Lord '2 Jags' Sterling's fleet of failure - The return of the Jaguar... 🐆

[Imhotep]

Ah mate I am sorry. As I said to you it gave me no inclination the starter was causing any issues (I mean you heard it fire up yourself just fine). I think it just doesn’t like new owners, as you know, the day I got it it ended up on the back of a big yellow taxi when it decided it didn’t need brake fluid any more.  

[Lord Sterling]

1 hour ago, Split_Pin said:

That is bad luck Mo, how did the S drive apart from when it wouldn't?

Really nicely. I did drive it quite extensively about a month back and loved it. It sounds gorgeous. 

Its a old car, stuff is going to fail, it's had stuff fail on it already and seems to like the back of recovery trucks when going to new owners. This happened to @Imhotep when he first got it.

[Lord Sterling]

1 hour ago, Imhotep said:

Ah mate I am sorry. As I said to you it gave me no inclination the starter was causing any issues (I mean you heard it fire up yourself just fine). I think it just doesn’t like new owners, as you know, the day I got it it ended up on the back of a big yellow taxi when it decided it didn’t need brake fluid any more.  

Mate @Imhotep don't worry about it. It happens, it happened to you. Now it's my turn. 

I'll get it repaired, get back on the road. No worries 👍🏼 

[Split_Pin]

1 hour ago, Lord Sterling said:

Really nicely. I did drive it quite extensively about a month back and loved it. It sounds gorgeous. 

Its a old car, stuff is going to fail, it's had stuff fail on it already and seems to like the back of recovery trucks when going to new owners. This happened to @Imhotep when he first got it.

Not so bad then. All my purchases need something or other when they arrive!

[Lord Sterling]

Right. Since then collection failure, the Jag went to that garage. They tested the alternator and battery. Alternator 'passed' but battery didn't. So a battery was then fitted. I couldn't collect the car until today because of work. 

Collected it, got it washed and went to my local supermarket for bits and bobs. When I came out, it started but I felt when it started, it sounded a little 'off '. I got back home and slotted nicely into a large parking space. Unfortunately, when I switched it off, the same issue came back, it coughed and stopped trying to turn over.

I decided to give the interior a little clean and sort some recovery. Thankfully, I didn't need to get it moved today, so a recovery was sorted for some point next week.

As I'd just finished work in the morning (night shifter here) my head was starting to tell me it needed a pillow. I gave the car one more try of the ignition and suddenly, it started! If I can get it started next week, I'll drive it in and taxi it back home.

So I'm guessing this is either a lazy or sticking starter motor or a bad earth.

I've got to admit, its a Majestic looking thing.

The maddest thing is, on both occasions when the car broke down, I have had compliments off passing folk. One was in Birmingham from a young lad who was quite enthusiastic about it. The next was from an old boy who was passing by where I parked it above.

My impression of driving it about is, it's a nice relaxing cruiser that can definately get a step-on when needed. I'm going to be honest, if it wasn't for the Vectra, I'd be making this my daily.

I think thay despite the issues, I owe it to myself to get it running and driving and using it as another daily. It does mean more expense but given that both the '308 and Vectra B are long term residents, I'll have to try and fit this S-Type into my life somehow.

[Split_Pin]

Im high 80s percent certain like yourself that its the starter or an earth.

[Lord Sterling]

Jag is back, used it for the first time a couple of days ago. 

The starting issue was down to a very poor starter motor, I was told that it literally fell apart when being removed. It also had a fresh MoT, but initially failed due to a sticking out bumper which the mechanic repaired:

B4:

Afta:

What do I think of it? The S-Type is a sublime cruiser. It really is the kind of car I need as an everydayer. I absolutely love it. It has cost me a fair whack to get it sorted and left me in a financially precarious position, but I think its worth it.

It's probably going to be a slight struggle to keep 3 cars going, but others here have multiple cars too, so why not.

The idea is to run it until someone makes a good offer, but I'm honestly reluctant to let go easily. 

What I've found is that its an unusual spec. A pre-facelift exterior design with a post facelift interior dash with big-screen sat-nav, later steering wheel and electric handbrake. It's a great combination.

There are still things that need done on this Jag though;

• Key needs to be programmed by Jaguar, there isn't an easy way to to DIY it.

• Drivers side window motor required. 

• Replacement of steering wheel

What of the Vectra then?

Yeah, sorry, but I'm still seriously reluctant to sell it. Its just too useful as an estate and cool with its big V6 sound and square exhaust. It needs its rear brakes doing badly. The discs on the back are so badly scored that I decided to use the XJ8 for a few days instead.

It's now in the garage, the oil leak is still there, maybe a service with a new oil sump plug and oil filter will help stem it more. Plus some additive that will help the valve stem seals to soften up a bit may help to cut the blue smoke on start up.

I also noticed a squeak from the front when going over a speed bump, I suspect the shocks are past their best now.

There is still a way to go yet with this. 

[Lord Sterling]

Cool. So since last update, both Vectra and S-Type have cost me £LOADS and left me fairly bereft of monies. However the Vectra is back and it's rear brakes are absolutely banging. Just how it should be.

Now it's just a case of sorting the oil leak, sorting out one of the rear locks and changing the tailgate for a non-rusty one I have in stock.

Today I met up with @twosmoke300great to meet an AS legend! And we went to the Black Country Museum. I have to admit, its was a great day out. I went here many years ago (about 2010/2012) and it was a little different. 

The Co-Op is a replica of one still standing in Hasbury near Halesowen. But it was moved from there several years ago, and as far as I know, it isn't been occupied since, here it is on Street View:

Prefabs, one representing the 1940s and the other the 1960s.

Move over? To an Austin Rover, yes.

😢

Chip shop, or "chippaaay" as it's called here. Finally, we had some chips from here. Lovely. The last time I was here, I couldn't eat as I was fasting. Now, I wasn't going to miss out on this.

A garage with a Dudley made Bean motor car, and AJS and a couple of others:

On the way out/in was this beautiful art-deco building housing these:

I won't say what the below is, suffice to say, it was there.

Tara a bit bab.

[AnnoyingPentium]

48 minutes ago, Lord Sterling said:

Awaiting the imminent arrival of @LightBulbFun...

[twosmoke300]

So good to meet you yesterday Mo. Thank you for taking time out to meet up .

I had a great day and it was good to look around there with a local to fill in some of the gaps in the story/ area .

Jag was lovely btw . Proper waft mobile. 

[Lord Sterling]

Today, I decided to stop being such a lazy twat and actually get the S-Type steering wheel changed.

The S-Type's original steering wheel was very manky and destroyed on the leather part. And when I say manky, I mean; it sticks to your hands and leaves residue if you keep your hand on the steering too long....

It needed gone...

When I got the S-Type, in the boot was another steering wheel with a very badly sown-on cover. A few weeks back, I decided to remove this cover to see what was underneath whilst I lookout for a replacement wheel.

It wasn't too bad considering, and certainly a LOT better than what was there already. Plus it saved me a few quid and that non of the breakers were bothering to reply.

Now, of course there was a catch. I needed to remove the current steering wheel innards as well otherwise I'd lose the function to the cruise control. It was literally 8 torx bolts.

The issue I had was the big 21mm socket. I had a 21mm which I had to trapse back to the house for, but then the wrench itself was too short, I needed a breaker bar. Again, I had this, in the boot of the XJ, so back to the house it was to collect the keys, over to the XJ to recover the as-yet unused breaker bar which also had a couple of big sockets.

Back to the S-Type and the breaker bar made light work of the other unmovable steering retention bolt. 

Replacing the wheel was easy as was lining it up etc... the only thing that was a bit of a bitch was getting the airbag back on, I managed it, but it required the retaining bolts to be situated between the back of the wheel and from behind, through a hole in the steering and the previously mentioned innard.

Once I got that sorted, voila, a cleaner looking steering wheel:

It isn't perfect, but it'll do until I find a suitable and cleaner replacement wheel. It certainly fits in with the age if the car.

A few weeks ago, I noticed the plastic boot sill cover was loose and the flap around the lock was not where it should be.

I removed it from the car and took it home and bodged it up as my other methods didn't work:

It doesn't look pretty but it does keep the flap upwards where it supposed to be.

I wanted to change the drivers' side window motor too as the window doesn't work, but unfortunately, it was getting darker and where I was working in right by a narrow path with a row of houses which backs onto a small park. Due to this, there is a lot of foot traffic...

However, upon receiving the motor yesterday, it came in a box and wrapped up using a T-Shirt!

I gave the t-shirt a wash and will probably chuck it at a charity shop.

The Vectra hasn't been used for a good couple of weeks, so a start up and left to run for a bit was required. As I work nights and generally travel in the evening to work and early morning from work, I thought that all the lights needed checking. One of the rear numberplate lights didn't work, unfortunately, one of the retaining screws was so rusted in place that I had to snap the plastic housing in half to gain access to the bulbs. Thankfully, putting it back wasn't too much of a hassle, although the car did try:

XJ is due for it MoT tomorrow. 

