A Stroke of Genius or Certain Doom Ahead?

[trigger]

Bargain!

[Captain Furious]

There is literally no possible way this can go wrong.  Well in.  I'm also well jel.

 

27 and 43

[SamR380]

Bargain! Is that the 4.0 AJ16? I'd like one of them for my 6-cyl SD1

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

It is the AJ16.

[DSdriver]

Who's going to be driving it whilst you are relaxing in the back reading the Financial Times and smoking a cigar?

 

Awaits pic of kinky bird in chuffers uniform

[Broadsword]

Sooooo, I have it. I've driven around enough to be comfortable with the auto box. It doesn't quite fit in a standard-size parking bay, or our driveway. Width is no problem. Length is a more of an issue. It's a beast. One slight snag which became apparent was that the mileage on the clocks is not the mileage. The service history is comprehensive from day one. It was bought from Caffyns Jaguar of Eastbourne (I associate that name with Volvo these days strangely, I'm sure I bough some V70 bits off them).

 

The original owner was chief executive of Sun Alliance insurance group and had it till around 2005 (coincidentally the chap's obituary was that year).. Here's the amazing part. Between 1997 and 2005 there are 18 service stamps. They ran out of room in the booklet there are so many. All at Caffyns. The clocks were replaced at 173 562 (Caffyns) and it appears the new instruments started at zero. It's second life began in 2005 up north. Still serviced at garages, but independents this time. Masses of bills and money spent. The diff has been done in 2005 (skit service kit?? on a 3:58 diff?). Everything has been documented very nicely. Last owner 3 years, previous before that owner 2005 to 2014. All paperwork present, and two keys. Jag owners club stickers etc.

 

So the car might have done around 275 000 miles. Thing is at £395 and given it drives so nicely, I just couldn't leave it there. I've tried to find the engine serial number so I can check that against the service book (anyone know where it is?). Chassis number checks out fine. I'm wondering maybe its a replacement engine and gearbox since it runs so nicely. Either that or it has just been maintained perfectly and the drivetrain really lasts the course. It doesn't look or feel a 275k car.

 

Now all the faults so far. Air con doesn't work because the belt to the compressor is gone. Compressor feels goosed. I'm going to get it fixed. There is some rust on the rear wheelarches and on the O/S rear door. It's relatively ok. The paint wants a bit of correction, but has stood up pretty amazingly. Waxoiling is in the service history. The headlining is sagging a bit. The N/S door mirror is held in with builder's foam. Every other electrical thing seems to work. The odo has some missing pixels annoyingly. Cruise control works. Oh, one of the exhaust tips is missing.

 

Having never driven any Jag before I can't comment on whether the engine is 100%. I just sort of gathers momentum like a train. Throttle response isn't rapid, but somehow I feel this is the point. There is a small blow on the exhaust, but it sounds nice still. A satisfying low pitch warble at idle. The gearbox seems pretty good. The ATF is red. Gear changes are seamless, kickdown works as does sports mode. Why it has a sports mode is beyond me.

 

The interior is in fantastic condition and is just the nicest place to be. Even nicer than an OG Saab 9-3 (I love the interior of those). To summarise, it still works. No, it hasn't caught fire or exploded. Strange.

 

 

Photos now. Short video to follow...

 

[Broadsword]

https://youtu.be/bRUFqfxcNTY

 

Can anyone tell if the engine sounds ok? Yes I will address the creaking door.

[eddyramrod]

4, 16 and 42 please!

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

Sooooo, I have it. I've driven around enough to be comfortable with the auto box. It doesn't quite fit in a standard-size parking bay, or our driveway. Width is no problem. Length is a more of an issue. It's a beast. One slight snag which became apparent was that the mileage on the clocks is not the mileage. The service history is comprehensive from day one. It was bought from Caffyns Jaguar of Eastbourne (I associate that name with Volvo these days strangely, I'm sure I bough some V70 bits off them).

 

The original owner was chief executive of Sun Alliance insurance group and had it till around 2005 (coincidentally the chap's obituary was that year).. Here's the amazing part. Between 1997 and 2005 there are 18 service stamps. They ran out of room in the booklet there are so many. All at Caffyns. The clocks were replaced at 173 562 (Caffyns) and it appears the new instruments started at zero. It's second life began in 2005 up north. Still serviced at garages, but independents this time. Masses of bills and money spent. The diff has been done in 2005 (skit service kit?? on a 3:58 diff?). Everything has been documented very nicely. Last owner 3 years, previous before that owner 2005 to 2014. All paperwork present, and two keys. Jag owners club stickers etc.

