I've had good luck with my Jaguars (2000 S-Type Platinum, 2000 S-Type Charcoal, 2005 X-Type and 2004 XJ8) over the years. I'm considering a 2003 STR to add the the list, I've always wanted one and have found a nice one locally, only 55K miles. Problems I see are it has no service history on Carfax (I am trying to get the dealer to pull the service history from Jaguar) and the usual 1 key and no books (why the heck do prior owners hang onto keys etc. it is of no use whatsoever to them, they are just lazy).

Anyway, what should I be looking out for? Is it worth paying for a professional inspection? (I am 300 miles away so it would be a 1 trip deal).

I know I can expect to replace the coolant expansion tank, perhaps flush the transmission, coolant and brake lines, perhaps a brake job, perhaps the serpentine belt but what are the big ticket items? Just trying to get prepared going into this.

Thanks

- Tim

 

It is always good to get a professional inspection of it. I bought my STR in 2010 with 45k miles on it, and I am now at 65k miles. Only issues Ive had are coil packs going bad, and a driver's side window regulator. Oh and gas. They go through a lot of it

 

It's up to you but one of the top Jaguar techs anywhere is in Houston. I would PM Brutal and see what he says. No one knows the S Type better!!

On the STR the big killer is a rubber hose under the supercharger. It's hard to get to and very labor intensive just to replace a $20 hose!!
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+1 That is the single biggie, the rest is either usual s type issues you will have come accross.

You will go through Tyres,brakes are expensive...but the smile is worth it..

 

Most expensive to cheapest:

Under the sc hose leak, new tires if not properly aligned, trans fluid w/sleeve change, brakes, clogged cats, DCCV (and CCM if the DCCV fails), coolant overflow tank, updated alignment, above the window trim clips, new lugs nuts w/wrench and locktite on the shifter bolts...

 

I managed to find the previous owner through this forum (awesome) and the car has more than a few issues:-
1. Headlight adjusted broken (how unusual ). I have fixed these before but it is a PIA
2. Transmission not going into gear, slipping out of gear and generally just misbehaving.... Oh boy, that sounds like it could be a real PIA.... Trying to find out if the car has had a transmission fluid change....
3. Car needs a brake job (even though dealer is telling me brakes are fine.... ). How much am I looking at for a complete brake job (pads and rotors)?
4. Center console touch screen stops working ard car says A/C not available. Sound like an electrical gremlin, but equally hard to track down....
5. Main problem - PO says that car is unstable and 'floaty' at highway speeds. Any collective wisdom on what that could be, shocks, CATS not working or??

Car is 300 miles away so it's not like I can just go see it, so I am relying on the dealer to be straight with me, which I do not think they are being....

All in all I am 50/50 on whether to pull the trigger. An '03 STR with only 55k miles sounds good, but then the car is nearly 10 years old and obviously showing some signs of it's age....

Thanks

- Tim

 

That's quite a list! The transmission and touch screen are both not common problems. Transmission problems are mainly small fluid leaks from the sleeve and some harshness that's known as the Lurch.

I think I would keep looking. There was a guy on this list selling what looked to be a great STR. I don't know if he got it sold or not??
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One other frequent problem is that the headlights sag. It is an expensive fix at the dealer, but you can do the fix yourself fairly easily if you search for videos on youtube on how to do it.

 

Tim, I also have a 2003 S-Type R for sale, but I am farther away from you (Southern California). 66,000 miles, black on black and maintained VERY well. No current issues. Let me know if you are interested.

 

Hello timfountain...
When you do find an STR to your liking, and if it's local, "The Jag Shop" on 56th n' East Burnside can check it for you. He's a certified "Master Jaguar Technician", and knows his Jaguars. Take a squint at his shop and you'll knows it's a good place. He has done all of my work, as well as others work he had to re-repair (from other techies). He is also reasonable on his prices. Not like Hi-Brow on SW Burnside...

Drive On!!...
Fast Freddie

 

Brakes are no biggie, not anything that would scare me off of a sale.

Transmission however is something that I would recommend you really try to find out what's going on. You could easily spend half the purchase price of the car just fixing the trans (worst case).

Floaty at speed is not something I can recall as a typical problem with the STR.

Center console issue is also a bit scary. If the unit needs replace they are ungodly expensive, although a used one could likely be sourced reasonably if indeed it needs replaced.

Based on your described problems, I'd suggest you have the car inspected by a Jag dealer or specialist such as the one Fast Freddie has suggested. The model specific expertise in this case would be worth the $.

The STR is a wonderful car, but like any used vehicle - crap happens over the years. They are not super hard to find, so if this one has too many red flags, keep looking.

 

Ya I can attest that mine is not floaty at all. I do have H&R springs, but it feels planted.

 

Run Forest, Run!!!!

 

I would also keep looking as some of those items are quite costly and not worth messing with.