Hello all,

Just aquired myself a lovely 2000 XJ8 a few weeks ago and as the title suggests, am looking for someone to take care of a couple of paint and rust issues i have.

Was going to set about undersealing, but obviously want to get these bits out of the way first. I have two areas of bodywork where the laqeur has come off. Only small areas, but dont want them to get any worse. But my main concern is some corrosion on the seam under the drivers side footwell. It hasnt gone through but the join has rusted and "lifted". Also, on the passenger side sill. There is an area about 1.5inches in diameter that appears to be bubbling. These are obviously the areas i would like to get sorted first. Will try and get some pics up, if it ever stops raining.

I am very dubious and suspicious of body shops as a whole, simply because i used to work in the motor industry and have seen first hand how a lot (not all, so don't lynch me) make a bodge of things and so am looking for someone who maybe is mobile and would travel to the Kent area (Longfield to be precise) and restore my baby to her non rusty glory.

 

If i am unable to find a mobile guy, i would consider a local (Dartford or local) body shop, but only if i could see examples of their work. Anyone had any services from anyone notable?

 

You could give the Jaguar dealer, Lancaster Sevenoaks a call and ask which body shop they use.

From previous posts we've seen, corrosion on the floors and sills of the X300/X308 usually turns out to be more extensive than first thought once the paint is stripped off the affected area.

Handing the car over to a body shop could become very costly if you don't scope the problem and agree in advance precisely what is to be done.

Graham

 

Cheers for the info. Will find contact details and give them a call, although if my experience in the motor industry tells me anything, it tells me they might be a bit cagey about telling me who they use. As for the corrosion, have had a good look around underneath with a floodlight and cant find any evidence of anything else, so in the meantime ill get some Dynax and get everywhere else cleaned and undersealed. Will get some pics of it up at the time of coarse.

As for the corrosion on the floor, i could say its not really in the floor, but rather just the lip that is at the front of the drivers side foot well, and at present it only appears to be on that part and doesn't appear to have gone "into" the floor, if you know what i mean.

As for the nearside sill, from what i can see it appears to be an area about 1.5 inches in diameter and has bubbled, but hasn't rotted through, although im not as concerned about this as i know if needed i can get a whole replacement sill.

How are peoples experiences with having rust repair done on the forum? Anyone got any example pics?

 

Check this thread:

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...er-half-79596/

I copied the photos from Paul's Flikr album in post #12.

It's the worst case of X300/X308 floor and sill rot I've seen.

Graham

 

Cheers for the info and post. Makes me feel better knowing there are cats out there in far worse state and makes mine look almost cosmetic. Got MOT next week, so will get a good going over. Had an fabricator look at my bits (quiet at the back!) in the garage where i work (bus garage) and he said there would be no need for a replacement sill, and the rust underneath is an easy fix. Any other surface bits will be treated with Dinitrol acid rust spray and then after the welding is done, ill throw about 6 cans of Dynax at it and i know from experience, that has got to be one of the best underseals around and it wont come off.

Pics to follow of coarse.

 

Agreed - best products for the job.

When you're on with fettling the underside, have a good look at the rear wheel arch lips. Rust can get a hold here and it's a b****r to fix if left too late.

Graham

 

This was the first area i inquired about upon getting details on the car from the seller. Theres nothing there, at any corner, so they'll get at least a couple of coats.

 

....in between at least 24 hour intervals. To ensure perfect adhesion. For anyone whos never heard of Dynax, take a peek.

Corrosion Protection, Rust Removal, Car Wax and Car Polish from Bilt-Hamber UK

 

Simply got to be the best underseal around. Proven to be more effective than most factory applied underseals. Things like Waxoyl are useless by comparison. You get nice large 750ml cans and of buying the cavity wax, you get a 1.5meter extension probe with a 360 degree spray nozzle. Certainly not the cheapest stuff on the shelf as 2 cans of Dynax UB works out at around 35 quid delivered, but you more than get what you pay for. As for maintenance, just common sense stuff. Maybe an inspection every few months. Rust will NOT return with this stuff.