Discussion
Rust is the enemy, worth looking into professionally sealing the whole undercarriage.
The engine is largely reliable.
Often annoying electrical gremlins prop up.
If you're not using it daily, make sure its on a trickle charger to save the low battery associated anomalies.
Does feel old when you drive it, but that is part of the charm
The engine is largely reliable.
Often annoying electrical gremlins prop up.
If you're not using it daily, make sure its on a trickle charger to save the low battery associated anomalies.
Does feel old when you drive it, but that is part of the charm
Plastic timing chain tensioners have to be changed. It's at the front of the engine so the job is not the worst of all possible jobs but it is still big. You can borrow the tools for locking the camshafts from S & G Barret (for a fee) and I'm 99% sure they also supply the replacement metal tensioners. When I did this job the car I was doing it on was at about 80,000 miles and the tensioners were starting to crack. If the seller has an invoice for the job already being carried out then that's a better car to buy than one which hasn't had it if you get the choice.
Aside from that I agree with your interest in the cars as they are bloody lovely. I toyed with the idea of getting one when I made my most recent purchase.
Aside from that I agree with your interest in the cars as they are bloody lovely. I toyed with the idea of getting one when I made my most recent purchase.
They are a thing of beauty with one of the nicest interiors ever.
A customer lent me his convertible when it was about two years old and it is a treasured memory.
I started looking for a coupe a few years back and rust was the major issue.
Everything had either been welded, was going to need welding or was just already very rusty.
I think there were three revisions to the timing chain guides / followers and you need to have the final iteration for reliability.
Two customers in recent years have owned them:
One was a green convertible XK8 that he absolutely loved, when it was going. Sadly that wasn't very often and after sitting idle for a long time he sold it.
The other is a convertible XKR which was bought for a considerable amount and spends most of its time in a dehumidified garage under his house. I think it's been pretty reliable but it leads a charmed and relaxed life.
A customer lent me his convertible when it was about two years old and it is a treasured memory.
I started looking for a coupe a few years back and rust was the major issue.
Everything had either been welded, was going to need welding or was just already very rusty.
I think there were three revisions to the timing chain guides / followers and you need to have the final iteration for reliability.
Two customers in recent years have owned them:
One was a green convertible XK8 that he absolutely loved, when it was going. Sadly that wasn't very often and after sitting idle for a long time he sold it.
The other is a convertible XKR which was bought for a considerable amount and spends most of its time in a dehumidified garage under his house. I think it's been pretty reliable but it leads a charmed and relaxed life.
I owned one for almost 10 years, and agree that they're lovely cars. That said, they come with their issues and can be expensive to maintain.
Generally speaking the engine is reliable, but don't believe any claims of lifetime gearbox oil. I had to have a recon one at about 80k miles and would suggest changing the oil every 75k. Timing chain tensioners should have already been changed on any car now, but if not it's a must to get done. Other things that often need replacement are the thermostat housing and coolant level sensor.
Leaks are not uncommon, on both coupe and saloon, and the various door and window seals, if you can even find them, are stupidly expensive, so check for damp carpets. Check also the headlining as that can come adrift and sag.
As others have said, rust is another common issue, with partcular areas being sills, wheel arches and seat belt mounts. Oh, and it's not unusual for the driver and passenger footwells to rust through. If you find one relatively rust free, it's worth investing in decent rust proofing, otherwise you'll be contantly patching and welding.
Overall mine cost a fortune to run, with rarely a service not requiring other work, whether that be a bit of welding or a sensor needing to be replaced, so was costing at least a grand a year in maintenance. That said, it's a great car to drive and, despite the constant need for various repairs, it never once broke down on me in the 10 years of ownership.
Am I glad I owned it? Yes. Would I buy another one? No.
Generally speaking the engine is reliable, but don't believe any claims of lifetime gearbox oil. I had to have a recon one at about 80k miles and would suggest changing the oil every 75k. Timing chain tensioners should have already been changed on any car now, but if not it's a must to get done. Other things that often need replacement are the thermostat housing and coolant level sensor.
Leaks are not uncommon, on both coupe and saloon, and the various door and window seals, if you can even find them, are stupidly expensive, so check for damp carpets. Check also the headlining as that can come adrift and sag.
As others have said, rust is another common issue, with partcular areas being sills, wheel arches and seat belt mounts. Oh, and it's not unusual for the driver and passenger footwells to rust through. If you find one relatively rust free, it's worth investing in decent rust proofing, otherwise you'll be contantly patching and welding.
Overall mine cost a fortune to run, with rarely a service not requiring other work, whether that be a bit of welding or a sensor needing to be replaced, so was costing at least a grand a year in maintenance. That said, it's a great car to drive and, despite the constant need for various repairs, it never once broke down on me in the 10 years of ownership.
Am I glad I owned it? Yes. Would I buy another one? No.
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