For those of you that spend too much time reading about other peoples woe's - I offer an uplifting point of view. Too much I hear that it is mostly people with issues that post on a forum so it seems like our cars have many many issues (maybe I should help foster that belief as it leads to incredible deals in used Jaguars).

But here is my ride. Purchased a little over a year ago with 82k miles on it. Just got back from a weekend road trip and crossed 105k. Car looks and drives near new. Never had a major issue with the drive train, never been stranded. At 103k it threw its first ever check engine light. My mechanic looked at it and basically said the plugs (original) needed changing.

Not to say I have not done maintenance. I have, and it shows. When I first got the car, I had them go thru it, changed the oil pan gasket, the trans gasket, and a couple of odds and ends.

I just recently had some clunking in the suspension and found a small leak in one of the front shocks. So I replaced every bushing in the front end, and put in two Arnott front shocks (not the remans, but the new - almost went Bilstein but decided to put the money into new rear wishbones). Also had the brake calipers painted gloss black and got new hi temp vinyl Jaguar letters for front calipers.

While all this was being done I brought my wheels in and had one crack repaired and two others straightened. They then re-polished all four, including all the way back into the barrels, removed any and all curb rash and had them recoated. Two new rotors, ceramic pads all around and two new tires were installed.

Amazing difference. Was a fair drop of $$s, but again, I consider this maintenance, both mechanical and cosmetic.

This car has given me a lot of trouble free miles, it deserved it all.

pics attached...

 

I was just thinking of replacing my caliper plates as the old ones are discolored/rusted. I would just clean them up, but the lettering would probally come off too. Where did you get the vinyl lettering, and how has it held up? Looks original!
Thanks
Mark

 

4 x Jaguar Racing Brake Caliper Decal Stickers High Temp Black 80mm 55mm | eBay

Are the ones I got. Only a couple thousand miles on them but so far so good. Even if they last a year, cheap and easy enough to redo. Cleaned up the plates with solvent and then 0000 steel wool.