2003 Jaguar XJ 4.2 V8 SE
Discussion
craigjm said:
sjc said:
I think with cars of this age, it’s more about maintenance and history, than kit.
I like the screen in mine ( kind of adds to the old school feel),but the nav is hopelessly outdated and can’t be updated past 2010 ish.
You can do a modification to the unit so that when you press the nav button what it basically gives you is Android auto. Useful update If you want to keep the original look I like the screen in mine ( kind of adds to the old school feel),but the nav is hopelessly outdated and can’t be updated past 2010 ish.
If it was a daily I’d def do it ( although it’s £600 ish if he does the whole thing and fits it etc) but I’m bloody technophobic anyway !
When I bought an S-Type years and years ago I really wanted the nav and wouldn't look at cars without it, but now I'd say I'm totally indifferent. The buttons are a somewhat superior way to control the climate and stereo, although the layout is cluttered, but the screen looks neater.
I know cars without the screen, even now that the nav is useless, are usually somewhat cheaper and that's a plus for me!
I know cars without the screen, even now that the nav is useless, are usually somewhat cheaper and that's a plus for me!
Minor update! I changed the aux belt, idler and tensioner. It's on the service schedule for 150k miles so it was the original belt and was looking a bit scabby but not terrible. The tensioner felt a bit gooey and the FEAD is definitely quieter now.
I have also noticed over the last week that the NSR tyre was going flat, so I hadn't used the car. I took it to get what I assumed was a puncture looked at, and....
s
t.
I had noticed that the rears didn't match, I had three PZero Assimetrico (expensive!) and one regular PZero, which is the one in the pic. Both the rears tyres had 5mm of tread so this was a bit of a disappointment. I've replaced them both with Goodyear Eagle F1s as that was the best option that they had in stock in that size.
I have also noticed over the last week that the NSR tyre was going flat, so I hadn't used the car. I took it to get what I assumed was a puncture looked at, and....
s
t.I had noticed that the rears didn't match, I had three PZero Assimetrico (expensive!) and one regular PZero, which is the one in the pic. Both the rears tyres had 5mm of tread so this was a bit of a disappointment. I've replaced them both with Goodyear Eagle F1s as that was the best option that they had in stock in that size.
dme123 said:
craigjm said:
Holy st good job you didn’t go out driving on that
Worrying thing is that before it was losing air I'd noticed what I thought was a wheel balance issue at the rear. You know, the sort that you feel at 70MPH so you just power through it and do 90? t good job you didn’t go out driving on that 
craigjm said:
Lucky you weren’t in an XJ shaped coffin at 90 mate
Very aware of this! I think my regular fleet checks will now involve sticking my arm inside the arch for a good feel around the inside of all four tyres.Car is running very well otherwise; no more EML lights, no gearbox issues, reasonable fuel economy. Need to find someone less ham fisted to do some soldering to add an aux input to the CD player though, it's well beyond my ham fisted soldering capabilities.
Had a few small issues sorted back at Tasker and Lacy; New bonnet release cable, coolant leak traced and sorted, and an air con regass.
The air con was an odd one, it would make a whining noise that changed with revs once the car had warmed up, which would vanish on switching off the AC. I assumed a sick pump but read on a Jaguar forum that topping up the gas can fix this. I had mine done, 600g of refrigerant came out and 800g went in so it was really not low, but it sorted the noise.
I then had the EML come on during the trip home, reset it, then half an hour it came back again. Reset it again and stayed off, Still complaining about the MAF so that's going to need some investigation, it'll go 300-400 miles without it coming on usually.
I continue to be disappointed by the ride quality, it only gets really good at 90MPH+. I'm keen to blame the air suspension, but how well would a Series III or XJ40 have ridden on 19" wheels with 40 profile rubber....
Speaking of tyres the new Eagle F1s on the back have hugely increased grip levels, and I'm impressed by how fast the car is for a naturally aspirated Jaguar.
The air con was an odd one, it would make a whining noise that changed with revs once the car had warmed up, which would vanish on switching off the AC. I assumed a sick pump but read on a Jaguar forum that topping up the gas can fix this. I had mine done, 600g of refrigerant came out and 800g went in so it was really not low, but it sorted the noise.
