Buying a bargin X308...but does it have 'the nikasil' issue?

[varsas]

Hi all.

I do have a '89 XJ-S V12, just in case that helps...you know..just saying i'm not some BMW owning interloper or something.

My mate is looking to buy an X308 (been trying top steer him toward an X300 but he wants a V8, and who can blaim him?), specifically we have been to look at a '98, £2k, FSH, 150k miles 3.2litre V8 sport.

Looks great. A few scuffs on the bumpers, some wear to the drivers seat bolster and slightly curbed alloys aside it's very very good. Better then i hoped/expected actually. But I did notice that when the car was started it was a bit sluggish. The dealer said it was 'cos of the large engine but I don't buy that seeing as my V12 spins very easily off the starter motor. This leads me to believe either the battery is low (i'll take an ammeter along next time we go to see it) or the engine has low compression because of the nikasil issue....

so...

1) is it possible that a nikasil engine has even got to 150k miles? (maybe they clocked it to make it look like it's done more then it has to fool us?)

2) My cunning plan was to check the engine number against the V5C, if they match the car has the original engine and, hence, a nikasil issue. Is that sensible/possible? Do modern cars still have an accesible engine number? where is it on the X308?

cheers for the help!

p.s. sorry for asking this question AGAIN....

[P700DEE]

The X308 of that year will have been fitted with a Nikasil engine. If it has not been changed then a 150K mile Nikasil engine will be better than a 150K steel lined engine. Any lack of compression would surely result in little effort spinning the engine not sluggish start ? Sounds to me more likely that the battery is failing , another common issue At £2k he will be buying a car that will cost more to fix something serious than the car is worth. MOT and tax Take a punt, if it runs for a year he is in pocket , less and he could probably sell the parts for more.

[groomi]

Jaguar tend to fit pretty crap starter motors, so I wouldn't be surprised if a Merc spins up easier.

Regarding the Nikasil issue, you should be safe by now with that sort of mileage. DO make sure you check out the timing chain tensioners though - do a search on here for plenty of info.

[varsas]

Thanks for the help, generally confirming what we thought, i.e. might be a bit of a risk but well worth it.

Am aware of the timing chain tensioner issue, I couldn't hear anything when it started up before, will check again tomorrow.

also I don't have a Merc...'tis a 1989 Jaguar XJ-S V12 with the 5.3 HE engine (which is great BTW)

[groomi]

varsas said:

Am aware of the timing chain tensioner issue, I couldn't hear anything when it started up before, will check again tomorrow.

Fair enough, but beware that if the phase 2 tensioners are fitted there will be no warning rattle. My strong advice would be to check the history thoroughly for evidence of the phase 3 tensioners (which cure the problem) being fitted, and if no evidence is found then budget to get them done ASAP.

Good luck with the car.

[__G__]

My x308 XJR doesn't have any known Nikasil issues and I can assure you it doesn't turn over as easily as many engines I've had.

I know the previous owner well and it's been like this since it was new. Takes about a 1-2 seconds to turn over.

Sounds like perfectly healthy paranoia to me.

[varsas]

Thanks, will bear that in mind.

I see it as my job to find as many reasons to not buy the car as possible....the car itself does a very good job of persudaing him he should buy it....

Hopefully get to drive it over the weekend! I just hope it's not so good that it make me want to chop in my XJ-S for one!

Edited by varsas on Friday 10th October 15:33

[varsas]

Oh dear, well that didn't go well. We didn't buy the car..


It was originally a taxi

There was no evidence of any servicing/bills for the last 100k miles (we were told FSH!)

There was mayonese on the inside of the oil filler cap (Apparently "all cars do that" ha! mine don't!)

The V5C the vendor had didn't match up with the number plate on the car (surely you need to get that sorted before you sell it?)


Anyway, we've actually done the trader a favour as he "can take it down to the auctions and get £2500 for it next week".

Also looked at an X300, but that's another story...

Edited by varsas on Sunday 12th October 10:57

[Ecurie Ecosse]

That's a shame. Plenty for sale though.

I would also go for an X300 ((I used to have an XJ Sport).

They have the legendary engine and, IMHO look better with more graceful front grilles and bumpers. Also I prefer the X300 interior. The plastic clock in the X308 spoils it for me. Also, I like the homage the X300 instrument layout pays to previous XJs.

[varsas]

Ecurie Ecosse said:

That's a shame. Plenty for sale though.

I would also go for an X300 ((I used to have an XJ Sport).

They have the legendary engine...

