XJ8 (X308) Buyers Guide - The Little Things
Discussion
I can't coped with the loaned Focus much longer so keen to get my hands on a nice pampered lowish mileage end of the line X308 ASAP. Lots has been written about timing chain tensioners, sealed for life gearboxes, water pumps etc but I've not seen much about the little things....
-Whereabouts will I find all the VIN numbers? Engine number?
-What was standard kit across the range?
-On the electrics front what in particular should I look out for? (yes test everything but with potential for so much kit its easy to miss something!)
-Should there be 2 keys plus a master key or just 2 keys? (valet key?)
-What manuals should come with the car?
-Are there any particular paint or rust issues (beside accident damage) to look out for on a late car?
-Which tyres should it ideally wear?
-Any particular characteristics of the 4 litre? (I've previously spent some time with a 3.2, beside more poke, anything else?)
Many many thanks!
Jon
-Whereabouts will I find all the VIN numbers? Engine number?
-What was standard kit across the range?
-On the electrics front what in particular should I look out for? (yes test everything but with potential for so much kit its easy to miss something!)
-Should there be 2 keys plus a master key or just 2 keys? (valet key?)
-What manuals should come with the car?
-Are there any particular paint or rust issues (beside accident damage) to look out for on a late car?
-Which tyres should it ideally wear?
-Any particular characteristics of the 4 litre? (I've previously spent some time with a 3.2, beside more poke, anything else?)
Many many thanks!
Jon
Might be able to help with some others tomorrow but..
Should wear Pirelli tyres, at least they were OEM.
I have never heard reference to a valet key (it has a switch inside the car), I think it's just two sets (2xmaster + 2x alarm fobs)
Standard equipment depends on the model/age but some things that were optional:
premium sound
electric folding mirrors (electric/heated mirrors are standard)
sunblinds
various alloy options
metallic paint (!)
steering wheel adjustment (early cars did not have)
I have noticed some lacquer peel on a few cars, bootlids and alloys mostly.
You get loads of books. From memory
sound system
quick start guide
owners manual
service book
all in a nice soft leather pouch. Sure I'm missing one there..maybe a dealer location map?
I have a brochure at home I can scan in later if you want, will allow you to see standard equipment?
Should wear Pirelli tyres, at least they were OEM.
I have never heard reference to a valet key (it has a switch inside the car), I think it's just two sets (2xmaster + 2x alarm fobs)
Standard equipment depends on the model/age but some things that were optional:
premium sound
electric folding mirrors (electric/heated mirrors are standard)
sunblinds
various alloy options
metallic paint (!)
steering wheel adjustment (early cars did not have)
I have noticed some lacquer peel on a few cars, bootlids and alloys mostly.
You get loads of books. From memory
sound system
quick start guide
owners manual
service book
all in a nice soft leather pouch. Sure I'm missing one there..maybe a dealer location map?
I have a brochure at home I can scan in later if you want, will allow you to see standard equipment?
A brochure scan would be superb, I'm focussing on 2001 and 2002 cars. It would be particularly useful to know what to look out for on certain packs. I'll pm you so you get my email address.
The last time I drove an XJ8 was back in 2004 (I sold it for a relative), it was an early one, a 1997 black 3.2 Sport - I hope those I test live up to my memories expectations!
Thanks,
Jon
The last time I drove an XJ8 was back in 2004 (I sold it for a relative), it was an early one, a 1997 black 3.2 Sport - I hope those I test live up to my memories expectations!
Thanks,
Jon
OK, i'll have a go when I get home, check back about 19:30 for pics or an apology!
I'll just post it here, I don't think I'll get in trouble for reproducing what is basically an advert!
My brochure is for earlier cars (I think it's for 1999 or 2000 yr models) but it'll give you an idea. I'll see what books I have and get a definite answer on the keys issue too.
I'll just post it here, I don't think I'll get in trouble for reproducing what is basically an advert!
My brochure is for earlier cars (I think it's for 1999 or 2000 yr models) but it'll give you an idea. I'll see what books I have and get a definite answer on the keys issue too.
Valet key - the green one - will allow the car to be driven but won't open the boot. That's for the time you give your P&J to a spotty 17 year old for him to max it out round the carpark until he finds a space.
Corrosion. Check behind both front shockabsorbers where the subframe V mount joins the body. There's a reinforcing plate that rots badly in some cases. Look under the front and rear screen rubbers too, especially in the corners.
Timing chain tensioners, gearbox and 'diff oil changes, waterpump and thermostat (on pre 2000 cars) all need attention. Full service history on any car is an absolute minimum - I'd suggest keeping a few hundred aside for a full fluid change on any XJ you buy s/h.
Pirelli P6000 tyres were OE on most UK spec cars. I've found Falken ZE 912s a good alternative and much cheaper too.
Corrosion. Check behind both front shockabsorbers where the subframe V mount joins the body. There's a reinforcing plate that rots badly in some cases. Look under the front and rear screen rubbers too, especially in the corners.
Timing chain tensioners, gearbox and 'diff oil changes, waterpump and thermostat (on pre 2000 cars) all need attention. Full service history on any car is an absolute minimum - I'd suggest keeping a few hundred aside for a full fluid change on any XJ you buy s/h.
Pirelli P6000 tyres were OE on most UK spec cars. I've found Falken ZE 912s a good alternative and much cheaper too.
Thanks Steve, certainly some money to be set aside for preventative maintanance.
If that preventative maintanance includes full fluid changes and secondary chain tensioner upgrade then would one missed service be disasterous? (there is one 20 month, 13k gap in the history).
Interestingly, my local specialist said they rarely advise changing gearbox oil / filter unless the gearbox is already some signs of not being as smooth as it should be. That seems to go against the consensus. Also, will a 2nd half of 2001 car have a later waterpump without a self destructing plastic impeller?
Thanks,
Jon
If that preventative maintanance includes full fluid changes and secondary chain tensioner upgrade then would one missed service be disasterous? (there is one 20 month, 13k gap in the history).
Interestingly, my local specialist said they rarely advise changing gearbox oil / filter unless the gearbox is already some signs of not being as smooth as it should be. That seems to go against the consensus. Also, will a 2nd half of 2001 car have a later waterpump without a self destructing plastic impeller?
Thanks,
Jon
I think the gearboxes are technically 'sealed for life' but how long is that? 10 years and 100,000 miles? It's best to get it changed at a sensible point...
The books I have for my car are (deep breath)
sound system
maintenance schedules
service record and warrenty
drivers handbook
safety advice
quick guide
security system
in car phone (despite my car not having one)
sales and service international directory
vehicle care
total care
The books I have for my car are (deep breath)
sound system
maintenance schedules
service record and warrenty
drivers handbook
safety advice
quick guide
security system
in car phone (despite my car not having one)
sales and service international directory
vehicle care
total care
as promised, a selection of scans from my X308 range brouchure. Can't see a date on it, but it describes the sat nav system and some of the slightly later alloys. It also describes the memory seats as being standard, which isn't true of the earliest cars. It can't be far off the 2001-2002 cars you are considering.
You might find this usefull:
http://www.jag-lovers.org/brochures/xj2001s.html
I probably should have just pointed you at that instead of spending the last 20mins scanning stuff in and uploading it here. oh. oh well.
General description of the X308, inc. power/torque graphs for the 3.2 and 4.0 litre engines.
Specifically about the 4.0litre. The sovereign 4.0litre, 3.2 and XJR are dealt with seperatly.
Specifications for the X308 range
Standard/optional equipment for the X308 range (upside down, sorry!)
You might find this usefull:
http://www.jag-lovers.org/brochures/xj2001s.html
I probably should have just pointed you at that instead of spending the last 20mins scanning stuff in and uploading it here. oh. oh well.
General description of the X308, inc. power/torque graphs for the 3.2 and 4.0 litre engines.
Specifically about the 4.0litre. The sovereign 4.0litre, 3.2 and XJR are dealt with seperatly.
Specifications for the X308 range
Standard/optional equipment for the X308 range (upside down, sorry!)
Edited by varsas on Thursday 4th February 19:39
Edited by varsas on Thursday 4th February 19:41
jcelee said:
Thanks Steve, certainly some money to be set aside for preventative maintanance.
If that preventative maintanance includes full fluid changes and secondary chain tensioner upgrade then would one missed service be disasterous? (there is one 20 month, 13k gap in the history).
Interestingly, my local specialist said they rarely advise changing gearbox oil / filter unless the gearbox is already some signs of not being as smooth as it should be. That seems to go against the consensus. Also, will a 2nd half of 2001 car have a later waterpump without a self destructing plastic impeller?
Thanks,
Jon
Very hard to comment about missed servicing - my own opinion is that 10k is an absolute maximum never to be exceeded, but a lot will depend on the quality of oil and the style of driving. Full synthetic and motorway cruising would be OK I guess but min spec oil and lots of short trips and cold starts might have allowed some wear to take place. You don't say how many miles the car has done overall but this will have some bearing on wear rates through missed servicing too.If that preventative maintanance includes full fluid changes and secondary chain tensioner upgrade then would one missed service be disasterous? (there is one 20 month, 13k gap in the history).
Interestingly, my local specialist said they rarely advise changing gearbox oil / filter unless the gearbox is already some signs of not being as smooth as it should be. That seems to go against the consensus. Also, will a 2nd half of 2001 car have a later waterpump without a self destructing plastic impeller?
Thanks,
Jon
I'd get the gearbox oil changed regardless - there's been far too many premature failures due to lubrication breakdown to consider leaving it to chance. A new box is a lot more than semi regular oil changing will ever be, both in terms of cost and hassle.
Revised non Nikasil engines should have the later pump fitted. IIRC that'll have a black plastic gasket, not a thin metal one. They will not however have metal bodided timing chain tensioners unless they have already been changed - that's a must in my view. You can easily check what's fitted by removing the RH cam cover and having a look
Thanks guys, very very helpful. Those scans are excellent and far better than the other online ones (which are too low res to blow up and actually read).
Thanks for the useful servicing tips too, the car moved to indy servicing at around 68k (hopefully it was a thorough 70k service, will check tomorrow with servicing garage). Do you know what the additional items in the 70k service are?
As you say, not worth taking risks with the gearbox so I'll get the oil changed. The specialist I spoke too wanted more for this than for fitting upgraded tensioners, what is a typical cost? Am I best sticking with a specialist garage for this or an auto gearbox specialist?
Thanks for the useful servicing tips too, the car moved to indy servicing at around 68k (hopefully it was a thorough 70k service, will check tomorrow with servicing garage). Do you know what the additional items in the 70k service are?
As you say, not worth taking risks with the gearbox so I'll get the oil changed. The specialist I spoke too wanted more for this than for fitting upgraded tensioners, what is a typical cost? Am I best sticking with a specialist garage for this or an auto gearbox specialist?
NP, HTH.
My maintenance schedule book doesn't go up to 70k, stops at 60k so as long as the 60k service was a proper one the 70k service will have been 'just' a 10k one. The coolent should have been done at 60k (or 4 years). Apart from the normal checks (which are quite extensive...) it just says to change engine oil, not even the air filter..oh, and the windscreen wiper (as if you'd actually bother)
Interestingly I've just noticed that the maintenance schedule specifies to 'renew automatic transmission fluid and filter' every 30k miles....
oh, it cost me £400ish to have phase3 tensioners put in my car. Although apparently my 10 year old, 100k miles phase1 ones were not badly worn...
My maintenance schedule book doesn't go up to 70k, stops at 60k so as long as the 60k service was a proper one the 70k service will have been 'just' a 10k one. The coolent should have been done at 60k (or 4 years). Apart from the normal checks (which are quite extensive...) it just says to change engine oil, not even the air filter..oh, and the windscreen wiper (as if you'd actually bother)
Interestingly I've just noticed that the maintenance schedule specifies to 'renew automatic transmission fluid and filter' every 30k miles....
oh, it cost me £400ish to have phase3 tensioners put in my car. Although apparently my 10 year old, 100k miles phase1 ones were not badly worn...
Edited by varsas on Thursday 4th February 20:57
jcelee said:
Thanks, looks like the "Double Plated Platinum Spark Plugs" with a life of 70k X 8 might be the expensive part of the 70k service!
Jon
hmm, my book says to change them every 20k miles...mine is a very early car though so my book may not apply to 'your' car. The brouchure does mention those plugs doesn't it...Jon
different service schedule here...says 'plugs (and transmission fluid) are done at 60000 miles...however it is just a 'suggested' schedule, not the official jaguar one.
http://www.robisonservice.com/servicedep/jaguar_ma...
Maintainance schedule was changed sometime around 2000.
Plugs are now 70k for n/a cars and 30k for the supercharged engine. Coolant (red) up to VIN 878273 every 4 years and coolant (long life greeny orange) every 5 years. Don't mix the two types.
Whilst you're draining and refilling get rid of the spring clips and fit proper worm drive Jubiliee clips to all the hoses.
Brake fluid every two years. Don't forget grease nipples - yes really the XJ still has them - on the drive shaft UJs, grease every 10k.
I'd change 'diff oil every 20k and gearbox oil and filter every 30k or so.
Try E bay for plugs. I bought a set of genuine NGKs from a warehouse clearance.
Cost of secondary tensioner change is around £400. Parts are £100 and it's a fairly easy DIY. Timing tools can be hired from the JEC for about £40/week.
