30, 000XJ8 Advice
Discussion
There is a recent discussion titled "Nikasil - High mileage ok?" on here you might want to read even though you have tiny mileage.
The Nikasil issues have probably been washed out of the system
You probably want to read Broadbean747's posting from a couple of years ago about issues with the V8 engine. You can find it here http://tinyurl.com/6psugh (links into Pistonheads tend to be rather long normally).
The timing change tensions are a potential issue. Can you find out whether they have been changed?
The Nikasil issues have probably been washed out of the system
You probably want to read Broadbean747's posting from a couple of years ago about issues with the V8 engine. You can find it here http://tinyurl.com/6psugh (links into Pistonheads tend to be rather long normally).
The timing change tensions are a potential issue. Can you find out whether they have been changed?
Gramrugby said:
Thanks, I will find out if it has been done. It just seems too good a car to be true !. I've looked at loads and either miss the genuine ones or find that the others are not as described. Which is a real pain in the *""* when you live so far north.
You're right, it sound great.It's just always better to go into these things with your eyes open. If it's not got the latest tensioners you might want to budget for a swap soon. There are independent specialists who can change them over much more cheaply than the main dealer rate.
Good luck
I hope you get the car you want.
I've had my 3.2 X300 (Inline 6) for over 12 years now and still love it.
If it's been serviced annualy, and not just every 10k then there's a reasonable chance that the chains themselves will be OK. Undo the oil filler cap and have a look inside the engine and on the dipstick. If there's clean bright shiny metal visible and the oil smells fresh and not bitter you're on to a good one.
As said though it's essential to have the secondary tensioners changed for the latest metal-bodied type. You should be able to find an independent to do this for around £4-500. It's easy and quick to whip off the right hand cam cover to see what type is fitted if nobody can tell you.
It's a simple enough job to do yourself however, you can hire the timing tools from the JEC and the parts are about £100
Why not try to negotiate new tensioners as part of the deal though, and if you're feeling cheeky ask for the gearbox oil and filter to be changed at the same time. I would.
As said though it's essential to have the secondary tensioners changed for the latest metal-bodied type. You should be able to find an independent to do this for around £4-500. It's easy and quick to whip off the right hand cam cover to see what type is fitted if nobody can tell you.
It's a simple enough job to do yourself however, you can hire the timing tools from the JEC and the parts are about £100
Why not try to negotiate new tensioners as part of the deal though, and if you're feeling cheeky ask for the gearbox oil and filter to be changed at the same time. I would.
Gramrugby said:
Thanks, I will find out if it has been done. It just seems too good a car to be true !. I've looked at loads and either miss the genuine ones or find that the others are not as described. Which is a real pain in the *""* when you live so far north.
I don't believe the 3.2 tensioners are as much of a concern as the 4.0. The 4.0 has variable cam timing, so the top chains/tensioners get more wear. I'd be more concerned over the regular usage. 9 years old and 30K is about 64 miles a week. Has it been laid-up for a time? Or has it been used, but on short journeys. A 99 model with would have had the bad fuel for a year or so, and on short journeys too. That's where most the engine failures came from. A blow-by check would be essential - unless it already has a new engine.
Thanks again for all advice, however I have just bought a different car that I was put on to. It's a 2000 car with 49k, full Jaguar service history including all recalls / checks etc. It was a VERY senior Police Officer's "Company" car and is in truly mint condition. The rear seats have never been sat on and the front passenger looks like that too. Drivers has no marks or scuffs. It comes with a first class warranty, full service, road tax & MOT. It has been worth the wait and effort. It also saves me a trip to Newcastle this weekend.
Gramrugby said:
Thanks again for all advice, however I have just bought a different car that I was put on to. It's a 2000 car with 49k, full Jaguar service history including all recalls / checks etc. It was a VERY senior Police Officer's "Company" car and is in truly mint condition. The rear seats have never been sat on and the front passenger looks like that too. Drivers has no marks or scuffs. It comes with a first class warranty, full service, road tax & MOT. It has been worth the wait and effort. It also saves me a trip to Newcastle this weekend.
Pics???fatboy b said:
Gramrugby said:
Thanks, I will find out if it has been done. It just seems too good a car to be true !. I've looked at loads and either miss the genuine ones or find that the others are not as described. Which is a real pain in the *""* when you live so far north.
I don't believe the 3.2 tensioners are as much of a concern as the 4.0. The 4.0 has variable cam timing, so the top chains/tensioners get more wear. I'd be more concerned over the regular usage. 9 years old and 30K is about 64 miles a week. Has it been laid-up for a time? Or has it been used, but on short journeys. A 99 model with would have had the bad fuel for a year or so, and on short journeys too. That's where most the engine failures came from. A blow-by check would be essential - unless it already has a new engine.
They are also affected by extended service intervals, which cause the plastic bodies to become brittle and crack due to the acidic nature and breakdown of the plasticlears in heavily contaminated oil, heat soak from localised or chronic overheating from a reduction in water pump efficency or thermostat failure, and sudden delamination of the plastic slipper the chain runs on.
The first and second generation secondary tensioners are a crap design - IMO a step too far to save grammes and pennies. I'd actually go far enough to say it's essential for every affected V8 engine to have the metal bodied design fitted, especially as a failure can cause so much damage and cost so much to fix that nowadays it's likley to cost almost the value of the car to repair.
I replaced mine almost as soon as I got the car home. My 3.2 XJ had been over-serviced all its life, has done a modest mileage and had the second generation tensioners fitted, and did not rattle when started from cold.
Both bodies had cracked all the way down the cylinders, both slippers were heavily grooved and one of the tensioners literally disintigrated in my hand when I released the tension on the chain, which was the only thing holding it together
I've seen and repaired probrably hundreds of smashed engines over the years due to timing gear failure - it's not a pretty sight - either for you or your wallet.
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