I then had the EML come on during the trip home, reset it, then half an hour it came back again. Reset it again and stayed off, Still complaining about the MAF so that's going to need some investigation, it'll go 300-400 miles without it coming on usually.
I continue to be disappointed by the ride quality, it only gets really good at 90MPH+. I'm keen to blame the air suspension, but how well would a Series III or XJ40 have ridden on 19" wheels with 40 profile rubber....
Speaking of tyres the new Eagle F1s on the back have hugely increased grip levels, and I'm impressed by how fast the car is for a naturally aspirated Jaguar.
Just come across this thread. Fantastic choice, beautiful colour and spec, and deserving of real care and attention rather than just a banger.
Good call with the Goodyear F1s; far more comfortable and preferable to horrible Pirellis which seem to pop and develop sidewall bulges at the slightest provocation. I'm running an 07 XJR and apart from a ridiculous number of electrical error codes (which dont seem to affect the running at all) its absolute bliss.
Good call with the Goodyear F1s; far more comfortable and preferable to horrible Pirellis which seem to pop and develop sidewall bulges at the slightest provocation. I'm running an 07 XJR and apart from a ridiculous number of electrical error codes (which dont seem to affect the running at all) its absolute bliss.
Loose_Cannon said:
Just come across this thread. Fantastic choice, beautiful colour and spec, and deserving of real care and attention rather than just a banger.
Good call with the Goodyear F1s; far more comfortable and preferable to horrible Pirellis which seem to pop and develop sidewall bulges at the slightest provocation. I'm running an 07 XJR and apart from a ridiculous number of electrical error codes (which dont seem to affect the running at all) its absolute bliss.
Well on the care and attention front it's been off for gearbox work. What started as an oil change and adaptation reset has turned into a gearbox and valve body refurb, for an appreciable percentage of the original purchase price. If you hadn't guessed I'm really taken with the car!Good call with the Goodyear F1s; far more comfortable and preferable to horrible Pirellis which seem to pop and develop sidewall bulges at the slightest provocation. I'm running an 07 XJR and apart from a ridiculous number of electrical error codes (which dont seem to affect the running at all) its absolute bliss.
dme123 said:
Well on the care and attention front it's been off for gearbox work. What started as an oil change and adaptation reset has turned into a gearbox and valve body refurb, for an appreciable percentage of the original purchase price. If you hadn't guessed I'm really taken with the car!
What have you had done to the gearbox, and what problems did you have with it? Mine had a slight mental fit last week that I suspect is valve body related. What did it cost if you don't mind me being nosy!? LeighW said:
What have you had done to the gearbox, and what problems did you have with it? Mine had a slight mental fit last week that I suspect is valve body related. What did it cost if you don't mind me being nosy!?
Harsh 1-2 shift, and all shifts were a bit poor, no error codes and it could probably have gone on a long time without any attention. It had a fluid change at 100k. I took it to Planet Gears in Peterborough who have a great reputation and didn't just immediately say to throw the entire box in the bin and give them £4k for a refurb (thanks three other people I contacted). It's still there, so the old adage of choosing any two of "cheap, good, fast" applies here.
Costs quoted are £850 for a rebuild of the gearbox components, replacing all bushes and clutches, and a remanufactured Torque Converter. £1250 if an entire remanufactured box (not including mechatronics / valve body) is required. Mine has needed a rebuild and a couple of "hard" components but not enough to warrant replacing the box.
£400 for a valve body rebuild if needed (it is).
These costs include labour and fluids, and I have to say that they really do seem to know their stuff. 1 year / 12k warranty.
Give me a week and I'll let you know if they are recommended or not, but all signs so far point to yes. Total cost for a box rebuild including valve body is about what you pay for a clutch and DMF, so I keep telling myself.
Edited by dme123 on Wednesday 17th April 14:39
Great, thanks for the info. 
