I am seriously considering a very low mileage 03 I've located and I'm wondering if there's a list of the issues to watch out for as compared to say the 05?

I have read some people saying that by 05 there were certain issues that had been resolved. Trans ?

Is this true or should the 03 have had these issues adjusted/upgraded by the dealer already? Please be as specific as possible.

Also is there a published "buyers what to check list" for a used one of these or even the standard S-type?

I've been reading this website for about 2 weeks now and it's very helpful.
Thanks for any input folks.

Bob S.

 

I understand you want specificity but I don't have any though I know many here certainly will. I'll add that the 05 has a different rear end look and interior decor, and stiffer chassis, etc. I have an 03 STR. Many prefer its looks over later models. I don't know of any bugs worked out save TCM and ECU reflashes for all year models. Regardless, good luck on your STR search and then when this done, welcome to the STR club.

 

Bob if your serious BUY THIS 1!
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=37793

 

Some body shape changes and some decor changes.

They took the fog lights off for 2005 and you can't retro-fit easily because they changed the oil cooler into two that go where the fogs were.

The 2005 may well not have Brembo brakes. You may not care, though.

The minor exterior restyling and interior tweaks (such as chrome trim on the speedo etc) are hugely important to a small number of people. Only you know if you're one of them.

The 2005 probably has a curved chrome strip on the rear that to my eye is bizarre and out of place but it wouldn't stop me buying an 05!

I'm not keen on older but low mileage cars as frankly cars are better if driven plenty. I'd rather have a newer, high mileage car. Tends to be highway cruising, i.e. good mileage. (Depending on what "low" and "high" are.)

 

Normally I'd agree with you on the low mileage aspect. I've been there before Except that here in the NE USA and other locales the salted winter roads are a killer. Especially on the electronics. You really have to be careful with where the car has lived it's life. In resale these things migrate like birds so if its for sale in location x don't take that on faith. I'm trying to stay under 35K miles no matter what the year is. I also don't want a modified car. This may sound harsh but most people don't know what they're doing wioth car modifications. I just want a nice clean stock well serviced car that hasn't been graduated to a performance vehicle.

About the 2003 - 2005 change. I think the 2005 has the same brakes but I wasn't aware of the oil cooler & fog lamps thing. So this is location change for the oil cooler or was an oil cooler added? If so is that important on these cars?

Thanks for the reply.

Bob S.

 

The parts list whose link I posted shows all the coolers. The 03 has a large central one. The 05 has two small ones instead. From the parts list they look a lot smaller. I'd like to know what they put in the space where the 03 had the cooler but maybe nothing? Maybe the front restyle just left a bit less room?

They took Brembos off but it may have been part way through 2005 (I don't know).

 

A number of the 2005 cars I've seen on-line in the USA look like they have the Brembos but maybe I can't assume that. The 2006 I drove certainly had the later ones . With the salted road duty that car saw they looked like hell but worked just fine. That's one of the disadvantages of the open wheel design brake hardware as jewelry concept.

Can you fit hubcaps on these cars ... ;>))

Glad to hear the 2003 has the oil cooler.

Bob S.

 

No. All 2005 STR have Brembo brakes. Starting in 2006 and up no Brembo's. Also no chrome on trunk in 2005 and earlier. That again is a 2006 and up change. The 2005 had a smaller spoiler that did not hang over the edge of the trunk lid. The early cars have the longer spoiler.

The 2005 and up had improved split oil coolers. They are better because they are not stacked up with all the other coolers. It gets crowded in front of the engine. Radiator, Transmission cooler, Intercooler radiator and on the pre 2005 cars the oil cooler is also stacked in there!!
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Maybe over there, but some/all was 05 here, unless 2006MY started before August 2005.

I thought the tranny cooler was in the end (side) of the engine radiator.
But you forgot the PAS cooler lol - also at the front IIRC.

 

Sounds like too many coolers and not enough cool air!

I ran into that situation with my race car. I put in an oil to water cooler and it saved a lot of space plus it didn't require a fresh air flow. As long as your cooling system can handle the load it's OK plus it warms your oil up much quicker.

Bob S.

 

Ah, yes there is some confusion from the two regions. The body refresh that we consider 05 (Oh, yea so does Jaguar North America..) was released as a 2004 in the UK. Same with the major refresh... It was 2002.5 in the UK and 2003 in the US. So, the changes that the US got for 2006 in the STR (no more Brembo brakes; VVT; and the "silly" chrome strip on the trunk) was actually rolled out for the 2005 STR in the UK...

I'm sure it has to do with producing various market specs during a given production run. So, they probably produce UK spec cars first, then another area, then maybe North America..I don't know the order. I do know that "international" production is done in waves.. That way they don't have to stock the line with as many different parts...That is also the reason why we have a lot fewer choices in specs and options in North America than say customers in the local market. That applies to more than just Jaguars..Check out the choices in Germany from the likes of Mercedes; BMW, VW...

Back on topic.. Based on users experience and the bunch of spec literature that I've read I would rate the 03 and up cars the same. The body refresh was basically just that. New nose, quarters, tail etc. There were some bushing changes but these were tuning changes not a design change (read stiffer). All the issues talked about on here seem to happen at an age / mileage point and not based on model year (just as many 05 people are having DCCV issues, IMT valve leaks, etc.). So, in my opinion getting the freshest car is the best approach and seems to be the one you are taking. Lastly, go South my friend!

 

From what I gather the biggest difference is cosmetic as mentioned earlier. Assuming you are looking at two different model year cars, condition should be the determining factor. A 2005 might be eligible for the Select Edition warranty, but most likely the warranty won't be for very long.

 

Your right! I forgot the P/S cooler. It's that round looking guy and mounted down low.
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lots of good info, thanks