 

So the car might have done around 275 000 miles. Thing is at £395 and given it drives so nicely, I just couldn't leave it there. I've tried to find the engine serial number so I can check that against the service book (anyone know where it is?). Chassis number checks out fine. I'm wondering maybe its a replacement engine and gearbox since it runs so nicely. Either that or it has just been maintained perfectly and the drivetrain really lasts the course. It doesn't look or feel a 275k car.

 

Now all the faults so far. Air con doesn't work because the belt to the compressor is gone. Compressor feels goosed. I'm going to get it fixed. There is some rust on the rear wheelarches and on the O/S rear door. It's relatively ok. The paint wants a bit of correction, but has stood up pretty amazingly. Waxoiling is in the service history. The headlining is sagging a bit. The N/S door mirror is held in with builder's foam. Every other electrical thing seems to work. The odo has some missing pixels annoyingly. Cruise control works. Oh, one of the exhaust tips is missing.

 

Having never driven any Jag before I can't comment on whether the engine is 100%. I just sort of gathers momentum like a train. Throttle response isn't rapid, but somehow I feel this is the point. There is a small blow on the exhaust, but it sounds nice still. A satisfying low pitch warble at idle. The gearbox seems pretty good. The ATF is red. Gear changes are seamless, kickdown works as does sports mode. Why it has a sports mode is beyond me.

 

The interior is in fantastic condition and is just the nicest place to be. Even nicer than an OG Saab 9-3 (I love the interior of those). To summarise, it still works. No, it hasn't caught fire or exploded. Strange.

 

 

Photos now. Short video to follow...

 

 

These X300s are basically a mildly re-engineered XJ40 - their mechanicals are very durable indeed and they are capable of huge mileages, providing the body holds off the rust. There are plenty of them about with many more miles on them than this, especially in the USA where distances are greater, rust is less and people seem to  actually maintain their cars.

 

The engine sounds OK to me, though it isn't always easy to tell on a video 100%. It is idling slightly fast though - the throttle body may need a clean out (they are inclined to get gummed up and full of oily crud) - and/or the idle air valve may need a bit of a clean. I will see if I can find a link on how to do it since though the AJ16 engine in the X300 is basically similar to the AJ6 engine in my XJ40, there are differences.

 

That tool kit is quite sought after - people pay quite a bit for them on Ebay, so you're lucky yours in intact!

 

The engine number is on the front right hand side (driver's side rhd car) of the engine in front of the engine manifold - here is a photo of the engine number on an AJ16 engine XJS

 

[PiperCub]

Probably both - in answer to your original question!

 

However, for the money paid, a win in my book. Plus that colour, don't know what it's technically called but it's alot like the old 'Ice Blue' colour that graced old Austin Healeys and MG's in the 50's & 60's, I've always loved that shade. A Jag in BRG is nice enough but I see too many of those about (a bit like black is with 4x4's), yours stands out more. 

[Broadsword]

Ok it's definitely the original engine. I didn't spot the engine number before because it was caked under engine oil. It leaks from the cam cover. That's nearly half a million kilometres it's done. Not bad. Presumably all on the fast lane on the M-roads. How the front end hasn't got sandblasted with stone chips is quite interesting. Maybe we should donate this to David Davis so he can roll up in Brussels for each week's round of Brexit negotations in (very slightly dilapidated and tragic) style. I'm only a few miles from Howden, it could work well.

 

I think I will take it for an early MOT to see what's what and how long this is all likely to last.

 

No CD-changer in the back. I kind of expected one. Also no original mats. It is in need of the proper mats in my view. Shag pile rugs would be awesome. 

[Heidel_Kakao]

What would the list price of this have been when new? The only thing I would change would be to ditch the England numberplates and just have regular plates.

[Broadsword]

Agreed totally. For some reason someone didn't like the EU number plate so they put England on top. They were only stickers and I just peeled them off an hour ago. Looks much better. Also that stupid bull on the boot came off. Normally my first instinct is to order fresh number plates. Not this time. I like the original dealer plates. I might just renew the fixings. 

 

I'd love to know the list price, but no luck finding it yet. If someone has an old car mag from the 90s with that info, let us know.

[Guest Hooli]

That is bloody lovely, I need another Jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaag.

[Junkman]

I'm a Rover man, me.

Since I co-improve© The Climate with a Jag myself, I can't say it turned me into a Jaguar man,

but one thing I can say for sure:

 

Every time I drive it, I feel like one of my late great heroes - Arthur Daley.

Whenever I drive a Rover, I merely feel like a North London hitman.

Having said that, I think I can fill the boots of the latter better.

[Junkman]

Oh, and whenever I drive the R16, I feel like the Flic going after me.

[Brodders]

Another excellent example of somebody...

 

 

Seeing Michael1703's Jag the other day and this thread has reignited my desire to join the AS Jag Club as soon as possible. Something about the X300/308's shape is so right. In my opinion it is one of the best proportioned cars around, even though they are so fucking huge.

 

It looks superb and you got an amazing deal. If it were mine, I would be tempted to change the odometer to say something along the lines of what its total mileage is. I would consider it a badge of honour. However, I reckon it would cause a lot of raised eyebrows if anyone checked the MOT history in the future if you did that.

[Isaac Hunt]

 

 The N/S door mirror is held in with builder's foam. Every other electrical thing seems to work. The odo has some missing pixels annoyingly. Cruise control works. Oh, one of the exhaust tips is missing.

 

 

Given the good value of gaffer tape, I can't understand why folk would bodge it, Builders Foam, I ask you!!!

[PiperCub]

^^ Hell, seen worse than builders foam, start with cement as body filler, through blu-tac to seal leaks and finish with P.O parcel labels to insulate a wiring loom. 

[Cavcraft]

For the price you paid, and given the history and apparent condition, it could have done four times that mileage and it wouldn't matter

[drum]

Fab. I want one too.

[dollywobbler]

I somehow missed this. So you lured me into living the Jaguar dream, but then did it yourself, only much better. Fair play!

[Partridge]

You know why it's loooooong don't you - that's the long wheel base model. You can tell that because it has room for actual people in the back. Somewhere I have a picture of my old Jag and my current parked next to each other - the few extra inches does make more of a difference than one would think.*

 

 

 

 

 

*Said the Bishop to the actress/Priest to the choirboy/etc etc

[Partridge]

I'm a Rover man, me.

Since I co-improve© The Climate with a Jag myself, I can't say it turned me into a Jaguar man,

but one thing I can say for sure:

 

Every time I drive it, I feel like one of my late great heroes - Arthur Daley.

Whenever I drive a Rover, I merely feel like a North London hitman.

Having said that, I think I can fill the boots of the latter better.

The thing is, X300s still have the Arthur Daley vibe. X308s don't: I just feel like a baby boomer with a collection of James Pringle shirts, deck shoes and a timeshare going to the freemasons in that.

[Guest Hooli]

You know why it's loooooong don't you - that's the long wheel base model. You can tell that because it has room for actual people in the back. Somewhere I have a picture of my old Jag and my current parked next to each other - the few extra inches does make more of a difference than one would think.*

 

 

 

 

 

*Said the Bishop to the actress/Priest to the choirboy/etc etc

 

I got driven around in my old XJ40 a couple of times, loads of room in the of the SWB.

 

Well when a friend has always wanted to drive a Jag and you want to drink, why wouldn't you?

[Fat_Pirate]

I had a mobile aircon bloke attempt to fix my XJ6 recently.  The pipe between the condenser and compressor is holed... and the condenser has rotted away... and the compressor is leaking, at both ends.  That's more than £500 in parts alone, so I bought 2 tickets for the Pug 306 cabrio raffle instead.

[bunglebus]

Looks really nice, a brave choice so what's the plan - treat it as a cheap car and bin it if it breaks or (hopefully) slap yourself on the back for finding such a well maintained car for a bargain price, and fix its faults and continue to look after it?

[Broadsword]

I'm prepared to put some money into it to keep things going. It's looking like the running gear might be ok overall so it's really all about rust. It will be going in for an MOT next week and I will take matters from there. The rust that is up top is all on the driver's side predominantly. The front wing tying to bubble through is the main worry apart from the bottom of the rear door. Are the wings bolt on?

 

I won't do anything about the mileage. It would make and MOT too awkward in my opinion. If you go through the online MOT history it doesn't go back far enough to see that the mileage reset. I would never keep the true mileage from anyone buying it though. Everything is documented there for people to see. Just best to leave it for now at least.

[C1am]

 

 

I'd love to know the list price, but no luck finding it yet. If someone has an old car mag from the 90s with that info, let us know.

The closest I can get is the April 1997 issue of What Car? £46,029.

[Broadsword]

^^ That would make it by far the most expensive when new car I've had.

 

Something highly improbable occurred this morning. The Jaaaaaaaaa....aaaaag went for an MOT, and this happened.

 

 

So next up is two front tyres, basic service (anyone know the recommended grade of oil for this?) and the aircon will be looked at. The aircon is a job for a specialist I think. There seems to be an excess of Jag specialists near York. I'm within a few miles of two so I will get in touch. Since nothing else is actually broken as such, the rest can just be light fettling and improving. I heard the ignition timing can be advanced slightly by fitting a new crank position sensor bracket. That apparently makes the engine slightly more willing. Stuff like that interests me, nothing silly or major work.