gutted, xjr failed mot on under body rust

gutted, xjr failed mot on under body rust

Author
Discussion

lestershaw

Original Poster:

1,591 posts

163 months

Saturday 25th February 2017
quotequote all
Guys
i have a 1998 with 80,000 miles on the clock, i have had the 4th Gen tensioners, new timing chain, bottom pulley for more bhp, and new water pump , less than 10,0000 miles ago. i thought my car would last forever. but its failed the mot on rust. approx cost is over £1000 to get through the mot, but will need to be done again next year.
i love this car and i dont want it to go, its black on black and drived really well. i had even bought another xjr to source parts if needed them. so opinions please, wished id kept Jeremy`s one

race it
repair it year after year
scrap it and get another?
look for a good one with broken engine

any other options, im not interested in breaking for parts
thanks Lester

Edited by lestershaw on Saturday 25th February 13:55

Orcadian

312 posts

140 months

Saturday 25th February 2017
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It's so sad when these lovely cars get to this point especially after you have addressed most of the other issues. When you say it's a grand this year but will need doing again, I assume that will be the other side or somewhere else. If it's those notorious pieces behind the front dampers then the only real way to do a proper repair is with the frame/power unit out of the way. If it's sills, then a full interior strip of seats and carpets is the only way. Looking for another, PERHAPS better example can be difficult too. If you really love having the car, as I do my Daimler equivalent, then rather than just keep chasing tinworm, then I think I would ask one of the reputable Jaguar restoration companies for a quote for the repairs including comprehensive underbody protection.
Another route definitely not for the faint hearted is a new body-shell - they used to be ridiculously cheap (like £200!!) when production of the cars ceased but I've not seen one for sale for some years now. I did a new re-shell many years ago with an XJ-S Cabriolet (before the wiring got quite so extensive). You also need a lot of space!!

Ian

Benspickup

220 posts

135 months

Tuesday 28th February 2017
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Have you got any means to do some or all of the work yourself? If the garage has quoted 1000 to repair it, that's probably only a couple of days work.

I would possibly get a second opinion also.

Where abouts are you located? I used to restore older jaguars for a living and would happily give you a second opinion

TheD

3,136 posts

204 months

Tuesday 28th February 2017
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I feel your pain. I did the same as you regarding getting mechs done, and all the time Tin man was eating away. I just kept getting it patched for around 150 pound a time which was plenty. A grand seems a bit steep.

speckledspaniard

48 posts

102 months

Wednesday 1st March 2017
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I'd keep at it. Depends on the extent of the repairs and what sort of resources available to you obviously but some of the things I've seen being repaired beggars belief. Love for the car trumps all.

Zippyworld

805 posts

189 months

Thursday 2nd March 2017
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Hi Lester,

Mine has had four patches done this past 12 months. Front wheel arches where the brake hose goes through, a rear arch and a rear sill, about £150 for each of 3 visits to the bodyshop. I also got some welding done underneath at the front of the floorpans as they were looking a bit ominous, so if you had kept it you may have had similar issues.

You did right by me in selling it back and its not forgotten !

As you know it was thoroughly treated with Dinitrol 6 years ago and I still got these rust patches. It is booked again next week for another thorough going over with Dinitrol and then my valeting man will come and give it a couple of coats of nano ceramic polish or whatever it is.

I think you should keep it, get it sorted rust wise and try and stay on top of it, its nearly 20 years old it needs the tlc.

Frying pan and fire.

Nice to hear from you....

kamilb1998

2,220 posts

182 months

Thursday 2nd March 2017
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As some have stated above, I'd certainly keep it.

If the car's been undersealed in the past, it would be worth removing and replacing this coating. If it's not undersealed/treated in any way, I would get the rust attended to and find a place that will underseal / waxoyl or similar after the repair work.

My old Sovereign, albeit an XJ40, was undersealed in the past which has massively helped preserve it but it has rotted through in the past where the undersealed has cracked/fallen off in places.

Benspickup

220 posts

135 months

Friday 3rd March 2017
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Is it possible for you to post some pictures up of the corroded areas so people can give you a betteri point of view.?

PH XKR

1,761 posts

107 months

Saturday 4th March 2017
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a grand to fix a car you know and love or, lose the car and spend £££ to buy a different car. No brainer, fix.

/end thread

kev b

2,724 posts

171 months

Saturday 4th March 2017
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Better the devil you know instead of buying an unknown quantity.

A grand is a lot of welding, why not try getting some more quotes before committing yourself?

Looking on the bright(ish) side, £1K would only buy you one Mercedes coil pack, or a Maserati suspension arm or half an Aston clutch,

PH XKR

1,761 posts

107 months

Saturday 4th March 2017
quotequote all
kev b said:
Better the devil you know instead of buying an unknown quantity.

A grand is a lot of welding, why not try getting some more quotes before committing yourself?

Looking on the bright(ish) side, £1K would only buy you one Mercedes coil pack, or a Maserati suspension arm or half an Aston clutch,
or two e39 m5 maf's as I just found out

Jimmy Recard

17,546 posts

184 months

Saturday 4th March 2017
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Shop around for quotes. Get it fixed. Any chance of spending a bit more to get it done properly and rustproofed properly?

A lasting repair would make it well worth it. I know a good cheap welder but if you want to get his cheap rates, he fits it around other work so he may have the car locked up in his yard for a couple of months to get round to it.

I need to have a black XJR sooner rather than later!

Zippyworld

805 posts

189 months

Sunday 5th March 2017
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Just out of curiosity, where is the rust Lester ?

dbdb

4,401 posts

178 months

Sunday 5th March 2017
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I would shop around for quotes, then have the car repaired.