XK8 as a daily driver for £5000. Mental?

[silverback mike]

Had a drive in an xk8 today. Felt absolutely right. So I think decision made. My lad passed his theory test today. So potentially when his practical is sorted he's in the micra and I'm off xk8 hunting thank you for all of the inputs chaps. Will keep you posted....

It has however taken lots of very ambitious maths to convince the Mrs I 'need' a 4.0 jaguar especially as I have a 4.0 TVR in the garage

[johnxjsc1985]

silverback mike said:

Had a drive in an xk8 today. Felt absolutely right. So I think decision made. My lad passed his theory test today. So potentially when his practical is sorted he's in the micra and I'm off xk8 hunting thank you for all of the inputs chaps. Will keep you posted....

It has however taken lots of very ambitious maths to convince the Mrs I 'need' a 4.0 jaguar especially as I have a 4.0 TVR in the garage

its called "man maths" we have all done it.
You will love being in a Jag its a very nice place to be

[Gramrugby]

I've had both. No contest XK8 every time.

[fausTVR]

You may be aware OP that the later 4 ltr cars (post 2001 ISTR) had the aforementioned timing chain issues ironed out. I've had my 2002 4 ltr a year now and love driving it. My only complaint is the tight footwell if you have big feet, and as you are ex plod ..well.

Go for it chap.

[Jaguar steve]

fausTVR said:

You may be aware OP that the later 4 ltr cars (post 2001 ISTR) had the aforementioned timing chain issues ironed out. I've had my 2002 4 ltr a year now and love driving it. My only complaint is the tight footwell if you have big feet, and as you are ex plod ..well.

Go for it chap.

Not quite. The V8 launched with red (mk1) plastic bodied tensioners. These were actuated by oil pressure and were prone to the chain guides delaminating and cracks in the plastic bodies. Symptom of wear or imminent failure were a cold start rattle. Jaguar made several detail changes to the V8 in 1999 which included the introduction of cream (mk2) coloured plastic tensioners which were spring tensioned instead. That solved the cold start rattle but over time it became apparent these were still failing too only this time silently.

V8 cars have potential failure issues even if there is a record of a tensioner change from mk 1 type to mk 2 type as fitting the later mk 2 type is not a permanent fix.

The 4.2 version of the V8 launched with grey (mk3) metal bodied tensioners. These became available to retro fit to earlier 3.2 and 4.0 V8 engines and are the reliable ones to have so a pre 2003 engine may still be of concern. The only safe way to check is to remove the RH cam cover - the left is a PITA to get off - and have a look to see what design is fited.

[silverback mike]

Thanks for the valuable info chaps! All stored ready for when I dive in!!

[williamp]

Didnt early top gear do a test with the xkr, 6 series and a 911 on the welsh sands?

Might be worth finding it online

[silverback mike]

They did indeed. Good call. I will have a look! If I recall the jaguar was the preferred car...

[Shirt587]

I looked at doing exactly this for a while (before I had to change tack as we need more boot space).

Essentially it can be done, but be prepared to spend some time looking. I was aiming for a 2001-2 4.0 XK8 that had had the tensioners done and the gearbox either changed entirely or evidence of at least one oil change and minimal rust. They do exist at that budget but are a little tricky to find, especially around winter! I found that the majority of cars I looked at had been serviced by the same people for a number of years and they were really happy to talk to you about them; checking and verifying the service records you're shown is actually very important unless you want to finish a test drive on a set of ramps and waving spanners to check things like tensioners...

[AnimalMkIV]

I've been running a 1998 4.0l X100 daily for the last 18 months and love it. As said, finding one without rust is the big one. I found one with a good chassis (and a subtly growly exhaust ) for £3400 and had the tensioners done as a matter of course for not that much (can't remember cost now, sorry).

Overall, the running costs aren't horrific (I'm by no means loaded) and on a daily commute of about 45 miles each way (mostly motorway) it's averaging between 22-25mpg. On a decent run I've seen it skirting around 30mpg .

I would say do it if you can, it's a great car to be in and gets some very favourable comments from all sorts of people.

[johnxjsc1985]

I haven't driven the old XKR for a couple of months and it was my birthday yesterday so I took her out after the MOT pass on the 17th.
I managed to floor it going on to the motorway on a long access lane boy it felt good I think both I and the Car had a smile on our faces after that and the sound was really nice too.

