Daimler Double Six Jag XJ40 V12

[robbri]

just wondering whats the difference between the two and what would be the best buy as i am thinking about selling my 4.0 sport X300 for a V12, are they to unreliable? or should i go for a X300 V12.

[a8hex]

Personally I think the X300 is much better looking.
They are also galvanised so there are less rust problems.

[Markymark69]

Another vote for X300.

[cml]

Down to taste really (duh), the X300 is better made and won't rust as much. Both are pretty much the same under the skin (design from front to rear pillar almost exactly the same). Coming around to the XJ40 now though, has more retro charm and that guilty pleasure vibe. Good ones are getting rare now too.

X300 is the world's best-looking 90s saloon though - I know because I've got one
+ coupled to one of the best engines

Wish I had the money/gumption to go V12, I like they way Jags don't shout about it, you have to look hard to tell.

Both cars cool as...

[a8hex]

Minor correction

cml said:

X300 is the world's best-looking --8<-- saloon though - I know because I've got one
+ coupled to one of the best engines

[cml]

a8hex said:

Minor correction

cml said:

X300 is the world's best-looking --8<-- saloon though - I know because I've got one
+ coupled to one of the best engines

Quite possibly although I didn't want to boast.

My dad has an X358 and when parked together, he always says 'yours in prettier than mine'.

[robbri]

I have been looking at the classifieds what are your opinions on these.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DAIMLER-JAGUAR-DOUBLE-SIX-V1...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1993-Daimler-Double-Six-Auto...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1995-DAIMLER-DOUBLE-SIX-AUTO...

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2081395.htm

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C161700/

http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C147542/

Edited by robbri on Friday 8th October 16:05

[300bhp/ton]

robbri said:

just wondering whats the difference between the two and what would be the best buy as i am thinking about selling my 4.0 sport X300 for a V12, are they to unreliable? or should i go for a X300 V12.

My Dad had a 1993 model XJ12 XJ40. It came from a local Jag main dealer, think he bought it in 1995/6.

I was very lucky and got to drive it a lot in 1997. It was a fantastic car. The car was sold a year or so later. In 2001 he then had a 4.0 litre X300 Sovereign.

In all honesty I much preferred the XJ40 V12, huge performance difference and in many ways I preferred the interior.


Some differences I can think off

- The XJ12 XJ40 had something like 120+ changes from an XJ6 XJ40
- Daimler Double Six would have had more wood/leather and the fold down trays in the back. Possibly softer suspension too, although I don't know for sure. Also when did the LWB platform come out?
- 1993 XJ12 had a glove box
- 1994 had a passenger airbag an no glove box
- x300's didn't have a LSD only TCS, so from a driving dynamics point of view this is a downer for me
-Daimler had the square headlights which never looked great IMO, XJ12 had twin round ones


Over the XJ12 was pretty good, it did have a weird electrical issue that plagued it for 6 months or so. The dealer couldn't find it. In the end a RAC chap solved it, it was a busted replay that fell apart when touched.

I think it went in for the self leveling rear suspension too.

Think that was everything though, although I understand age may well cause more issues.

Engine wise, it's cramped but no reason you can't work on it yourself or by a local mechanic. The 6.0 litre sounds lovely and truly is so different to an AJ16 4.0, smoother, better sounding and way, way faster, oh and did I say smoother

Seriously, a friend of ours had a new Bentley Turbo RT at the time. And the Jag was smoother and more refined and pretty much as quick.


At the end of the day, all great cars though

[Markymark69]

robbri said:

I have been looking at the classifieds what are your opinions on these.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DAIMLER-JAGUAR-DOUBLE-SIX-V1...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1993-Daimler-Double-Six-Auto...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1995-DAIMLER-DOUBLE-SIX-AUTO...

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2081395.htm

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C161700/

http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C147542/

Edited by robbri on Friday 8th October 16:05

The one on PH in grey for me. Just noticed thats got the bloody tints too, were they standard or something then?

Its a shame number 3 has got the bad boy tints, that put me off.

Edited by Markymark69 on Friday 8th October 17:38

[cml]

And I had to look didn't I?

Low-millage good-looking V12 for under £3,000.

Next year. One of this or an XJR.

[RW774]

Hi Robbie, the 1993 car at GL is a very good example, it`s some recent paintwork and a new gearbox some 2 years ago.It is in my opinion a very very good example in a rare colour.I supplied some components for the previous owner as he was a local Garage proprietor.Good on fuel too on a run.Reccommended........

