When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I always notice some cars have the chrome vanes in the grill and some have the dark or black vanes. I always see the chrome on the VDP and sometimes on a regular XJ8. Was that an upgrade or maybe a model year change? Mine is a 2000 base model with black vanes, however, I prefer the chrome.
It seems that, just like the "extras" that get fitted to end of production models, it is the later versions of the "base" models that got the chrome grills.
My VDP had them, and I replaced them with the XJR mesh type grills, but of course will keep the stock chrome ones for a future owner.
Chrome grills should be easy to find on eBay, or your local auto recycling yard, and they are very easy to change out.
Oh, and another question for UK-in-NY............does your soon-to-be "base" XJ8 have the wood veneer overhead console? (another "VDP only" feature)
Last edited by Carnival Kid; Feb 5, 2021 at 10:06 PM.
Ooh interesting, I didn't look at all. will tell you tomorrow.
Funnily enough the car is to replace my Ram 1500 which is on lease and goes back next week.
it was a 2018 and was the absolute last of that body style. They threw everything on it... it is basically a Laramie with a Big Horn badge! lol.
I also remember cars in the UK growing up were the same. The mark 4 Escort Eclipse was similar. it was a base edition, yet came with bigger wheels, spoiler, upgraded steering wheel etc.
Well, good news. The car is home and safe.
drives perfectly and the Alpine upgrade stereo sounds fantastic!
couple of updates from the questions.
1. No, the overhead console is not in wood.
2. The dealer paperwork shows it had an 'upgrade pack which included the stereo, heated rear seat, gold inlay trim and chrome mirrors etc - all for 750 dollars. Which seems like an absolute bargain!
3. My new tires also arrived today. P7 Pirelli Cinturato's.
4. The original owner called me to make sure his baby got to my house safe.. proves how much he loved the car!
lastly, forgive the poor quality but how about this for a JLR appreciation pic. My XJ8 taken from my wife's Supercharged RR as I pass an F-Type!
Congrats on the new toy. Based on the VIN data, I think our cars might have been built on or near the same day. My VIN is under 920 from the end of the line with an 07/02 build date on the data plate. The coincidences don’t stop there. I bought my Quartz exterior, charcoal interior VDP in August with just under 30,000 miles on it. It was pretty much the same history — one owner (well, the wife put her name on the title when her husband died), always garaged and driven exceedingly sparingly in a small town in the Shenandoah Valley. I’ve just crossed 32,000 by a few miles, driving it only on weekends to farm markets, and never in poor weather.. Sadly, I don’t have a garage, but I do put the car under cover when not using it.
Enjoy your new wheels.
Eliot
Our cars are exceedingly close! I have a 07/02 build also. less than 8 weeks of X308 production left when ours were produced.
Well, good news. The car is home and safe. drives perfectly
Congratulations! You have a gem of a car there!
Originally Posted by Uk_in_NY
The overhead console is not in wood.
No biggy, one can be had on eBay if really necessary (although you would have to try and match the veneer styling)
Originally Posted by Uk_in_NY
The dealer paperwork shows it had an "upgrade pack" which included the stereo, heated rear seat, gold inlay trim and chrome mirrors etc - all for 750 dollars. Which seems like an absolute bargain!
Well that explains the extra equipment, didn't know such a thing as an upgrade package existed.......
Originally Posted by Uk_in_NY
My new tires also arrived today. P7 Pirelli Cinturato's.
I have P7 Pirelli Cinturatos on my VDP.......love them!
Thanks Carnival, I took it for a quick drive over to my brother in laws house this evening. Put a few favorite CD's in and thoroughly enjoyed the cruise!
Really glad that I ordered the tires. a deeper check shows the very early stages of some dry rot, so they are overdue.
I also went through the complete Service history file this evening. every receipt, oil change etc, since new (about 90% at main dealers in NJ)
Only issues seem to have been a fuel pump replacement, an issue with the center air vents (fixed under warranty) and a misbalanced tire.
The car had c.20k miles in 2007, so it has done miniscule mileage in the last 13 years - less than 1k per year. I fully expect a few small issues as it starts getting used. I am also expecting to need some brakes as they are original!
As an update... the 'upgrade' pack is a 'Sovereign pack' - so an interesting reuse of a classic Jaguar Moniker - Maybe I'll source a UK Sovereign badge and have my parents ship it over? might be appropriate.
I am expecting to need some brakes as they are original!
If I can recommend Akebono ceramics, they are a European ultra-premium pad that give a wonderful progressive feel, and are extremely low on dust. They are readily available, and usually a little pricey, but Rock Auto has them at a great price (EU-R394A $58 front/EU-R688A $46 rear). https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...brake+pad,1684
Last edited by Carnival Kid; Feb 6, 2021 at 08:23 PM.
Thanks! I have actually used those previously on my wife's RR as they are one of the only pads we've found that don't squeal!
Funnily enough I have done business with Akebono before in a different context. Awesome company with some great people.
I'll definitely check out the Rock Auto price though. Sounds solid. The brakes feel absolutely fine, so hopefully I'll get a window of time to recoup some finances!
Your new car is gorgeous and that's a great picture. I second the Akebono recommendation. I had my shop put those on front when I brought mine home in August (I misunderstood what the inspecting shop was telling me on front pad wear and thought they were close to replacement). I'll also be interested in reading up on the P7s. I don't recall what's on the car now but they are about 4 years old with maybe 5k on them, no sign of dry rot, but I don't like going more than about 5 years on a set. I actually had a great ride on General (something-Max) on my '97 X300L, but they were dreadful on my X350 so I used Continental on that one for the rubber refresh.
I am so intrigued by this Sovereign package! I had a gut feeling about that when I saw that your car had those chrome mirrors. I’m adding to my car to bring it up close to that level. So glad you posted that picture of the window sticker. I believe the Sovereign was the top model in the UK before you stepped up to the Daimler. Can’t wait to see more pictures of your car. Sounds like you have the chrome grill as opposed to the black which is what my base model has. I’m curious about the wood shift knob too. Is there a jag emblem or all wood?
Thanks all. Yes, the Sovereign was a common name in the UK and yes, the step below a Daimler.
The wooden gear knob does not have any markings on.
As for the tires, I nearly went with Generals as I've had really good experiences in the past. I always avoid Continentals as a set (conti-trac) on a previous Jeep are probably the worst tires I have ever encountered.
i think these are the first Pirelli's ever for me, so keen to see how they work out. Everything I have read seems to indicate they work well on an XJ8
Can you tell me specifically which P-7 Cinturato you bought? Looking at Tire Rack there are no fewer than 10 different ones with the P-7 Cinturato designation when you look at All Season, Summer Performance and one other category. Prices seem to go from extremely reasonable to, Let’s see, with a 15-year mortgage at 1.97% I could get ....
Eliotb I saw the same thing last night. Was thinking of the same tires for my car but all I saw were summer ones. I don’t plan on driving mine in bad weather but when on a long trip occasionally you never know what might happen.
They have the Pirelli P7 Cinturato All Season Plus (which is what I have on my VDP and love them). And it looks like there is also a Cinturato Plus II, (don't know what the difference is, they both look the same, maybe some "improvement" over "last year's model"?)
The Pirellis are a great tire at a reasonable price.................Michelins you need a Line of Credit loan!
