Hi there, this is an update to one of my posts I posted in the General Help section.

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=49296

As fellow forum members Cadillac and Fraser Mitchel noted, there’re quite a few distinguishing factors that should identify whether an XJ is an X300 or an X308; however, mine appears to be somewhat of a mystery car.

It has all the hallmarks of an X308, most notably, it’s a 1998 with a V8 3.2 engine, V8 badges, and the typical X308 dashboard and interior. On the other hand, when I opened the hood a few days ago, I found a factory decal (image attached) that seems to suggest that it’s an X300.

Thoughts anyone?

I guess my question is, is there a way to identify the car through its VIN? I spent hours researching the issue on the Internet and came up short. The car’s VIN is SAAJ...........

Can anybody make sense of this?

I need to get some parts and hate the idea getting parts for the wrong model.

Many thanks for your time and help with this.

Cheers!

 

Mine says the same and it is a 2001. I think it is because they use the same body shell but the X308 is the number to signify the model change. Hope this helps.

BTW: I'd remove your VIN Number from the post asap as it could be used by fraudsters.

Hope this helps. S.

 

Is there such a thing as an X300 V8?

 

Sure. It's called the "X308" :-)

There are some automotive semantics involved here.

Because of the V8 engine and other changes the X308 is segregated and considered a different car than the "X300" but it's really just an evolution of the original X300 series.

The XJR/6 is technically the X306...but we call it an "X300" Jaguar.

The V12 version of the same car is technically the X305....but we call it an "X300" Jaguar

The V8 version of (fundamentally) the same car is technically the "X308"...and we call it an "X308" Jaguar :-) :-)


Cheers
DD

 

Simple, for the X300; the VIN run from 720125 to 812255

and for the X308: from 812317 to F59525

 

Decodes your VIN...it probably starts SAJ not SAAJ...
http://www.autocalculator.org/Free-V...&vin3=2PA26883

What some of the Jaguar VIN means
http://www.autocalculator.org/VIN/Jaguar-VIN.aspx

 

... to find this post.

I popped the bonnet to find an X300 label in my 2000 LWB Daimler Super V8.

I thought I had bought some sort of mutant.

Very pleased to hear that this is the correct engine!!!

Thanks again, forum - yet again you have delivered in spades...

 

Glad, mystery solved