Legendary engine? The Aj16? really? first Jaguar engine to never win at Le Mans, only used for...what...12 or so years ('83ish to '95ish), ok a bit more if you count the supercharged version in the Aston I suppose but the XK engine was 45ish (1949-1994) and the V12 was 25ish (1973-1997ish).

Anyway I wouldn't quite describe it as legendary but there you go!

[a8hex]

varsas said:

Ecurie Ecosse said:

That's a shame. Plenty for sale though.

I would also go for an X300 ((I used to have an XJ Sport).

They have the legendary engine...

Legendary engine? The Aj16? really? first Jaguar engine to never win at Le Mans, only used for...what...12 or so years ('83ish to '95ish), ok a bit more if you count the supercharged version in the Aston I suppose but the XK engine was 45ish (1949-1994) and the V12 was 25ish (1973-1997ish).

Anyway I wouldn't quite describe it as legendary but there you go!

To be really pedantic, the AJ16 was only used for a couple of years, the AJ6 was used before it.

[groomi]

a8hex said:

varsas said:

Ecurie Ecosse said:

That's a shame. Plenty for sale though.

I would also go for an X300 ((I used to have an XJ Sport).

They have the legendary engine...

Legendary engine? The Aj16? really? first Jaguar engine to never win at Le Mans, only used for...what...12 or so years ('83ish to '95ish), ok a bit more if you count the supercharged version in the Aston I suppose but the XK engine was 45ish (1949-1994) and the V12 was 25ish (1973-1997ish).

Anyway I wouldn't quite describe it as legendary but there you go!

To be really pedantic, the AJ16 was only used for a couple of years, the AJ6 was used before it.

Perhaps not legendary in terms of acjievements, but perhaps legendary in terms of reputation for being bombproof.



I'm trying here a8hex...

[varsas]

Well, I was giving him the benefit of the doubt and letting him count both as one!

[Ecurie Ecosse]

varsas said:

Well, I was giving him the benefit of the doubt and letting him count both as one!

Well I put my hand in the basket of serpents with that one!

I meant it shared the inline six configuration with Jaguars of the past.

[varsas]

oh...right. yeah, agreed. Must admit it did look nice in the engine bay, better then the V8 (which was covered in plastic moulding)

Unfortunately the only AJ16 engined car i've driven had a fuel starvation problem so i can't comment on the performance of the engine itself.

[plasticpig]

varsas said:

Oh dear, well that didn't go well. We didn't buy the car..


It was originally a taxi

There was no evidence of any servicing/bills for the last 100k miles (we were told FSH!)

There was mayonese on the inside of the oil filler cap (Apparently "all cars do that" ha! mine don't!)

The V5C the vendor had didn't match up with the number plate on the car (surely you need to get that sorted before you sell it?)


Anyway, we've actually done the trader a favour as he "can take it down to the auctions and get £2500 for it next week".

Also looked at an X300, but that's another story...

Edited by varsas on Sunday 12th October 10:57

I saw one at a car lot on sunday for 2K. 98R in very nice condition with 75k on the clock. Not sure it was a sport model though. So 2.5k for a 150k miles example seems a tad steep.

[varsas]

I agree, there's no way he will get that for it at auction....he also said he had someone comming down from Birmingham to see it...typical dealer talk i expect.

He was asking £2k which is not far off if it had service history etc, as I said it looked to be in v.good condition.

[jag guru]

varsas said:

oh...right. yeah, agreed. Must admit it did look nice in the engine bay, better then the V8 (which was covered in plastic moulding)

Unfortunately the only AJ16 engined car i've driven had a fuel starvation problem so i can't comment on the performance of the engine itself.

The supercharged version using the Eaton M90, went very well.
Even now the engines from these are sought after when they become
available.
And, I tend to agree, the straight 6 just seems " right " in a Jaguar,
somehow. Although most people prefer the AJ-V8, or at least the post
2000 steel linered version.

[varsas]

It's a shame really, technically the nikasil engines are better.

(I have a Stag with the original V8 in instead of the rover V8 so it's possible I have some weird fascination for critically flawed engines...)

[jag guru]

varsas said:

It's a shame really, technically the nikasil engines are better.

(I have a Stag with the original V8 in instead of the rover V8 so it's possible I have some weird fascination for critically flawed engines...)

Yes, it's too bad.......that's high sulphur petrol
for you. Legislation for low sulphur content fuel came too late.
Nikasil, is the dog with a bad name now. In saying that, if you get a
good one, there's no reason why it wouldn't stay that way for a long
time to come.
Nice car the Stag.........can't help but think it should have had the
Rover 3500 anyway. What kind of decision making process engineered two
competing V8,s within the same company ?