2009 XF 3.0 Diesel S
Discussion
Evercross said:
The obvious big issue is cracking of the plastic inlet manifolds. These are integrated into the plastic cam covers and turn brittle over time due to repeated heat cycles causing them to crack. Happens around the 70,000-100,000 mile mark. Symptoms are rough running and engine going into limp-mode.
Lots of smaller more annoying things like most other cars - interior lights with a mind of their own due to the touch-sensitive switching playing up (can lead to a flat battery if they turn themselves on when the car is parked), rotating air-vents that stop rotating (there's a youtube tutorial on how to fix that). Also check that the actuator on the balancing valve for the twin turbos has been replaced for the later type that doesn't corrode. Most will have been changed by now but mine wasn't and it leads to symptoms that can be mistaken for the cracked inlet manifolds. The new actuator thing is a cheap fix and the manifolds aren't!.
Also if it has heated and cooled seats there is a chance they won't be working properly. Not a deal breaker but it is a cheap fix if caught early as it'll be because the plastic ducts that carry the hot/cold air have come loose or cracked. If not sorted and someone repeatedly tries to use them it causes the heating/cooling element to burn out.
Its a great car and a great engine - I've had mine for two years now after owning a variety of VAG/BMWs and an Alfa or two and it is just a cut above the rest.
Thank you!Lots of smaller more annoying things like most other cars - interior lights with a mind of their own due to the touch-sensitive switching playing up (can lead to a flat battery if they turn themselves on when the car is parked), rotating air-vents that stop rotating (there's a youtube tutorial on how to fix that). Also check that the actuator on the balancing valve for the twin turbos has been replaced for the later type that doesn't corrode. Most will have been changed by now but mine wasn't and it leads to symptoms that can be mistaken for the cracked inlet manifolds. The new actuator thing is a cheap fix and the manifolds aren't!.
Also if it has heated and cooled seats there is a chance they won't be working properly. Not a deal breaker but it is a cheap fix if caught early as it'll be because the plastic ducts that carry the hot/cold air have come loose or cracked. If not sorted and someone repeatedly tries to use them it causes the heating/cooling element to burn out.
Its a great car and a great engine - I've had mine for two years now after owning a variety of VAG/BMWs and an Alfa or two and it is just a cut above the rest.
Edited by Evercross on Tuesday 8th October 14:21
There are now 2 candidates. A 2009 S on 100k and a 2010 Luxury on 130k. Both are local so will try both.
Thanks all for the advice!
Went to test drive one last night. It drove well, very nice interior and all was going well until a gearbox fault appeared on the dash and after it going into neutral it found 2nd gear and wouldn't go out of it. That car also had a few marks on the outside, rear parking sensors not working and rear camera was terrible quality (not sure if they all are?)
Went to test drive one last night. It drove well, very nice interior and all was going well until a gearbox fault appeared on the dash and after it going into neutral it found 2nd gear and wouldn't go out of it. That car also had a few marks on the outside, rear parking sensors not working and rear camera was terrible quality (not sure if they all are?)
blueacid said:
The rear camera is normally perfectly good - it's a bit grainy, certainly not HD, but more than enough to spot any obstacle worth not crashing into. Of course a new car might have a higher definition sensor, but we're talking tech that's 10-15 years old here.
That one must of had an issue then as it was especially bad, seemed cloudy and blurry. I had a 2007 Lexus GS and yea while the camera wasnt HD as you say it was fully usable, that XF wasn't.May go and look at another one but having that one show the gearbox fault it has put me off them some what. Though im sure its probably isolated and not common.
Evercross said:
All reversing cameras eventually succumb to an amount of fogging through moisture ingress.
As for the gearbox I wouldn't be put off XFs in general as it is the same ZF autobox that is fitted to millions of BMWs as well as other marques. I'm willing to bet though that the fluid has never been changed, and at that mileage and with faults showing I reckon fresh fluid now will be too little to save it if not kill it completely.
It should have been done around the 60 - 75,000 mile mark and the general advice seems to be that if the change is missed and the fluid is allowed to bake it is better to leave it in there until the box dies.
More than likely is the same or similar version of gearbox that my 530D has. I think having that happen has just put the whole memory of the car has bad, although first impressions were good.As for the gearbox I wouldn't be put off XFs in general as it is the same ZF autobox that is fitted to millions of BMWs as well as other marques. I'm willing to bet though that the fluid has never been changed, and at that mileage and with faults showing I reckon fresh fluid now will be too little to save it if not kill it completely.
It should have been done around the 60 - 75,000 mile mark and the general advice seems to be that if the change is missed and the fluid is allowed to bake it is better to leave it in there until the box dies.
Edited by Evercross on Thursday 10th October 12:37
I do remember trying it in sport and a couple times it did jolt/clunk between changes but the failure happened when in D and going 40mph with no more than 30% throttle
So about 6 weeks ago now I picked up a 2011 3.0 Premium Luxury in Lunar Grey(I think!).
87k miles when I picked it up and already added about 2k on top of that.
Love it so far, not as powerful as my BMW but feels almost as fast mainly due to the speed of the gearbox.
Only thing that needs attention is some paint on the front bumper and the loom for the camera which the garage will be doing at some point.
Only plans so far are window tints, nothing crazy but think it really needs to and to get rid of most of the chrome. I just personally don't like chrome on a light colour car.
87k miles when I picked it up and already added about 2k on top of that.
Love it so far, not as powerful as my BMW but feels almost as fast mainly due to the speed of the gearbox.
Only thing that needs attention is some paint on the front bumper and the loom for the camera which the garage will be doing at some point.
Only plans so far are window tints, nothing crazy but think it really needs to and to get rid of most of the chrome. I just personally don't like chrome on a light colour car.
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