Applied my funky top coat

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...0287b9da9f.jpg

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...ab3c18e60b.jpg

Looking good, Dfieldsend.
I renewed drive belts on one of the 96's today. Some different from my '95. 10mm socket on the a/c belt idler pulley vs. 13 mm on my '95. 14mm outboard nut on the Alt. tensioning rod vs. 13 on the 95. I "think" inboard was also 14mm...but it was a semi-blind fit in a tight space and I found the 9/16" open-end more to my liking for tensioning.
I was referring to my post of some time ago as I prepared for the task: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...lt-how-102387/
maybe I just improperly remembered the socket sizes between when I did the 95 and when I made the post. I've made a note to obtain a set of "shorty" open-end wrenches before I do that task again.

what did I do today?

phoned my mechanic Mark and booked the XJR in. It is intermittently missing, going from normal to reduced power and hesitating. I suspect a coil, but could be a fuel issue. (If it was an old carburettor car I'd pick a partial fuel blockage - that's what it feels like).

I have 3 new correct Made in Japan coils I bought a year ago as spares, as the price was good (a forum member).

the car is about 1500 km overdue an oil and filter, I have a new intercooler water pump, but I am waiting the Bosch wiring plug's arrival (the vendor didnt send it with the pump, despite clearly showing the plug in the photo on the internet advert). If the wire/plug turn up on time, I'll get the pump changed too.
I am waiting for Powerhouse UK to make a new batch of 10% larger supercharger crank drive pulleys.

... and this is the reason I have a second X300, the 3.2 Daimler. It's moments like these.

Brought home a "new" log splitter. No more swinging a maul!
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...308e674319.jpg

20-ton log splitter? Yes, please.

MGB, my XJR has done sterling tow service too. 60 mph up steep long hills with 3 big teenage passengers and 2 sailing dinghies on a trailer

Today, with the XJR sidelined and going for a service tomorrow, I used my 3.2 Daimler
What a car!
I haven't driven it properly for 3 months or so, and it astounded me . it is so good. Soft, supple ride, firm suspension after total rebuild of bushes 2 years ago. Slower off the mark at lights, but once doing 60km/h or more, it sings. At one point I was surprised I was doing 120 km/h. It felt like 90. So composed and unruffled. On 16 inch 60 profile tyres.
I still love it.

I need to own a V12 at some point in my life for the final comparison.

But I suspect the humble 3.2, once of the mark, is as sweet as it comes.
It revs so freely compared to the bigger XJR motor. It has Andy's bracket and a pod filter.
I think it would be even better if I lengthened the intake between pod and AFM - my filter is clamped straight on to the AFM, and given my recent experience with lengthening the XJR's pipe from pod to AFM, it would be worth it. A longer tract seems to smoothe the airflow hitting the AFM giving better power and responsiveness

After almost two years, I finally got around to repairing and replacing the tweeter speaker covers for the rear door armrests. The LH side has been completely off/out the whole time, and the RH side was just glued in and as such sort of "floated" loosely attached to the skin of the vinyl armrest.

It seems that most of these covers fail at some point where the clips break off due to time and stress and then the covers and sometimes even tweeters themselves disappear. I've seen many of these obviously glued back in, so often that I suspect dealers even did it when they couldn't get parts anymore or knew it was pointless as the clips would soon break again even on new ones.

But I recently found a tan pair on a wrecked XJ12 that had all the clips in place except one, so I repaired and reinforced them all with epoxy and aluminum, then painted them to closely match the Nimbus Grey interior.

Time will tell if my reinforcing aluminum strips will hold up, but they definitely seem stronger. And my back seat gets used so seldom that I'm hoping they won't be subjected to much stress from hands/arms either.

It definitely puts the finishing touch on the rear compartment to not have a gaping black hole in the armrest :)

It's a minor win, but one that addresses an issue that's bothered me for quite a while!

.

Took off my winter tyred wheels and replaced them with the old Pirelli's. I was a little surprised at the wear patterns on them. New tires and tracking on the near horizon!

I just installed a rear sway bar, OMG big difference. I used PowerFlex bushings too. The car feels like it was supposed to! Now with H&R springs & Koni shocks this car is amazing to drive. All I need to do now is replace the lower fulcrum bushings and v-mounts and this car is as good as new if not better all around. I also have a spare bracket for an '08- rear sway bar addition, it works on the 95-97 too if you swap out the rear diff studs to the smaller type from an X308.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...7bc84fb289.jpg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...7981d360d2.jpg

Champion ousts NGK
 

New sparks today. Champion.
I used a screwdriver handle on the socket so as not to over tighten them. Too much leverage on the ratchet bar to trust myself with it.

What does it mean if the porcilin part has burn marks on the outside near the base, as if gasses were escaping past the metal section to the outside? They were all like this but a nice gray tan colour on the electrode so all seem to be firing well.

PS Actually my plugs were burned just like the ones in this thread;
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=395642

It seems the plugs were actually leaking compression. So now they are new the car should go better.

If you're tightening them with a screwdriver handle then "yes" gasses would escape along with compression. The spark plug has a "crush" washer on the end, use a torque wrench and set it appropriately if you don't trust yourself with a normal ratchet but DON"t leave them under thight.

It was the old sparks that were leaking between the insulator and the metal. See the thread I linked. The plugs are plenty tight enough with the screwdriver handle, I turned it into the crush zone, I could feel it as it got tighter.

Changed the oil but this time without jacking it up. Just sitting normal on the garage floor. First time I got all 8.5 quarts to drain. Valvoline MaxLife 10w40 and NAPA Gold filter.

the 3.2 - washed it today, then later a quick wax of bonnet, boot, roof (ran out of daylight to do more)
did 100mph yest

the XJR is at the mechanic's. Has had an oil and filter, but now on the backburner for a few days while he does a couple of urgent jobs - hopefully back later this week with the new Bosch intercooler pump fitted, and the rough running sorted (hopefully my spare, new generic MAF will sort this).

Waiting for Powerhouse UK to make some new 10% larger S/C crank pulleys...

I think the BImmer guys are full of crap and you are looking at corona stain. That's why you should never drink while changing your sparks...it stains the plugs.:icon_gunhead:

Wing and 1st coat on bonnet - needs a sand, 2>3 more coats and a lacquer, but you get the idea.

See the brown staining, this looks like something was blowing;
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...6ed37491e2.png

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...8115d90f0b.jpg


All six look like this. Is this normal. I changed them for Champion.

I found it on the internet, so it MUST be true!
Exercise due caution if you click the urban dictionary link in these results:

https://www.google.com/search?sclien...=Google+Search


Picture look familiar?
PLUG STUDIO / NGK

If your spark plugs are leaking compression, you would know because the ignition coils on those plugs would be destroyed from the leaking gases.

It sounds like we need to chill about the Corona stain, and perhaps drink one instead :)

Hi does anyone know where i can get an xj6r m90 charger from, or do one of you have one for sale or want to part with one 😆 thanks