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I'm sure you've seen this one. I've no idea if that is the going rate for one. Could almost buy a salvage car for close to that. I have a Sept 94' build car so I hope I don't end up on the same hunt in the future.
Many prayers were answered with the salvage part-out 96 XJ12 I found at a private yard about 30 miles away. I made the trip on Monday, and with the new ECU installed I was able to get the car emissions tested and registered on Tuesday. It was the last day of the month and the "decision point" of sorts for the car, as the registration would have lapsed.
So far, so good! With multiple round trips over the last few days there have been no faults whatsoever. All is back to normal, and my XJ12 is again RUNNING GREAT!
Chassis 766661 generously donated a bunch of parts. I removed them all myself, nothing too deep. The owner charged me $100 for the ECM. It is the latest version too: LNA1410NB. I am so fortunate!
The first-gen ECU, LNA1410LC (original to my car) got a major upgrade to LNA1410NA at VIN 731580. That's probably only 500-600 XJ12s produced so far worldwide. As the XJ12 was an all-new product they must have found improvements that they incorporated as soon as possible.
Before anyone panics about their ECU, keep in mind that Jeff's XJ12 has traveled over 225,000km on this first version.
So to close out my good news post, here is a picture of the Flamenco Dame, visiting one of her favorite spots:
THANK YOU ALL for your assistance and support through this effort! WE ARE BACK.
All is well after a couple hundred miles with the new ECU in charge. Touch polished burlwood.
I thought about putting spacers on the cover of the ECU to help it run a little cooler. Possibly even a small 12V fan? It would make me feel better. Its mostly a summertime consideration. The old one did last 14 years in this desert heat.
The transmission repair is about 1000 miles behind me, and it is doing fine, touch again! I have made two changeovers to the blue jug Valvoline Dex/Merc oil (5 qts at a time) because I don't know what kind of cherry syrup was put into the rebuilt unit. I am sure it wasn't the best, only the cheapest. I'll do one more 5 qt changeout and then call it good. That's the point of limited returns. Previous to the rebuild I was using red jug Valvoline, the synthetic multi-use. It is probably ok too, but it is a slightly lower viscosity oil than the blue jug.
I still have a bit of a launch "high stall" torque converter whine. The correct oil should help minimize it. Moving the gear selector gives immediate transmission engagement, as it should be and should have been all along. Seems like a luxury now!
With last year's new shock absorbers and bushings, plus new wheels and tires the handling and ride are quite good. Firm but with some "give". I am very satisfied with the look of the X100 Laminas on my car. I have not ever seen another X300 with them. I think it gives a sportier look. They are the same size as the X306 wheels, 17x8. Their simplicity and elegance could be more suited to this series rather than the XK8. Those owners are not so fond of the "base" wheels, not sporty enough I suppose. But I'm really happy with my upgrade, and they fit just right.
I'm starting to make goo-goo eyes at her again....
With last year's new shock absorbers and bushings, plus new wheels and tires the handling and ride are quite good. Firm but with some "give". I am very satisfied with the look of the X100 Laminas on my car. I have not ever seen another X300 with them. I think it gives a sportier look. They are the same size as the X306 wheels, 17x8. Their simplicity and elegance could be more suited to this series rather than the XK8. Those owners are not so fond of the "base" wheels, not sporty enough I suppose. But I'm really happy with my upgrade, and they fit just right.
Out of curiosity, what size tires are those? Additionally, your rear fitment looks great but did it require rolling the fender lips for clearance? I'm currently shopping tires for my new BBS Milans and am looking for tire size/fitment references so I can play around with a tire size/offset calculator.
I went with 245/50-17 tires (same as the X100 with 17s). The clearance is much tighter at the rear but I knew it would be ok because the XJR is fitted with these or the 255/45-17 tires. I did not have to alter the fender lip, although at first I was concerned about contact. There has been none, even with the 5mm flat spacers in place on the rear hubs. No spacers (and no rubs) on the front, but I may experiment with that. The wider Lamina wheels definitely stand out more and have the same Jag offset (33mm).
