Head's up on X300 coils
 

In the last few months I have been recommending these coils......

Jaguar XJS XJR XJ6 Ignition Coil 95 97 | eBay


....as I have purchassed them and they have every indication of coming from the TRUE OEM Jaguar supplier. Although they lack the Lucas label, the other markings are identical to the OEM Jaguar coils and are Japanese made.

However, the seller is *now* providing a Lucas-stamped coil in a green Lucas box (part number DMB411) that looks very much like the cheapy replacements I've had so many problems with. They're marked "Made in the EU".

I'm waiting to hear back from the Ebay seller. I'm hoping he can still get the made-in-Japan type that he was selling a few months ago.

Cheers
DD

This is maybe going to bite me, but here goes.

My 3.2 still has the "Made in Japan" coils as fitted when new.

When I got the beast 4 years ago, I renewed the plugs, as you do, and noticed the "Lucas" stickers peeling off. My extremely warped sense of humour had me remove ALL the Lucas stickers, and now at 204000kms, still sweet as.

Doug will remember the V12 ignition module, GM product, good quality, reliable for its day, they put a Lucas sticker on it, and all hell broke loose.

Are the OEM coils still available through Jaguar dealers?

As of about a year ago, yes. About $400 each. Haven't checked since then.

Too rich for my blood.

Cheers
DD

Heh heh, yup, you're doomed now, mister :-). Never boast, never tempt the fates!





Oh heck yes. V12 Veterans carry a spare in their pocket! Umpteen thousands of Ser III XJ6 owners, too.

Or, just replace it every few years.

Truth is, though, they've never been very good, even when GM was using them. I remember it only too well from the 70s-early 80s. Part number 1875990. We'd keep a few on the shelf right under the parts counter. Saved walking to the back of the stock room six times a day!

If someone in the shop said a car was "in for a nine-ninety", we all knew what it meant.

(Back then a full brake job was $102.00 labor. If a mechanic said he was "busy doing a one-oh-two, it meant he was doing a brake job)

Thanks for the stroll down memory lane :-)

Cheers
DD

Interesting post. My check engine light lit after episodic hesitation, and codes read 6th cylinder ignition. So, time for a new coil. 2 of the 6 were already replaced by the Jag specialist mechanic earlier this year. I order two from here:

Ignition Coil - LHE1510AB | Jaguar X300 - XJR, Jaguar XJS | Jaguar | British Parts UK

A previous thread said the above part is a Japanese coil. They arrive via DHL (good service from that vendor BTW), but they look different than the pic in that link. There is no black tab folded over onto the top epoxied part. The two the Jag specialist replaced have the tab, as do the remaining 4 the car came with. The box has no country of origin, nor does the coil iteself.

So I replace coil six, everything was fine for about 10 days, it's starts of hesitate at part throttle and the check engine light turns on again: codes P0306 and P1316. Grrrrrr. So is this the superior Japanese coil, or the cheap unknown probably Chinese coil? Perhaps the same as the OP's one? Curiouser and curiouser said Alice to the Cheshire cat.......

Although the pic the Ebay listing isn't quite clear, the label/markings of the coil shown appears to be of the size/appearance used by the tru OEM manufacturer




Whatever it is, it doesn't sound like it came from the OEM supplier



The ones I've so many problems with are sold by Beck Arnley and the only marking is a small "PEC" stamp

Cheers
DD

Very interesting.

It's all part of the strange convoluted world of OEM and aftermarket parts.

Originally a company called Diamond in Japan made the OEM coils for Lucas. The coils had black made in Japan stickers and where labeled and boxed "Lucas". Those where originally fitted to the cars.

As time has gone on, aftermarket producers like Beck Arnley and Prenco have come up with their own cheap aftermarket coil versions. (Which fail in very quickly) .

In the meantime ""Diamond"" (the true original supplier) has been manufacturing the original coils for Hotbray who sells them under the Eurospare label.

Now it sounds like "Lucas" (or whoever has the rights to that name ) has decided to start boxing up the cheaper coils (from who, I don't know) and sell them as Lucas originals. For all I know, I could order some 400$ coils from Jaguar and those could be the cheap ones too because their contract changed.

I would only buy Eurospare coils at this point.

Indeed they do!

I have only one Beck Arnley coil left. It is stamped "PJEC". Not sure if that's significant.

My other (and now long gone) Beck Arnley coils where stamped "PEC" or similar. Can't quite remember.

I wonder if these stampings relate to "Prenco"?




FWIW...perhaps nothing....the Lucas coils I rec'd are stamped "Lucas" and lack the "PJEC" or "PEC" stampings.

