where shock mounts. If I were to do this again I'd get an '03
#13
10-15-2010 | 03:05 PM
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From: Sunny Southport UK
yeh, but not all, customer based request either way, and from 1997 on. Its a relatively simple system compared to today's suspension adaptation systems. On or Off, basically. I think it went standard kit in 2001 MY.
#15
10-15-2010 | 07:48 PM
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From: NY
If the Nikasil linings are in good condition, then it's a superior engine to the steel sleeved engines.
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