Mine let out a sharp squeal and seemed to change down into first as I approached a roundabout, bringing the revs up to about 5k. As I pulled away, the revs were fluctuating but then it settled down and has been fine since (I was away for the weekend, so have done probably 250 miles). Changes are smooth etc, but clearly something is amiss!
Mine let out a sharp squeal and seemed to change down into first as I approached a roundabout, bringing the revs up to about 5k. As I pulled away, the revs were fluctuating but then it settled down and has been fine since (I was away for the weekend, so have done probably 250 miles). Changes are smooth etc, but clearly something is amiss!
dme123 said:
Harsh 1-2 shift, and all shifts were a bit poor, no error codes and it could probably have gone on a long time without any attention. It had a fluid change at 100k.
I took it to Planet Gears in Peterborough who have a great reputation and didn't just immediately say to throw the entire box in the bin and give them £4k for a refurb (thanks three other people I contacted). It's still there, so the old adage of choosing any two of "cheap, good, fast" applies here.
Costs quoted are £850 for a rebuild of the gearbox components, replacing all bushes and clutches, and a remanufactured Torque Converter. £1250 if an entire remanufactured box (not including mechatronics / valve body) is required. Mine has needed a rebuild and a couple of "hard" components but not enough to warrant replacing the box.
£400 for a valve body rebuild if needed (it is).
These costs include labour and fluids, and I have to say that they really do seem to know their stuff. 1 year / 12k warranty.
Give me a week and I'll let you know if they are recommended or not, but all signs so far point to yes. Total cost for a box rebuild including valve body is about what you pay for a clutch and DMF, so I keep telling myself.
Are Tasker and Lacy contributing to the cost?I took it to Planet Gears in Peterborough who have a great reputation and didn't just immediately say to throw the entire box in the bin and give them £4k for a refurb (thanks three other people I contacted). It's still there, so the old adage of choosing any two of "cheap, good, fast" applies here.
Costs quoted are £850 for a rebuild of the gearbox components, replacing all bushes and clutches, and a remanufactured Torque Converter. £1250 if an entire remanufactured box (not including mechatronics / valve body) is required. Mine has needed a rebuild and a couple of "hard" components but not enough to warrant replacing the box.
£400 for a valve body rebuild if needed (it is).
These costs include labour and fluids, and I have to say that they really do seem to know their stuff. 1 year / 12k warranty.
Give me a week and I'll let you know if they are recommended or not, but all signs so far point to yes. Total cost for a box rebuild including valve body is about what you pay for a clutch and DMF, so I keep telling myself.
Edited by dme123 on Wednesday 17th April 14:39
LeighW said:
Great, thanks for the info.
Mine let out a sharp squeal and seemed to change down into first as I approached a roundabout, bringing the revs up to about 5k. As I pulled away, the revs were fluctuating but then it settled down and has been fine since (I was away for the weekend, so have done probably 250 miles). Changes are smooth etc, but clearly something is amiss!
I'd ignore that unless/until it repeats or starts behaving oddly in other ways Mine let out a sharp squeal and seemed to change down into first as I approached a roundabout, bringing the revs up to about 5k. As I pulled away, the revs were fluctuating but then it settled down and has been fine since (I was away for the weekend, so have done probably 250 miles). Changes are smooth etc, but clearly something is amiss!
I haven't even bothered telling Tasker and Lacy, I can't really expect a contribution because I'm the sort of fool that wants his 15 year old car to change gear like a new one. Slightly rough shifts is reasonable wear and tear on a 150k mile / 15 year old car by any sensible reckoning, and it wasn't getting any worse or throwing up errors - if it had error codes showing then I probably would have discussed it with them.
I admit that a sensible man would have just tolerated the ropey shifts until/if it got worse, and then gone to the dealer. It wasn't even ropey all the time
ETA - Loose Cannon, I think I may have parked next to your Esprit at the services by the old Severn bridge a few years ago. I can't remember if I was in my ratty green MX5 or my XJR-S, but a bright orange Esprit GT3 does tend to stick in the memory.
Edited by dme123 on Thursday 18th April 14:07
dme123 said:
ETA - Loose Cannon, I think I may have parked next to your Esprit at the services by the old Severn bridge a few years ago. I can't remember if I was in my ratty green MX5 or my XJR-S, but a bright orange Esprit GT3 does tend to stick in the memory.
