I have two discovered problems since my purchase....my headliner is sagging on 3 of the 4 corners, AND on the sunroof cover. the material has separated. Is there a quick fix? Any ideas/opinions? Last, I have a noticable creak/sqeaking/hollow thud noise when I often hit a bump. Time to take my bitter expensive $$$$ medicine, any ideas on this newly developed suspension problem? Thanks everyone!! ....I do love this car btw :-)

 

Front or rear ? What miles on the car ? Higher mile cars are more likely to need some suspension work. Parts for this have come down markedly since Jaguar tried it on with £400+ wishbones. Even they have had to breathe out since internet suppliers started selling the same parts for half the price.

What is it about car manufacturers and spares prices ? You'd think they would want people to see lots of their cars running around on the road, and people telling their friends how wonderful the cars are.

From my experience, thudding noises, especially from the rear, are fairly common over sharp bumps, (I get it all the time on our badly maintained english roads), but squeaks not. Squeak could be a dry/worn ball joint, or suspension bush, or even the anti-roll bar bushes (US=sway bar).

 

Probably the shock tower bushings. Have an independent repair place work on it or you're looking at $400 a wheel.

 

Did you have the suspension inspected?

 

First, thank you for the responses. This car is so beautiful but I remain so fearful of becoming a money pit, BUT I knew this before diving in. First, yeah I will need a new headliner. Kills me to think they have to demantle things in the cabin. My car is so pristine inside. Oh well. The squeak/thumping is in the front. Funny when it is cold it is somewhat loud. When the outside temp rises (afternoon) it is much much more quiet, but still faintly there. I was informed that the wishbone piece was replaced along with a good role front shock. The car has 73k so I do realize that anything can/could happen.

 

tim I would recommend going to suede cloth for the headliner material. Its about $20-30 a yard and is what Jag uses on the new cars. It is BY FAR a big interior improvement for look and feel. Since youre already needing it, why not update it. go talk to a few trim shops about this for labor.
On the noise you dont have replaceable upper shock mounts and an Xj and besides the more common noise culprits are the sway bar bushings. kinda hard to diag noise in person at times much less over the new without hearing anyway..there was also an issue with the left frame horn bumper mount creaking or popping too. But I would do the headliner and enjoy the car for now and look into the noise later when you have more info on duplication etc....to check if the noise is from the sway bar bushings the easiest way it to rock the car back and forth with the steering wheel while driving slowly down the street. If theyre worn they will knock at this point easily

 

Thank you very much for that reply.....!

 

Crazy question here folks. I realize that it is a personal choice. My new pre loved car is now 8 years old and original. I leave in Texas. Should I get my windows tinted or keep the car original? I was curious how the true enthusiest feels about this? The windows have a nice light green tint and I hate to loose that but the heat to come can/ would be rough coming inside.

 

In the past on some other cars I have had pretty good luck with using a syringe and needle with a thin glue. Stick it past the material but not into the rubber and just a little bit of glue then move and repeat the process. Start at the edge and work your way into the center. Depending on which glue you use you may have to brace it with some pillows and sticks until it sets. Might want to cover the pillows with wax paper/plastic so you're not explaining why you have pillows stuck to the roof. This may buy you some time until you can get it fixed properly. Seems this is a common problem on lots of European cars not just Jag. When the headliner went in my 328Is I had the windows open at 70mph and the effect was like setting the mainsail in a 40 knot wind. I thought it was the airbags deploying and almost crapped myself.
Anyway congrats on your new to you car and I hope you enjoy the Jag experience! (I know I do)
Happy New year all,
Chad

 

Tim,
Hey thanks for asking that question, I have a 04 XJ8 that I will be picking up from the dealer next week an X-max gift for myself. I live just north of you in Oklahoma City and was thinking about the tint thing myself; it was just too hot this past summer. I been look in the owner manual about the very same thing and on page 1-9 it has a warning about not using tint with METAL oxide in it, something about the reception for the GPS and the Remote key. Hey good luck with your car.
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