Hey guys looking to get back into another jag as my DD. Looking for some info as far as what years to stay away from,also what to look for to stay away from. I'm mechanically inclined and can do damn near everything to a car except rebuild a trans. Whats considered high or to high of milage? Also these jags have a 4 valve mod ford motor? I would rather a v8, I also want a super charged one....

 

Thus far, what I know...

2002 (after a certain engine number) - 2003 will have the metal timing chain tensioners. The earlier years had plastic ones that tend to disintegrate and could puke the motor.

Early X308's have an alloy of some sort in their motors that can be problematic. I'm not saying all of them have/had issues, but once I read about it for the first time, I avoided it like the plague.

The transmissions in the non-supercharged cars tend will have forward A-drum issues due to a weak design, which will require a replacement, superior aftermarket A-drum install or rebuild. This transmission takes a special synthetic transmission fluid, which by the cost of it, you'd think it came from unicorns. This transmission is found in BMWs among other vehicles.

The transmissions in the supercharged cars are much more robust and I believe they were used in Mercedes. A superior transmission to the non-supercharged car. I'm not sure whether or not it takes unicorn oil.

Read this: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...k-links-20090/

Definitely download and install the JTIS - link within the aforementioned thread.

Might as well read this: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...ownload-66381/

I highly recommend buying a scan tool capable of reading all Jaguar sensors and systems, such as the AE w/ Jaguar enhancement. If you go that route, buying direct will cost more than buying from Clay at Riffraff.

IMHO, high mileage is cliche, but I tried to stay away from six figures. I didn't bother looking at any near 100,000+ miles on the car. Most of the cars around here were absolutely trashed and on their 3rd+ owner. FINALLY, I ran across an original owner, meticulously maintained car on a Friday afternoon and bought it the following Wednesday morning.

There are many other members on this board who are more knowledgeable than I in regard to these cars and I'm sure they'll chime in.

Best of luck searching for your car.

 

The Jaguar V8 is a Jaguar design, built at a Jaguar factory in the UK.


That'd be Nikasil, a coating for the aluminium block that replaces normal steel cylinder liners. The problem was that in some markets, high sulphur content in the petrol would cause corrosion of this coating and loss of compression. Jaguar replaced a good few engines for this problem, so did BMW who also used the stuff.

The accepted wisdom is that any engine that's still around will not develop the problem, and the high sulphur fuel is off the market years ago.

Timging chain tensioners on an early car, however, will be a ticking bomb unless they're updated.


Later ZF transmissions have a modified A-drum that doesn't break. The supercharged models do indeed have a Mercedes transmission.


If you want a supercharged car in the US, you're pretty much limited to the XJR model - unless you can find one of the rare Vanden Plas Supercharged or Super V8 models.

I have to say, these cars don't rust much and the electrics seem to mostly work (with the odd niggle here and there), so get a well-maintained one and it should be reliable!

 

Are you sure about this? Do you have a VIN where the lucky numbers start?

 

Here are a few im thinking of looking at this week?


2003 Jaguar S-TYPE R Supercharged , 390HP, Low Miles, Loaded

2004 Jaguar XJ8 , Low Miles, Navigation, Heated Seats, Loaded

Really like this one,just wish it was white or black
2003 Jaguar XJ VDP Supercharged X350 Leather

2004 Jaguar xj8

 

X2... and do they still use the synth Esso oil?

 

I wrote with perhaps too much confidence: "Later ZF transmissions have a modified A-drum that doesn't break."

I don't have a date or VIN. Hearsay (from the jag-lovers X308 forum) says sometime in 2001.

I suspect, with gearboxes coming from an outside supplier, the changeover just happened when it happened...

 

Ah, well, the first one is an S-Type. Really good cars if you like the looks (my dad has a '99 with the 3.0 litre V6). It's on the same platform as the Lincoln LS/Ford Thunderbird as well as the current XF, so it's got some Ford cooties but no other downsides that I know of. V8 is the Jag engine.

