Haha hey all,

So I was looking at xj8's about 7 months ago, deterred from them, and now I'm back at them so I figure I'm supposed to buy one

Anyways, I'm a sophomore in college and my lexus is giving in (poor thing has been through like 5 fam members). I love these jags while most people my age like to get trucks and mustangs and beat the hell out of them. Not me, I prefer taking pristine care of my vehicles and like to park miles away from other people haha! I just love refined luxury.

So I figured the 04 XJ8's (with the price their at) are simply perfect for me. MPG (US) seems absolutely impressive on them. I make a 600 mile round trip about once a month to visit my fiance. So the highway mileage they achieve is a huge plus for me.

I have found an excellent example with 50k miles and I am wondering what problems I should expect with these vehicles? Costs? I am aware of the air suspension but is there really much more than that?

All help for this undereducated fool who uses the search bar but still has questions is much appreciated

 

Seems as though the air suspension problem is quite an issue. Any one know of a permanent solution to this?

 

Yes.. It is called a coilover.

 

See this thread: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...-please-91567/ I had posted a list of items I have repaired since I got my 06 XJ8 with 55k miles.

Add to that list "endless problems with headlamp washer fluid leaks."

Not trying to be discouraging, but there's a lot more niggling things to go wrong than just the air suspension. Suspension busings, cooling system, wiper motors, headlight ballasts, throttle bodies...

 

Thanks mhamilton! I'm slightly surprised to see those repairs. From what i've read everyone makes them seem merely bulletproof. How much were costs on items like this?

 

Far, far from that. These may be more reliable than older models, but lot more little issues tend to creep up (at least on my car).

My car is under warranty, but dealer list prices are:
wiper motor $422
coolant crossover $170
coolant tank $116
motor mounts $139 each
washer hose $60 each
wiper stalk $214

No idea what the labor rate would be on those... dealer gets what, $150 an hour? None are very bad jobs for a competent DIYer, maybe the motor mount would be a bit of a chore. The accessory belt was a PIA due to front engine clearances.

 

Wow, those parts are a little pricy. But I would buy them off eBay or direct. And all of those sound like easy knick knacks that I've had to fix on cars before. Well except for a wiper motor that's an odd part to fail. But I'm definitely a DIYer. This is mainly because I don't trust any POS mechanic in my town. No one treats things like their own. Which in turn makes me paranoid and forces me to fix my own cars

 

Ha.. hahaha. Right. Aftermarket and Jaguar are words that do no coexist in the same sentence.

Of those parts above, maybe your 2004 has an aftermarket metal coolant crossover available. Parts like brakes and rotors, belts, filters, sure... but anything else, forget it. The dealers keep you over a barrel the life of the car.

 

Haha I never said aftermarket? I'd buy oem parts, but you do realize how much it costs at a dealer as opposed to obtaining it yourself.

 

Well I knew that, just didn't know if anyone makes a conversion. Any recommended ones?

 

YOU seem to have received somewhat gloomy advice on here. First thing is these cars are not a Lexus, but are up there with Mercedes, Audi, and BMW. Having said that, you mention your Lexus has given trouble !

Hell, these are good cars, and now the right price too.

Let me say, as an owner of nearly three years, that these cars are essentially reliable and don't leave you at the roadside, but can suffer from "unfair wear and tear" of certain items, i.e. they are things that are expected to wear out and need replacing over the life of the car, but seem to wear out too quickly !

So: -

1. Air suspension compressor - known short-life, but a piston seal kit is available on ebay from "bagpipingandy" who is a member on here, or you can get service exchange on the 'net for not too much money and swap time is quite small, (less than one hour). At 50k your proposed purchase may be due one, or has had one recently replaced.

2. Suspension bushes can wear prematurely, and as Jaguar do not supply them separately, this can make for an expensive job, but the aftermarket comes to your rescue with parts at half the Jaguar price, or the bushes themselve for swapping, but you will need access to a press and mandrel to press them out/in. These joints are easily checked before purchase if you can get the car up in the air on a ramp

3. Unsightly filiform corrosion which looks like bubbling under the paint. Fairly harmless and reasonably easy to fix. See leading edge of trunk lid, lower corners of doors, and bottom or rear screen.

A car on 50k is hardly into its service life, as many on this forum are on over 125k and some over 200k miles.

Like all used up-market cars, much depends on how the previous owner has looked after the car. Neglect never does them any good, so check to see service and maintenance has been done, and what additional items may have been replaced.

