Jaguar XK8 4.0, asking for trouble?
Discussion
As you might've realised. I am not working and searching for a new car contender. I have just done a confused.com search for a XK8 and have been pleasantly surprised by the result..
If i were to buy an early one with full service history etc how wallet raping will it be to run? Fuel not included.
I have always lusted after one, i had a model XK8 as a kid which was the real thing (in my mind) and it becoming apparent i could quite possibly come close to affording one. Budget is £5000.
ETA The ones in budget are pushing 100k miles, and i would be putting on about 7000 a year.
If i were to buy an early one with full service history etc how wallet raping will it be to run? Fuel not included.
I have always lusted after one, i had a model XK8 as a kid which was the real thing (in my mind) and it becoming apparent i could quite possibly come close to affording one. Budget is £5000.
ETA The ones in budget are pushing 100k miles, and i would be putting on about 7000 a year.
There's some knowledgable people in the Jaguar section, but I think it boils down to floor-pan rust, sealed for life auto boxes that require servicing and plastic timing belt tensioners that rattle and eventually break. The 4.2 engine is classed as being being more reliable and comes with a better gearbox than the older 4.0.
Can't think of many better looking cars for the money though.
Can't think of many better looking cars for the money though.
Gearbox oil & tensioners need doing, most other things are solid but will cost to replace. Gearbox oil plus filter cost me £145.
Incredibly pleasant car to be in (for the price range), able to move reasonably rapidly for very little effort. Get a small (3/8" or 1/4") if working under the bonnet. Engine is simple, robust but not much room to work, especially as the bonnet hinges the 'wrong' way.
Join a specialist forum for the advice available.
Buy a good one, be prepared to walk away if unsure.
Incredibly pleasant car to be in (for the price range), able to move reasonably rapidly for very little effort. Get a small (3/8" or 1/4") if working under the bonnet. Engine is simple, robust but not much room to work, especially as the bonnet hinges the 'wrong' way.
Join a specialist forum for the advice available.
Buy a good one, be prepared to walk away if unsure.
The early modles can now be insured on a classic policy, which helps with cost!
A few years back, i did consider one but, eventually went for a slightly older Merc SL500, which had much better build quality and reviews from owners clubs. It also filled the "classic" brief better as well as gonig in the garage easier as the XK is a big old lump!
A few years back, i did consider one but, eventually went for a slightly older Merc SL500, which had much better build quality and reviews from owners clubs. It also filled the "classic" brief better as well as gonig in the garage easier as the XK is a big old lump!
oceanview said:
The early modles can now be insured on a classic policy, which helps with cost!
A few years back, i did consider one but, eventually went for a slightly older Merc SL500, which had much better build quality and reviews from owners clubs. It also filled the "classic" brief better as well as gonig in the garage easier as the XK is a big old lump!
How are the SL's? More reliable? I take we are taking about the R129?A few years back, i did consider one but, eventually went for a slightly older Merc SL500, which had much better build quality and reviews from owners clubs. It also filled the "classic" brief better as well as gonig in the garage easier as the XK is a big old lump!
ferrariF50lover said:
Buy a 4.2. The 4.0 all eat their cylinder liners. Or assume this is internet bulls
t and find out the expensive way, whichever appeals most.
Simon.
Really? PH Jaguar expertise is maintaining its usual impressive standard I see... t and find out the expensive way, whichever appeals most.Simon.
The AJ26 4.0 V8 was introduced in 1997 with a thin Nicasil lining applied on the aluminium bore walls of the engine block rather than using conventional pressed steel liners. Along with a number of other modifications to the engine Jaguar changed over from a Nicasil coating to steel liners around the 2000 model year and designated the revised engine AJ27.
Up to January 2000 fuel supplied in some areas of the UK had a Sulphur content of up to 150 ppm. This maximum allowed limit was lowered considerably after then.
Pre 2000 V8s with the AJ26 engine used repeatedly for short trips and repeatedly run on high Sulphur content fuel or with insufficient oil changing could suffer an acidic build up in the oil which etched away the Nicasil linings leading to a loss of compression.
The bottom - completely bull s
t free - line is:Jaguar changed a number of Nicasil lined engines under warranty due to bore erosion. Jaguar determined an engine change was required with a blow by test with a fail result of over 40l/min. Any V8 suffering a loss of compression will be also be noticeably hard to start from cold, have a lumpy idle and a lot of oil in the induction system. A simple roadside check is to lift the oil filler cap slightly at hot idle. A healthy engine will exhibit no positive crankcase pressure or evidence of significant oil mist.
Any Nicasil lined engine that's still running well now is unlikely to suffer bore erosion in the future as the Sulphur content in current fuel is way below that which caused the problem.
Any steel lined engine either fitted as a warranty replacement to a pre 2000 car or as a factory original post 2000 build will not cause a problem either.
You can determine whether an XJ8 had a AJ26 or AJ27 engine originally fitted at the factory by the VIN number. If the VIN ends in 6 digits you have a AJ26 engine. If it ends in 5 digits you have a AJ27. Replacement engines should all have a green tag on the rear of the RH cylinder head.
I don't for know for sure if the same VIN number situation applies to the XK8
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