Views and advice on possible X350 purchase
Discussion
I am a long time Jaguar fan and reader of this forum. However, never having owned a Jaguar, I have not had cause to post here before.
A relative of a good friend is now looking to sell his X350. I believe it is a 2003 car with a V8 engine and has covered around 100,000 miles. I also believe it has recently been fitted with new tyres at a cost of approximately £1,000. He has had it for a good number of years and is only the second owner.
I understand that Jaguar made the X350 with 3.5 V8 and 4.2 V8 engines. I do not currently know which this car has or which precise model it is. I could ask but I am not keen to show too much interest until I am sure I want to pursue it, in case it gives him false hope of a sale.
I get the impression that he is not finding it easy to sell (not sure how hard he has tried) and from what has been said suspect he has only been offered a figure for a straight sale to a trader (not part exchange). I do not want to overpay but equally do not want to take advantage of the relative of a friend.
Can anybody tell me whether there are any issues with these cars and anything in particular I should look out for? Are they a good buy or would an earlier or later model be better? An objective and indendendant view on what I should be looking to pay for the car in question would also be much appreciated.
All views and guidance will be gratefully received. If all is good, hopefully I will be joining your number as a fully fledged Jaguar owner shortly!
A relative of a good friend is now looking to sell his X350. I believe it is a 2003 car with a V8 engine and has covered around 100,000 miles. I also believe it has recently been fitted with new tyres at a cost of approximately £1,000. He has had it for a good number of years and is only the second owner.
I understand that Jaguar made the X350 with 3.5 V8 and 4.2 V8 engines. I do not currently know which this car has or which precise model it is. I could ask but I am not keen to show too much interest until I am sure I want to pursue it, in case it gives him false hope of a sale.
I get the impression that he is not finding it easy to sell (not sure how hard he has tried) and from what has been said suspect he has only been offered a figure for a straight sale to a trader (not part exchange). I do not want to overpay but equally do not want to take advantage of the relative of a friend.
Can anybody tell me whether there are any issues with these cars and anything in particular I should look out for? Are they a good buy or would an earlier or later model be better? An objective and indendendant view on what I should be looking to pay for the car in question would also be much appreciated.
All views and guidance will be gratefully received. If all is good, hopefully I will be joining your number as a fully fledged Jaguar owner shortly!
Interesting, thanks. I have read a number of very informative posts by Jaguarsteve on what to look out for but thought most of them related to the X300 and X308. I will have another look.
In the meantime, if anybody else has any views generally and/or guidance on price, it would be much appreciated.
In the meantime, if anybody else has any views generally and/or guidance on price, it would be much appreciated.
Edited by costsmonkey on Saturday 21st September 21:01
Have a look on the X350 thread on the Jaguar forum, more active than this one.
Paintwork has been a problem - still not clear which years or colours affected or what exactly the cause is. Suggested it's too thin lacquer, contamination of body panels from dirty presses or electrolytic reaction between steel rivets and aluminium panels. Whatever, you need to check all over body for evidence of paint bubbling or lifting or recent repairs especially on sharp curves, front of boot lid, tops of doors and anywhere exposed to stone chips.
Anything else you may read about the V8 like Nicasil failure, timing chaine or water pump failure had been sorted by the time the X350 was launched.
X350 will benefit from a gearbox oil change and carefull maintainence otherwise no significant concerns apart from occasional suspension compressor failure. Overall a nice car and very cheap now.
Buy on condition and only after a long road test, paying special attention to the ride and gearchange quality or odd noises or any hint of prop vibration.
Paintwork has been a problem - still not clear which years or colours affected or what exactly the cause is. Suggested it's too thin lacquer, contamination of body panels from dirty presses or electrolytic reaction between steel rivets and aluminium panels. Whatever, you need to check all over body for evidence of paint bubbling or lifting or recent repairs especially on sharp curves, front of boot lid, tops of doors and anywhere exposed to stone chips.
Anything else you may read about the V8 like Nicasil failure, timing chaine or water pump failure had been sorted by the time the X350 was launched.
X350 will benefit from a gearbox oil change and carefull maintainence otherwise no significant concerns apart from occasional suspension compressor failure. Overall a nice car and very cheap now.
Buy on condition and only after a long road test, paying special attention to the ride and gearchange quality or odd noises or any hint of prop vibration.
Jaguar Steve, that is very helpful, thank you very much.
I will certainly have a look at the X350 on the Jaguar forum.
In the meantime, can anybody offer any guidance on price? As I said in my original post, I do not wish to over pay but, equally, I do not wish to take advantage of the relative of a friend.
I will certainly have a look at the X350 on the Jaguar forum.
In the meantime, can anybody offer any guidance on price? As I said in my original post, I do not wish to over pay but, equally, I do not wish to take advantage of the relative of a friend.
Find a online company that'll provide a valuation from the registration. Share that info with the vendor and negotiate round that to make a deal you're both happy with.
On the face of it a 10 year old XJ with 100k on the clock is not worth a lot but it's vital to buy on condition and history rather than screwing the last £100 out of the deal - especially as you're keen to avoid any ill feeling over the sale
On the face of it a 10 year old XJ with 100k on the clock is not worth a lot but it's vital to buy on condition and history rather than screwing the last £100 out of the deal - especially as you're keen to avoid any ill feeling over the sale
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