[300bhp/ton]

RW774 said:

Hi Robbie, the 1993 car at GL is a very good example, it`s some recent paintwork and a new gearbox some 2 years ago.It is in my opinion a very very good example in a rare colour.I supplied some components for the previous owner as he was a local Garage proprietor.Good on fuel too on a run.Reccommended........

Good on fuel might be a stretch

Reckon ours did 16-18mpg according to the trip most of the time. Maybe 20 if you were very very good and a who lot lower if you weren't. Still I agree I think it was better than my 3 speed 5.3 XJ-S.

[dkatwa]

I had a Daimler Double Six, 1994. Averaged 11mpg (I live in London) and I swear you could see the fuel gauge go down right in front of your eyes! Every trip to dealer was accompanied by an open wallet....must have spent £3k in the one and only year I owned it...I was told by the mechanic that the later XJ8s were much cheaper to maintain.
I now drive a BMW 535d which is almost as quick but 26mpg in London and 40 mpg on a run.
Nice cars though, Jags.....

[robbri]

dkatwa said:

I had a Daimler Double Six, 1994. Averaged 11mpg (I live in London) and I swear you could see the fuel gauge go down right in front of your eyes! Every trip to dealer was accompanied by an open wallet....must have spent £3k in the one and only year I owned it...I was told by the mechanic that the later XJ8s were much cheaper to maintain.
I now drive a BMW 535d which is almost as quick but 26mpg in London and 40 mpg on a run.
Nice cars though, Jags.....

you dont buy a daimler double six and then wory about fuel comsumption i know it will drink fuel like there is no tomorrow if this was a concern then i would not be even thinking of running a v12, i want to experience the jag v12 because i thought the ride in my x300 was nice and smooth even with the sports suspension, the daimler double six and jag v12 must be sublime and i want the experience of driving a car that has the these qaulities there are also rolls and bentleys but i hear the v12 is just as good if not better in this age of car.

Edited by robbri on Saturday 9th October 01:08

[varsas]

I had an XJS, mate has an X300 3.2 and I had an X308 XJR

The only thing I would say about the Series3 cars is that the gearbox is frustrating. It's only got 3 speeds, and it never uses first unless you are drag racing or pulling away up a steep hill. This means you effectively get 2 ratios, one up to about 60mph, and the other which stretches to 150+. Even with the mighty V12 you sometimes catch it inbetween ratios at, say, 70ish mph. The XJS was still an awesome car it's just so frustrating that everything else about the car is sublime but it's all hampered by that damned gearbox. I have read that the gearbox is the reason the engine is redlined at 5,500rpm too, the engine is fine at 6,500+ but the gearbox simply wouldn't cope...again the car is alive and pulling you toward the horizon, the engine has just started making that wonderful turbine like noise, it's all building to a climax...and then it all stops as the gearbox calls a halt and slurres in the next change...at which point you are out of the power band. XJ40's/X300's will have a 4 speed box.

I would still have a S3 or XJ-S again in a heartbeat, but if the point of the exercise is to really experience that V12, you need a better gearbox to go with it. IMHO.

Edited by varsas on Saturday 9th October 12:12

[kamilb1998]

Look wise the X300 is too curvy for me, so I much prefer the XJ40.

All Jags are expensive to run, especially a V12.

Be careful if buying an XJ40 V12 (XJ81 as they were called in the factory) because of the Marelli ignition fires, what can and will happen if left, is that one end of the rotor arm will burn out, hence only one bank of the engine will fire, be assured a V12 will run quite well on one bank, the problem here is that the ECU picks up that one bank is not firing and gives that bank even more fuel, this unburnt fuel goes straight into a very hot catalyst, with the obviuos outcome, a cat fire, and if your unlucky a complete underbonnet fire. This doesn't apply to the X300 V12

If you have a V12, check your cap and rotor for any signs of burning, check your coils for any sign of cracking from the heat of the engine, if in doubt change them, any signs of misfire, lumpy running, get it checked it could save your car

And on a XJ81 always keep an eye on the temperature gauge, and check your coolant regularly, they are a very complex engine.

Fuel consumption wise the X300 V12 and XJ81 are about the same, and can average about 18MPG on a long run.

[RW774]

Could always convert the 6 litre to the 5 speed getrag.I`ve just sold a 40 kit complete on ebay ,£300.The 93 I mentioned , whilst in good state of tune would do 22 mpg plus.