Not me sadly that's one place I have never ventured. They are rare (10 I think) but there are a handful of other orange GT3s knocking about, and definitely a couple in the South West.Update time! Several things have happened:
Firstly the bonnet release stopped working with the new cable. It turns out you can pull the grille inserts out with your fingers in just such an emergency, and undo the latch by hand. The cable had just come off the OS latch so it was a 30 second fix.
The car has had a gearbox overhaul at Planet Gears in Peterborough. All friction parts and bushings replaced, along with the solenoids in the valve body. The spark plugs were changed too. Total waste of money on a car of this age but that's what barge ownership is all about.
They spotted that the rear ABS reluctor rings were going out of shape due to corrosion on the driveshafts and Jaguar will only sell you a whole new shaft at £250+ per side. Instead I bought two new reluctor rings from https://reluctorrings.com/ for £90, chiselled the old ones off and put the new ones on. It turned out that the slightly wonky speed signal due to the out of shape rings was enough to cause shifting issues and a slight pulsing sensation on cruise control. Not enough to set off the ABS light or cause braking/DSC issues though.
I have a rattling rear door card that I suspect has been taken off at some point and re-fitted without a full compliment of clips, so that's the next job.
Aside from that all is well, and I managed 32mpg on a run from Cardiff to Peterborough via Leamington Spa and back again despite "making progress" most of the way. It's a great car and I've become very fond of it.
Firstly the bonnet release stopped working with the new cable. It turns out you can pull the grille inserts out with your fingers in just such an emergency, and undo the latch by hand. The cable had just come off the OS latch so it was a 30 second fix.
The car has had a gearbox overhaul at Planet Gears in Peterborough. All friction parts and bushings replaced, along with the solenoids in the valve body. The spark plugs were changed too. Total waste of money on a car of this age but that's what barge ownership is all about.
They spotted that the rear ABS reluctor rings were going out of shape due to corrosion on the driveshafts and Jaguar will only sell you a whole new shaft at £250+ per side. Instead I bought two new reluctor rings from https://reluctorrings.com/ for £90, chiselled the old ones off and put the new ones on. It turned out that the slightly wonky speed signal due to the out of shape rings was enough to cause shifting issues and a slight pulsing sensation on cruise control. Not enough to set off the ABS light or cause braking/DSC issues though.
I have a rattling rear door card that I suspect has been taken off at some point and re-fitted without a full compliment of clips, so that's the next job.
Aside from that all is well, and I managed 32mpg on a run from Cardiff to Peterborough via Leamington Spa and back again despite "making progress" most of the way. It's a great car and I've become very fond of it.
Another update!
A couple of weeks ago while making good progress on the M5 the car started to make a horrendous dragging/scraping noise. I did the only sensible thing and continued to drive to the M48 services. I looked underneath, expecting an undertray, to see two straps on the floor...
Both fuel tank straps had corroded through and snapped, letting the fuel tank drop onto the undertray which then rested on the prop shaft
I'd wondered about these straps before but neglected to actually look at them. I had it recovered and £90 in parts and an hour of labour later it was fixed.
I've also fixed the rattling rear door, and added a bluetooth module from a more recent version to replace the old curly corded Motorola handset that came built in. It is continuing to prove to be a swift, remarkably efficient, and comfortable way to cover long journeys.
A couple of weeks ago while making good progress on the M5 the car started to make a horrendous dragging/scraping noise. I did the only sensible thing and continued to drive to the M48 services. I looked underneath, expecting an undertray, to see two straps on the floor...
Both fuel tank straps had corroded through and snapped, letting the fuel tank drop onto the undertray which then rested on the prop shaft
I'd wondered about these straps before but neglected to actually look at them. I had it recovered and £90 in parts and an hour of labour later it was fixed.
I've also fixed the rattling rear door, and added a bluetooth module from a more recent version to replace the old curly corded Motorola handset that came built in. It is continuing to prove to be a swift, remarkably efficient, and comfortable way to cover long journeys.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff