Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 14]
Discussion
Just home, seems to drive well, though didn't get above 30mph! Amazingly everything electrical seems to work - all windows, the electric sunroof, the electric mirrors, even the aircon! The radio needs sorted and there's some light cracking to the bolsters but otherwise the interior is very good.
The bodywork is good though with some niggles - round the edge of the boot lid has some bare metal, window seal is loose on one window, paint is a very nice colour - deep navy with a pearlescent finish - though could do with a machine polish, one wing mirror casing is broken. And the bodykit looks good from 10 feet but needs some tlc (or removed!).
For just over half thread budget, one can't complain!
The bodywork is good though with some niggles - round the edge of the boot lid has some bare metal, window seal is loose on one window, paint is a very nice colour - deep navy with a pearlescent finish - though could do with a machine polish, one wing mirror casing is broken. And the bodykit looks good from 10 feet but needs some tlc (or removed!).
For just over half thread budget, one can't complain!
ess said:
With recent Jaguar appearances on here I thought I’d give a quick Barge update from a thread purchase of the 1999 X308 XJR.
Bought in 2015 at 74k off an old-timer; seemed like a well looked after example with a good pile of history receipts, but ready for a refresh and preventative work.
Hence spent a fair chunk of cash in 2016/17 on :
4th Gen tensioners and chains
Water pump, valley pipes
Suspension refresh inc. new CATS dampers all round, new springs (slightly lower; I’m sure the purists will disapprove but think it works with the long, low profile of the XJ)
Supercharger tensioner, pulley, belt
Preventative gearbox and diff oil change
New headliner and some leather refurb
Some bodywork and paint due to tinworm
Penta wheel refurbishment
Managed to pick up some cheap but tatty X300 XJR wheels recently off the Information Super Highway.
Always liked the design of these, like mini XJ220 wheels, and knew they would fit the X308; although what I thought would be a quick and cheap modification soon added up in costs.
Had full restoration at Lepsons and looked for a nice tyre choice.
I’d had Pilot Sport 3’s fitted to the Penta’s previously and the Z4MC has PS4’s, so preferred the Michelin product.
The X300 wheel is an unusual size though at 255/45/17, so few options in the mid range (£150 ish).
Some PS4’s advertised at independents, but could only find 3 with mixed manufacturing dates.
Plumped for Continental ContiSport 5 in the end for a change.
Wheels required new OEM centre caps as the plastic clips on the supplied ones had deteriorated. £85 for 4.
On fitting the refurbished wheels realised they needed shorter bolts to the ones on the Penta wheels. £85 for a set.
Anyway, they are on now and happy with the aesthetics and ride.
The slightly deeper sidewall (45 as opposed to 40 on the 18” Pentas) make for a more compliant ride and offsets the change in springs nicely.
Continental tyres seem fine, if a bit more road noise than the PS3’s. Let’s see what they are like in the wet.
Next jobs :
Rear bumper valance needs repainting after Euro schlep scrape (what is it with French parking…); the clear coat is peeling off around the brightwork anyway, so needs doing.
Need to check a slight oil leak as MOT advisory.
Odd bits and bobs inc. replacing a cracked glass OSF fog lamp.
Really want to sort out the steering though at some point. Had a switchable ‘weighted’ modification done but ideally it needs a quicker rack. Not sure if the XK rack would fit, or maybe a custom build.
Now on 90k and very happy as a thread purchase for occasional weekend/Euro use. Definitely a keeper.
Thanks
S
X300 XJR wheels :
X308 Penta wheels :
PS. It came with that 'personalised' plate. I think all XJ's do....
If you ever felt the need to offload, I'd buy that in a heartbeat. Lovely. Bought in 2015 at 74k off an old-timer; seemed like a well looked after example with a good pile of history receipts, but ready for a refresh and preventative work.
Hence spent a fair chunk of cash in 2016/17 on :
4th Gen tensioners and chains
Water pump, valley pipes
Suspension refresh inc. new CATS dampers all round, new springs (slightly lower; I’m sure the purists will disapprove but think it works with the long, low profile of the XJ)
Supercharger tensioner, pulley, belt
Preventative gearbox and diff oil change
New headliner and some leather refurb
Some bodywork and paint due to tinworm
Penta wheel refurbishment
Managed to pick up some cheap but tatty X300 XJR wheels recently off the Information Super Highway.
Always liked the design of these, like mini XJ220 wheels, and knew they would fit the X308; although what I thought would be a quick and cheap modification soon added up in costs.
Had full restoration at Lepsons and looked for a nice tyre choice.
I’d had Pilot Sport 3’s fitted to the Penta’s previously and the Z4MC has PS4’s, so preferred the Michelin product.
The X300 wheel is an unusual size though at 255/45/17, so few options in the mid range (£150 ish).
Some PS4’s advertised at independents, but could only find 3 with mixed manufacturing dates.
Plumped for Continental ContiSport 5 in the end for a change.
Wheels required new OEM centre caps as the plastic clips on the supplied ones had deteriorated. £85 for 4.
On fitting the refurbished wheels realised they needed shorter bolts to the ones on the Penta wheels. £85 for a set.
Anyway, they are on now and happy with the aesthetics and ride.
The slightly deeper sidewall (45 as opposed to 40 on the 18” Pentas) make for a more compliant ride and offsets the change in springs nicely.
Continental tyres seem fine, if a bit more road noise than the PS3’s. Let’s see what they are like in the wet.
