Picked up my X-Type today...

[Six Fiend]

And I love it!

3.0 V6 SE, manual, lots of toys, 64k and a great drive. Coming from the E34 540i I did wonder if I'd be happy. Nothing to fear, it goes well, handles nicely and is a very serene cruiser.

Will clock up all of about 3k per year as a weekender.

Great condition but will be speaking to JDs about a good doofing to get rid of the swirls.





And finally a quick vid of my E34 on the way to the garage this morning - best with good speakers or some headphones. Exhaust is by Torqueflow...

http://s462.photobucket.com/albums/qq349/SixFiend/...

Edited by Six Fiend on Saturday 14th August 19:13

[tr7v8]

Umm nice & a lovely colour as well. Never driven the petrol as always have had diesels as loaners when the S is in.

[thebigmacmoomin]

Like the colour but I prefer the X Type's without the chrome and bigger wheels.

[Six Fiend]

Thanks chaps

I also like them without the chrome but the sport models have funny handle things for the rear windows, mostly manual air-con not auto climate and stiffer suspenders. Then there's the lack of cruise too. Some are specced up but sadly not in my price range.

After the E34 I wanted to keep a comfy ride - I do monster miles in a Tranny Connect all week so chilling is my game at weekends

[Evo]

Had a 2.5 manual as a comapny car in 2002, for all the stick they get i think there a very underated car and for the money you can pick them up for damn good value too.

Nice find.

[Windymiller]

Weekender? As in 'for special?' Looks like a daily driver to me...

[Six Fiend]

NeMiSiS said:

A very under rated car, and I can tell you that the body in white weld integrity will be perfect, 100%.

No longer built at Halewood, we now have the Freelander and baby RangeRover, but I guess you knew that.

Thank you for doing a sterling job

Windymiller said:

Weekender? As in 'for special?' Looks like a daily driver to me...

Definitely a weekender and yes it's special to me, which is what matters.

My daily driver is a Connect which carries me 1500-2000 miles a week, on call 24/7.

I hope this eases your confusion.

Edited by Six Fiend on Saturday 14th August 21:54

[philtourer]

Why oh why did you swap a five for a mondeo? As a mechanic I can tell you that it was a bad move mate... Sorry to pee on your cornflakes so to speak but those X types are awful! Air leaks, water leaks, the list goes on! I hope for your sake you got a "good" one!

[Six Fiend]

philtourer said:

Why oh why did you swap a five for a mondeo? As a mechanic I can tell you that it was a bad move mate... Sorry to pee on your cornflakes so to speak but those X types are awful! Air leaks, water leaks, the list goes on! I hope for your sake you got a "good" one!

I can tell you a lot more things will be dropping off the BMW than the Jag over the next 5 years and which one will be cheaper to keep on the road.

TG Survey for 02-04 models - X-type came 41 out of 159.

Have done plenty of homework in addition and picked well with full Jag service history. I'm sure many will have problems of one sort or another given enough time, all cars do. E34s and E39s are riddled with ball aching problems but are still great cars.

Incidentally, as a mechanic I'm sure you know only 18% of the Jag is Mondeo parts so I may as well call you a monkey as you share more DNA than the two cars

Edited by Six Fiend on Saturday 14th August 22:27

[dbdb]

They are good and underrated cars. The one I had was completely reliable.

[Remagel2507]

First thing I spotted on that video was the 964 Cab in front lol

[philtourer]

I admit the mondy comparison was used in jest, but as for the prices of o.e.m. Parts I'm always pleasantly suprised by BMW whereas jag seem to charge a "jag tax" on theirs, just like bentley etc, and as a mech I'm sure you're aware that bmw's are a damn sight easier to work on... IMHO of course, I am a strong advocate of the "each to their own" philosophy.

[Dr-Evil]

Loved my one. Had it for three years from 2004 and after doing around 80k was sad to see it go.

Spec from the dealer was.........eerrrrrrr.............dealer spec. Sports model in black with black internals and all the chrome gone.

Drove it pretty hard as was a company hack, so some bits broke (exploding power steering motor included), but was otherwise reliable.

Would love another one, just don't have a good excuse right now.

[aww999]

Six Fiend said:

philtourer said:

Why oh why did you swap a five for a mondeo? As a mechanic I can tell you that it was a bad move mate... Sorry to pee on your cornflakes so to speak but those X types are awful! Air leaks, water leaks, the list goes on! I hope for your sake you got a "good" one!

Incidentally, as a mechanic I'm sure you know only 18% of the Jag is Mondeo parts so I may as well call you a monkey as you share more DNA than the two cars

Edited by Six Fiend on Saturday 14th August 22:27

Nice car, but a truly awesome come-back

[Disco You]

It's very nice, but I can't help but think that for a weekend car that does 3k a year you could have picked something that is a lot more exciting.

[Charmless man]

I borrowed one of these from work a while back. The cat pissed in it on the way to the vets. That is 100% all I remember from driving these cars.... Cat Piss.

[Speedracer329]

Disco You said:

It's very nice, but I can't help but think that for a weekend car that does 3k a year you could have picked something that is a lot more exciting.

For you maybe, but according to the OP's brief he wants comfort & a bit of style, not excitement!

Good choice OP, very underrated car IMO. As an aside, I needed a comfortable motor for health reasons, & picked up a gorgeous XJR. Not many do comfort better than Jaguar. Oh, & then for excitement there is the supercharger strapped onto the bloody great V8

[Six Fiend]

Speedracer329 said:

Disco You said:

It's very nice, but I can't help but think that for a weekend car that does 3k a year you could have picked something that is a lot more exciting.

For you maybe, but according to the OP's brief he wants comfort & a bit of style, not excitement!

Good choice OP, very underrated car IMO. As an aside, I needed a comfortable motor for health reasons, & picked up a gorgeous XJR. Not many do comfort better than Jaguar. Oh, & then for excitement there is the supercharger strapped onto the bloody great V8

I spent 18 years riding sports bikes so have done the real excitement bit. It's not like the Jag is slow - 0-60 is around 6.6 seconds which is exciting enough and 147mph top end is more than enough. In the few miles I've covered so far it's totally hit the spot

[Six Fiend]

philtourer said:

I admit the mondy comparison was used in jest, but as for the prices of o.e.m. Parts I'm always pleasantly suprised by BMW whereas jag seem to charge a "jag tax" on theirs, just like bentley etc, and as a mech I'm sure you're aware that bmw's are a damn sight easier to work on... IMHO of course, I am a strong advocate of the "each to their own" philosophy.

No worries Sadly the BMW parts I'd be needing were not cheap. The 540 had SLS and the hydraulic brake booster (no room for a vacuum set up in the engine bay on these) was leaking - that'll be £750+VAT plus arse ache of fitting! The V8 really cramps the engine bay so although bits like the water pump could still be done easily, there's an awful lot of annoying bits which need things moved to get at.

Then OBC was showing faults in the SLS system too at times. Having done some of the usual bits like track rod ends and thrust arms the rest of the suspension was in need of an overhaul.

Then the tinworm started to get very hungry around the back end and invited all his little friends around for a BMW Buffet. Gah!

So sadly it really did need to go. Oh did I mention the long delay and then clunk when selecting R from D? Ooops! There was also the leaking auto box sump...

Best trade it in as I didn't want to lumber anyone I met with a money pit!

I sourced as many parts as possible from breakers and eBay and will do the same for the Jag where possible.

Btw, I'm not a mechanic, but have spent years underneath E34s (and many other cars) and read up well on the Moguar

[Ricky_M]

Isn't it just a Mondeo in a dress...............




























Just kidding, very nice car. I've always liked these.