Hello,

I am looking to get a Jaguar XF, budget is limited I won't lie, so looking for something around the 2009/2010 era. I have had plenty of cars in my life but never a modern Jaguar.

So the ones I have been looking at are all diesel automatics with around 130k ish on the clock.

What are the common issues to look out for with these cars? In the past I have bought a car then joined a forum just to find out loads of issues I should of checked or should be aware of!

Thank you for any assistance

 

I can't tell you much about the diesels, but you need to check the leather dash pad as they are known to shrink in the hot sun, the glue that holds it down breaks down and it comes loose around the leading edge and forms bubbles. Its ridiculously expensive to have a shop repair it. The buttons inside were all coated with something that gave them a "soft touch" luxurious feel, but that coating tended to break down and become gummy or sticky. A shop will only replace the button "assemblies" at ridiculous costs, but you can tediously remove the gummy coating yourselrf without damaging the white backlit lettering using women's Neutrogena makeup remover wipes. Figure a whole Saturday and Sunday to do them all. The map lights which are supposed to be activated by a wave of the finger tend to develop a mind of their own. Jaguar did issue a TSB and a kit to repair them, again more practical as a DIY job. You can expect that the backup camera and trunk latch to fail when the wiring insulation all cracks up where it flexes every time the truck lid is opened. At 130K miles, you need to check the suspension bushes carefully. I think they only sell "components" rather than separate bushes, i.e. a whole control arm or a whole strut rod. Suspension work can get to be ridiculously expensive too. By now the tire pressure sensor batteries are all dead or about to die. These cars don't like aftermarket sensors. You really have no choice but to buy the OEM ones which are expensive, but its either that or pay for a set of aftermarket sensors and THEN pay for a set of the OEM ones after spending a few hundred dollars trying to update software and reprogram the system. Just pay for the OEM ones in the first place. I could write a whole page on the 5.0L engine, but you're looking a diesels I guess that makes sense where you live.

But even with all that, these cars are tremendous value right now. Every time I see an XF sell on Bring a Trailer for half what local dealers get for a same year/mileage Honda Accord, it just ties a knot in my stomach. If you can get one at current market value or even a little more from an enthusiast like me who has already fixed all of the above, then you're basically stealing it. But beyond the specifics, Jaguars in general require a lot of attention and you can't get away with skipping anything. Remember the used Jaguar motto: No Records = No Sale!

 

Awesome advice thank you. I am coming from an Audi which has cost me a fair bit. Happy to do most jobs myself where I can. Doesn't seem too bad overall really. The prices are amazingly reasonable for what you get.

I am looking at the 3 litre diesel engine so not sure if anything to look out for on that.

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

 

The main thing to look out for on the 3 litre diesel (been there done that I had a 2010 XFS) is the DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) and related problems.
Long story short the DPF regeneration process can repeatedly fail or stop short of completion and cause a MIL/CEL and restricted performance.
Even worse it can cause fuel dilution of the oil which if left too long can lead to chewed up crank bearings and a grenaded engine.
Lots of short trips and very few long trips can accelerate these problems, do NOT get a diesel if that is your normal driving pattern!
There are a few other potentially serious issues with the 3.0 diesel, but best to visit the Pommy forum for more in depth info (lots and lots of diesel owners), here: https://www.jaginfo.org

 

Cheers mate, I appreciate the reply. I am in the UK actually. DPF's have always filled me with dread. I have had several diesels from different manufacturers and no dpf issues as of yet but it's always in the back of my mind. I will check out the other forum ,thank you

 

So I have decided to go for the 3 litre diesel engine of 2010 and later.

From what I understand there was a changeover to the 8 speed automatic box. Does anyone know what year that occured?

Thanks

 

Model year 2012 for all XFs except the XFR which stayed with the ZF 6HP28 for another year.

 

Ah ok thank you