Gearbox oil is very expensive - you'll need 7 litres at (cheapest) £8.50/litre. Allow two hours or so for changing the filter (£20) and oil. Will usually need to an overnight job as final level check should be done when stone cold.
Plugs are now 70k for n/a cars and 30k for the supercharged engine. Coolant (red) up to VIN 878273 every 4 years and coolant (long life greeny orange) every 5 years. Don't mix the two types.
Whilst you're draining and refilling get rid of the spring clips and fit proper worm drive Jubiliee clips to all the hoses.
Brake fluid every two years. Don't forget grease nipples - yes really the XJ still has them - on the drive shaft UJs, grease every 10k.
I'd change 'diff oil every 20k and gearbox oil and filter every 30k or so.
Try E bay for plugs. I bought a set of genuine NGKs from a warehouse clearance.
Cost of secondary tensioner change is around £400. Parts are £100 and it's a fairly easy DIY. Timing tools can be hired from the JEC for about £40/week.
Gearbox oil is very expensive - you'll need 7 litres at (cheapest) £8.50/litre. Allow two hours or so for changing the filter (£20) and oil. Will usually need to an overnight job as final level check should be done when stone cold.
Edited by Jaguar steve on Friday 5th February 10:23
Not sure I agree. My friend has a straight 6 3.2, and I have driven a V8 3.2
I thought/think they are great cars. I guess it depends how you drive it, but both the 3.2's rev so well it's a delight to let them charge round the rev counter. That might not be what you want from a jaguar I suppose...i've not driven either 4.0.
As for the supercharger...I'm lucky enough to have one and it is lovely but it's a different type of car, the bigger wheels/sports set up gives a harsher ride...again if that's what you want great but it might not be what everyone expects from an XJ. I think my ideal car would be a SWB supercharged sovereign on 16 or 17inch wheels.
I thought/think they are great cars. I guess it depends how you drive it, but both the 3.2's rev so well it's a delight to let them charge round the rev counter. That might not be what you want from a jaguar I suppose...i've not driven either 4.0.
As for the supercharger...I'm lucky enough to have one and it is lovely but it's a different type of car, the bigger wheels/sports set up gives a harsher ride...again if that's what you want great but it might not be what everyone expects from an XJ. I think my ideal car would be a SWB supercharged sovereign on 16 or 17inch wheels.
've had both 3.2 versions. The 3.2 6 cyl is OK but struggles when heavily loaded or in hilly areas but the V8 3.2 is a completely different car. It's more powerful, lighter and has a much better gearbox. 0-60 comes up in 8.1 secs and Vmax is 140.
The 308 has a much stiffer body too, and Jaguar firmed up the suspension rates slightly on both the touring and sport versions compared with the X300. The result of this is that a sports suspension model X308 on, say 17" Celtics with 50 profile tyres gives a very firm, un-Jaguar like ride.
I swapped my sports suspension X308 back to the standard 16" wheels and 60 profile touring biased tyres which gave a noticable improvement, but it's still nowhere near the magic carpet ride you'd expect when compared to an XJ40 or Series 3 XJ.
The 308 has a much stiffer body too, and Jaguar firmed up the suspension rates slightly on both the touring and sport versions compared with the X300. The result of this is that a sports suspension model X308 on, say 17" Celtics with 50 profile tyres gives a very firm, un-Jaguar like ride.
I swapped my sports suspension X308 back to the standard 16" wheels and 60 profile touring biased tyres which gave a noticable improvement, but it's still nowhere near the magic carpet ride you'd expect when compared to an XJ40 or Series 3 XJ.
On the subject of engine size, my last XJ8 was the 4.0litre and currently have a 3.2litre LWB version. TBH there isn't that much difference, if any.
For normal everyday driving they both respond exactly the same, but if you're planning on driving 'fast' all the time, then perhaps the 4.0l would be better? I'm not convinced.... but for a more 'zippy' feel, keep it in sports mode and you'll not be disapointed either way.
On the subject of keys... Steve is quite right, it should have two black keys & fobs and one green 'valet' key. Also the advice on fluid changes is spot on.
Let us all know what you get!!! + some pics would be good.
For normal everyday driving they both respond exactly the same, but if you're planning on driving 'fast' all the time, then perhaps the 4.0l would be better? I'm not convinced.... but for a more 'zippy' feel, keep it in sports mode and you'll not be disapointed either way.
On the subject of keys... Steve is quite right, it should have two black keys & fobs and one green 'valet' key. Also the advice on fluid changes is spot on.
Let us all know what you get!!! + some pics would be good.
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