Review of my 1998 Jaguar XJR X308
Discussion
My 1998 XJR –what do I think?
So after searching for a few weeks looking at and driving a number of XJR, XJ8 4.0 and XKR I plumped for a two owner from new 1998 XJR. It was registered in August 98 and was owned by the American Embassy before being sold to an elderly gentleman in 2002. It did something like 60k miles in 4 years until the second owner purchased the car. When he sold it to me after 14 years it had reached 75k miles. It had 14 service stamps and all MOT’s and had been covered in a garage during that time. It was serviced annually at a Jaguar specialist until December 2015. I contacted the specialist who confirmed they had seen the car regularly.
The condition was generally very good. The black leather was good for 18 years old, headlining sagging a bit but not bad, other than that the interior is very nice. Exterior needed some improvement. No major issues but we got the bumpers and mirrors resprayed and removed light rust from the arches and repainted. There are a few small parking dents.
I immediately drove the car 150 miles and all went well. There are a couple of small glitches one is occasionally it gives a ‘Rear light bulb failure’ and it can on occasion be difficult to move the gear lever if parked up for a while. I think the trick with these cars is to drive them regularly and mine goes out at least weekly, warmed through and driven a good distance.
I have had the car 3 months now and it will shortly be in for an MOT. No advisories the last 2 years and it has travelled less than 1000 miles in a year (I have done 600 in it).
I think it has a real sense of occasion and I like the distant hum of the V8. I can get up to about 24 mpg on the motorway as well. My wife hates it so I am not sure how long I will keep but really glad I have had the chance to own such an iconic car. I think it is also generally well liked and inoffensive as I always get let out of junctions!
For anyone looking at one I would thoroughly recommend. Look at a few, get a feel, use Steve’s excellent guide! I set out looking for a mint one but in reality I have bought a very good one, at a sensible price that I enjoy driving – on balance for me that works! I am really interested in an F-Type over the next couple of years so need to save my pennies!
Any questions shout as I got a lot of great advice off this group and happy to help others.
James.
So after searching for a few weeks looking at and driving a number of XJR, XJ8 4.0 and XKR I plumped for a two owner from new 1998 XJR. It was registered in August 98 and was owned by the American Embassy before being sold to an elderly gentleman in 2002. It did something like 60k miles in 4 years until the second owner purchased the car. When he sold it to me after 14 years it had reached 75k miles. It had 14 service stamps and all MOT’s and had been covered in a garage during that time. It was serviced annually at a Jaguar specialist until December 2015. I contacted the specialist who confirmed they had seen the car regularly.
The condition was generally very good. The black leather was good for 18 years old, headlining sagging a bit but not bad, other than that the interior is very nice. Exterior needed some improvement. No major issues but we got the bumpers and mirrors resprayed and removed light rust from the arches and repainted. There are a few small parking dents.
I immediately drove the car 150 miles and all went well. There are a couple of small glitches one is occasionally it gives a ‘Rear light bulb failure’ and it can on occasion be difficult to move the gear lever if parked up for a while. I think the trick with these cars is to drive them regularly and mine goes out at least weekly, warmed through and driven a good distance.
I have had the car 3 months now and it will shortly be in for an MOT. No advisories the last 2 years and it has travelled less than 1000 miles in a year (I have done 600 in it).
I think it has a real sense of occasion and I like the distant hum of the V8. I can get up to about 24 mpg on the motorway as well. My wife hates it so I am not sure how long I will keep but really glad I have had the chance to own such an iconic car. I think it is also generally well liked and inoffensive as I always get let out of junctions!
For anyone looking at one I would thoroughly recommend. Look at a few, get a feel, use Steve’s excellent guide! I set out looking for a mint one but in reality I have bought a very good one, at a sensible price that I enjoy driving – on balance for me that works! I am really interested in an F-Type over the next couple of years so need to save my pennies!
Any questions shout as I got a lot of great advice off this group and happy to help others.
James.
Hi,
Low port for a/c recharging is at rear of engine bay towards driver's side. Remove the black plastic central cover in the engine bay, you may have to remove the single screw on the driver's side cover to help. Standing by the offside wing and looking towards the offside rear of the engine, the low side port will now be visible sticking up from one of the solid aircon pipes and has a screw on black blanking cap.
Ian
Low port for a/c recharging is at rear of engine bay towards driver's side. Remove the black plastic central cover in the engine bay, you may have to remove the single screw on the driver's side cover to help. Standing by the offside wing and looking towards the offside rear of the engine, the low side port will now be visible sticking up from one of the solid aircon pipes and has a screw on black blanking cap.
