X350 XJR Help me decide
Discussion
Dear All,
I'm currently in the process of looking for an early X350 XJR but have a couple of questions to ask in regard.
I have had a look at one of these (at the lower end of the market) at an independent type dealer/trader and would like to know if the problems found should be deal brakers given age (53 plate). Dealer says he will service and MOT before sale.
1. History stops after late 2008 and has not been serviced since (no record) but has only done 14K in that time with MOT's to back up very small mileages in the latter years. This indicates it may not have been looked after very well by it's most recent owner.
2. There were some 10p piece sized areas of corrosion on two of the doors (I presume that car is now out of corrossion warranty). Will these get worse or just stay the same?
3. One of the parking sensors seemed a bit dicky as it gave a constant tone but then shut up once going.
4. The passenger wing mirror didnt fold in/out properly. This is a very easy fix is it not?
5. A piece of trim/cubby to the drivers right knee came out (screw missing)
6. There was a very slight vibration on the steering when on the move which got worse under braking.
7. Brakes felt a bit on the spongey side. Is this normal? as the car puts big numbers on very rapidly.
8. The supercharger whine drowned out the engine (and everything else) on kickdown and WOT. Is this normal because it sounded a bit uncouth (though ace)?
Apart from that lot the car seemed good with everything working and general condition very good. Any advice on the above apreciated.
Cheers
I'm currently in the process of looking for an early X350 XJR but have a couple of questions to ask in regard.
I have had a look at one of these (at the lower end of the market) at an independent type dealer/trader and would like to know if the problems found should be deal brakers given age (53 plate). Dealer says he will service and MOT before sale.
1. History stops after late 2008 and has not been serviced since (no record) but has only done 14K in that time with MOT's to back up very small mileages in the latter years. This indicates it may not have been looked after very well by it's most recent owner.
2. There were some 10p piece sized areas of corrosion on two of the doors (I presume that car is now out of corrossion warranty). Will these get worse or just stay the same?
3. One of the parking sensors seemed a bit dicky as it gave a constant tone but then shut up once going.
4. The passenger wing mirror didnt fold in/out properly. This is a very easy fix is it not?
5. A piece of trim/cubby to the drivers right knee came out (screw missing)
6. There was a very slight vibration on the steering when on the move which got worse under braking.
7. Brakes felt a bit on the spongey side. Is this normal? as the car puts big numbers on very rapidly.
8. The supercharger whine drowned out the engine (and everything else) on kickdown and WOT. Is this normal because it sounded a bit uncouth (though ace)?
Apart from that lot the car seemed good with everything working and general condition very good. Any advice on the above apreciated.
Cheers
hahithestevieboy said:
Dear All,
I'm currently in the process of looking for an early X350 XJR but have a couple of questions to ask in regard.
I have had a look at one of these (at the lower end of the market) at an independent type dealer/trader and would like to know if the problems found should be deal brakers given age (53 plate). Dealer says he will service and MOT before sale.
he should tax, MOT and deal with any advisories before sale.I'm currently in the process of looking for an early X350 XJR but have a couple of questions to ask in regard.
I have had a look at one of these (at the lower end of the market) at an independent type dealer/trader and would like to know if the problems found should be deal brakers given age (53 plate). Dealer says he will service and MOT before sale.
hahithestevieboy said:
1. History stops after late 2008 and has not been serviced since (no record) but has only done 14K in that time with MOT's to back up very small mileages in the latter years. This indicates it may not have been looked after very well by it's most recent owner.
Again, any advisories on the MOT's? I would have it checked over by an expert, if I were you, but go through it with him and see for yourself so you see what is being talked about and judge whther it is an issue.hahithestevieboy said:
2. There were some 10p piece sized areas of corrosion on two of the doors (I presume that car is now out of corrossion warranty). Will these get worse or just stay the same?
