Anybody know who would fit recon/new engine to my V8?

[jamesgareth]

Hi,

Any help appreciated on this..........

Anybody know a good place that will fit a reconditioned or new engine on my 1999 3.2L V8 Jag???? (I am in London)

I ran it without oil (dont ask) and it now sounds like a bag of nails. My local mechanic says its a gonner - there is a place in Heathrow who will do it for £2500 including 60,000 mile guarentee - anybody out there know anywhere else???? (or anybody know how good the 'Heathrow Engine Centre' are at doing this job??)

Thanks.

James.

[jason1883]

I went to these guys, and my advice is don't bother with them. I starting talking to one of the guys that works there and he told me all they do is, take the engine apart clean it, paint the block and heads so they look new and then put it back together. They don't put no new gaskets, seals, head bolts, nothing. If you want new gaskets, seals, head bolts etc you have to pay more, the guarantee they give isn't worth the paper it's written on.

[jamesgareth]

thanks - I have done some research on them and the overwhelming opinion is that they are complete con-artists! A little research on the net has saved me a few thousand quid me thinks - so thanks for your input.

[jamesgareth]

I'm still interested is anybody knows a good garage that would do this job well - ie with integrity! Thanks

[Triple7]

Ask Groomi, he had his done.

G

[jamesgareth]

OK....... Groomi...... You out there? Can you help on this?

[robocop]

I would have thought any of the reputable independents would be ok for this.

Two good ones further North are Elite in Derby /http://www.eapj.com/enhancement_xkr.php 
and David Marks in Nottingham /http://www.davidmarksgarages.co.uk/iemenu.htm 

But if you want an inde down your way, a couple of guys have used Millenium Jags in Surrey and had good service /http://www.millennium-jag.co.uk/ 

Give them all a call and compare.

Rgds
Simon

[jamesgareth]

Thanks.

[Jaguar steve]

Heathrow Engine Centre..... notorious in the trade for decades... you're not serious are you?

Take it to a Jag independent

[jamesgareth]

I had no idea it was so notorious. I am obviously very young in these circles. Thank God I did some research first. Maybe thats the only actual problem people had - they had not been taught to do their research first before taking their car to them and handing over cash. Easy mistake to make I guess. Evolution is a slow thing.

[ringram]

Marcus Barclay seem good in West London. I had an 98 XJ8 looked after by them a few years back. Needed new water pump etc.
Swallows used to be good then seemed to change ownership and went to pot.
Anyway my perception only and that was a few years back.

[Jaguar steve]

jamesgareth said:

I had no idea it was so notorious. I am obviously very young in these circles. Thank God I did some research first. Maybe thats the only actual problem people had - they had not been taught to do their research first before taking their car to them and handing over cash. Easy mistake to make I guess. Evolution is a slow thing.

Jason1883 just about summed the work they do up.

If memory serves they were subject to a consumer group investigation some time ago (can't remember exactly who) and found to be importing and flogging second hand Japanese engines as "fully reconditioned". Strictly speaking they were not breaking the law, but being very creative with their advertising.

If you go for a s/h engine, make sure you buy a steel liner version with a warranty and before it's fitted get the timing chain tensioners and chains checked or replaced.

Try a reputable Jaguar breaker, such as Eurojag

[NormanD]

Give TOM Lenthall at TLC Jags a ring on 0118 973 1787 or 07966 267806

He is an Independant Jag Specialist just north of Blackbush airport on the A30


He knows his Jaguar stuff at a lot less £££ than the Stealers

Edited by NormanD on Saturday 15th December 14:39

[DTYPE]

James,

Elite & Performance Jags Limited in Derby are a great choice! Cheers robocop.

However if Derby is to far to travel for you, I would recomend Ray at 'Surrey Jag Centre' see http://www.surreyjagcentre.co.uk/ give me a mention and Elite when you speak to them, they will source you good engine and fit it for a good price too, they are in my opinion the only independent I would trust in the south with my own cars.

Elite can of course source an engine and fit it too, just pm me if you require any further advice or help on the matter

Dan
EAPJ

[BruceV8]

Jaguar steve said:

Heathrow Engine Centre..... notorious in the trade for decades... you're not serious are you?

Bloody hell! Are they still going? I was warned off them about 15 years ago.