I found that the inner clearance at the back of the right rear tire to the exhaust pipe was very tight, without a spacer in place. Only about 5mm.
Have you seen the tire/wheel size calculator at the top of this forum's Wheels section? It is easy to use. I spent a lot of time there when considering all the options. Its kind of fun. The calculators show that my 245/50 tires have the same overall diameter as the X300's original 225/60-16 tires, with the 255/45-17s being a bit shorter in sidewall.
Here's the other view of the car from that day. Now I'm just showing off.
Not showing off at all! If anything, we need more photographic evidence of these X305s (that being said, I realize I've never posted a photo of mine here despite owning it for 1.5 Years now)
Also, that's not showing off. Asking your photographer friend to photograph you like Geoff Lawson while doing a double Morrocco-Red XJ photoshoot, now THAT'S showing off!
I bought mine 18 months ago and I'll finally get to see it (and hopefully drive it) for the first time, next week. Will try and get a pic or two because what I have are from the For Sale ads. 1994 build Morrocan Red like yours but UK poverty spec.
If so and that is YOU in the photo...... I can completely understand why. You can be proud of that car just as Geoff Lawson was! Lol. After all, your name is "swagger".
2 questions: What is that thing, possibly an award, on the new XJ6? And what is the badge on the front end of your car? Also an award?
@SleekJag12 That is indeed me! Despite being 25, I too enjoy 28-year-old V12 British sedans and 60-year-old houses! I'm not to sure how much "Swagger" I have (that was a screen name I picked in middle school based off of my Volvo XC lol) but the car sure got a lot of compliments at the valet for the Alfa Romeo Tonale launch party and an unprompted compliment from a Ferrari 456 owner at a stoplight!
From what I've been told about the above photo, the award on the hood of that XJ12 was the 'The Most Beautiful Luxury Car in The World' awarded by Italian Judges assembled in Milan for the 'L' Automobile più Bella del Mondo awards. The badge on my grill is far less interesting. It's a Del Monte Forest Access badge from 1995. If you live along 17-mile drive/Pebble Beach, you are issued these badges for resident access so you don't have to pay the exorbitant fee every time you go anywhere. I added it since I knew a few friends who like to scour eBay for year-matching access badges, and I thought it was pretty fitting since my XJ12 was sold new at British Motorcars Distributors of Downtown San Francisco. (Additionally, during car week, the gate attendants aren't all that astute on 17-mile drive, so regardless of the age of the badge, they'll wave you in on the resident lane! The $30 badge easily saved me $70+ in access fees!)
And for more evidence, my photographer had a Morocco Red XJ40 Vanden Plas for last year's Car Week. Unfortunately, he's replaced it with an E38 since, but at least we were able to get photos of them in the same place!
Unfortunately, the second photo was a shitty one from my iPhone, but you get the idea. We figured you don't often see 2 Morocco Red XJs in one place, so we had to document it! He attempted to get "IBM 1" as his vanity plates right before Car Week, but unfortunately, the DMV denied them despite being available. It really would've been the icing on the cake here with my Enron NYSE ticker symbol vanity plates.
Last edited by Swagger XC; Feb 22, 2023 at 08:54 AM.
The "dual" XJ photoshoot (lovely Morocco Reds). The funny things on both the XJ12s (good stories!). The screen name based on a Volvo XC (had to look it up). The origin of the vanity plate (didn't get that yet either, very funny).
Whether your Volvo swagger was tongue in cheek or not, it can be for real now with that Jag!
I thought you might be 32 years old... born in MCM 'XC'. No, you're even luckier.
My car came from the old San Jose British Motors. Bought new (not by me!), spent the first half of its lush life in Atherton, just down the peninsula from the city. Second half, well, not so lush but still well loved.
P.S. An old Jag with a power antenna that works is obviously a well-maintained vehicle! Look no further.
Last edited by SleekJag12; Feb 23, 2023 at 12:43 AM.
Reason: Added P.S.