Corrosion NEVER just stays the same. You need to do something about it but what? Over time, especially if a car is left outside, and used in mucky conditions, grit gets in between the panels, rubs, and corrosion kicks off. Check the corrosion warranty, though I doubt its still in force.hahithestevieboy said:
3. One of the parking sensors seemed a bit dicky as it gave a constant tone but then shut up once going.
Common problem on all cars.hahithestevieboy said:
4. The passenger wing mirror didnt fold in/out properly. This is a very easy fix is it not?
Should be.hahithestevieboy said:
5. A piece of trim/cubby to the drivers right knee came out (screw missing)
Likewisehahithestevieboy said:
6. There was a very slight vibration on the steering when on the move which got worse under braking.
Warped brake discs? Are these part of the Brembo brake system, and if so, could be costly to fix? hahithestevieboy said:
7. Brakes felt a bit on the spongey side. Is this normal? as the car puts big numbers on very rapidly.
Not normal at all in my experience.hahithestevieboy said:
8. The supercharger whine drowned out the engine (and everything else) on kickdown and WOT. Is this normal because it sounded a bit uncouth (though ace)?
Perfectly normal. It became less so on later cars, but as you say, it's not an unpleasant noise.hahithestevieboy said:
Apart from that lot the car seemed good with everything working and general condition very good. Any advice on the above apreciated.
Cheers
Honestly, have it checked over, and look at a few more. If you get a good one it will be a great experience, I am sure.Cheers
Cheers cardigankid.
The MOT's seemed to be a single green sheet of paper and I did not see any advisories on them. Writing that list out brought it home that there are too many potentially costly/nasty niggles on the car and that I should walk. On sale of the car, I am sure the gap in history would make it worth almost nothing in a couple of years and it sounds like the corrosion is not a minor niggle on this car but a substantial problem that needs expert rectification by a body shop that knows aluminium.
The brakes were Brembos. The disks looked quite good to be honest (with little corrosion evident or lip on the outside of the disk indicating wear) but I could not see the pads as the wheels and calipers obscured the view too much.
The MOT's seemed to be a single green sheet of paper and I did not see any advisories on them. Writing that list out brought it home that there are too many potentially costly/nasty niggles on the car and that I should walk. On sale of the car, I am sure the gap in history would make it worth almost nothing in a couple of years and it sounds like the corrosion is not a minor niggle on this car but a substantial problem that needs expert rectification by a body shop that knows aluminium.
The brakes were Brembos. The disks looked quite good to be honest (with little corrosion evident or lip on the outside of the disk indicating wear) but I could not see the pads as the wheels and calipers obscured the view too much.
Pretty much all of the earlier ones would have suffered corrosion at the bottom left and right of the rear window, I heard this was repaired under warranty so check it out.
I had it on mine and it wasn't repaired as well as I would have hoped but it is stable in that it hasn't changed at all in the year and a half I have owned it and it's been out in ALL weather.
The XJR has Brembo brakes so could be costly to repair.
Two parking sensors on mine at the rear became intermittent in much the same way but I had them replaced and they have been fine ever since.
Out of curiosity how much is the dealer asking? I only ask because well, I have a 2004 (53 plate) up for sale at the moment....
I'm asking a little over the odds but that's because it is in such a great condition and very low mileage (68618 miles) with genuinely more options than you can shake a stick at (and I'm NOT talking things like 'power steering' which a lot of dealers consider an 'option').
I had it on mine and it wasn't repaired as well as I would have hoped but it is stable in that it hasn't changed at all in the year and a half I have owned it and it's been out in ALL weather.
The XJR has Brembo brakes so could be costly to repair.
Two parking sensors on mine at the rear became intermittent in much the same way but I had them replaced and they have been fine ever since.
Out of curiosity how much is the dealer asking? I only ask because well, I have a 2004 (53 plate) up for sale at the moment....
I'm asking a little over the odds but that's because it is in such a great condition and very low mileage (68618 miles) with genuinely more options than you can shake a stick at (and I'm NOT talking things like 'power steering' which a lot of dealers consider an 'option').
Edited by Moogle on Monday 8th August 14:39
Moogle said:
Pretty much all of the earlier ones would have suffered corrosion at the bottom left and right of the rear window, I heard this was repaired under warranty so check it out.