<shrug>





Very possible and very frustrating. You have to really be on your toes to identify what you're buying these days



Right!

As it turn outs, though, it takes a bit of effort to make sure that's what you're getting!

Cheers
DD

Another unfortunate example of this weird parts game is another crucial AJ16 part: LHE1600, the temperature sender for the ECU. For years the Jaguar originals where a more solid unit with black plastic housings and the aftermarket ones where more flimsy and had a brown plastic housing. On my last order from Jaguar classic parts, I decided to buy one since I was already paying for shipping for a large order. When it arrived along with my other parts there was now an aftermarket brown top sender in a Jaguar bag. Very frustrating.

I do realize Jaguar is not alone in this practice, but I do think it is much more common with them than most any other brand because of a)the total breakdown of British enterprise and b)their contracting out to a multitude of firms, and because of "a" the majority of those no longer exist. Even Connolly leather is defunct.

Here are two pics of the coils I received from britishparts.co.uk. Are these the same as the Beck Arnley ones?

I specifically ordered from England, shipped to Canada, hoping to get made in Japan. Oh what a tangled web we weave.....:) As I mentioned, the ones the Jag mechanic installed looks like the factory ones. So maybe it was still NOS from his Canadian supplier?

Now what do I do?

They don't look like the Beck Arnley coils I've recieved, no. But....Beck Arnley might be getting their coils from who-knows-how-many manufacturers.

BTW, I'm waiting to hear back from the Ebay I recently bought from. He said he'd try to find some Eurospare coils for me.

Now what to do?

If you have urgent need to use the coils you received then do so and hope for the best. Otherwise hold tight and maybe we can find some Eurospare type.

Cheers
DD

I ordered two and installed one, and as I mentioned it was OK for a brief period but then hesitation returned and the CEL lit. Maybe it wasn't the coil after all? It's driving OK for now, except for a part throttle hesitation at steady highway speed with the cruise control on, so I think I'll just leave it and see what happens.

Well something has happened for sure.

None of the 3 sources I have gotten Eurospare coils from carry them anymore.

If Diamond stopped manufacturing these completely it could be a problem.

Right now my biggest curiosity/concern is where these newly produced "Lucas" coils are coming from? It very well could be that they found a manufacturer to make them with original quality.

I have a one year old set on my car and one brand new set in plastic bags. I wish I would have ordered at least 6 more when I had the chance.

Just the other day I was going over my stockpile of new-old-stock parts thinking how absolutely insane I was and how I have been foolishly wasting my money. Amongst my "treasures" I have 1 brand new Jaguar boxed AJ16 head complete with valves and cam cover and everything in addition I have 2 additional brand new AJ16 cam covers. 2 XJS AJ16 ECU's and one securityECU. That's just some of it. Somehow I am starting to feel good about the parts hoarding and am getting an itch to hoard some more.

Rats






Time will tell....and from prior experience I'd say it won't take all that much time.

Heh heh. On my older Jags I always insisted on Lucas ignition parts. Now I find myself worried about having them!








I'm wondering about doing the same. I need to decide if I'll keep this car for many more years. An 80s vintage Ser III or XJS seems to be a better bet for long term ownership and DIY work....but the XJR is a sweetheart to drive.

Cheers
DD

Hmmm, this may not be good. I just replaced three failed aftermarket coils with 'Lucas' coils sourced from the dealership. New coils were only about $100 a piece, certainly not anywhere near $400.

Hope they last - the Christmas tree dash lights scared the heck out of my wife.

Might not be good. Might not be bad. Too soon to say :)






A few questions:

-Did they come in "Jaguar" boxes or "Lucas" boxes?

-Any markings on the boxes or coils indicating origin? "Made In the EU"? "Made in Japan"?

- Is there "Lucas" identification on the coils? If so, is it a white sticker? Or is it a silver silkscreen-ish identification near the top saying "Lucas DMB 411?



Yeah, that can be a little alarming!

Cheers
DD

I don't know... Had our local Jag specialist bring them in and install them. One more to go in Monday - i'll ask him to save the box.

Cheaper, cheaper, faster, faster.....modern social psychology is very frustrating. Whatever happened to do it once and do it right? :(

Well, I guess the worst case scenario is all we have left is made in Upper Volta coils that fail quickly. At least it's a quick repair to replace. Maybe well need to go back to the early days of motoring and carry some spare parts and tools with us. Disheartening, but one solution.

I think I need some new ones for my 1995 XJ6 4.0

I found these at AutoPartsWarehouse

AutoTrust Platinum REPJ504605 Ignition Coil | Auto Parts Warehouse

$47-$72

Allyn