Next jobs :
Rear bumper valance needs repainting after Euro schlep scrape (what is it with French parking…); the clear coat is peeling off around the brightwork anyway, so needs doing.
Need to check a slight oil leak as MOT advisory.
Odd bits and bobs inc. replacing a cracked glass OSF fog lamp.
Really want to sort out the steering though at some point. Had a switchable ‘weighted’ modification done but ideally it needs a quicker rack. Not sure if the XK rack would fit, or maybe a custom build.
Now on 90k and very happy as a thread purchase for occasional weekend/Euro use. Definitely a keeper.
Thanks
S
X300 XJR wheels :
X308 Penta wheels :
PS. It came with that 'personalised' plate. I think all XJ's do....
Well, that wasn't crazy difficult to do. The multiple cable options aren't needed, it's just a matter of taking the entertainment kit in the boot apart and finding the single connector you need. Then it's just running the cable through the car. It really helped that I have the split folding seat option, as I could run the cable through the corner of that, down the side of the seat, and under the trim on the sill.
Worst part was getting the glovebox back on again, that is very much a 2 man job.
So far I have bluetooth music streaming, bluetooth phone, CD player, and the dash cam up and running.
Sat Nav is working, but I need to download offline google maps, and the whole of the UK is about 2GB it looks like. I'm going to try and park close enough to the flat to hook up to my home wifi, rather than do that off a phone hotspot!
No FM radio, the kit didn't come with the correct extension cable, and the one you can buy online has the wrong connector on it, and also has to be run through to the rear of the car. I expect I'll just ignore FM radio for now, I can always stream it from my phone if I want it. I can get a DAB USB stick with aerial for £50, which might be an option. I've run a couple of USB connectors into the glovebox for future connectivity malarkey.
Rear view camera I didn;t even attempt, the cable it comes with is nowhere near long enough to run power from the reverse light, so i'll need to buy more cable. Plus it involves splicing into wires etc... which is a lot of faff.
Dash cam was super easy, stuck on the windscreen behind the rear view mirror, ran the cable along the windscreen edge, and plugged it into a USB socket, and it "just worked"
All in all, very happy so far, sound quality is pretty good, certainly no worse than the original kit. Bluetooth music stream quality is much better than the FM modulator I was using, unsurprisingly.
Took a couple of hours to do from start to finish, I could probably do it in an hour now I know what i'm doing.
CharlesdeGaulle said:
Nice work gentlemen. It's been a productive day. I really hope one of our number went to Anglia Auctions and then we might be in for even more good news.
There are some great motors going through that sale - e23 and e32 7s, lots of old Jags, two CXs and a C6 (diesel sadly), a Vel Satis V6... dangerous https://angliacarauctions.co.uk/classic/saturday-2...
trooperiziz said:
Well, that wasn't crazy difficult to do. The multiple cable options aren't needed, it's just a matter of taking the entertainment kit in the boot apart and finding the single connector you need. Then it's just running the cable through the car. It really helped that I have the split folding seat option, as I could run the cable through the corner of that, down the side of the seat, and under the trim on the sill.
Worst part was getting the glovebox back on again, that is very much a 2 man job.
So far I have bluetooth music streaming, bluetooth phone, CD player, and the dash cam up and running.
Sat Nav is working, but I need to download offline google maps, and the whole of the UK is about 2GB it looks like. I'm going to try and park close enough to the flat to hook up to my home wifi, rather than do that off a phone hotspot!
No FM radio, the kit didn't come with the correct extension cable, and the one you can buy online has the wrong connector on it, and also has to be run through to the rear of the car. I expect I'll just ignore FM radio for now, I can always stream it from my phone if I want it. I can get a DAB USB stick with aerial for £50, which might be an option. I've run a couple of USB connectors into the glovebox for future connectivity malarkey.
Rear view camera I didn;t even attempt, the cable it comes with is nowhere near long enough to run power from the reverse light, so i'll need to buy more cable. Plus it involves splicing into wires etc... which is a lot of faff.
Dash cam was super easy, stuck on the windscreen behind the rear view mirror, ran the cable along the windscreen edge, and plugged it into a USB socket, and it "just worked"
All in all, very happy so far, sound quality is pretty good, certainly no worse than the original kit. Bluetooth music stream quality is much better than the FM modulator I was using, unsurprisingly.
Took a couple of hours to do from start to finish, I could probably do it in an hour now I know what i'm doing.
0a said:
There are some great motors going through that sale - e23 and e32 7s, lots of old Jags, two CXs and a C6 (diesel sadly), a Vel Satis V6... dangerous https://angliacarauctions.co.uk/classic/saturday-2...
Indeed. Already drooled over:CharlesdeGaulle said:
Rubins4 said:
Lord.Vader said:
some nice classic barges, see 5 BMW's at the top.
https://angliacarauctions.co.uk/classic/saturday-2...
Bargains galore, probably, i will be bidding tomorrow - with the cars being in Norfolk (from N.Wales) a worthy trip.
This has been painfully overlooked by the hoard. Some beauties in there.https://angliacarauctions.co.uk/classic/saturday-2...
Bargains galore, probably, i will be bidding tomorrow - with the cars being in Norfolk (from N.Wales) a worthy trip.
ETA. f
k the budget.https://angliacarauctions.co.uk/classic/saturday-2...
When I bought mine he seemed a bit incredulous that I wasn't going to "put a plate on it".
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff