XJ8 3.2 - Newbie Questions

XJ8 3.2 - Newbie Questions

Author
Discussion

CheekyChap

Original Poster:

110 posts

250 months

Sunday 29th August 2004
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Having got bored with my new Golf TDI and wanting something a bit more interesting again, I've been looking at XJ8s for around 8k. Now I've read lots about the nikasil bore linings and the ZF autoboxes being sealed so you can't change the oil, but my main questions are...

1. What are the servicing costs going to be like? Anyone know a good specialist in the East Berks area?

2. Does anyone know, or have a link to, what standard kit came on these things? As far as I can work out they all have climate control, but I'd want a CD changer and cruise too...

3. I drove a 4.0 litre XJ8 at the Jag dealer in Slough over the weekend - pretty tasty (the car not Slough). Economy between this and the 3.2 is broadly similar. What are the servicing costs like in comparison?

4. Does anyone have any comments (abuse, praise, common sense etc) about my plan? I'm thinking I could carry on spending the same each month on motoring, just split the money different ways - lower payments higher fuel costs etc. Only way this could go wrong is if something hideous goes wrong on the Jag. Tell me I'm being stupid here!

Cheers fellas, all help appreciated.

Angelis

2,333 posts

243 months

Sunday 29th August 2004
quotequote all
I've had an XJ8 now for over 6 years. In fact it's one of the Nikasil cars. It's only done about 21,000 miles, but it's been the most reliable car I've ever had. Only problem I've had so far is with a the brakes (which I've just posted up).

I still ahve mine serviced at a main dealer (woodford jaguar) who've looked after the car since new. The major 60,000 mile service cost £730.

To be honest, I personally think there's not much more benefit in getting a 4.0 litre over a 3.2 litre, with the latter costing less to run.

An XJR however......now that is totally diferent.

sybaseian

1,826 posts

282 months

Monday 30th August 2004
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Simon,

you must be near me as it's my local dealer - don't like the fact that their servicing department is miles away.....

sybaseian

1,826 posts

282 months

Monday 30th August 2004
quotequote all
There is an issue with the CD Changer on the XJ8 models - if it has one great as long as it works and doesn't need replacing (£500 OE only) and after market ones won't work if it has the phone system.

When I bought mine, it didn't have a CD Changer and I wasn't going to fit one for £500. I bought a 40Gb Ipod instead and now have 5000 tracks to choose from rather than 6 CDs.......

CheekyChap

Original Poster:

110 posts

250 months

Monday 30th August 2004
quotequote all
I must admit I've been impressed with the dealer network so far, but that's mostly because they've plied with me cups of tea and coffee whilst not worrying I'm not about to buy a £50K XK.

Anyway, when I ran old Mercs I always used the Mercedes dealers as they always told you what they were going to charge and why (can't say that for VW). Plus they did a discounted labour rate for cars over 5 years old.

Worth paying the extra for servicing at the Jaguar dealer then?

Angelis

2,333 posts

243 months

Monday 30th August 2004
quotequote all
Sybaseian,

I'm in Ilford and the service centre is now a lot nearer to me. Saves me treking all the way to woodford. :-)

It's going in again on wednesday to try and solve the brake problem. I'm thinking of asking them to also stick the XJR mesh grill in at the front for me.

sybaseian

1,826 posts

282 months

Tuesday 31st August 2004
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Angelis said:
Sybaseian,

I'm in Ilford and the service centre is now a lot nearer to me. Saves me treking all the way to woodford. :-)

It's going in again on wednesday to try and solve the brake problem. I'm thinking of asking them to also stick the XJR mesh grill in at the front for me.


Unfortunately, I'm near Woodford.....

Get the grill from ebay - it's easy to fit yourself, just a couple of screws.

I have been using Les Pauls Independant Jag Specialist. Les, Paul and Kevin (the chief mech) are all ex-Woodford. I can't fault the level of service.

cdp

7,541 posts

261 months

Tuesday 31st August 2004
quotequote all
My father has an XJ8 3.2. Servicing so far hasn't been too expensive, but that's in Norwich. He uses the main agent who have generally been fairly good, but my brother had an issue with them on his XJ12 recently (they carried out expensive work without asking first).

CheekyChap

Original Poster:

110 posts

250 months

Tuesday 31st August 2004
quotequote all
So sounds like if you find a good dealer you're okay... Thanks for the tips.

How reliable are the little ancilliary bits? Electric aerials, cruise control units and the like?

alanp

69 posts

291 months

Friday 3rd September 2004
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I got a XJ8 4.0 in December and have put nearly 20k miles on it so far, nothing has gone wrong and as I use Optimax all the time the economy has even got slightly better!!.

The biggest cost so far was 4 new tyres! All my running costs are on the members car section, all main dealer costs - hope it helps

CheekyChap

Original Poster:

110 posts

250 months

Friday 3rd September 2004
quotequote all
alanp said:
I got a XJ8 4.0 in December and have put nearly 20k miles on it so far, nothing has gone wrong and as I use Optimax all the time the economy has even got slightly better!!.

The biggest cost so far was 4 new tyres! All my running costs are on the members car section, all main dealer costs - hope it helps


Top stuff, thanks alanp (and everyone)! I can see I'm on a slippery slope to XJ8 ownership!

Now all I need to do is flog the Golf...

Angelis

2,333 posts

243 months

Saturday 4th September 2004
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sybaseian said:

Get the grill from ebay - it's easy to fit yourself, just a couple of screws.


Found one on ebay. He wanted £150 for it, but the bidding has ended. I'll wait around a bit longer.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2488188390&category=10390&sspagename=rvi:1:2