The 2004s are the aluminium-bodied X350 model. Perhaps most easily spotted by the oval headlights. They're taller and bulkier than our low, sleek X308s, but again, really good say the people who have them. Only caveat is the air suspension which may sag.

The 2003, hilariously, is referred to as an X350 but is actually an X308. Note the round headlights. If you had the two models side by side you'd shake your head wondering how anybody can fail to spot the difference. It's got the Vanden Plas Supercharged LWB spec (UK: Daimler Super V8) but is a late model so it's badged Jaguar Super V8. From the VIN number F52256 it is indeed the last vintage of the X308, so should have steel liners (rather than nikasil) and the upgraded timing chain tensioners from the factory. And there's the Mercedes gearbox, so no trouble there either.

That car has the top spec unless you absolutely _have_ to have divided rear seats. I dunno what market price is for VdP-spec XJs in the US but less than a thousand were built with a supercharger, so I suspect you may have a bit of a wait till the next one turns up.

 

I'm with Roy on this one. The Supercharged VDP is the way to go. These are quite scarce and much more desirable than a regular VDP. Plus you get the amenities that are not available even in the XJR (such as picnic tables). The color combination is very nice and is good for resale (should you ever decide to part with it). Supercharged VDP MSRP'd at just under $80k. For $13k scant 10 years later I'd say its a very good buy. I'm sure there's room to negotiate.

 

The 03 VDP is a nice car -- it's Zircon (Blue) not silver. I don't know about this, but did the X308 Supercharged VDPs have the Super V8 badge on the back like the one in the ad, and didn't the VDPs have fluted chrome accents on the trunk/boot? I would run a VIN check on that one, but all in all it looks real good.

 

As I understand it, the model that was a VdP S/C became a Jaguar Super V8 for the last year of production, with the plain grille and bootlid plinth.

Maybe the model range wasn't confusing enough!

 

Anything 2002-2003 will be trouble free, especially the S/C ones. There is a S/C VDP in CA (racing green), that I was "this close" to pull the trigger on (11K asking, negotiable). Went with something else instead. I have the 2003 XJR itch,... BAD. Just looking for the right one to pop up.

 

well dont get anything short of xj8... xj8 owners scoff at s-type and x-type drivers... and make sure its 2004 or newer, get black, grey/silver, white or burg... these colors keep the classic car look longer, esp the black... i know i looked long and hard and paid a bit more for black on black, and boy its a beauty...

 

If you're going to to it-do it in style & go for a late model XJR from 2002-2003. You can also consider 2001 XJR's, but get the secondary tensioners checked & upgraded to the steel ones.

The XJR's Mercedes gearbox is a tough old brute & the supercharger is a simple device too-no VVT units to worry about on the XJR either.

The only proviso with the XJR is that, because of it's sporting nature, it won't have been bought to trundle down to the shops on a Sunday morning to get the local paper & some cat food etc...

XJR's are likely to have been driven hard-so check for suspension wear & clonks, tyre condition & any uneven wear, braking performance etc. Watch out for any accident damage repairs that could rust later, or uneven tyre wear due to chassis misalignment & suspension wear.

If you get a good one, you'll never look back

 

I haven't seen the final election results, but I don't believe EbonyJag was elected to speak for us all here. At least for me...

I don't scoff at other model Jags or other cars in general just because I prefer to drive something else.

As for Jaguar choices, besides the XJ (X308) I also think XK and XKR are a very good choice as is the S-Type R. I also wouldn't mind an X-Type wagon with a manual. The X350 XJ have a different design, looking more heavier and slab sided as well as being more complex. Ultimately I'd recommend doing research on the models that interest you the most and get all the "skinny" on the issues associated with respective models. As a side note, the XJS market has stabilize and I believe it will be going on an upswing - the very clean ones are beginning to climb in price.