Hello there,
I'm starting to feel that it is about time to buy myself a jag. Need one at least once in my life. I found an 98 XJ8 Vanden Plas for 6350, 70k, that would be about perfect. Now I was reading another forum and fellow who seemed very knowledgeable, he was saying that a 98 is no good because can be a problem where the cylinder do something horrible and destroy the whole engine. Apparently the 95, 96, 97s dont have this issue.

Now my fear is that I will buy the car, the engine will explode, and I will be left with a $500 piece of scrap metal.

Now does anyone know more about this issue and its likelihood? I'm hoping its one of those, "If it hasnt broken by 50k miles then it wont". Rather than a "Sooner or later it will happen". It'd be ok if it was a "happens in 10% of cars and the rest are fine" sort of thing as well.

Any help would be appreciated.
Ben Michener

 

I just bought a 1998 XJ6- if it still has good compression, then the cylinders are probably going to be fine- just don't start the car move it then start it again in a short time as it *may* cause cylinder wash.

But seriously, if you want one, get one. I have had quite a few and the problems have not even come close to the issues I have had with my daughter's 2001 Jetta. Buy one well taken care of, check all the things listed in the stickies as problematic and have fun!

The value/cost ratio cannot be beat.

 

haha i just got done with a 01 GTI, and i know exactly where your coming from

 

Seriously, how does VW have a great rep and Jaguar gets a bad one?

I am upside down on that VW within a couple of months (and it's ugly) - every one of my jags has held it's value like a pitbull with a soup bone.

I'll stop complaining now- FYI I have never owned a body style for more than 1.5 years until I owned an X300/X308... I am going on 7 years so far, and I a still love it- rolling art.

Oh, and the Jetta is a VR6 automatic.... with 139k miles. Feel my pain.

 

I had a GTI VR6 5-speed with 127k I know where your Coming from its never ending problems!!!!!

 

XJ6 is a whole different engine, a big straight 6 vs. the newer v8, which 98 was the first year installed in the xj series so you could expect a few more bugs I suppose. What you've probably heard about the engine destroying itself is the secondary timing chain tensioners are made of plastic, tend to crack and if they go altogether, can be catastrophic. Replacements made of aluminum are available and should be installed immediately as a preventative measure. There are many, many threads on this forum describing the issue and "how to" instructions. I replaced mine in a weekend with less than $300 in parts and supplies. There is also some concern over the nikasil cylinder plating eroding, but that's not so much a ticking time bomb. If the previous owner followed directions and always used a premium fuel from a top tier fuel brand, then the cylinder walls will be fine. Its only the use of poor quality fuels with high sulfur content that ruins the nikasil plating.

Another real time bomb you may or may not have heard about is a transmission problem. Consensus seems to be that sooner or later, the A-drum in the ZF 5HP24 transmission is eventually going to fail. Indeed it's not a matter of IF, rather just how soon. Many on this forum have repaired the transmission themselves for under $500 in parts and fluid. IMO, a used xj8 is a lot of luxury for not a lot of money and these issues are the reason you're looking at $6000 car instead of a $9000 car.

Jaguar is much more of an enthusiasts car. I bought one because I like unique and beautiful styling, I also have other cars so I'm not totally dependent on one car, and I consider myself a fairly competent amateur shade-tree mechanic in case the Jag does need repairs. I also like that Jag has an excellent community of owners for support, a benefit not available for most "ordinary" cars. If you are not prepared to do the repairs I've discussed, its likely you could find one for sale that has already been "sorted".

 

98 XJ6 ?

To the original poster -- do some more research. If you could find a one owner 98 with all the service history -- that wold be great ... otherwise too much could have gone wrong.

Best to get a post 2000 XJR with the lowest miles possible.

As with other high line cars - fixing is expensive and more costly than getting a perfect car

 

Please delete. Wrong thread.