My 2006 XJ8L has 61,800 miles, has been regularly serviced, oil change every 4K with synthetic.
Its due for 60K service and the local Jaguar dealer quoted $1150 for the service. They described what they include which is more that the jaguar service book states.
The dealer list includes: Synthetic oil and filter, Fuel filter, clean injectors, do a decoke, clean throttle body, change brake fluid, change air filter, change cabin filter and do the full inspection.

The Jag service book does not specify the cleaning of injectors, the decoke, cleaning of throttle body nor the air filter.

Questions:
A) $1150 seems high but includes the extras as above. Has anyone else has this type of price or extras quoted?
B) Are those extras, not specified in the jag service book, worth doing? My car performs well, I get up to 28MPG on a long run and around 20MPG in town on short runs so the car seems to be running efficiently.
C) An independent Jag service place quoted $340 with the tasks specified in the Jag service book. Seems more reasonable? But if I added injector clean, throttle body, decoke etc that adds up too.

Would like to hear of others experience of service at 60K, prices, extra services performed and whether they were worth it.

Steve
(I have had the car 2.5 years and the car has run flawlessly. Apart from regular oil changes I have had replaced the serpentine belt, changed & flushed brake and steering fluid, and replaced upper control arms)

 

If you trust the indy, go with the indy. My indy's labor rates are half of the dealers, which drives the cost down significantly. If you're reasonably comfortable under the hood/bonnet, do it yourself and save more. Nothing in your list is terribly complicated.

Except maybe "decoke", which I don't know anything about.

 

Why not just replace the oil and filters yourself and throw a bottle of bg44k in on your next fill up.....that's really all the injector service is, they just force it directly through the fuel rails so they can tack on some $$

As for brake fluid, if you've had that done recently, pass. I flush my fluid on all of my vehicles whenever I do brake work....but that's not necessary

 

Normally a "decoke" involves taking off the cylinder heads, a major operation and certainly not a maintenance item. I suspect they really mean they put some stuff in the fuel which cleans out the combustion chambers. It's worth asking what they mean. Your US price equates to a UK price of £766. It's not hugely high, but not cheap either. If the Jaguar independent has a good reputation locally, then it is possibly time to let them see what they can do. If the car is running well, its always best to let it carry on doing so and not disturb too much equipment, IMHO !!

FWIW I now use a local independent that came highly recommended, and it has proved so.

 

I know how we used to "decoke" engines back in the carburetor days. Believe it or not, you take the air cleaner off, grab a garden hose, and open the throttle all the way with the garden hose puring water into the carb for about 10-15 seconds. That blows EVERYTHING out of the heads and cylinder walls as doesn't harm anything. In fact you could actually see small chunks of black carbon coming out the exhaust. I'm not sure how or if you can do that on an injected motor though...

 

I would put in two bottles of Techron fuel injector cleaners. Use the 12 gal size in a full tank, so the mixture is just about right. Great stuff been using it for years. Its about $7 a bottle, then go with a synthetic oil change, I use Mobil 1. Cabin Filter is around $30 and fuel filter is less than $10. If you do it yourself, you will have change back from your $100 and you can have a few really fine dinners with the rest of your savings!

RyeJag

 

I'm gonna say that would be a really bad idea on an X350.......

But, I did use that trick on my old Landy before I ripped the top end off for a quickie rebuild

 

Have been in the same position as you-dealer vs local and every time have gone to the dealer,paid more but in the nearly seven years have had the XJ8 have had no serious mechanical problems. All the things the dealer wants to do cannot hurt but only help especially as you go forewaed using the car....if you can afford it do it RIGHT! All the Best Bernie From Tenafly NJ.

 

Thanks everyone for the feedback.

I spoke to the guy who runs a specialist Porsche service shop, who has been servicing my old 944 Turbo for years and asked him if he recommended injecting chemicals into the fuel rail to clean injectors and to decoke and the cleaning of the throttle body if the car is running well. He said no, do not do them.
However he did recommend using Stabil in the tank on a regular basis as it protects against the corrosion caused by ethanol in the today's fuel, it also cleans the fuel system and injectors. (I have been doing that on all my cars)
So I will go with the Jaguar service book recommended items including the synthetic oil/filter, fuel filter and full inspection by the indy shop that I have been using. I will do the easy stuff like cabin & air filters.

 

Sounds like you made a good choice

 

Please tell me you track the 951!!
Those things can be absolute beasts on the track with pretty minimal set up!

 

I did consider tracking it a few years ago, but never did.
I bought the 951 new in 1987 and its always been a summer car (in New Hampshire) then a third car in CA & AZ so its only got 62K on the odometer and everything is original (apart from OEM replacement A/C compressor, water pump, belts, hoses and oil/water heat exchanger).
Every time I get in and drive it there is a smile on my face, except when the police stop me and send me to traffic school.

 

Park lane Dallas, wanted $813 to do a 150k service.
when i looked at the service required sheet. it was all self do able. change oils only, new drive belt and inspect everything else.

So guess what I'm doing next week?

 

Gotta share. Believe it or not a PO helped me keep my smile, even as she ticket'd me. Boy, that girl CHPer was good! First thing as she approaches me, she starts with - OK, I know it's a beautiful day, a good stretch of road and if I had a car like this... it prob was the good vibe I had going with the drive (another story) but I couldn't help feeling instantly destressed. Yeah, I know I had to pay. But I'm willing to pay for my entertainment. I just don't appreciate the lecture - heavy handed, threatening kinda treatment I've had in the past from similar scenarios. Especially when in 'those' circumstances I swear they were wrong to start with... like REALLY?! and then you act like an <insert fav expletive here>

 

Thread reminds me of the decarbonisation process I saw on Wheeler Dealers.

I was impressed. As engines near 100K miles this would be something to consider.

 

I love the 944Turbo... my first and only Porsche I've owned. perfect in everyway... can't beat a 944

 

Agree, 944 is a great car. I have a 1990 944 S2. Only 75k on it (KM) still drives like new. Occasionally I think of selling it but I can never bring myself to.