[JT944]

had my xk for years now been ok but don't do a lot of miles in her I use it to go to work in go for it im glad I did

[andyt1320]

it's been a couple of weeks since the last post..... well? did you get your Jag yet?

[silverback mike]

Not yet Andy will keep you posted.

[andyt1320]

I am thinking of selling mine if you are interested, I'm waiting for the sun to come out so I can take some photos and put it up in the Pistonheads Classified section for sale. I'd be looking for £5k for it as a low mileage (87k) early model 96 coupe and as others have said you need to be sure that any early 4.0l car has had it's tensioners done and mine has, along with the adamesh stainless rear pipes so it sounds great too! PM me if you're interested or wait to see the add when I get it done.

[andyt1320]

Here's mine!

[12 POT]

I owned my XKR (98 year) for approx. 13 years and loved the car. Looked wonderful in meteorite with classic black leather interior. Used her on a regular basis and traded her in just before Christmas with 105,000 miles on the clock. Completely reliable and perfect to drive round town and on the motorway. Sad to part with the car and hope that someone else is now enjoying her.

[silverback mike]

That's a nice one Andy, May have to stall a little on the XK...Unexpected bills on other vehicles have raised their head coupled with Range Rover suspension woes necessitating another 4x4 first...

[Nerja]

Jaguar steve said:

Not quite. The V8 launched with red (mk1) plastic bodied tensioners. These were actuated by oil pressure and were prone to the chain guides delaminating and cracks in the plastic bodies. Symptom of wear or imminent failure were a cold start rattle. Jaguar made several detail changes to the V8 in 1999 which included the introduction of cream (mk2) coloured plastic tensioners which were spring tensioned instead. That solved the cold start rattle but over time it became apparent these were still failing too only this time silently.

V8 cars have potential failure issues even if there is a record of a tensioner change from mk 1 type to mk 2 type as fitting the later mk 2 type is not a permanent fix.

The 4.2 version of the V8 launched with grey (mk3) metal bodied tensioners. These became available to retro fit to earlier 3.2 and 4.0 V8 engines and are the reliable ones to have so a pre 2003 engine may still be of concern. The only safe way to check is to remove the RH cam cover - the left is a PITA to get off - and have a look to see what design is fited.

I've been researching this as I am about to change the tensioners on my 2001 XKR. From what I have read Jaguar started fitting the metal tensioners in engines manufactured from August 2001, so 4.0 cars may well already have the metal tensioners. This would be top of my list to check and replace on any car with the 4.0 engine and the first thing I would do is remove a cam cover to have a look to make sure.

[Jaguar steve]

Nerja said:

Jaguar steve said:

Not quite. The V8 launched with red (mk1) plastic bodied tensioners. These were actuated by oil pressure and were prone to the chain guides delaminating and cracks in the plastic bodies. Symptom of wear or imminent failure were a cold start rattle. Jaguar made several detail changes to the V8 in 1999 which included the introduction of cream (mk2) coloured plastic tensioners which were spring tensioned instead. That solved the cold start rattle but over time it became apparent these were still failing too only this time silently.

V8 cars have potential failure issues even if there is a record of a tensioner change from mk 1 type to mk 2 type as fitting the later mk 2 type is not a permanent fix.

The 4.2 version of the V8 launched with grey (mk3) metal bodied tensioners. These became available to retro fit to earlier 3.2 and 4.0 V8 engines and are the reliable ones to have so a pre 2003 engine may still be of concern. The only safe way to check is to remove the RH cam cover - the left is a PITA to get off - and have a look to see what design is fited.

I've been researching this as I am about to change the tensioners on my 2001 XKR. From what I have read Jaguar started fitting the metal tensioners in engines manufactured from August 2001, so 4.0 cars may well already have the metal tensioners. This would be top of my list to check and replace on any car with the 4.0 engine and the first thing I would do is remove a cam cover to have a look to make sure.

There's an awfull lot of boorlocks been written about early V8 Jaguar engine issues, often by people who contradict themselves or don't seem to know what they are talking about and can't be arsed to go and do some research or who really ought to know better. As you say, the only safe thing to do is take the cover off and have a look and if it's not been done already fit 3rd gen metal ones.