Greetings All,

I have a 2004 black X Type with a manual transmission and 135,000 miles which drives and looks beautiful. However, it has a couple of issues.

I am used to the harmonics choir of drive train and engine on these cars. I have another 2002 and they both quietly sing and grind away to remind you just how many moving parts there are in a car.

However, the 2004 has been steadily developing a a low drone/whine just below the engine note. It was sensitive to engine load, engine temperature, road surface and just how tired/stressed I happened to be, but it has become steadily louder. The car had a new prop shaft put in about four years ago.

It also has a sound like a bearing starting to go, but it never seems to get worse, just vary by road surface.

It also is burning oil from a seal which my local shop says is expensive to access.

The local shop is reluctant to get into the work (they're good guys and busy guys). They are scared of me getting into serious money before we nail down what's up, and I suspect they think it's not worth it for an old tarted up Ford.

My question, should I take it to JLR 150 miles away? Do they have the stuff to make a good diagnosis in the way my local guys don't? And then can they get it running nice and quiet?

I really want to keep the car for all the reasons X Type owners want to, but I do want it as right as it can be, and I am pretty happy to spend money to achieve this. If it sounds like a beater though then there's no point for me.

Thanks in advance for any advice and comments on what's up and what I should do.