Following my "manuholic" thread I have moved on to the "PPI" stage of acquiring a manual F-Type. It will be a sight-unseen purchase, so PPI is critical. There is nothing worse than an open-ended "what should I look out for?" post, so I am listing here what I will be directing focus on and asking if you might offer up something if I've missed it. In no particular order:

- has software been "updated" to effectively mute the the exhaust note? Not good if so.
- Door, window, top and trunk seals
- power top function
- window regulators and door locks
- pop-out door handle function
-remote key function
- panel gaps
- hood/doors lined up
- automated center vent
- heated/power seat functions all work
- steering wheel heat and adjustment
- shifter linkage smooth in all gears
- clutch slippage/takeup
- two keys, floor mats
- under front valence battle scars
- under rocker panel battle scars
- exhaust switch function seamless, smooth and effective
- cabin/suspension/belt squeals, rattles, squeaks
- wheel/curb rash

What have I missed?

 

I've really only seen a few things you need to be wary of. First is the clutch version. There have been 4. Versions 3 and 4 seem fine. However, not the end of the world, as its considered warranty if you still got it. Other than that, we had the timing cover and alternator replaced as the factory gasket fails seeping oil onto the alternator. Go get one! You'll love it - happy motoring

 

Is this a CPO car from a JLR dealer? Make sure you find out when the in-service date of the vehicle was "punched" as many people bought brand new cars off the showroom floor that already had a year or more elapsed on their warranty because the dealer activated it in the system upon receipt of the vehicle, not upon the sale. This seems to be a common practice, at least here in the US. So if you're buying used on a CPO warranty it will be important to know exactly what that date is because the CPO warranty extends from the original warranty in-service date. If they give you a CarFax report, it will most likely show correctly when the car was first titled and JLR can tell you what it shows in their computer for the in-service date so you can compare the two.

 

Differentials. Leaks seem relatively common

 

Beautiful. I'm all over it. Thank you.

 

RWD and AWD both? Thank you

 

Is there a tire repair kit, tow hook and owner's manual?

 

Differentials leak and are expensive to replace, have this inspected. MT is more prone to this as ham-fisted shifting can accelerate its demise.
Make sure that it isn't clutch gen1 or factor costs of replacement into purchase price. 2018 and later are safe, anything earlier and ask for documented warranty work.
If it has valved exhaust, have them check operation of valves.
Have them check if the car was tuned, if it was walk away unless you can find out what tune it is. Tuning F-type is popular and there is a number of these are on a second engine.

 

AWD is not available with MT.

 

SinF: +1 on the leaking diff, thank you. Any way based on VIN to see whether it's a gen 1 clutch (it's 2017) or any exterior visual clues on the transmission itself?

As to tune - do you mean tune by after market, or tune by Jaguar dealer? I ask because I am confident there is no after market tune, but I have asked and will push to know whether it has had the computer tune by the dealer that some here report mutes the exhaust note.

Thank you!

 

Yes it is possible to tell production date based on VIN and determine what is likely clutch went into it from the factory. @Unhingd should be able to help you, I think he has all the clutch generations transition dates memorized

 

There is no authorized Jaguar tune. Dealer's tool is able to set your car to 340, 380 or 400 but they will never change it from how the car was sold as it is huge liability for them. They only instance I heard that was done was for general manager that had his V8S flipped to R tune.

Have them check with JLR diagnostic tool to see if 'tuned' flag is set. Even if tune was applied and then reversed it would set unerasable flag in the system that can be checked.

 

My mistake, I meant software update rather than tune referring to changes that muted the exhaust note!

 

I don’t have exact changeover VINs but with a production date can narrow down the possible clutch generation. An MY17 will definitely not be a gen 1.

 

Unhing'd, if not gen1 as a 2017, am I out of the woods for transmission/clutch issues mentioned?

 

what’s your production date? You can find that on the driver side door jam. The gen2 clutch is also problematic.

 

Make sure you have the wheel lock key if the vehicle is so equipped. Ask me how I know..