Howdy, ya'll! I normally hang out over in the XK8 forum but I'm looking at an S-Type so I wanted ya'lls input. Here's the car:

2001 Jaguar S-Type 4.0 V-8

The dealer says it needs a head gasket. I'm pretty handy (you may have seen my videos) but still a head gasket seems like a lot of work, although I think I could manage. But how can I tell if it's REALLY a head gasket? Maybe it's rings, or maybe it has bent valves. Or maybe it's something else altogether. How can I tell before spending any money?

 

Hi Rev, I'm a rookie on Jag engines but fairly handy on GM and Honda. Same basic principles: water in the oil, low compression, white smoke only, losing coolant? I think headgaskets sometimes are a secondary symptom to waterpump failure left untreated? My two cents...

 

Did the dealer come out with specifics of what's wrong and how they concluded it's a head gasket?

-Low compression on adjacent cylinders?
-Loss of coolant?

I'd be very leery of jumping in without being sure of what's wrong.

 

Get one of those coolant testers and perform the test. They may have the tester there, but you want to watch the test yourself or do it yourself.

The thought is that if it *is* a bhg, then it is unlikely to be rings. But, then again, you have to also look out for dropped valve seats due to the overheating. So, you also need a compression test and a pressure test.

If he won't keep it for $7k retail, figuring in his cost to repair, then you need to get him down towards $2k.

Don't let the itch make you bite too fast.

 

Buying a sub 2003 S-Type is a terrible idea.

 

10-4 to $2000 for the wreck.

 

Sam welcome back to the game!

Take what I type here for what its worth........Run far, Run fast from this one!

For the kinda money the seller is asking, you can get yourself into a post face lift 2005 MY for the money that you are gonna drop into this one.

I would not do it buddy!

BTW I would want to see ALOT more pictures than 3 of the drivers side front fender and one of the steering wheel. You know what I mean?

 

Good to hear from you Sam.
I know you like the old greasy rag but take the advice of the others - don't touch it with a triple extension barge pole.
Please get an XKR - we need a video of removing the supercharger!

 

Same advice.... Stand... Clear! If the engine is shot, which sounds like a possibility, even with a bhg... to find a replacement motor alone you are talking around $2K minimum not including labor costs to swap them out and that is a risky proposition.

 

Rev, I agree with the others ...ruuuuunnnnnnnnnn.
Check out Tijoe's thread on which year(s) are the best.
Good luck..

 

I don't know if I'd turn the car down flat without finding out just what's wrong. If it turned out that it could be fixed for a few hundred or a thou, that's not to much money for an otherwise nice looking Jaaaaaaaag.

 

RV, I don't know too much about these things, but I CAN tell you I paid 2K less than that for a well-running machine- at a Dealer's, even. Mine had a little lower millage, and is a 2000 (it's been 6 months now). We did find some things wrong with it after the sale (naturally), but thanks to the gang here we didn't get too ripped off- for example, the timing chain was the original plastic one; could have been a disaster, but these forums told us to replace it. Dodged a 5k bullet.
My advise would be to STAY AWAY. You can do much, much better.
(she's pretty, though)

 

Head gasket - and the rest!

Walk away unless you're looking for topics for a new series of videos.

Then again, the S-Type section would certainly appreciate them. Perhaps we should have a collection and buy it for you.

Graham

 

You paid $1500 for a well running S-type from a dealer?

I'll take a dozen please.

 

Sam,

As you have already been advised, stick to the 2003-and-newer S-Type models. You will be much happier with the vehicle in the long run. I know you like to turn wrenches and make videos while you work, but you truly need to trust us long-time S-Type owners on this one....

How's your Saab convertible holding up?

 

I'd take a pass on that one as well. In fact, I'm passing on a 2000 S-Type that "looks good" but has a blown head gasket for $1800.00. I won't post the ad, but it's still up in the Austin Craigslist (in Buda) if anyone cares to look it up.

The pre 2003s seem to come with more than enough headaches that even a "bargain" like this one has been sitting around for quite some time.

 

Nope, I paid 5k total (taxes included), 2k less than the OP's craigslist ad. But, I would also pay for a few of those if they had them- just for parts!

 

The asking price in the OP's ad is $3500:

"2001 Jaguar S-Type 4.0 V-8 - $3500 (Raleigh)"

 

A 2001 S-type 4.0 with 90k miles is only worth about $3000 with out any major problems.

You shouldn't pay more than $500 for that car and its still a risk and a lot of work at any point. Stay away from it.

 

Graham,
Stop being altruistic. I vote we buy him an XKR with a leaky fuel rail, dud knock sensor, noisy diff - er what else hasn't he done?