Not being all that familiar with the BMW 850, I did a little digging with respect to reliability. Not sure where you're getting your info, but by comparison either the XJS or XK8 would be a dream come true. The 850 series is one of the few cars I've read about where even the enthusiasts caution people to stay away.

If you expect that any older exotic or high end car can be kept in good order for 200 a year or that's all your budget permits, best look elsewhere.

 

I had the 850 bug years ago but fortunately got over it quickly

The 850 is just like so many others. You better find (and pay for) a prime example with everything working. Repairs to bring them up-to-snuff are just too expensive. That's why you can find example for what seems to be amazingly low prices.

Cheers
DD

 

I had a '91 XJS and loved the car! It was a maintenance hog! You cannot afford the car unless you do your own work and still costly. I put 175,000 miles on it. Kirby Palm's book is great! The biggest problem was the distributor melt down and if you do not use genuine OEM it will fail quicker.
The XK8 is vastly superior and requires little in the way of maintenance compared to the XJS. I still look at the old ones and lust but then I had rather drive my XK8 than work on the XJS.

 

As for the XJS, I had an 88 V12 and it never gave me any issue. It was well maintained by previous owner and also by myself. But I was always waiting for a major issue, having owned many jags in the past. But none!
My best friend had a 1994 V6 XJS and hers was even better. Except for normal issues with a car of that age, she never had any major problems. Maybe a AC condenser being the most expensive. And she used my indipendent mechanic and the costs were no more than any other car he worked on.
If you want an XJS, probably stick to the Facelift V6. It's the most reliable and least expensive to work on.
As for my 02 XK8, I've put much more money into the mechanics. Maybe too much! Lol. I can do some minor work on it but rely on my mechanic for anything big. The thing to watch is coolant issues. It took over 1-1/2 years to finally get it completly resolved. Every hose, sensor, and thermostat has been replaced. Would have been best to do all at once but as we found issues and repaired, a new one would arise further down the line! Argh!
Oh, and for the XK8, stick with post mid 2002 engine build cars. They have the new tensioners. Although we did check mine, and even though they were the new metal ones, the pads the chain run on were wearing down, probably an issue for all our cars down the line. One pad was all but worn away!
I suggest for ANY jaguar, find a good indy mechanic that knows Jaguars.

 

I have pretty much completely given up on the XJS. I'm done!

The thing is, what I wanted was always a XK8 or the supercharged version XKR. To me it's the most beautiful Jaguar ever made along with the E-type. I like it way better than the XK (X150) and think it still looks better than the F-type. I also like it better than even the E-type as a car (please don't throw rocks) because I could never see me driving an E-type as a daily. And I want to buy a car to drive everyday.

What drove me away from the XK8 and made me look into the XJS momentarily was the fact the XK8 came only in automatic and I dread automatic cars with the bottom of my heart! But once I found out it's nearly impossible to buy a V12 XJS with a manual and I would have to convert it if I wanted one, the XK8 made sense again. If I have to convert something it will be the XK8.

Once I found out how unreliable the XJS is it pretty much sealed the deal. Now I know the XK8 is no Mercedes when it comes to reliability. But it seems it is at least light years better than the XJS. As it is also the better all around car and better looking, the XJS no longer makes any sense to me.

So if it will be a Jaguar it will be a XK8/XKR. I just have to do some more research to find if I'm willing to put up with the level of maintenance it needs. But some owners say it needs a lot and others say not so much. Hard to gauge.

 

It's not a matter of being able to turn a wrench. I am! I'm also a car enthusiast for sure. Why else would I buy an older Jag instead of a brand new 4-door sedan or state with warranty for probably not much more if at all?

It's a matter of be willing to spent more time under the car than behind the wheel driving it. If the XK8 is like the XJS which seems like every month you have to work on something, then I will pass. I just don't want to buy a car that I spend more time working on than driving.

But if it turns out the XK8 is not like that, then I am in.

 

Once more, I never said that! Did I? I don't think I need to explain about the 200 yearly thing again. I already did that. If people want to keep misinterpreting it I guess they will and I can't do anything about it.

