I've wanted a convertible sport car for 20 years. I decided a year ago I could pull it off. Talking to friends, I ruled out the SLK, the Boxster and settled on the F Type as a grown up 's; car lovers car I could afford. Started lurking here and at other F Type forums last Fall. Shopping for a car, and trying to understand how I could be an educated F Type Buyer. I learned to read the CarFax "Tea Leaves."

I pulled the trigger in early February for a sight unseen 2016 F Type S Convertible with 22,000ish miles and a clean CarFax with a mostly full all dealer service record. Slight hook, the car was in Central California and I live in Cleveland OH. 22 hundred miles or a day there and a day back by plane. I would never get to see the car in person before I needed to complete the deal. So I arranged for a pre purchase inspection at an Independent Jag shop very near the dealer where the car was for sale.. All pretty clean. They did find a cracked thermostat housing, but everything else mechanically looked good. Differential seals were good. No other leaks. Someone had recently replaced the engine battery and couldn't/didn't clear the codes. So the electrical system /computers & modules were all throwing error codes. They fixed that for free as part of the inspection.

Because there are just a handful of Indy Jag shops within two hours of where I live, and I was getting comfortable with this shop, I decided to get the Indy Jaguar Specialist who inspected the car to quote doing the preventative maintenance I thought I needed.

Now the thank you. Based on what I read here, I had the following list to be done.

1) Replace the all plastic coolant lines with the aftermarket aluminum parts. Euro Amp Upgrade kit.
2) Replace the coolant reservoir outlet hose with the revised outlet hose. (Brass elbow) Euro Amp.
3) Replace thermostat with Euro Amp aluminum housing thermostat
4) Replace the supercharger oil.
5) Replace the OEM supercharger spring coupling with the upgraded aftermarket Euro Amp coupling.
6) Replace the water pump with new Euro Amp Aluminum housing pump.
7) Replace the rear of engine heater manifold with the Euro Amp Aluminum upgrade part
8) Change oil in rear differential.
9) Clean Differential Breather
10) Relace both belts
11) Replace engine air filters and cabin air filter
12) 4 Wheel alignment
13) Any other maintenance/worn items your found during your inspection

Honestly I think the shop didn't want to do it at first. "Preventatively remove the supercharger for an inspection? Change the plastic hoses to aftermarket aluminum before they fail? We've never heard of that before." I even had to buy the aftermarket Euro Amp complete Coolant upgrade kit and Aluminum thermostat myself because they were used to using Jag factory parts in these instances. I ordered the parts and drop shipped them. I had to agree if they had any problems with the aftermarket parts, they would just go ahead and buy the Jag factory parts, I would have to deal with any returns or parts credits.

They did the job and this is what they found.


Supercharger off

Corroded valve cover screws

Pad removed

Pads
Remember, this is a low mileage, well cared for car.

They added valve cover gaskets and replaced the screws along with some other small bits. Really glad I had this work done. It's over my "garage skills set" (I'm a mechanical engineer) I am sure it would have taken me 3-4 or maybe 10 times as long as what I paid them for the job. And I would have not wanted to tackle removing those corroded screws. Really happy I insisted they do the job. They are now fans of the EuroAmp Coolant Upgrade kits and will offer them to others in the future. Thank you for the posts and insight you have all left here before. It paid off for me. These cars are not for the feint of heart.. They are far from a "put the key in it and take it to the dealer for service" cars. Its a supercar.

All that said. I have a bucket full up "Low cost upgrades" I read about here to do when I get the car in my garage. And I'm planning to do all of that immediately after the weekend road trip to Upstate New York with my wife where I am sure I will seriously shorten the life of the rear tires!

 

If you don't mind me asking, how long was the labor on this and what did you end up paying?


Any reason for not changing the spark plug while at it?

Assuming no difference in drive...

 

Spark plugs are not due until 100,000 miles and will often last until 150,000 miles with no problems (NGK Iridiums) so nowhere near needing to be replaced at only 22,000 miles.

 

6.5 hours for supercharger & all EuroAmp parts installed
1.0 for Diff
4.0 for valve cover and gaskets
Parts $1173.80 plus $422 for the EuroAmp kit and Thermostat.

They don't/couldn't do the alignment.

Plugs were inspected and look perfect. Should go 100,000.

 

Fantastic post and thank you for the detailed report. You really did your homework and hit all the key items, well done. I assume the coolant in the valley (first pic) was a result of removing the old pipes? Not a hidden leak discovered on disassembly?

 

Other than the thermostat housing leak which wouldn't leave coolant there, no other leaks found. Think it's just from removal.

 

The photos are shocking. It looks as though the engine had been left uncovered/open to the elements for months….I recently had exactly the same work (that is, everything on your list) done on my 2015 V6S. The engine showed nothing even faintly resembling the corrosion on your engine, thus my comment. But the work done on your engine should guarantee that this car gives you reliable service for a very long time.

 

Hmmm. Lucky for you. I would have been happy to find that. I’m the third owner. I really don’t know if the car was garaged or not. By the previous owners. I know it has been in central CA since it was delivered. Second owner bought it with a Jaguar Guaranteed used car warranty. But it’s 8 years old now.

I am sure the last owner had no idea there was any problem. And no repurchase inspection could hav found any evidence of this. At least until the valve covers started leaking, which they were not. Yet.