Which X350 XJ V8?

[bobsavage789]

Simple enough: which one would you go for?

Option 1: https://www.wtbell.co.uk/showroom/jaguar/2005-54-j...

Option 2: https://www.asmotoruk.com/cars/jaguar/xj/4.2/53378...

Both same price, same year. Different specs, engines, dealers and mileages though.

I’m test driving the 3.5 Sport tomorrow (dealer of the 4.2 Sovereign won’t allow test drives currently..)

Any thoughts welcome!

[craigjm]

Not much to differentiate them so down to what trim you prefer really. At that price though I would be looking for something a bit later and maybe wait until the stupidly speculative pricing has calmed down. You can get a 2009 on X351 for under 10k now. However, if you really want a 350 then move your search a little bit to 2006 onwards and the X356. This is not to be confused with the X358 facelift from 2007 but in 2006 from VIN G49701 they introduced the X356 which looks identical externally and internally to the early car but features a much more reliable and updated electrical system and some mechanical updates too.

[bobsavage789]

Thanks for the feedback: I prefer the idea of Sovereign trim, and the 4.2 with the extra 40-odd horsepower adds to the appeal.

I’m happy to be corrected, but I couldn’t find any later petrol XJs within my £8-9k budget that didn’t have silly miles. Petrol, as I only do 6000 miles or so per year.

There’s also the tax penalty of 2006-onwards…

[craigjm]

Yeah the introduction of the diesel in 2005 kind of badly dents the petrol sales. Worth looking on here, autotrader, facebook marketplace etc. I just think personally 8k for a 16 year old car is strong money when you consider the 2009 X351 isn't much more. Worth posting on the Jaguar facebook pages that you are looking too. What would you consider silly miles?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110068...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108136...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/201903045...

too high?

Edited by craigjm on Sunday 24th October 19:27

[bobsavage789]

craigjm said:

Yeah the introduction of the diesel in 2005 kind of badly dents the petrol sales. Worth looking on here, autotrader, facebook marketplace etc. I just think personally 8k for a 16 year old car is strong money when you consider the 2009 X351 isn't much more. Worth posting on the Jaguar facebook pages that you are looking too. What would you consider silly miles?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110068...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108136...

too high?


I agree: cars of this age for those prices is bonkers. However, the stupid prices mean I can sell my current Mercedes for £5k more than I paid 15 months ago, giving me enough for my dream car (TVR) and a cheapish daily.

Based on nothing at all, I’ve set an upper mileage limit of 90k: foolhardy or vaguely sensible?

Edited by craigjm on Sunday 24th October 19:25

[craigjm]

I think you are really putting yourself in a box with 90k if you want one of these. A huge wedge of 05 XJ's had 90k on them by 2010. As long as they have been serviced correctly and had the gearbox oil changed at about 80k then they are not a problem. The biggest issue with cars of that age is rust. People think "oh its aluminium it doesnt rust" but everything bolted to the shell is steel and rusts like crazy. You may want to try and avoid a sunroof too because they rust like crazy as the runners are not aluminium. A well cared for car though will be no bother.

[bobsavage789]

Yeah I’ll be careful to check for rust and bubbling paintwork.

Turns out those ‘sealed for life’ gearboxes aren’t quite that…

[craigjm]

Yep they definitely are not sealed for life regardless of what Jaguar says. service every 50k is recommended and if you don’t know if it has been done then get it done. Wishbone bushes wear out too and check the suspension for faults

[bobsavage789]

Thanks Craig: very helpful.

I didn’t know about the potential suspension issues.

[bobsavage789]

Just test drove the 3.5 Sport: I was very impressed.

Few bits of bubbling on the bottom edges of some of the doors, but I got the impression that they’d at least try to sort it.

Looking at (but not allowed to test drive (!)) the 4.2 Sovereign tomorrow.

[craigjm]

Just be mindful that the bubbling you are seeing is not rust, it is filiform corrosion. Not a cheap fix and if the other car doesnt have it then that would be enough to swing it for me.

[bobsavage789]

craigjm said:

Just be mindful that the bubbling you are seeing is not rust, it is filiform corrosion. Not a cheap fix and if the other car doesnt have it then that would be enough to swing it for me.

Ah nuts.

I’ve had a quick Google: sounds like £250/panel isn’t unheard of.

Will it become a more serious problem if left untreated? Surely if it’s confined to tiny areas on some of the doors on a 16 year old car, it doesn’t spread..?

[craigjm]

It doesnt spread in the same way that rust spreads as long as its repaired properly and the paint is done properly to prevent moisture ingress. There are a lot of cars around, be picky, dont be hung up on mileage so much. Unfortunately prices are rising because of the silly season with cars at the moment and the fact that the diesels in that model are not ULEZ compliant so they are dropping at the same time.

[bobsavage789]

Yep, and I’m selling my current one to Cazoo on Friday, so I’m up against it, time-wise…

It might give me a bargaining chip or two…

[bobsavage789]

Put a deposit on the 4.2 Sovereign.

It was in remarkable nick for its age/mileage, and only one small bit of bubbling that I could see.

I’m probably a poor judge of character, but the two owners of the dealership both seemed like knowledgeable, genuine guys.

[craigjm]

Good luck with it

[reddiesel]

craigjm said:

Just be mindful that the bubbling you are seeing is not rust, it is filiform corrosion. Not a cheap fix and if the other car doesnt have it then that would be enough to swing it for me.

I have rectified the Filiform corrosion several times on different X350 Jaguars and I completely disagree with the idea that it is either inordinately expensive to rectify or a major problem with the car . By and large it is confined to a couple of localised well known areas and any decent Bodyshop will charge no more for the job than they would a conventional steel car .

[reddiesel]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Fascinating to read of your experiences as the mileage gets to this sort of level . The 3.5V8 I had in SE Spec and found it to be perfectly adequate as is the 3.0V6 also . Parking Sensors are indeed a well known shortcoming as are the inevitable milky headlights . I was particularly interested to hear about your expansion tank for exactly the same thing happened to me .

[reddiesel]

bobsavage789 said:

The prices of the best X350s have always remained pretty strong just under the £20k mark . The X358 in XJR spec will even hit the early £22K level though quite who buys at this money I am not too sure . You have to bare in mind that in comparison to other XJ Models the X350 and X358 were produced in comparatively fewer numbers and were never a strong seller when even new . Sections of the Motor Media damned the car for not being modern enough in its looks though of course they couldn't question the modernity of its construction . I invite anyone today to place one in say Jaguar Racing Green with the 19" Custom Wheels against any German Crap of the same period then you will recognise what an iconic beautiful timeless shape the X350 is , the others in comparison look pretty anonymous . I honestly dont think you can go wrong purchasing an X350 , as in all things buy the best you can as one owner cars are still out there . Sports Models apart from the XJR I would avoid , they are completely out of character with the Jaguar Ownership experience and I hate Birds Eye Maple . Diesels likewise , they will never appreciate in value and are largely unwanted come resale time . Pretty pointless unless you are covering high mileages on a regular basis . I am in MK if I can be of any help Bob , drop me a PM if you spot anything near me , I would literally spend all day looking at X350 Jaguars , hoping you get fixed up soon .

[craigjm]

reddiesel said:

craigjm said:

Just be mindful that the bubbling you are seeing is not rust, it is filiform corrosion. Not a cheap fix and if the other car doesnt have it then that would be enough to swing it for me.

I have rectified the Filiform corrosion several times on different X350 Jaguars and I completely disagree with the idea that it is either inordinately expensive to rectify or a major problem with the car . By and large it is confined to a couple of localised well known areas and any decent Bodyshop will charge no more for the job than they would a conventional steel car .

I didn’t say it was inordinately expensive to rectify. I was just saying if one car had It and one didn’t that would swing it for me. Proper corrosion repair is not cheap regardless of whether it’s steel or aluminium