As for owndership of high-end and exotic cars costing money, to me a high-end or exotic would be a Pagani Zonda, a Mclaren F1 or at least an Aston, Ferrai or Lambo. Saying a XK8 is high-end or exotic is like saying a Corvette or Mustang is high-end or exotic. I don't agree at all. I would never expect to buy a Countach and not have huge maintenance needs and having to spend lots of money to keep it. But I'm buying an used Jaguar which sells for an amount anybody can afford.

 

Then that puts you in the price range of old, high mileage worn-out under-maintained cars that will need large sums of money to bring it to the level of functionality and reliability you're expecting.

No free lunch.

 

I have a 2006 xk8, On average I have not spent more than three hundred a year on my car (not including tires) but I have done all the routine maintenance myself and changed all the fluids upon purchasing it. I drive it all the time and have owned it for five years now with only minor issues and almost zero down time.
I expect this lucky streak to end soon because in my experience modern luxury cars do not age well at all and being ten years old now I think the plastic, sealing and electrical components will begin to reach their life expectancy and there is so much of it in this car.

You need to really like a modern car to buy one that is 13 years old because things will need to be replaced and the cost of repairing them could exceed the cars value very quickly. That being said, I dont believe the last years of this platform are less reliable than any other upscale luxury car of it's vintage. In fact, I bet it is more reliable than most and the j.d. powerhouse rankings for Jaguar as a make in 2006 and my own experience reflect this.

 

There are a multitude of known issues with the XK8. Some of them were rectified by the last few model years. My wife daily-drives her 2006 XK8 ragtop and has taken it from 36,000 miles at acquisition in February 2012 to more than 97,000 miles currently. I've had to deal with a number of the usual problems but most of them have been fairly minor and relatively inexpensive. The thing I don't like is that they have been more frequent than I prefer. Seems I'm addressing some glitch at least every couple of months, but that is now to be expected with a car that is more than ten years old. No green shower yet, knock on elmwood....

As has been previously stated, do your research thoroughly on any XK8/XKR you are considering and be sure to get its full maintenance history. If you cannot maintain the car yourself, do not buy one. If you dislike keeping at least $2,500 in a rolling maintenance fund to cover your issues as they arise, do not buy one. The plastics and electronics in these cars will eventually be the reasons for them being put out to pasture....

Study the stickies in the XK8/XKR section for a few hours and educate yourself, then decide whether or not it makes sense for you to pursue one. Good luck....

 

I did not mean I'm buying the lowest priced XK8 I can find. I meant XK8s even mint sell for way less than exotics and high-end cars, because it isn't one.

 

i BOUGHT MY 93 XJS CONVERTIBLE ALMOST 2 YEARS AGO NOW AND I'M PLEASED WITH IT. THERE WERE ONLY 799 BUILT AND DISTRIBUTED OVER 60 COUNTRIES. ENGINE RUNS STRONG. I HAD THE REAR GEARBOX MOUNT REPLACED AS THIS IS THE CAUSE OF MOST TRANSMISSION FAILURES IN THE XJS. REPLACED A COIL AND COIL WIRE AT 98K MILES. I'M HAPPY.
MAKE SURE YOU TRY (AT LEAST) TO GET ALL THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS WITH THE CAR.

 

Not everybody has enough spare cash to buy a used Jaguar, never mind a cream of the crop used Jaguar, contrary to your statement. Sounds like you're not sufficiently familiar with car brands, models or specifics and not really sure what you want or what will meet your needs and especially what comes with owning a non-mainstream car.

Reading brand specific discussion boards will NOT give you sufficient unbiased information regarding reliability, if that's high up on your list. People don't usually come here to wax poetic about low operating costs and trouble free operation. Just like the Honda Civic and Nissan or Hyundai whatsit boards.

If you don't have passion for a given car or brand just don't buy it. It will be sure to disappoint at the first misstep. Good luck with your search then.

 

ok

 

Heh heh, nowadays even a Mercedes is no Mercedes when it come to reliability.


Not sure how far back you were considering but my impression is mid/late 80s marked the last of rugged and reliable MBs....although I'll admit that's certainly a broad generalization.