[Lord Sterling]

Yeah, so its not looking too clever underneath the XJ...

Excuse the play button in the way of the pics, these are screenshots from a video I was sent.

Sigh...

Gonna have to make a decision on this...

As I cannot just pull out £1500 like that, I may just get it done bit by bit, month by month. Thankfully, I have the S-Type to fall back on to do posh/nice things and abroad trips.

[Lord Sterling]

In other news, I noticed that the Vectra was getting condensate inside the front screen. I've checked the plenum channels below the front screen and apart from a load of muck which I chucked out, there are no puddles of water. I have a new pollen filter for it waiting to be fitted.

[dome]

Fuck. Jag gonna Jag. Sadly you know as well as i do(from bitter X300 experience) that once you start cutting away it'll be a lot worse than you think.

Time to cut your losses and get rid?

[hairnet]

squash it

if you see it and its bad itll be 10x worse when you poke it (cos BL)

 

[Volksy]

I had a minor hole on the inner sill/floorpan join on my old X308 which soon turned into reattaching the full side of the car back together. 

I'd say, from those photos that realistically yours is now sadly past it. 

I mean, there are people who would repair it, but X300/X308s are still pretty common and still currently cheap. 

[scdan4]

Eep.

That definitely looks like a moneypit. 

And as said above that's just the 'tip of the iceberg' stuff that can be seen. 🙁

[robt100]

Yeah that isnt looking great for the rust situation, probably do-able, but more than the car is (sadly) currently worth. Could be a handy breaker for the others on here with x300/308s though?

[Split_Pin]

That hole in the sill will almost certainly turn into a full inner arch replacement. 

[Lord Sterling]

Thanks guys. At the moment, I haven't made a firm decision yet. 

There's no reason for me to at least try and farm out the work and try and do it bit by bit. Many of you know, I'm not the kind of guy that put his hands in his pockets and pull out a couple of £grand. 

This is the most perfect shape of Jaguar that there has been after the Series 3 which is another fave of mine. However, this one is perfect for being a fairly good modern with a classic shape at the same time. I can see these gaining a good following just as the S3 has its enthusiasts.

There is a guy local to the garage who specialises in welding these. He's just done one and the bill came to £1900. He will not tack weld, so I'll be taking my car to him and speaking to him to see if we can't do something about it. 

The problem is, even if I baled this, and happen upon £2k for another, there is no saying that the next one won't have the same problems which may be better hidden causing worse issues. I see others having and enjoying these cars, so there is no reason why I shouldn't either. Yes it'll be a struggle and I probably will question my own sanity. And yes, I'm aware that at some point, it'll need more welding, but I'd love to own one and have it on the road rather than sitting in a lock up collecting dust like my Rovers.

I'm also aware that this may take a while, so I won't be cos playing Arthur Daley/The Equalizer anytime soon. But again, as I said, no firm decision. 

[Lord Sterling]

The XJ is back home now. A bit of a wet day tbh, but it drove fairly nicely back home. I did take it easy around corners and round abouts as when I took it in, I'd had the back end out on it a couple of times, both at fairly low speeds. All the tyres need changing anyway.

I have made contact with the welder, he did the rear subframe of my old XJ and welded a couple of rear patches on the sill, of course that Jag is long gone now. 

I'll be taking it down for an assessment and I'll discuss with him options moving forward. It's gonna be a lot, but I really want to save this car from the jaws of the crusher.

In Vectra news, despite the weather, I took the opportunity to change the cabin filter. The old one was horrible. The new one, despite being a Bosch, felt a lot cheaper compared to the old one that came out. 

Is it me, or are parts just getting cheaper. It gelt flimsier, thinner and didn't even have the spongey bits on top to help slot it into place and the sides were so flimsy that I had to bend them back into place to fill the opening. There's gotta be better than this surely?

Hopefully, this will stop the steaming up inside. I've noticed this in a couple of cars around here.

I think I need a new bonnet sounded deadening liner too. Mine is a bit broken.

[Lord Sterling]

So, we've reached the end of year. What's next...

1. Jaguar XJ8 - It's going to need some major welding. Oh well. I still haven't heard from the welder man, I may just contact him early in the new year and see what's what. Despite the calls on to "squash it" I like this car too much, it looks great, is a rare colour and so on.

2. Jaguar S-Type - Still on loan but just learnt that there may be some brake drag, I'm sure it can be sorted, just awaiting it coming back to Sterling Manor. 

