Daimler Double Six...V12 X300

Daimler Double Six...V12 X300

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MedwayMonaro

Original Poster:

1,906 posts

153 months

Sunday 12th January
quotequote all
So 2024 saw me take over this one, not entirely by design, but enough of that. The car itself is as the title, it's an X300 Daimler V12, but it is a Jap import, so not only is it low mileage (49k km) it's also (very nearly) rust free.

Earlier in 2024 I'd previously gone to see an XJR in this shape and rather liked it, but I was too slow to commit to it. This one was my brothers and he wanted rid so I took it on.

It's a SWB model and has been in the UK since 2017. It has covered few km since. Nearly everything still works, there's not a single dent on the bodywork and the engine bay is almost immaculate.



The money shot..





First impressions? It feels quick, but in 2024 a Golf GTi would make it look silly at the traffic light grand prix. It drives superbly, feels almost new and is comfortable. It takes all the best bits of my XJ40 and makes them all better. The bodywork is superb .

Downsides? Well as always there's a list of work to do, which I'll detail below, but the question is, just how thirsty is it? Well, massively so. Although mostly town and urban driving, trip computer currently says 9.5mpg biglaugh

Work that I've identified....

Fix sagging rear suspension (seems common on the X300)
Change radio to UK spec FM
Sort noisy PAS pump (appears to have been an issue for some time)
A good detail
Fix drivers side folding mirror
Coolant change

The clock had faded like all X300 ones do, I'd already got this done when the climate control one went the day I put the dash back together.

I also have the square number recess at the back which I want to change back to one with the oblong style plate.

Finally I'm tempted to give it an XJR look, with wheels and grill easily available. Jury is out on that one still though.

More updates as they happen.....

Mad Maximus

630 posts

18 months

Monday 13th January
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Stunning and what a way to run an older car a big v12!

Mutley78

118 posts

71 months

Monday 13th January
quotequote all
MedwayMonaro said:
So 2024 saw me take over this one, not entirely by design, but enough of that. The car itself is as the title, it's an X300 Daimler V12, but it is a Jap import, so not only is it low mileage (49k km) it's also (very nearly) rust free.

Earlier in 2024 I'd previously gone to see an XJR in this shape and rather liked it, but I was too slow to commit to it. This one was my brothers and he wanted rid so I took it on.

It's a SWB model and has been in the UK since 2017. It has covered few km since. Nearly everything still works, there's not a single dent on the bodywork and the engine bay is almost immaculate.



The money shot..





First impressions? It feels quick, but in 2024 a Golf GTi would make it look silly at the traffic light grand prix. It drives superbly, feels almost new and is comfortable. It takes all the best bits of my XJ40 and makes them all better. The bodywork is superb .

Downsides? Well as always there's a list of work to do, which I'll detail below, but the question is, just how thirsty is it? Well, massively so. Although mostly town and urban driving, trip computer currently says 9.5mpg biglaugh

Work that I've identified....

Fix sagging rear suspension (seems common on the X300)
Change radio to UK spec FM
Sort noisy PAS pump (appears to have been an issue for some time)
A good detail
Fix drivers side folding mirror
Coolant change

The clock had faded like all X300 ones do, I'd already got this done when the climate control one went the day I put the dash back together.

I also have the square number recess at the back which I want to change back to one with the oblong style plate.

Finally I'm tempted to give it an XJR look, with wheels and grill easily available. Jury is out on that one still though.

More updates as they happen.....
Wow, lovely car. Imagine getting that new, quite a thing.

daqinggregg

4,643 posts

144 months

Monday 13th January
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That really does look very special, how long is LWB? this hardly looks compact.

miniman

28,179 posts

277 months

Monday 13th January
quotequote all
Fantastic!

tobinen

9,922 posts

160 months

Monday 13th January
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Superb. Following with interest. Keep it OEM.

trevalvole

1,502 posts

48 months

Monday 13th January
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Very nice. And the engine bay doesn't look like the bird's nest of earlier Jag V12s.

GeniusOfLove

3,655 posts

27 months

Monday 13th January
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It only looks better because they put a cover over it hehe

Joking aside this is the absolute best version of the engine with distributorless ignition, integrated injection and ignition control, and an electronic four speed auto vs the old 3 speed slush pump. Back in the day I ran an SWB XJ12 up to moon mileages driving all over the country and it was an absolutely fabulous way to travel. SWB X300s look much much better than the awkward LWB ones, rare indeed to find a SWB Double Six.