Cheers
DD

 

AS Some one who owns a mercedes s500 from the 90's I can tell you it is the least reliable car I have ever witnessed let alone owned, but this may be because I rarely drive it but when I do there is always something.

It was purchased for sentimental reasons from a family members estate when it was only a few years old and we did everything to keep it as perfect as possible but when stalling problems appeared it was almost impossible to get them fixed even at the dealer. Eventually I found an amazing mercedes mechanic from Germany that rewired much of it and solved the stalling problem but he was very expensive and after spending a fortune on it even he recommended that I just stop, last time I drove the e-brake pull plastic literally disintegrated in my hands. It still runs but the air suspension no longer works, the air condition blower went out AGAIN, the oil pressure gauge is not working AGAIN, transmission is kicking, two power windows are out and the list goes on.

 

Don't allow "sentimental reasons" to force you to hold onto a money pit....

I set up a customized cost/benefit analysis algorithm for every vehicle we bring into our stable and I keep my records updated on a weekly basis. Whenever the trend line turns red, that essentially tells me the vehicle has begun costing me more than it is worth to me to keep it, and I begin making arrangements to either sell it (with full disclosure) or donate it to charity for a tax deduction. I've been doing this since the mid-1990s and it has worked like a champ for me. I never allow myself to get emotionally attached to ANY vehicle, and that's the mindset you must maintain for the duration of your ownership period....

 

Ya i definitely agree, this however was a very unique situation where the former owner loved the car and specifically asked that it not be sold in his final letter. He asked that all his cars be sold including an exotic but wanted this one kept, when we heard that his wishes were going to be disregarded we bought it

The idea we had was that we would keep the car as close to perfect as possible and when his son was old enough, responsible and able to store it we would gift it to him. I even tried to keep the writing he had taped onto the keys intact as well as items he had placed in the console etc. Unfortunately it has not gone as planned, I have owned many classics but these super complex cars are simply not meant to last. I will never sell it though because it really does remind us of the cars true owner every time we sit in it and that is worth more than the minuscule resale value and the original owner's nephew asked to use it as his wedding vehicle which was really great unfortunately it won't be doing anymore family weddings unless the bride doesn't mind having her makeup melt off.

 

We bought a 6 cylinder 95 XJS conv. coming off lease in 1998. It was in average condition as lease cars tend to be but we have performed careful maintenance and with 71,000 miles it has only required replacement of the air cond. compressor. We acquired our 2001 XK8 this summer with only 42,000 miles, good maintenance and always garaged. I would have preferred a later model given the known preventive maintenance that will be required on the earlier XK8s but I felt the condition of the car justified the decision.

If you can find a late model XJS 6 cylinder in good condition, I expect it will require less maintenance than an XK8 as the engine and the car itself it is not nearly as sophisticated, but still a fun car to drive. However, it appears that a nice XJS will probably as expensive as many of the XK8s.

In either case, look for the best car you can afford and be proactive on the maintenance. Hopefully you will enjoy both driving the car and maintaining it. car.

Sorry for the long response.

 

These cars are as reliable as their competitors in era. They aren't expensive to maintain like a Lamborghini, but they aren't cheap and super reliable and low maintenance like a Honda/Acura NSX.

I spend very little each year, but I do everything myself. These cars are best owned by hobby mechanics like many older mid level imports. If you are willing to drop several thousand a year on dealer or even independent shop repairs and maintenance you'll get reliable; but you'll pay for it.

Next year I'm very likely selling my XKR and buying an Aston Martin DB9 or a Bentley Continental GT. The car has been very reliable, and I'm selling just because I like to swap cars around. I'll likely own another XKR in time too (X150 more than likely). They are not low maintenance to achieve good reliability. If you just paid a shop to do the recommended fluid and filter changes (including the fluids they say are "lifetime"), you'll spend at least $500 a year to do so. If you need to pay for convertible top hoses and timing chain tensioners; you'll likely spend more than half the value of an early XK8.

These are good cars, but just need to be viewed for what they are. They're old English luxury grand touring cars. They will not be a set it and forget it type vehicle.