F Type R 5.0 common problems

[E90_M3Ross]

Hi all,

Can anyone please point out the common issues with these cars? I gather some can suffer from subframe corrosion? Any engine issues (e.g. timing chains?) etc etc.

Many thanks.

[reddiesel]

Subframe corrosion is merely a wire brush and some body schutz for protection . Timing chains in my experience are seldom if ever an issue but it being the internet many that haven’t even owned a V8 R become experts . It’s like everything , you never hear about the hundreds of thousands that have no issue . Bodywork is the thing you should be checking and especially if it comes from a JLR Dealer with Jaguar as the first Owner on the log book . A dead giveaway is the scuttle between the glass roof and above the doors . Pull back that rubber seal and look for evidence of fresh paint or masking lines . Ten times out of ten that glass roof will remain in situ if there has been paint applied to the sides
The black plastic trim around the side quarter windows is another point of inspection . These are nigh on impossible to remove without breaking and most paint shops simply mask up to them . Clear coat is applied over the paint and ends up peeling like nail varnish from the edge of the new paint .
Tyres should be P Zeros in each corner , not the greatest tyre on certain Sports cars but adequate on the V8 R .
Buy a good one and they are a bargain so I hope I haven’t alarmed you .

[E90_M3Ross]

Far from it, they are not big issues

Why should one check the bodywork specifically? Is it a case that they're poor from the factory, or signs of something else?

[reddiesel]

Some of these F Types were subject to Leasing Agreements and having JLR as the first owner in the logbook is in my experience a good indication of a car that’s possibly been leased . Marshall Cambridge for example have some East Europeans in a shed outside doing remedial paintwork so you have to be on your guard . The glass roof is never removed owing to cost and practicality , obviously any paint applied to the sides has to stop short of the roof so the rubber scuttle seal between the glass roof and above the doors is where any new paint will end and the seal will mask that work from the naked eye

[bennno]

reddiesel said:

Some of these F Types were subject to Leasing Agreements and having JLR as the first owner in the logbook is in my experience a good indication of a car that’s possibly been leased . Marshall Cambridge for example have some East Europeans in a shed outside doing remedial paintwork so you have to be on your guard . The glass roof is never removed owing to cost and practicality , obviously any paint applied to the sides has to stop short of the roof so the rubber scuttle seal between the glass roof and above the doors is where any new paint will end and the seal will mask that work from the naked eye

Mine was owned by JLR, VE reg are mainly HQ cars.

Many of the Jaguar HQ cars (especially early ones) show Copart special vehicle operations - who prep JLR HQ cars for resale and fit any mods required to early production cars. Normally copart would be a red flag but not if it’s as I’ve described.

I’ve had 2 - only issue I’ve had was a lazy dashboard vent on both cars.

[E90_M3Ross]

Interesting, I've heard of that issue numerous times. Plastic gear fails or something.

[scz4]

As a previous owner (albeit a V6S), avoid an earlier car (2013 to 2015)! You'll constantly be chasing quality issues which were mostly remediated in later cars. I got sick of the maintenance\repair costs. Fabulous cars though and still miss mine. Can't stop looking at the newer P450, bit like going back to a hot ex, you know you shouldn't, but.....

[reddiesel]

The two I had were an 18 V8R and a 19 SVR so I have no personal experience of the early cars . I am however interested to hear of your thoughts and experiences .
The last version of the F Type I struggle with on account of the frontal aspect despite trying hard to like them . That said beauty is in the eye of the beholder .

[bennno]

reddiesel said:

The two I had were an 18 V8R and a 19 SVR so I have no personal experience of the early cars . I am however interested to hear of your thoughts and experiences .
The last version of the F Type I struggle with on account of the frontal aspect despite trying hard to like them . That said beauty is in the eye of the beholder .

I thought that having had a 15 plate v8s, but was offered a face-lift p450 for a compelling price.

Swings and roundabouts I think the front of the earliest cars best, but the latest face-lift cars drive way better and have an interior that feels >10 years newer.

Exhaust noise little different if you pull fuse 15.

[reddiesel]

bennno said:

I thought that having had a 15 plate v8s, but was offered a face-lift p450 for a compelling price.

Swings and roundabouts I think the front of the earliest cars best, but the latest face-lift cars drive way better and have an interior that feels >10 years newer.

Exhaust noise little different if you pull fuse 15.

I think they have to be compellingly priced in order to shift them so I understand why you were tempted .

[reddiesel]

For the money the V8 R is pretty much a no brainer . I wouldn’t buy the current model as I struggle with the frontal aspect and I think it’s cheapened by those silly arse plastic vents . Jaguar of course has previous form with adding pointless tat to attempt and refresh ageing designs without spending significant money . I am thinking of those brake cooling vents on the X358 XJR that don’t cool anything and the various bumper arrangements on the X150 . If you look at the current Vantage you will see how Aston dealt with the problems of integrating a clamshell bonnet with the narrow headlights and even then it took two attempts to get right .