Will be following with interest OP, I've picked up a real rat look smoker X300 4.0 Sovereign to use as a shed and it's very nostalgic, I'd be in heaven with another V12. Nothing in the world sounds quite like the starter sound of a V12 cloud9

Daimler V12s were the only X300 versions to come with Autolux leather too. I'd say keep it OEM too, the chicken wire XJR style grille etc is a bit of a cliche on an old X300 surely?

Square vs oblong plate recess is a new boot isn't it?

Edited by GeniusOfLove on Monday 13th January 09:49

MedwayMonaro

Original Poster:

1,906 posts

153 months

Monday 13th January
quotequote all
Thank you for the comments.

You are completely right, the start of a V12 is music to my ears!

To change the plate recess is indeed a bootlid change, but the square plate really bothers me so it needs to be done. It won't happen overnight as there's more pressing mechanical issues to deal with, but I'm not keen on the square plate at all.

GeniusOfLove

3,655 posts

27 months

Monday 13th January
quotequote all
I don't like the square plates either. Issue you'll have is getting a colour match on a 30 year old car though!

I seem to recall that while the 4 speed auto blunted performance off the line once the car was moving it was really quite brisk. Great waftability too, with crushing fuel economy in traffic but 20mpg tanks possible with a light right foot.

lukeharding

3,137 posts

104 months

Monday 13th January
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Lovely. It should be a lot better than 9.5mpg too, my '73 DD6 does better than that.

Oberheim

262 posts

6 months

Monday 13th January
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That's a lovely, lovely thing. The interior is pure class and the engine bay is astoundingly clean for a nigh-on 30-year-old car.

Yuri75

47 posts

12 months

Monday 13th January
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Can't help but love these things; way back in the day someone I knew had one, it was maybe six years old at the time and it was a money pit like you wouldn't believe. Anything and everything went wrong on it, and the bills were eye-watering. However, on those (rare) days when everything worked, it was absolutely glorious. It did like a bit of fuel, too, but it was not as impressive an appetite as yours is showing. On mainland Europe, we don't do MPG but single digits of those is a thing to aspire to, for most.

Konrod

904 posts

243 months

Monday 13th January
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What a great machine to waft around in. Well done.

RDMcG

19,953 posts

222 months

Monday 13th January
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Absolutely gorgeous car. Assume the rust you mentioned is superficial?

Disco You

3,712 posts

195 months

Monday 13th January
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Very nice indeed. I’ll echo what another poster mentioned; don’t try and make it look like an XJR. If you’d wanted an XJR you could have bought one; what you have is more special IMO.

swampy442

1,701 posts

226 months

Monday 13th January
quotequote all
Love a V12 Jag, I wanted, and still do want a V12 XJS but Im not brave enough lol.

Re power steering, check there's not a mesh filter in the bottom of the reservoir and its not gummed up, a classic Toyota issue that people just leap into pump changes.

MedwayMonaro

Original Poster:

1,906 posts

153 months

Wednesday 15th January
quotequote all
Thanks for the feedback.

I think the XJR thing is more aboutcthecwheels, I can't stand the ones on it. Plenty of other option though I guess.

In terms of rust, there's a very small spot developing at the bottom ofvthe rear screen, so I'll get on that and stop it before it gets too bad.

Some progress today, the drivers side folding mirror has now been changed and folds in smoothly as it should.

I'm lucky enough to have a garage with a scissor lift (which for some reason won't lift the V12 car, but will lift my XJ40!). After I've had a look at an issue on my brother in laws car on Sunday I plan to start the rear suspension on the Daimler and also look at the steering pump (will check filter if fitted as above, thanks). I will then look to change the coolant too as I've no evidence it's been done recently.

swisstoni

19,941 posts

294 months

Wednesday 15th January
quotequote all
My SIII Sovereign V12 did 7mpg when cold and topped out at 19mpg. I miss it to this day.

They aren’t going to be making any more like that so enjoy it.

MustangGT

13,212 posts

295 months

Thursday 16th January
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Yuri75 said:
Can't help but love these things; way back in the day someone I knew had one, it was maybe six years old at the time and it was a money pit like you wouldn't believe. Anything and everything went wrong on it, and the bills were eye-watering. However, on those (rare) days when everything worked, it was absolutely glorious. It did like a bit of fuel, too, but it was not as impressive an appetite as yours is showing. On mainland Europe, we don't do MPG but single digits of those is a thing to aspire to, for most.
In mainland Europe terms you are looking at 30L/100km. Impressive(ly bad).

Stunning car, enjoy it!