3 Vectra - I'm going to anticipate that it may also need a spot of welding here and there, its certainly going to need some work, but for the moment, its the only legal car I have on the road that's still here.

Spots;

Spotted this booted Skoda Fabia on a YouTube channel about garden fixes/saves. Unfortunately, it was sent to scrap.

Rover 420 Si, originally supplied by Clist & Rattle Rover.

Renault 5, Nissan Sunny and Jag X350 all on the grounds of an accident management company I think.

I covered this here in the "dumped cars" thread. Its been there months.

This lovely Rover Metro 1.4 is owned by an old boy who looks after the gardens of a house around the corner from where that crashed car above is located. I had a chat with him, it came a Clark's Rover garage in Rednal. Its in such a lovely condition. This is the stuff that really takes my heart, older cars that are so clean and looked after.

Chap at my workplace has a Rover 75 2.5 V6.

Happy New year all.

[goosey]

That 5s got to have been there 10 years at least, shame as it used to be immaculate before the mould and window delete 

[Lord Sterling]

THIS WEEKEND. I AAAAVE BEEN MOSTLY DRIVING NON-MOTd CARS

As alluded to previously, the Jag has been for an assessment and the cost of getting it welded and undersealed is going to be £1600. Fair dos to be honest. I can imagine that this will cost a hell of a lot more in years to come once these X300s and 308s become collectors classics, many are already in enthusiast hands, so its worth it imho.

The welders are very well known and known for doing good and neat jobs despite the back-street appearance. They've saved a lot of cars and Jags are well-known to them, they certainly seem to know what they were talking about.

In other fleet news; This morning, a chap in a Toyota came to pick me up and drive me north in this:

On the way, we consumed hot chocolate and food:

Then, we met a very nice Scottish man to pick this up:

Chats, paperwork and petrol were had, as were spotting a couple of forlorn vehicles...

Also, nearby was the equally Scottish reg'd BMW 530d:

Myself and @Imhotep had a chat and swapped cars briefly. I'd previously had a shot of the Toyota and it is fast. 

I can make the assumption that @Imhotep did really enjoy the brief drive in the BMW.

The BMW did not out a foot wrong. It sounds amazing, it drives sublimely. It needed TLC and this, I am hoping it'll get.

To his credit, @cms206 did give it a good wash, but rain, and more cars on the M6, on a Sunday, than there is usually during the week really put paid to that. No worries, because of course, when I get a new car, there is absolutely no way will I not wash it. This is a ritual that I must perform:

So far, here is what we have:

Oh, and here is one at the bottom of the service road I usually park on:

I've always wanted one of these E60 5-series BMWs. I nearly bought a 520d some years ago when I had the Peugeot 407. Thankfully I never made the purchase as the insurance quote was astronomical, plus the garage it was at was very dodgy and I felt a bit bad swapping my then-otherwise nice and sorted Peugeot 407. Plus, that BMW was a 520d, which wouldn't have been CAZ compliant, which this is.

I have a dilemma now. I have 4 cars on the road and I really need to decide what stays and what may potentially go, unless someone has any long-term under-cover storage to offer for one car?

The BMW needs an MoT which is booked in for Monday next week. It'll be taxed and insured. It may go to Belgium for a bit, but I'm unsure yet. If it does, it means I get to technically keep it as I intend to.

[Split_Pin]

I got that looking spotless when I had it, looks good there too. 

I gave it a full gearbox service, new header tank, thermostat and one coil pack in my ownership.  It's got the 2nd nicest interior of any car I have owned (beaten only by the A8 but that's on another level). 

Im sure it'll pass no bother, just needs a sump gasket really.

[Imhotep]

Outside of an EV, I’ve never driven a car as smooth and as quiet as that 520. It’s brilliant.

[Heidel_Kakao]

I will be interested to see the results of the welding on the XJ as whilst my XJR is currently solid if it does ever need welding it would be nice to know a specialist is fairly local.

[Cluffy]

Where are you guys located? I'd be interested to know who you're using for the bodywork... My XJR will need a tickle with the welding stick (a considerable tickle..) but from someone sympathetic to bangernomics and keeping something on the road/sorted for an MOT rather than making a show pony (which is so far from economically viable...)

[Lord Sterling]

We're based in the Midlands/Worcestershire respectively. The welders are based in Stourbridge. West Midlands. These are the guys I'm using:

Of course, its always best to text/WhatsApp these guys instead of calling as they're often busy. 

They replaced the subframe on my old X308 too.

[alcyonecorporation]

On 31/12/2025 at 13:46, Lord Sterling said:

 

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