Ian
Orcadian said:
Hi,
Low port for a/c recharging is at rear of engine bay towards driver's side. Remove the black plastic central cover in the engine bay, you may have to remove the single screw on the driver's side cover to help. Standing by the offside wing and looking towards the offside rear of the engine, the low side port will now be visible sticking up from one of the solid aircon pipes and has a screw on black blanking cap.
Ian
Thanks so much Ian. Annoying the only cover I didn't lift previously!Low port for a/c recharging is at rear of engine bay towards driver's side. Remove the black plastic central cover in the engine bay, you may have to remove the single screw on the driver's side cover to help. Standing by the offside wing and looking towards the offside rear of the engine, the low side port will now be visible sticking up from one of the solid aircon pipes and has a screw on black blanking cap.
Ian
jcuthell said:
jcuthell said:
Well the air con is now cold but I can only get it to 15 psi. Will have to check again in morning
So air con working and vibration localised to nearside front wheel. Over 15 mins drive the wheel bolts are burning hot!Certainly sounds like binding brake and as the others say seized piston or caliper slider but also check for wheel bearing failure - very common. If there is a lot of play when jacked up with the wheel still on then the disc can rub heavier on the pads or even in extremis on the caliper bracket.
Ian
Ian
jcuthell said:
Hainey said:
Siezed piston or sliders in the caliper then. Easy fix.
Thanks. Is the test if the wheel spins freely on a Jack?Use sliders grease only, which is available on ebay as normal grease eats the seals through causing swelling and then work the piston in and out with you pushing it back with a pry bar with the caliper bolted up and the outside brake pads in place. Have an assistant in the car press the pedal to push it out and repeat 20 times. This will free it off.
If it binds again rebuild or exchange the caliper. There is a good to better chance this will cure it however.
If you were local I'd say bring it round and I'd show you.
Good luck.
Hainey said:
That is the test indeed. As Orcadian said wheel bearings are noteworthy on these but I'll bet with the car being used so infrequently it will be the brakes that are binding.
Use sliders grease only, which is available on ebay as normal grease eats the seals through causing swelling and then work the piston in and out with you pushing it back with a pry bar with the caliper bolted up and the outside brake pads in place. Have an assistant in the car press the pedal to push it out and repeat 20 times. This will free it off.
If it binds again rebuild or exchange the caliper. There is a good to better chance this will cure it however.
If you were local I'd say bring it round and I'd show you.
Good luck.
Thanks Hainey and all for your advice. I got the car back yesterday and it is indeed a sticking caliper so easy fix. Full MOT now until 20th August with no advisories so well pleased!Use sliders grease only, which is available on ebay as normal grease eats the seals through causing swelling and then work the piston in and out with you pushing it back with a pry bar with the caliper bolted up and the outside brake pads in place. Have an assistant in the car press the pedal to push it out and repeat 20 times. This will free it off.
If it binds again rebuild or exchange the caliper. There is a good to better chance this will cure it however.
If you were local I'd say bring it round and I'd show you.
Good luck.
Wot, no cruise?
Nevertheless that looks stunning now, a real pity that your Wife doesn't like it. Your Dad obviously does though.
We've just returned from the Drum Castle (Aberdeenshire) show with the Daimler and I still get that privileged feeling driving it. Passed the MOT again with no advisories and running as smooth as silk now I've fitted the new Supercharger elbow seal kit.
Ian
Nevertheless that looks stunning now, a real pity that your Wife doesn't like it. Your Dad obviously does though.
We've just returned from the Drum Castle (Aberdeenshire) show with the Daimler and I still get that privileged feeling driving it. Passed the MOT again with no advisories and running as smooth as silk now I've fitted the new Supercharger elbow seal kit.
Ian
Orcadian said:
Wot, no cruise?
Nevertheless that looks stunning now, a real pity that your Wife doesn't like it. Your Dad obviously does though.
We've just returned from the Drum Castle (Aberdeenshire) show with the Daimler and I still get that privileged feeling driving it. Passed the MOT again with no advisories and running as smooth as silk now I've fitted the new Supercharger elbow seal kit.
Ian
Yes I was surprised too Ian. I actually cruise and heated seats were standard on the XJR!Nevertheless that looks stunning now, a real pity that your Wife doesn't like it. Your Dad obviously does though.
We've just returned from the Drum Castle (Aberdeenshire) show with the Daimler and I still get that privileged feeling driving it. Passed the MOT again with no advisories and running as smooth as silk now I've fitted the new Supercharger elbow seal kit.
Ian
I know what you mean it does have a sense of occasion and even my dad who has had 11 new Jags thought it was good when he drove it.
Gassing Station | Jaguar | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff