I own a 97 VDP, and I understand that X300 is 95-97.
But I'd like to know how to visually distinguish an X300 from a 94 XJ, and a 98 XJ.

Are the differences enough that you can see them on the road?
Maybe there's an XJ spotter's guide posted somewhere?

I'm also interested to know if/what differences there are between 95/96/97 X300s. I imagine that these differences, if any, are internal, probably not visible on the road.

My frame of reference is USA vehicles, in case that affects the answers.
But maybe these differences are the same worldwide?

Thanks!
gbmtkj

 

If you see a '94 XJ (or XJ40 model) you will never forget it, as it is completely un-curvy unlike all other Jaguars; very "squared-off", and very 1980s. . Very few people really liked this style, although the car sold well enought, so the X300 was developed to put the curves back in again, but the car is virtually the same underneath. Now when the V8 engine was put into what became the XJ8 (or X308), the car looked very, very, similar to the X300 with its 6 cylinder engine, (plus a few V12s), but if you see the two alongside each other they do have quite a few differences, but much more subtle than XJ40/X300. Underneath, though, there are extensive differences.

Have a surf of the internet for pictures of the various models, XJ40, X300, and X308. I think there was also an X328 with a better V8 engine before the X350 aluminium saloon came out.

The main thing is the XJ40 style is the odd man out, the others are very similar is their basic curvy style, just as Sir William Lyons styled it in 1967

 

<-1994 XJ40:



1995/1996/1997 X300:



1998-> X308:



The X308 has a smaller, more rounded grille, round fog lights, oval indicator lights, and there is a gap in the bumper's bright trim.

X300 vs X308 interior:



(what isn't visible is the X308s ugly door panels - the X300 is much better looking there)

Within models, there are some differences too.

There is surprising variation through the XJ40. Look here, three different interior door trim configurations, starting with one very similar to the old Series 3, and ending with one identical to that found in the X300:







The X300 was much less varied. Early models had no glove box and a key hole in both front doors. And then there is the reprofiled cam thing... Otherwise, not much changed.

I don't know anything about the X308.

 

Gee, I'm hard pressed to think of year-to-year X300 changes.

In '96 or '97 the door glass was thicker.....any true Jag lover should be able to spot that in an instant (tee hee hee)

In the USA all the '95 cars were short wheel base....that's pretty easy to spot.

A couple different wheel styles, I think...but I can't remember the specifics.

I *think* the '97 XJR went to the lighter toned interior wood (versus the almost black stuff) as found on the other models. Can't swear to that, though.

This is a really good question. I'll see what I can find out...now that my curiosity has been piqued!

Cheers
DD

 

94-95 model x300's didn't have passenger gloveboxes, although many were retrofitted.
94-95's also had wood-veneer trims around the power window switches in the doors that seems to be omitted in the 96-97's.

That's all I can think of for now....

 

Doug,

My 97 XJR has very dark, almost black veneer. The exterior is anthracite, the interior is charcoal black, if it matters.

Dave

 

The glove boxes were reintroduced during the '95 model year..."1995¼" in the Jaguar way denoting things.

The switch pack finishing thing has come up before. I think it depends on market and/or trim level. Here are a '96 and '97 with the wood:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ONE-O...item4aa70f6b42


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/4-0L-...item33631a6642



Cheers
DD

 

Oooops. One of those is a '95 so it doesn't prove anything.

My "1996 Model Year Update" makes mention of the revised switch pack finishers stating that they will be seen on XJ6 and XJR models while others retain the wood. Again I think this was market dependant ...or they changed their mind...because later XJ6s and XJRs clearly do have the wood, at least the USA variants.

Also mentioned in the 1996 update guide:

Rear seat heaters available

Buttons added to the front seat backs to allow rear seat passengers to adjust front seats, VDP and V12

Thicker door glass

Modified spare wheel mounting

Various changes to the ODB system

Various changes made to the evaporative system

Inside mirror mounting changed

Rear brake pipe connector changed

Oil pressure gauge changed to "dummy" type [this was actually done during the '95 model year]

Passenger side door lock cylinder deleted

EGR system added to the XJR

Revised transmission tube for the XJR

Front converter material changed from platinum/rhodium to palladium


Cheers
DD

 

A 96 to 97 change would be the 3 point seat belt style to the center rear seat. The 96 and 95's only had the lap belts.

Another 95 to 96 change (I believe this to be true) is all 95's had chrome grille inserts (except the Xjr's which were mesh).

 

95 XJ Sport has black plastic grille painted to match the body.

 

Sorry, I know much less about non North American market Jags. We didn't even get a X300 Sport model, much less the Executive.

