xjr milage - how much is too much?

[cbbno]

I just found an xjr locally that I am going to look at. It is a 1996 model with 165.000 kms. (appr 100k miles). I guess this is fairly normal for the age, but would of course prefer a lower milage vehicle...again, not a lot of cars to choose from over here...It is said to be well taken care of mechanically, but with a few dings and scratches in the paint(nothing that could not be fixed quite easily).
Should I be wary of the milage? Any thing in particular I should pay attention to when checking the car?

Thanks!

Chris

[Jaguar steve]

If it's a good one at the right price and has a comprehensive service history I'd say go for it, the 6 cyl X300 is virtually bomb proof and can cover more miles than the Space Shuttle.

Change all the fluids, expect to replace the shocks and suspension bushes at some point and enjoy

[richardxjr]

100k miles? Pah! Barely run in.

The most important thing to check imo is that ALL the dash warning lights come on with ignition, there are none 'missing' or 'blown', and that they all extinguish after a few seconds. In particular the Traction control and ABS lights. Not that expensive to repair any problems here (an ABS sensor can fail for example and seize in place), but far quicker for an unscrupulous seller to remove a lamp or two.

Check the exhaust, the back boxes rot and a whole system is quite expensive.
Visually inspect and check for blowing outside of the car (you will not hear any blowing inside the car!)

Check for a high idle (a fiddle to rectify usually by removing and cleaning the difficult-to-get-to throttle body), should be around 800 in Park and 600-700 in Drive.

Check the electric mirrors work and, if the car has this option, that the memory seat position function works.

Check the electric aeriel works too.

The forum on www.jag-lovers.com is invaluable for info and fixes, although the layout of that forum is, to my eyes, err, eccentric!

[a8hex]

richardxjr said:

100k miles? Pah! Barely run in.

The most important thing to check imo is that ALL the dash warning lights come on with ignition, there are none 'missing' or 'blown', and that they all extinguish after a few seconds. In particular the Traction control and ABS lights. Not that expensive to repair any problems here (an ABS sensor can fail for example and seize in place), but far quicker for an unscrupulous seller to remove a lamp or two.

The ABS warning light also sometime comes on because the battery voltage is just a fraction down. I get this sometimes if the cars not run for a week or so.

richardxjr said:

Check the exhaust, the back boxes rot and a whole system is quite expensive.
Visually inspect and check for blowing outside of the car (you will not hear any blowing inside the car!)

A common place for them to blow is where the down pipes from the manifolds (&cats) meet. I had my welded up recently, which is a whole lot cheaper than a new exhaust.

richardxjr said:

Check for a high idle (a fiddle to rectify usually by removing and cleaning the difficult-to-get-to throttle body), should be around 800 in Park and 600-700 in Drive.

Check the electric mirrors work and, if the car has this option, that the memory seat position function works.

Check the electric aeriel works too.

The forum on www.jag-lovers.com is invaluable for info and fixes, although the layout of that forum is, to my eyes, err, eccentric!

I'd second that about Jag-Lovers. It's also a mailing list, which might explain the behaviour of some parts of the website. It's a great source of info

[cbbno]

Thanks guys,

Very helpful information. Btw, I used to be a member of the Jaglovers mailinglist when I had my '88 Daimler XJ40 some years ago. A lot of useful information there as well.

Regards
Chris