I just purchased a 2001 Van Den Plas with 15,000 miles, so relatively new. I have just installed new tires to replace the original Pirellis. In coming weeks I will be going through the usual maintenance items, oil etc. The transmission fluid has never been changed and I see discussions about plastic timing chain tensioners. With such low miles, which Items should I be concerned about.

 

Start with the secondary tensioners, water pump, aluminum thermostat housing, upper and lower hoses and water outlet pipe/seals.

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Why the water pump????????
As for the tensioners, sure some XJ8 had issues with them the but at 15K miles?

 

For both the pump and tensioners, it's a function of age of the plastic, the same for the thermo housing and pipe. Just a recommendation based on what I would do.

 

15000 miles! Wow! You lucked out. Plastic parts (both in the engine bay and interior) are casualty prone. I am guessing both water pump, plastic cross pipe, thermostat tower and tensioners have some time left. Still, if it were mine, I would change them (I did on my 01 with 60,000). I would leave the transmission alone. How old is the battery? Keep an eye on the auxiliary drive belt which also can age with time.

Change the oil, filter, air filter, clean the maf sensor and throttle bore and plate and drive it. sounds like a steal. At some point you might need to replace the upper shock mounts (where that orange foam also begins to deteriorate due to time, not miles). Also maybe the sway bar mounts (but less likely at your mileage).

Not sure which dealer is closest to you: the guy in Raleigh area or Checkered Flag here in Va Bch. I use Abacus Racing in Norfolk (near the airport) for stuff too hard to do myself.

 

I would do the secondary and slipper guides. I have an 01 XJR that when I purchased a few years ago with around 50K the slipper guides were cracked in multiple locations due to age and material. I only discovered them because I decided to update the entire timing set for maintenance purposes.

 

good4us,

Congratulations on your practically new Jag! Please post some photos when you get the chance because we'd all like to be reminded what an X308 looked like at 15K!

In addition to the services already mentioned, I would recommend that you flush the brake system with fresh fluid since brake fluid absorbs water over time.

Please keep us informed!

Cheers,

Don

 

Jim, thanks for the heads up on abacus racing in Norfolk. I had an Audi years ago from Checkered flag and wouldn't trust them as far as I could throw them.

 

there is nothing you can look out or doing maintenance, over the years of owning my XJR.

I changed/replaced/repaired/upgraded all major moving parts of my car. my list can run up the 2 pages long

so no need to watch out, things will break. if you dont have the mindset and willingness . this is not a car for you.