 

Interesting thread, someone should compile a table for FAQ inclusion

PS post 3^ H registered UK car would be 1990/91 not 94.

 

Thanks for all the great inputs on my questions!

Fraser Mitchell:
Yes, I’ve seen those large, blank-looking, rectangular headlights (and matching tail lights) on XJ’s before, but didn’t realize it was the series just before X300. Right, there’s no mistaking an XJ40 for anything else, either from front or rear, in part due to its almost Volvo-esque squareness.

I didn’t think of something so obvious as internet searching for pictures of different years. I assumed that the differences were subtle on both ends of the X300 range.

Oubadah:
Great pictures, thanks so much! Yes, indicator and fog light shape look like the key clues to distinguishing X300 from X308 from the front.

I was looking for something obvious from the rear to distinguish X300 from X308, but don’t see anything yet. Given a straight-6 vs a V8, I assumed that X300 would have one exhaust pipe and the X308 two, but this is not the case, as both seem to have two!

Does anyone know of a visual cue from the rear to tell X300 from X308?
I suppose the badge saying XJ8 instead of XJ6, if you’re that close.


Regarding X300 95-96-97 differences, it sounds like ~none are noticeable on the road, as I suspected.


Translator:
A table sounds like a good idea, especially for the 95-96-97 differences. But needs to be by a more experienced member. I was mostly after the XJ40/X300/X308 differences, but just curious about the 95/96/97 diffs.


By the way, I also found that Wikipedia has a detailed description of the different models, although it’s lacking a photo of the XJ40. Perhaps some of you have contributed to the detail of the Wikipedia entry.

I noticed that it shows X308 starting with 1997 (I assume the years refer to model years, not calendar years), even though X300 ends with 1997. Does that mean that there were both 1997 model XJ6 AND XJ8 ??!?

Thanks all!
gbmtkj

 

I know the Chrome on top of the rear bumper on X300 goes all the way across, same as on the front. Not sure about X308, but I thought it stopped in the middle like in front, but may be mistaken.

 

Look at the rear bumper. Just as with the front bumpers, the X308 has two separate chrome strips versus a single continous strip on the X300.

Dual exhaust outlets are a Jaguar tradition









In USA terms, at least, the X300 was 1995-96-97 MODEL years, regardless of the calendar date that the car was built. Other countries use build year....the calendar date....to identify the vintage of the car. It's an age-old source of confusion.

As far as I know the X300 and X308 were never produced concurrently....unlike some older Jag models where the old and the new over-lapped for a period.

Cheers
DD

Jaguar uses calendar year in quoting production numbers, by the way.

 

Yes.

Some other prominent differences:




1) Continues all the way around on the X300
2) Is square edged on the X300
3) Notch is here only on the X308
3) Lip is here only on the X308

Those round things are parking sensors, and can be found on both X300 and X308 (in case you were wondering). They were standard on long wheel base cars.

X300 (with Daimler/VDP boot trim):


All in all, I cant say I'd call any of the X308 body modifications aesthetic 'improvements'... But that's just me.

 

No, not just you. Me too :-)

I've always felt that Jaguar went too far with the "swoops and curves" bit on the X308s. IMHO this is especially evident with the interior styling but, as your pictures shows, they "went all roundy and curvy" on the exterior as well.

Not that I specifically dislikes curves, mind you. It's that that the X308 has too many of 'em.

Cheers
DD

 

I know that one of the ways to tell the difference between the x300 and x308 are the lenses on the tail lights. x300 blinker lens is darker, like a smoked lens, whereas the x308 blinker lens is very clear/white looking. Also the tail lights have are more ribbed in detail. Thats how I have always been able to first tell the difference from a distance.

 

Hi, I have an unusual question....I have a 1994 Jaguar XJ40 (Vanden Plas/Daimler) in the US and need to find the "chrome grille vane inserts" for my car. Now, based on my VIN 693XX, my car is an XJ40, BUT, when I've needed parts from Jaguar Heritage, I end up haveing to get X300 parts, i.e. steering wheel and airbag, lamps, etc. Can someone please explain since I need to find vanes for the grille but the man at JagHeritage keeps refering X330 for the "chrome" vanes. Follow? Thanks!!

 

HI Guys Just an add on to this great thread, Ive got a 3.2 95 x300 assuming a base model, However it has the dimple wheels which I assumed only came out on the sports model. So I am a bit confused as to which model I actually have. Does Not have seat Memory or sunroof, The trim in the lighter wood grain opposed to the Darker types of the sports model also.