Hi, I'm Nero from Belgium (so please forgive me any spelling/grammar mistakes, I will make plenty of them but I'll try to make up for them with lots of pics...)
New member here. First time jag owner, long time car enthousiast

I just bought an XJ6 at an auction for pennies. Will be able to get it next week.

She doesn't run, comes without papers, but is apparently in a quite nice shape.
Will need to go paperwork hunting, will start with fluids and filters and a new battery, and will see from there.

Here are the pics from the auction site:







WIll post more pics and a restore journal when I've got the car...

 

Welcome to the forum. Congrats on the X300. These cars are charmers. You will soon wonder why you have wanted any other car!

 

Welcome to the forum, Nero!
Looking forward to your story.

 

When I went to pick up the car yesterday, it had an empty battery, as was to be expected. Started from the first time from an external battery though.
Could somebody confirm that a battery 12V – 80Ah – 740 CCA (Bosch S4 011) has enough capacity for this car (3.2 AJ16 engine)?

What was more alarming to me, was that the battery light on the clocks didn’t went out when driving.
Maybe alternator problems as well? Will check that as well. Any common problems with these alts, or could it be as easy as changing the brushes if it gives no output?

What oil should I use? Is 10W40 semy-synth good for this car?
I found a small bottle of 0W30 in the trunk, the previous owner probably used this to top up the oil. Will changing back to 10W40 cause trouble? As I got a 55 gallon oil barrel in my garage with 10W40…

Thanks to all members who contributed to the “downloads” section, I found the owner’s manual there, as well as a whole lot of other useful info.
Too bad Haynes hasn’t got a manual for this car. Will I find all mechanical info (torque settings, …) somewhere in the “downloads” post?

Thx!

 

The debate on Dyno/Semi-Synthetic/Full Synthetic goes on endlessly and it's really down to personal preference.

As shown in the Vehicle Care Handbook, 10W40 is suitable for the 3.2 litre:



If you don't use an OE Jaguar oil filter, make sure you get an aftermarket one with a non-return valve. This prevents drain back when the vehicle is standing and helps build up oil pressure quickly on start up.

Graham

 

OK - duly taken note of the oil debate. I'll use what I have, then. Question hereby answered.

Thx for the remark about the non-return valve, didn't know the OE filters had one.
edit: Mann just confirmed by mail that their filter W930/13 has got a one-way valve.


Remarks about my other Q's are always much appreciated!


Also, just FYI: I already ordered the modified crack position sensor bracket from XJRengineer...

 

After a first wash (paint really needs treatment, feels rather rough):







Alt gives no output (I measure 11.8 V at the batt with the engine running), could this be something as easy as changing the brushes, or are there any known problems with this?

 

that is a really nice colour and car
when you have it going well and are happy with it, you can pep it up a wee bit with what on this Forum is known as an 'Andy bracket' - search the forum for XJR Engineer, the long thread on 'DIY improvement...'

this bracket costs about 75 pounds from memory , swaps on in 5-10 mins, and moves the crank sensor position, advancing the whole ignition curve about 3'-5'
it really improves the performance.
the 3.2 doesn't have great torque, so is fairly average up to about 35 mph, but once up in the revs, does actually go pretty well. Make sure you adjust the automatic's kick-down cable so it kicks down at medium throttle - this will transform its responsiveness.
I also put a pod filter on mine, which helps top end, but if I had my time again I'd stick to the standard filter box, get rid if the narrow trumpet pipe, and drill another big hole in the box to let more air in.

 

That color looks fantastic all clean and shined up

.

 

@ AL NZ: already ahead of you!

Thank you for the kind comments ! Will check the kick-down cable as well...

@ al_roethlisberger:
Thx!

Anyone knows whether all models (3.2; 4.0; 4.0 supercharged) use the same alternator?
I'm having trouble sourcing a new alt, and my local supplier hasn't got the 3.2 listed in his EPC system...
Only ref I can find is dbc6819.

 

That looks great!

 

Nice car!

 

Because all pic are gone, I hope you don't mind if I update this thread with just a few more...

Here are the pics based on which I bought the car (I bought the car without seeing her in real life):

 

Here are the pics after the first wash and shine:

 

The car was rather rough, both paint-wise as mechanical, but she's getting slowly up to speed.

I changed the alt twice or three times (but always for another unit from an identical car, so not new or refurbished), I'll stil have to see whether there's an underlying problem or did I just have bad luck.
There's a jerk in the autobox (There's a thread on that), but I hope to work this out by this summer,
Further there are some small dents in the bodywork but I hope they can be corrected by a paintless dent repair guy. I know a very good one, but I only see hem once every other year.
The clock only works when you push on it, so from what I've read this can be fixed, and I have a bad electrical connection on the aircon wiring, as it sometimes turns on or off without my intervention.
The good news, the engine runs formidably good, and there's almost no rust underneath (just a spot on the left A pillar).

This car has me hooked up on jags in general. I'm looking (but not actively) on an XJR, and an F Type as a daily driver (if it weren't that they are so expensive to put 'em on the road in Belgium).



Edit: here are some of my threads:
Detailing rims?
Rear bumper: info on struts and screws for the chrome trim
Going for X308 headlights?
Alternator problems...
Gearbox problems...
Chrome covers from rear door ashtrays

I try to follow up my threads (it takes sometimes some more time than foreseen...), so if there are any questions, don't hesitate to dig up these threads and I'll try to answer any questions... But remember the XJ6 only gets out one month a year, in Belgium we have an advantageous situation (road taxes aso) once the car is 25 yrs old so in 2022 she'll become my daily driver. Before then, she's nothing but a garage queen. This means I can't test drive the car when I want. Hoping 2022 will be here soon...

 

Looking good!! It is frustrating that your pictures were deleted due to forum software updates. I've seen other threads, some my own, where important information that was posted is now gone, leaving confusing gaps.

I am a big fan of the Sport Dimple wheels! 8" wide with the black painted holes. Not available in the USA. To me they stand out much better than the standard 7.5" Dimples.

Thanks for the photo update. I "LIKE" your post (it used to be a "THANKS" button!).

 

Thx for your kind words!
Here's a side view, so you can take a better look at the rims
Sorry if I'm trying to show off, I just think this is one of the best looking cars ever made, so I don't waste any opportunity to put a pic of her up

 

Hello,
I have used an alternator from an early 4.0 litre sport in a late 3.2 sport without any issues.
Take a look at eBay, you will find what you are looking for but some sellers are asking silly money.
John

 

Thx John.
I've found a place not to far from me, that refurbishes them. Next time, I'll hand in my alt and have them test and/or replace whatever is necessary.
I swapped myself the diode and regulator assembly from the three alts I've got now, each time with a different body, but it's still a guess everytime.
They can perform load testing, so I guess that's more reliable than another second hand one.

 

Changed the bushing of the engine and aircon rad this weekend.
On the below picture you'll see the bottom bushings were completely gone.
The right one is new, for comparison.



Also, there was some surface rust on theplate that holds the radiators in place. Cleaned it with a 3M clean and strip disc (these are fantastic!), primered and spray painted it in semi gloss black.


Result:


Nothing spectacular but again a small step in the right direction.

I also spotted this: front wheel. Will require attention also.