I had it on mine and it wasn't repaired as well as I would have hoped but it is stable in that it hasn't changed at all in the year and a half I have owned it and it's been out in ALL weather.
The XJR has Brembo brakes so could be costly to repair.
Two parking sensors on mine at the rear became intermittent in much the same way but I had them replaced and they have been fine ever since.
Out of curiosity how much is the dealer asking? I only ask because well, I have a 2004 (53 plate) up for sale at the moment....
I'm asking a little over the odds but that's because it is in such a great condition and very low mileage (68618 miles) with genuinely more options than you can shake a stick at (and I'm talking things like 'power steering' which a lot of dealers consider an 'option').
He's asking 10K (with similar miles to yours) so its at the lower end. I checked the boot and c-pillar areas and they were fine on that car (checked with boot open too). The only bit's I found were on the doors.I had it on mine and it wasn't repaired as well as I would have hoped but it is stable in that it hasn't changed at all in the year and a half I have owned it and it's been out in ALL weather.
The XJR has Brembo brakes so could be costly to repair.
Two parking sensors on mine at the rear became intermittent in much the same way but I had them replaced and they have been fine ever since.
Out of curiosity how much is the dealer asking? I only ask because well, I have a 2004 (53 plate) up for sale at the moment....
I'm asking a little over the odds but that's because it is in such a great condition and very low mileage (68618 miles) with genuinely more options than you can shake a stick at (and I'm talking things like 'power steering' which a lot of dealers consider an 'option').
Sounds like a neglected car to me. Most owners who cared for their cars would have them serviced regardless and the niggles, corrosion etc would have been sorted. Walk away, keep looking until the right one comes along. The luxury/prestige car market is on it's arse, you'll find a better one soon.
Moogle said:
Well if you decide to stretch your budget a little more then mine has a full service history (part Jaguar, part Jaguar specialists), loads of options and in great condition.
Just drop me a line if you'd like to discuss/view the car.
Hi Moogle. To tell the truth, I would probably prefer a private purchase as I feel that many of the sellers on here are more knowledgble and honest about the cars than many dealers etc etc. However, I was wanting to PX my S2000 rather than go through the rigmorole of a private sale. Where is your car advertised?Just drop me a line if you'd like to discuss/view the car.
Good luck with an X350 with brake problems. I had a 2003 4.2 XJR in 2007, that had only covered 50k miles with one owner. FJSH checked out etc, etc.
The brake discs and pads were replaced by a very good Jaguar delaer, but I still could not shift the judder when lightly braking at speed. I even replaced two alloys that were slightly buckled with new ones (yes new ones!), but it made no difference.
The topic of damper arms was mentioned by the service department, but I'd lost all confidence by that point and got rid of it.
And before anyone tells me I was a a fool to use a dealer, I'd tried with an indie Jag outfit at first on replacement discs and pads (front and rear), then I got them to fit genuine parts (I kneow that they were genuine becasue I bought them and took them to them). In the end the dealer very nicley replaced all the parts that I'd bought with new ones (the ones fitted were 500 miles and two weeks old only!) and got Jaguar to pay for a replacement set, plus a contribution to labour.
By the end I spent £1800 and it still did not brake correctly.
The brake discs and pads were replaced by a very good Jaguar delaer, but I still could not shift the judder when lightly braking at speed. I even replaced two alloys that were slightly buckled with new ones (yes new ones!), but it made no difference.
The topic of damper arms was mentioned by the service department, but I'd lost all confidence by that point and got rid of it.
And before anyone tells me I was a a fool to use a dealer, I'd tried with an indie Jag outfit at first on replacement discs and pads (front and rear), then I got them to fit genuine parts (I kneow that they were genuine becasue I bought them and took them to them). In the end the dealer very nicley replaced all the parts that I'd bought with new ones (the ones fitted were 500 miles and two weeks old only!) and got Jaguar to pay for a replacement set, plus a contribution to labour.
By the end I spent £1800 and it still did not brake correctly.
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