No problem with your 600 mile trip; I have been on holiday to Germany twice (2011, 2012) and it is a 1200 mile round trip, plus local miles, and no problems at all, I cannot think of a better long distance cruiser, it is superb. I start out from Crewe, here in North West England, around 01.00, and arrive at the Rheintal town of Bacharach late afternoon, and not tired.

 

Oh I'm well aware of the dealer markups on parts. And there are dealers that sell online for below list prices, as well as a few specialist suppliers of Jag parts. But, I'm just warning you now, in my (short) experience, Jaguar designs these cars to keep them coming back to the dealer. This forum is very helpful in getting past that, but you are in for a bit of a surprise when you compare parts availability from a company like Toyota to Jaguar.

I wish you the best of luck. These are beautiful cars, there is no comparison, but you will pay to play.

 

I forgot to mention that I assume you know these cars are almost totally constructed of aluminium. This is why they get filiform corrosion, a very familiar mode for aluminium. Light weight, however, means better fuel consumption so "swings and roundabouts" here.

 

+ 1 on both of Fraser's posts

 

Don't be discouraged by the negative posts, you asked for it! LOL

I wouldn't hesitate to get a 50K 2004 XJ8, but would check it out thoroughly as I would any car that is nearly 10 years old. Of course there'll be things that wear out and need replacing, however from my short experience with my 2003 XJ8 that I got last April and have put about 26K miles on it (bought it with 63K), if you're good with a wrench or have a good mechanic that knows what he's doing, these cars are well worth the asking price.

Every time I drive my XJ8 I say to myself "WOW! This is a great car!"

Hope you get your 04 XJ8 soon -- you'll love it!

BTW My opinion as to the dealer vs. aftermarket issue is there are few aftermarket items because there's no market for them. It's not because the manufacturer or dealer wants to hose you. It's simply numbers, why would a company tool up to make aftermarket items if there's no money in it?

 

Don't get me wrong. I love my Jag but if you are not mechanically inclined it can be a challenge.

I have had my 04 VDP for seven years. My first. Things I have fixed:

AC blower module
Coolant recovery tank
Bad compressor
Leaky air springs
Arnott Coilovers (best thing I have done.)
Trunk lid struts.
Battery
Tires
Dust boots on ball joints and tie rod ends disintegrate.
Spurious faults

I think the TPSs on the throttle body are threatening to fail. You can find a new one on Ebay for $500-$600.

I wouldn't buy another one however. You take a major hit in depreciation. I think I will stick to US made cars in the future

 

So here's my tick list on that one

AC blower module - Yes
Coolant recovery tank - No
Bad compressor - Yes
Leaky air springs - No
Arnott Coilovers (best thing I have done.) - not needed
Trunk lid struts. - Yes, (put on aftermarket ones at £15 each
Battery - No, still on original
Tires - obviously yes, they wear out on every car !
Dust boots on ball joints and tie rod ends disintegrate. - No
Spurious faults - A few

Plus
Rear lower wishbones, (bushes wore out)
Rear spring/shocks lower bushes (they wore out)
Rear roll bar link (one side)
Lighting/indicator switch on binnacle (intermittent headlight problems)
Filiform corrosion repairs

Car bought at 30k May 2010, and now on 67k miles.

Do I want to get rid - Hell no !! However, I might swap next year for the diesel-engined model to save on fuel, it is over £6 a gallon now here in the UK - seriously expensive !! We'll be off to Germany in it in Summer, a 600 mile journey to the Rheintal, which is easily done in the day without effort or tiredness.

 

Fraser, you did coilovers even though you have not had a leaky air dhock issue?

 

Reading is fundamental!
Try it again.

 

Mother of god you guys are helpful! Much more info received than I had ever planned! Good show mates!

Well, I was between these xj8's and a mercedes from the same year (a clk500). I went and drove both yesterday. Both with the same mileage, both 2004. And the result....

THE JAG BY A MILLION. The clk was pathetic. Felt worse inside than my old 97 lexus! It was horrid, it was cheap and it thought it was a mustang.

I drove an xj8-L and I fell in love. So comfortable and presentable. I could find anything to complain about! I couldn't care if anything went wrong with this vehicle I'd gladly pay it (and try to ignore the costs haha). I'm glad I finally drove one. I'm astonished and sold.

However, one problem, I drove one with a black interior. I originally thought I wanted tan and that black looked hideous. Now I am all for black! I'm actually pretty set so now my search has to start again! Haha!

Again thank you all for answering my question! You guys definitely make me feel welcome (something that's hard to achieve on alot of forums these days.)

Kohlmann