[robocop]

DTYPE said:

James,

Elite & Performance Jags Limited in Derby are a great choice! Cheers robocop.

Dan
EAPJ

No probs Dan

(Just remember me when it comes to my new steering rack in the New Year

[Jaguar steve]

BruceV8 said:

Jaguar steve said:

Heathrow Engine Centre..... notorious in the trade for decades... you're not serious are you?

Bloody hell! Are they still going? I was warned off them about 15 years ago.

Looks like it.. F k knows how though, I was in the trade in the late 70's and 80's and they had a bad rep then.. triumph of Marketing over Engineering I guess.

[jamesgareth]

Thanks for all your suggestions - the Surrey Jag Centre is only 4 miles from me here - I may even manage to drive the Jag over there - even though it does sound like somebody dropped a bag of bolts in a liquidizer.... As for the Heathrow place - try putting 'reconditioned engine' in any seacrh engine and you will get them coming up all over the place - but the stories I have heard about them........ apparently thlocal Magistrates court has no more room for cases against them - and their Directors are currently up for VAT fraud - but they are still there taking orders! Yes marketting over engineering seems to sum it up.

On another subject....... Is it actually possible to buy an XJR (the beautiful shaped one..... ie 97-00 - without it breaking the bank..... my God they are so gorgeous looking - and apparently go like the wind.... my 3.2 was beautiful - but the performance always struck me as a little strained..... (probably why its now broke seeing how I would have to really trash it to get it to perform....... I blame the R1 I have that continually reminds me how slow even so-called 'fast' cars are - so few cars get anywhere hear bikes - and yet the XJR is supposed to actually be quite quick......).

Plus from everything I have read it seems that if you find one that is still running then it probably means the Nikosil problems are not to be worried about. I've seen them for around £5-6K - on a 99 or 98, but I am still scared it will cost double that the first time it goes wrong.....

Any thoughts welcome.........

And thanks again for all the help on where to take my 3.2L

:-)

james.

[Jaguar steve]

jamesgareth said:

Thanks for all your suggestions - the Surrey Jag Centre is only 4 miles from me here - I may even manage to drive the Jag over there - even though it does sound like somebody dropped a bag of bolts in a liquidizer.... As for the Heathrow place - try putting 'reconditioned engine' in any seacrh engine and you will get them coming up all over the place - but the stories I have heard about them........ apparently thlocal Magistrates court has no more room for cases against them - and their Directors are currently up for VAT fraud - but they are still there taking orders! Yes marketting over engineering seems to sum it up.

On another subject....... Is it actually possible to buy an XJR (the beautiful shaped one..... ie 97-00 - without it breaking the bank..... my God they are so gorgeous looking - and apparently go like the wind.... my 3.2 was beautiful - but the performance always struck me as a little strained..... (probably why its now broke seeing how I would have to really trash it to get it to perform....... I blame the R1 I have that continually reminds me how slow even so-called 'fast' cars are - so few cars get anywhere hear bikes - and yet the XJR is supposed to actually be quite quick......).

Plus from everything I have read it seems that if you find one that is still running then it probably means the Nikosil problems are not to be worried about. I've seen them for around £5-6K - on a 99 or 98, but I am still scared it will cost double that the first time it goes wrong.....

Any thoughts welcome.........

And thanks again for all the help on where to take my 3.2L

james.

The XJR is a great car, but I'd be cautious about buying one in your price range. They are bought to be driven hard, and probrably will have been, (why pay the premium for an XJR if you drive like the vicars wife?) which means potentially big, big bills as ther are getting older and racking up the miles. Any Jaguar XJ that's a few years old can be bought for very little cash, but the running expenses from a knackeded, thrashed example can be horrendous.

Try to find Broadbean747s post on PH. That will hepl you decide

[groomi]

jamesgareth said:

OK....... Groomi...... You out there? Can you help on this?

Never fear, Groomi's here!

I had my engine replaced by Surrey Jag Centre in Croydon. They sourced a replacement engine for me too, but it sounds like you already have that sorted. Give them a call and speak to Fred or Ray and tell them Iain Groom recommended them. My name won't get you a discount, but it might make them feel all warm and fuzzy inside to know I'm still a happy customer after seven years of going there.

Be prepared for a big bill though, unless you have a warrantly worth more than the paper it's written on.

Good luck.

Edited by groomi on Monday 17th December 01:30