Ok, I just bought an 03 XJ8, but I just noticed the build date is March of 2002... how is this possible, and does this mean it has the 03 engine or the 02 engine? I bought the 03 because I know it has the metal cam chain tensioner, did I make a mistake that I know have to look at fixing the tensioner issue?

Any thoughts?

 

Joey, if you can post up your VIN, probably the first 8 digits would be enough, there's a few guys here that can look it up and tell you your situation. Crossing my fingers for you bud.

 

If the VIN would help... I know the carfax says it is an 03. SAJDA14C73LF53034

 

From what I know..you should be alright..But, your car was built in 02 as the 03 MY. 02 MY was built in 01 and so forth..this is very common in the industry that the car was built a year before the release date...If you think about it...New cars are on the lot before the actual MY for it starts...i.e., the 09 XF came out this past spring and was being sold, So the 09 XF was more than likely built in late 07 or early 08(anyone correct me if I'm wrong about this)

 

Dennis, you are pretty much correct. The last car produced for the 03 year was F59525, so you should fall right in there. I can't find the first car for 03, but you are only about 6,000 cars away from the end of production for that year.

 

Wow, that is a relief then. I understand they (car manufactures) have to build this years car last year, but when I read March of 02 I was thinking dang this seems way to early. But hey what can I say I love the car.

 

I am in the same boat. I bought a Barn Find, last month. AFTER making the buy, i see all of this info about the Chain Guides. Now i am wondering if i made a huge mistake. It only had 39.5K on the clock. I've had to do a few things to it and so far, so good. My only real problems now seem to be in the front end. A shake, but all parts seem to be in fantastic shape. The pros seem to think it's a tire problem. The other thing is a pesky Check Engine Light with an accompanying Restricted Performance light. The Restricted light will go off in a minute or so. The Mechanic checked everything and thought it was a mildly clogged injector. They took it out for a good run and reset everything and deemed it good. Told me to try some Fuel Injector Cleaner. Told me to not be so light with it. I took their advice. Today? The light came back on....

 

Car date and VIN means NOTHING!
You need the ENGINE NUMBER, not the vehicle number!
engine SN 0108130000 onward and you are good to go.

 

where is that located?

 

pull a valve cover and see if you have metal tensioners

 

The AJV8 engine numbers are in TWO different places depending on the year range.
Early engines have the # to the the left of the thermostat tower casting.
Later engines are numbered to the rear of the left engine mount casting.

 

MY 2003 VDP was a July 2002 build and the VIN is 58507, or 1018 under the last one made. That would suggest #59525 came pretty early and there was maybe substantial downtime as the production line was revamped to accommodate the aluminum X350 with a new engine and transmission combo. I've traded notes with someone with (I think) a VDP far far closer to the end, maybe within the last 25 ... but I do not know what the build date on that vehicle was.

 

I guess yours was at the start of the month and mine at the end.