Used X350/X358 XJR - what to look out for?

[munky]

My first post in the Jaguar forums so please be gentle

The time has come to add a family barge to the fleet, and having narrowed down the choice to a Quattroporte or XJR, it seems the big cat has slightly less insane running costs - would I be right in that assessment?

So onto the main question which is what issues to look out for on a second hand X350/358 XJR? Looking at 2007/2008 models, mileage around 20 - 30k.

thanks in advance!

[Jaguar steve]

Check out Honest John's site for X350 information and a road test of the 2.7 desiel.

Only problmes I'm aware of are electrolytic corrosion between the aluminium panels and steel rivets and occasional air suspension pump failure as well as a few awkward maintainence issues. Looking into this myself at the 'mo and trying to find out how widespread the reported corrosion problems are.

One PH'er has posted having the same area repaired no less than four times...

[munky]

Thanks for that - I did a bit of googling and found that the rivets are tin-zinc coated to prevent corrosion - in theory. Found a couple of mentions of corrosion but doesn't seem to be a widespread issue?

Found a 2008 XJR finally - seem to be quite rarely on the market - but it's on sale or return with a dealer in the midlands. Local dealer (same firm) wants a 10% deposit to get it down south to view. Bit nervous about that as you can imagine, putting down a 10% based on a few photos on a website.

[Jaguar steve]

munky said:

Thanks for that - I did a bit of googling and found that the rivets are tin-zinc coated to prevent corrosion - in theory. Found a couple of mentions of corrosion but doesn't seem to be a widespread issue?

Found a 2008 XJR finally - seem to be quite rarely on the market - but it's on sale or return with a dealer in the midlands. Local dealer (same firm) wants a 10% deposit to get it down south to view. Bit nervous about that as you can imagine, putting down a 10% based on a few photos on a website.

Advice from within the JEC seems to suggest the corrosion issues are down to paint contamination rather than electrolytic corrosion. Either way there seems to be an problem with the X350 which I'm currently trying to get more information on - how bad it is and how widespread and what to look for prior to purchase.

[cardigankid]

munky said:

Found a 2008 XJR finally - seem to be quite rarely on the market - but it's on sale or return with a dealer in the midlands. Local dealer (same firm) wants a 10% deposit to get it down south to view. Bit nervous about that as you can imagine, putting down a 10% based on a few photos on a website.

It seems that by a huge proportion the X358's are 2.7 Diesels. If I were you though I would go up to see it. I can see the dealer's point of view, not to mention that of the seller, but I would put no money down on a car I had not sat in and driven unless it was brand spanking new.

[Triple7]

If it is at a franchised Jaguar dealer, then you are entitled to view any approved used car at any Jag dealer you want. £500 is all that is required as a deposit and you are not committed to buy it. However, if you are serious about that particular car, if it meets with your requirements, there should be no reason you won't buy it when you see it is there?

Edited by Triple7 on Tuesday 25th May 18:15

[munky]

Triple7 said:

If it is at a franchised Jaguar dealer, then you are entitled to view any approved used car at any Jag dealer you want. £500 is all that is required as a deposit and you are not committed to buy it. However, if you are serious about that particular car, if it meets with your requirements, there should be no reason you won't buy it when you see it is there?

Edited by Triple7 on Tuesday 25th May 18:15

That's interesting - thanks. And no, if it meets requirements and is as described, there would be no reason. If it's not as described, in spec or condition, then I would get the deposit back. If the service and warranty history (some minor fixes) isn't as described, I would get the deposit back. If I didn't like the way it drives, I would get the deposit back. It's to deter joyriders with no intention of buying, which is understandable, however 10% is steep and given your comment I'll ask for a reduction or go 'oop north' to look at it. The only factor I'm left unsure about is the colour - it's liquid silver but on the photos seems very flat, like a matt grey/blue colour. It may be just a colour that doesn't photograph well, especially when overcast, but the lunar grey cars to me look more silver in photos than the silver does. So I may see if they have any other liquid silver cars in stock locally and go have a look. Unfortunately they have no XJs in stock at all to look at.
Does anyone know if liquid silver is the new Jag name for platinum?

[munky]

As an aside, has anyone else noticed that the photos on the official used Jag website (used.jaguar.co.uk) are often photoshopped? There are various cars for sale, from different dealers, that are (from the reflections and exact pixel for pixel positioning in the photo) pretty obviously the same car, but with the colour of the car and (sometimes) the background location changed. Does anyone else find that fairly outrageous? They are both showing a cream interior whereas they are both actually charcoal, and given the use of stock photos for 11 of the 12 photos, there's not actually a single photograph of the car being sold.

for example - compare side by side:
http://used.jaguar.co.uk/vehicle/955616
http://used.jaguar.co.uk/vehicle/955708

[munky]

bah - it sold this morning

[a8hex]

They've been doing that for years, there used to be a comment on the webpage about the photos not being the actual car. I think some are and some aren't.

[munky]

a8hex said:

They've been doing that for years, there used to be a comment on the webpage about the photos not being the actual car. I think some are and some aren't.

It's out of date as well, one car listed sold at least 3 weeks ago. I think I'll ignore the site from now on. It's a shame though that the Lancaster online stocklist seems to divert back to this Jag website.

[Jaguar steve]

a8hex said:

They've been doing that for years, there used to be a comment on the webpage about the photos not being the actual car. I think some are and some aren't.

Yes they have, photoshopping some examples laughably badly too IMO - begs the question why not get off their shiny suited salesman-type arses and go outside and photograph the actual car? FFS even I can work a digital camera and upload pictures.

Unless of course it's perhaps a teaser put up at a slightly highish price than the rest to make the real ones on the forecourt look a good deal, or it's a speculative try-on to test the market and see if there's any interest, or it's not actually at the dealers at all and maybe will only be there if a deal on a p/x goes through sometime in the future.

[cardigankid]

I agree. Jaguars tend to be photogenic, but these CGI shortcuts always make the cars look lumpen, always misrepresent the colour, to the car's disadvantage, and never indicate what the interior looks like.They can make an XK8 look like a badly resprayed MGF. I did actually write to Jaguar after receiving one of their mailshots, suggesting that these CGI images were doing them no good at all and if they didn't have real photographs they would be better with nothing. Didn't get a response which given that they are busy people is understandable.

[munky]

cardigankid said:

munky said:

Found a 2008 XJR finally - seem to be quite rarely on the market - but it's on sale or return with a dealer in the midlands. Local dealer (same firm) wants a 10% deposit to get it down south to view. Bit nervous about that as you can imagine, putting down a 10% based on a few photos on a website.

It seems that by a huge proportion the X358's are 2.7 Diesels. If I were you though I would go up to see it. I can see the dealer's point of view, not to mention that of the seller, but I would put no money down on a car I had not sat in and driven unless it was brand spanking new.

Agree entirely, it's just that they seem to sell before I can get to view them, which I can only do at weekends. Quite a demand for them... or they're underpriced (sshhh..)

[cardigankid]

In the case of the aluminium XJR's I would say both underpriced and in demand. The best one to get if you can get your hands on one, purely in my view, is one of the X350 Portfolio editions, with side vents, Callisto alloys but the original grille which is maybe a little less heavy than the facelifted one.

Edited to say, if you have one of these very good looking machines the difference is that the aluminium castings both on the wheels and the side vents have a polished metal surface which MUST be kept immaculately clean or they corrode. The Callisto wheel was a version of the Concept wheel, and while they look identical, the later Callisto (which has 'Growler' as opposed to traditional hexagonal 'Jaguar' centre caps) has a painted finish which is more resistant to corrosion.

By coincidence I saw two of these at the weekend, one XJR and one a 2.7D which are much more prevalent. One had been looked after, and is one of the best looking Jags you could get. One had not, and the aluminium was in a right old state. This is a three year old car.

Edited by cardigankid on Monday 31st May 09:25

[munky]

cardigankid said:

In the case of the aluminium XJR's I would say both underpriced and in demand. The best one to get if you can get your hands on one, purely in my view, is one of the X350 Portfolio editions, with side vents, Callisto alloys but the original grille which is maybe a little less heavy than the facelifted one.

Edited to say, if you have one of these very good looking machines the difference is that the aluminium castings both on the wheels and the side vents have a polished metal surface which MUST be kept immaculately clean or they corrode. The Callisto wheel was a version of the Concept wheel, and while they look identical, the later Callisto (which has 'Growler' as opposed to traditional hexagonal 'Jaguar' centre caps) has a painted finish which is more resistant to corrosion.

By coincidence I saw two of these at the weekend, one XJR and one a 2.7D which are much more prevalent. One had been looked after, and is one of the best looking Jags you could get. One had not, and the aluminium was in a right old state. This is a three year old car.

Edited by cardigankid on Monday 31st May 09:25

thanks - I'll bear that in mind and keep it clean. Finally got one at the weekend - X358 XJR in liquid silver and (oddly) black wheels - I think they're Cremona but could be wrong. Not sure whether to take them back to silver or leave them black - looked wrong in the photos but not bad in the flesh.
Very impressed so far - not a squeak, nor a rattle, the air suspension is a joy, and mind bogglingly quick. The TVR is fun, but this is for when I'm in a hurry.. just have to learn how to park it.

[jagseven]

Good choice - I ran an X350 XJR for 3 years and really enjoyed it. I think silver suits them very well (mine was black).
I spotted one cruising around London the other day and it struck me how good (and expensive) it looked.
The XJR doesn't encourage swift driving unlike my current jag (XFR) but there is still plenty of satisfaction to be had guiding the luxo barge at high speed down a twisty road and they don't hang about on the straights

[cardigankid]

Sounds lovely - lets see some pictures! Is the dash aluminium or does it have veneer?

Silver is great - this is the one I used to have -

Edited by cardigankid on Tuesday 9th November 09:11

[munky]

cardigankid said:

Sounds lovely - lets see some pictures! Is the dash aluminium or does it have veneer?

Silver is great - this is the one I used to have -

Edited by cardigankid on Tuesday 9th November 09:11

Very nice! Silver does suit them I think, but are surprisinly rare. One came up for sale in June, but it was a sale or return so my local dealer wanted 10% deposit just to bring it down south to view. While I was considering that, someone walked into the showroom and bought it. It had been on sale for about 3 days. 5 months later another one comes up - first one in 5 months, been checking every day - turns out it's the same car!

It's an aluminium dash, dove leather.. I'll get some pics up in a sec if I can remember how. I've only taken one photo myself so far (too busy driving it at the weekend)

[munky]

note - previous owner had wheels painted black, not sure if I will keep them like that