Winter hack fail or genius? Broken Jaguar content

[AceOfHearts]

I am picking up my new car hopefully at the end of this week, so that I have something comfortable *and reliable* to use over the winter instead of the motorbike or TVR. I started with a budget of around £1300 to try and find a relatively tidy X or S type as after looking at sensible options (diesel Focus etc) I really couldn't bring myself to buy one, and know I would end up still using the TVR.

After seeing a succession of badly advertised and ropey cars I decided to see just what was closest to me to get a feel of what was for sale, which gets me to where I am now.

I have just put a deposit down on a broken X-Type. Losing water, engine management light. What can go wrong?

On the plus side the bodywork and interior are in much better condition than all of the others I have seen, it has loads of service history and an MOT until February. It also has a 3.0 V6 and a manual box I checked underneath and the transfer box has no leaks, and on our short test drive made no untoward noises. Plus it was less than half my original budget so I have some wiggle room for parts spending

The seller had no idea what was wrong with it apart from the engine light being caused by a lambda sensor (but I will check it myself before diving in and ordering anything). I had a good poke around whilst it was ticking over to find out where the water was going. I checked the oil which was clean and clear and spotted a steady dribble from the front bumper. Coolant! New radiator it is. Last but not least was a few crusty bits on the drivers side sill behind the front wheel, but I will give that a proper poke when I get home. Apart from that the rear brakes and ARB bushes were advisories on the last MOT so will get them sorted as well as giving it a full service.

Now I just have to get it home and complete before the winter really sets in! Easy

Anyways here are some pictures from the advert, and I will update as I plough through the work (yes the GB sticker will be going!)









First thing I have ordered is a Haynes manual and a used genuine radiator (£35). I will be trying to keep the parts spend down but will be doing everything properly. Wish me luck

Now . . . how to get a car 13 miles home with a broken radiator Watch this space

Edited by AceOfHearts on Saturday 9th April 21:12

[Google [bot]]

That looks brilliant. Hope it's good to you

[jas xjr]

Looks great,loving the red leather.good luck and please keep us updated

[nitrodave]

I love the colours and the engine and box should make for a fun drive.

best of luck with it!

[lockhart flawse]

Great car - I love red interiors! Looking forward to seeing how it works out.

[99t]

AceOfHearts said:

Now . . . how to get a car 13 miles home with a broken radiator Watch this space

Looks rather nice that, could be a real bargain. Not sure about the wood colour with those red seats though!!

F-I-L has a 3.0 S-type and I always note what a sweet sounding engine it is.

If the rad leak isn't too bad, just leave the header cap loose and you should be fine for 13 miles as long as you can avoid too much heavy traffic...?

[AceOfHearts]

99t said:

AceOfHearts said:

Now . . . how to get a car 13 miles home with a broken radiator Watch this space

Looks rather nice that, could be a real bargain. Not sure about the wood colour with those red seats though!!

F-I-L has a 3.0 S-type and I always note what a sweet sounding engine it is.

If the rad leak isn't too bad, just leave the header cap loose and you should be fine for 13 miles as long as you can avoid too much heavy traffic...?

Cheers thats a good idea, and yes i'm not too sure on the wood / seat colour either

Dash kits seem cheap though

Edited by AceOfHearts on Thursday 29th October 15:07

[Mr Tidy]

I've trawled AutoTrader quite a few times looking at manual 3 litre X-Types and S-Types, but never got further than looking!

But yours makes me wonder if I should have - the interior of yours is a stark contrast up for the sober exterior!

I love it.

Hope the fixes are simple and that you are soon enjoying it properly.

[tintopracer]

Looking at those photo's reminded me of a 3.0 manual I had in 2002. Same exterior colour with the full red leather and the big screen sat nav. It looked so cool in the day.

Always thought I'd have another one day. Not so far but did have a x350 for a while before going back to BMW's.

Still fancy an x-type estate one day. Top shedding, surely.

[t400ble]

This the car on ebay?

My main worry would be the sills

[aka_kerrly]

Black manual Jag with red leather - that's class.

However like another poster mentioned, I'm not sold on the wood dash although I appreciate it is a compulsorary feature on a Jag

[IanCress]

Love the red seats, though I think the red mats are a step too far!

I had an X-Type estate about 6 years ago. Great car but with the most irritating fault I've ever experienced - every time I started the car, the boot window would pop open due to a faulty switch. Getting out and shutting it every time the car was started quickly became a pain in the ****

[MrMoonyMan]

I'd change that wood trim to 'black piano' (iirc, worked for Jaguar many years ago) if you can find it. Otherwise there's an Aluminium that'd go well too.

[HughG]

Any way you could take the new rad and either change it there, or drive round the corner and change it at the side of the road? I don't know how much of the front needs to come off to do the rad on these, but it would be a shame to cook the engine on your way home!

As others have said, ditch the red mats, change the wood for Piano Black, a lambda sensor, rad, service, rear brakes & ARBs and a bit of welding to the sill and hopefully you'll have a cracking little motor.

[AceOfHearts]

Cheers for all the comments

Yes the mats will be going, and I have seen this on ebay which looks good

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271711785489?_trksid=p20...

First things will be mechanical though. The sills don't worry me too much, repair panels are cheap and access seems good

[AceOfHearts]

HughG said:

Any way you could take the new rad and either change it there, or drive round the corner and change it at the side of the road? I don't know how much of the front needs to come off to do the rad on these, but it would be a shame to cook the engine on your way home!

As others have said, ditch the red mats, change the wood for Piano Black, a lambda sensor, rad, service, rear brakes & ARBs and a bit of welding to the sill and hopefully you'll have a cracking little motor.

That was my original plan, apparently the rad is easy to remove from underneath so hopefully the new one will arrive before I go pick up the car. I will see how things pan out

[Buff Mchugelarge]

Christ..! Those seats will wake you up on a dreary morning commute!
Worth it for that interior alone!

Good job OP

[snotrag]

Interested to see how you get on, as only just today I've been to see/test 3 budget X-types, and I'm off to look at a few more tomorrow. 3.0 Manuals pretty hard to come by though, I'm going to have to decide between the big engine with an auto, or SE spec, or a much more common 2.5 sport in a nice colour combo.

Was very impressed eby the general drive though for the money, engine is super smooth.

Some cars were very rough though, rusty, tatty, generally unloved. Hopefully find a good'un tomorrow.

[mighty kitten]

If it turns out to be the pre cat lambda on the rear bank against the bulkhead prepare for a battle including taking the transfer box off to get any decent access if it's tight . I had one in recently and the previous owner had just plugged a new one in and left it dangling in mid air after chewing up the nut on the old one .

[mighty kitten]

If it turns out to be the pre cat lambda on the rear bank against the bulkhead prepare for a battle including taking the transfer box off to get any decent access if it's tight . I had one in recently and the previous owner had just plugged a new one in and left it dangling in mid air after chewing up the nut on the old one .