Running an XJ8 - the first couple of years
Discussion
OK, car back from the garage and I think all is well in Jaguar-world again.
The slight burning smell I had been experiencing was down to leaking cam covers, and oil reaching the exhaust. The squeak from the front of the car was the aux belt. Both problems sorted now, as well as a 120k/12 year service: oil and coolant plus filters as appropriate.
The rear parking sensors have also been sorted, with the added bonus that the rear bumper is now better aligned - it was always slightly out of shape with the rear wing on the offside.
The front subframes on these are prone to rotting out, but mine's been given a clean bill of health, save for some rubbing down and underseal, which they also took care of.
All I need now is for it to stop raining so that I can give it a long overdue clean...
The slight burning smell I had been experiencing was down to leaking cam covers, and oil reaching the exhaust. The squeak from the front of the car was the aux belt. Both problems sorted now, as well as a 120k/12 year service: oil and coolant plus filters as appropriate.
The rear parking sensors have also been sorted, with the added bonus that the rear bumper is now better aligned - it was always slightly out of shape with the rear wing on the offside.
The front subframes on these are prone to rotting out, but mine's been given a clean bill of health, save for some rubbing down and underseal, which they also took care of.
All I need now is for it to stop raining so that I can give it a long overdue clean...
It's been a rough month or so in the Jaguar camp.
Annual service a few weeks back was fairly straight forward, but new rocker gaskets, an auxiliary belt and repairs to the rear parking sensors pushed the bill up. To be fair, very little of the work was essential, but I like to keep on top of everything.
Having taken the hit and pleased with the way it was all running, I've now discovered that some total ar$e clipped the o/s front wing and broke the front bumper, while it was parked in a church car park of all places! No note to claim responsibility, so it looks like another trip to the Indie to have it repaired.
The image below shows, sort of, how the bumper has popped out either side of the car. There's also a bloody great crack in the centre under the grill, and a scuff on the wing.
Fortunately, grill, lamps and internals seem to be OK.
Annual service a few weeks back was fairly straight forward, but new rocker gaskets, an auxiliary belt and repairs to the rear parking sensors pushed the bill up. To be fair, very little of the work was essential, but I like to keep on top of everything.
Having taken the hit and pleased with the way it was all running, I've now discovered that some total ar$e clipped the o/s front wing and broke the front bumper, while it was parked in a church car park of all places! No note to claim responsibility, so it looks like another trip to the Indie to have it repaired.
The image below shows, sort of, how the bumper has popped out either side of the car. There's also a bloody great crack in the centre under the grill, and a scuff on the wing.
Fortunately, grill, lamps and internals seem to be OK.
Long overdue update.
Had the bumper replaced back in May with a second hand replacement, suitable re painted and refitted by Surrey Jag.
Today was MOT day. Just over 7k in the past 12 months, which is almost double what I planned for when I bought the car back in 2010. However, we've had several trips to Oxford, from Surrey, in the past 6 months, and the big tour of Scotland last Summer. That alone was 1200 miles.
After last year's MOT required a new injector and two attempts at a pass, I approached today with caution. I should have booked it into Surrey Jag weeks ago, but ended up taking a £30 gamble with the local Kwik Fit. To be fair they were pretty good again, passing it and adjusting a headlamp along the way.
However, the certificate came with several advisories about corrosion near suspension mounting points, and an oil leak (which was picked up at the last service).
Surrey Jag assured me the oil leak was nothing to worry about for now, and I can barely detect any change in the oil level, while checking every few months, so I shan't lose any sleep on this for now.
The corrosion though, is frustrating. Surrey Jag have been cleaning and rustproofing the underside at every service since 2011. They mentioned some signs of corrosion at the latest service, but I got the impression this wouldn't be a problem for years. Kwik Fit were altogether more ominous, so this will need revisiting later in the year....and after the Jag has served its most important purpose as my wedding car!
Had the bumper replaced back in May with a second hand replacement, suitable re painted and refitted by Surrey Jag.
Today was MOT day. Just over 7k in the past 12 months, which is almost double what I planned for when I bought the car back in 2010. However, we've had several trips to Oxford, from Surrey, in the past 6 months, and the big tour of Scotland last Summer. That alone was 1200 miles.
After last year's MOT required a new injector and two attempts at a pass, I approached today with caution. I should have booked it into Surrey Jag weeks ago, but ended up taking a £30 gamble with the local Kwik Fit. To be fair they were pretty good again, passing it and adjusting a headlamp along the way.
However, the certificate came with several advisories about corrosion near suspension mounting points, and an oil leak (which was picked up at the last service).
Surrey Jag assured me the oil leak was nothing to worry about for now, and I can barely detect any change in the oil level, while checking every few months, so I shan't lose any sleep on this for now.
The corrosion though, is frustrating. Surrey Jag have been cleaning and rustproofing the underside at every service since 2011. They mentioned some signs of corrosion at the latest service, but I got the impression this wouldn't be a problem for years. Kwik Fit were altogether more ominous, so this will need revisiting later in the year....and after the Jag has served its most important purpose as my wedding car!
Top tip Ecurie, thanks.
In the meantime, the Jag has been hit again. I am getting seriously cheesed off now. The second time this year it has incurred bodywork damage with no-one taking responsibility. I think this time the perpetrator was attempting to steal the Jaguar badge on the bootlid, and made a mess of it.
Looks messy and expensive, but I need the car tip top for my wedding in August. Currently scouring eBay for a replacement black bootlid. Grrrrr....
In the meantime, the Jag has been hit again. I am getting seriously cheesed off now. The second time this year it has incurred bodywork damage with no-one taking responsibility. I think this time the perpetrator was attempting to steal the Jaguar badge on the bootlid, and made a mess of it.
Looks messy and expensive, but I need the car tip top for my wedding in August. Currently scouring eBay for a replacement black bootlid. Grrrrr....
Quick update - it's been a busy couple of months for the Jaguar. Mainly because it played an official transport role at my wedding, which speaks volumes about how great I think it looks.
I had the boot repaired a few weeks beforehand. Worth noting that apparently the body coloured scrolls that house the bootlid button and run along the top edge of the lid are quite hard to source, and not available from Jaguar. At one point I thought I was going to have settle for a chrome version, but an alternative popped up at the last minute and Surrey Jag fitted this while pressing out the dent.
On the big day it looked fabulous, adorned with white ribbon and ferrying us all between church and reception.
I had the boot repaired a few weeks beforehand. Worth noting that apparently the body coloured scrolls that house the bootlid button and run along the top edge of the lid are quite hard to source, and not available from Jaguar. At one point I thought I was going to have settle for a chrome version, but an alternative popped up at the last minute and Surrey Jag fitted this while pressing out the dent.
On the big day it looked fabulous, adorned with white ribbon and ferrying us all between church and reception.
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