Originally Posted by 80sRule

BTW - $5750 is not a bad price, not great but a very nice car for the money. Jags in good, well maintained condition sell for more than book a lot of the time.

The S/C cars, the XJR and Vanden Plas SC, are more stout in many good areas! I didn't even consider an XJ8 when looking for a DD because of the issues they have.

The XJR has a reliable Eaton M112 blower. It has a very reliable Mercedes 722.6 transmission (called W5A580 in this application). It has an aluminum, not plastic, thermostat housing. It does NOT have variable valve timing like the base NA cars.

The rule of thumb on these cars in regards to secondary timing chain tensioners is that unless you have concrete proof from a verified engine code (not VIN, but actual engine tag is out of the range of affected engines), or excellent proof they were replaced with the metal bodied tensioners, pull the covers and see. To do just secondary tensioners in your garage is a 4-6 hour affair, and if you use the zipp tie method (zip tie cam sprockets to cam chains, rather than using Jaguar timing tools and removing the non-keyed sprocket) and the Ford/Lincoln parts; you should be able to do this for $250 doing a bit of while you're there stuff!

Earlier cars, 8 AND R, up until an engine date code of a certain date in 2001 (not production year of car, production date and time of the engine) had Nikasil cylinder linings instead of a conventional pressed in steel lining. These are used in Ferraris, Porsches, BMW, many motor racing applications; etc. The nikasil engines are vulnerable to high sulfur gas that was common in the US in the time the earlier cars were put into service. This is not an issue gas wise anymore. The general consensus is that if you have a good nikasil engine, take care of it, avoid lots of short not to operating temp trips, and you'll never have to worry. There is a leakdown test a dealer can perform if you would like to analyze the health of a specific nikasil lined engine. I have two cars with Nikasil engines and have no qualms at all.

My 98 XJR is a good DD in it's configuration. It does NOT have CATS, just regular shock absorbers. It has the base brakes, NOT Brembo. The Brembo units are excellent, but are much more costly to service, and not easy in my neck of the woods to get parts right away.

I service my cars myself for a pittance, and I'm guessing if you are a Subie enthusiast, you know how to work a wrench. These are quite simple cars. Front engine V8, conventional autobox out to RWD. There are quirks but these are good solid cars when you buy a good one.

Originally Posted by sparkenzap

I do not think any SC engine components are upgraded, but the pistons are different for a lower compression ration and the SC does not have VVT. The SC therefore needs an EGR valve since the VVT does that function for the NA models. Some of the cooling components are different on the SC, including the thermostat riser housing and the crossover pipe, which are failure prone on the NA.

One peculiarity is that X-308 Jags had an engine upgrade, with early models carrying the so called AJ26 and the later engines being AJ27. The change year was 1999 for NA engines and 2000 for SC variants.

Of course, the transmission is a stronger design on the SC.

Originally Posted by sparkenzap

I have never had any problem with EGR on either of my XJRs- both with high mileage. The things that "get you" on emissions tests are fuel mixture and evap controls in my experience, but they are no different than any car of this age.

Originally Posted by Mark SF

I had problems with P0400 on my XJR. The fix is usually to remove the EGR valve, and clean it out. They fill up with crud (technical term) and then the flow is wrong / blocked.

Originally Posted by OUScooby

I was completely serious about the rear trays. It's childish and stupid and completely irrational given I'll never be the one to use them but for some reason I want them. I don't want them enough for it be deal breaker between buying a car that has them over buying a car that doesn't but like I said, they make me smile.