Hi all,

I've been seriously contemplating buying an XJ for the greater part of two decades now, and may be finally pulling the trigger.

I fell in love with XJs when I was a mechanic at an auto repair shop 15 years ago. I had never really had any interest in them prior to that. A customer had recently purchased a late 80s XJ6 convertible and it was making noises in the front end. Nobody in the shop wanted to touch it with a 10' pole, and I had sort of a reputation for digging into just about anything, so I gladly took it for diagnosis. Took it for a quick spin and there was a growling in the left front. Lifted the car and the left front wheel was wiggling all over because the axle nut was loose. What the customer thought was going to cost Jag $ ended up costing less than $100 to repack and tighten both front bearings correctly. When I was finishing the job up, the owner came around to my bay and specifically instructed me to "take it out a little bit longer and have some fun with it, put a few miles on it (with a nod of approval)", so that's exactly what I did. Every time I think of that car, it brings back good memories.

Anyway, my hand-to-mouth wrench-turning grease-monkey childhood is behind me and I want to actually BUY my own XJ. I've been seeing this clean 2003 XJ sport that is quartz and has less that 100k miles on it. Seller states it's from his grandfather's estate and was his "fair-weather" cruising car. They're asking $4k obo. After doing tons of research, I think the 2003 would be a good year for an X308 and I'm not dying to have a turbo. Will be checking this one out later this week.

Somebody talk me out of buying this XJ (or talk me into buying it). Thanks in advance, and I may be joining the ranks soon. This place seems to have a wealth of information, which I hope to be able to add to.

 

Welcome aboard.

 

Welcome to Jaguar Forums guyakaguy,

Good to have you with us.
Enjoy the forum.

If you haven't done so already you should add your car details to your signature to help others to help you.
If you need help with getting around and using the forum follow this link for some help Forum Help

 

Welcome to the Forums.

IF you have read as much as you say, you will know about teh Timing Chains, Trans A Drum, and the stupid sealed for life rubbish.

The Steel bodied XJ8 (X308) would be my go to if the items listed were sorted CORRECTLY, and verified as so.

NO such thing existed down here late last year, so I ended up breaking the mould and got the 300c, whoopee.

Good Luck.

 

Wouldn't the 2003 X308 have the updated metal timing chain tensioners and water pump whatnot?

 

welcome to the forum - ask for service records/history, get a pre-purchase inspection and if all looks in order, take the plunge - enjoy

 

Hello,
Welcome to the forums from ElinorB.
(';')

 

I'm a former mechanic and have a lift in my garage so I'm not afraid of doing some work. I have done many used and reconditioning inspections for car dealers, but those have limitations too. I don't know anyone I'd trust with my wife's 20 year old car, much less a foreign luxury car.

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Should, maybe ???, and that would depend on the actual BUILD date, not some odd Marketing Date that some markets use.

As Steve said, RECORDS, and then someone to look inside and verify Version 2 or Version 3. #3 is what you need.

The rest would need to be likewise verified.

Trans Fluid change at around 80K kms is a good sign, but that A Drum is only trusted by Records.

Good luck.

 

Welcome

 

No turbo?
The XJR had a mechanical SC from Eaton.
.
.
.

 

I know nothing about XJ but I had an 2002 XK8 convertible which I recently changed for an 2005 XRS hard top with supercharger and I love them. So why not?