Hey there X308 forum.

There is a really nice xj8 sport online near me and I'm really thinking of go to check it out.

I have had 2, x300 xjr's and xj40 v12, x350. so this would be the one that hasn't been tested for me yet.
I know more or less the same rear end as the x306, and body, tweaked front end.
but a whole different electrical animal. plus a v8 haha.

Id love to get some check out advice. and love and hate stories of your own cars.
I loved my x300. so I'm sure it won't be that much of a change.
It has my favorite XJ rims that are on the early XJR cars.
I know if I go see I'm going to come home with it.

 

Bad bits, the gearbox, the plastic timing chain tensioners and plastic thermostat tower.
Good bits the trans go valve kit to sort the trans, replacement metal tensioners and tower.
Earlier cars had other issues to add like a bad waterpump, nikasil engine liner coating, high sulphur fuel being it's criptonite.

Those are the main ones that bring owners to the forum in search of help - a smart move is to know what has been addressed and what hasn't if you go see the car.

Good luck!

 

Sean, aren't like the later model years of the x308 XJ8 N/A had a gearbox (ZF5HP24) that was more reliable than the early model years (97-99)?

 

Didn't they fix the tensioners in the 01+ engines?
I remember reading somewhere that was no longer an issue. Im probably wrong maybe later engines... and yeah didn't it have the 5hp24?
Yep I will be asking some ?s hopefully I get good answers.

 

'02 should have upgraded tensioners, best way to know for sure is to check the build date on the engine.

 

The tensioners depend on the engine number of your engine. The XJR Supercharged had a better gearbox. But the XJ8-XJ Sport had a weaker gearbox that was used in some bmw's and Audi's during this era.

 

Also make sure there is Service History, if not it is just a waste of time and a huge headache down the road.