What would the life expectancy of a late 2000 XJ8 L with 80k miles be if I looked after the maintenance myself and was very diligent and followed the recommended schedule? I'm a pretty competent mechanic and I have always maintained my cars once out of warranty myself with good results.

The car has and a new dealer installed transmission (within the last two years) with the tensioners fixed and otherwise dealer maintained since new.

I plan to use this as a freeway commuter. One way 80+ mph and the other 40-60 with a few stretches of stop and go.

I'm guessing 200k. Am I optimistic?

Thanks.

Eric

 

i would say somewhere between 150k and 180k. The main problems with the 2000 xj8 are simple sensors needing replacement. Other then that it has a great reliability record.

 

I have 200K on an XJR with no major problems just a lot of TLC, fix little things and don't let them become big things.

 

Roger is dead on- the key is fixing problems AS THEY HAPPEN and not letting them go, causing further issues. Actually. if you think about it they can go on indefinitely, just replace things as they break.

 

Look at the transmission replacement date carefully.
The service life varies on the ZF box. It went into
a lot of Jaguar, BMW, and Audis of our period. Some
guys on JF have had an A-drum failure as early as 70,000,
and some have been fine past 150,000.

The engine, despite nikasil, is probably good for 300,000, but
the chain tensioners are a known prevantative maintenance item.

By 300,000 miles though, things will just start wearing out, you
will definitely be on 2nd or 3rd ZF box and your drivers seat will look like
it's been cheese-grated. I put 20,000 on my XJ Sport (XJ8 Sport) and it
was imperceptible, it didn't seem to age a day. Other than me leaving
it with no protection at 120 degrees and the outer dash warped a little
bit. And a wood crack got way worse...

 

Can I presume that if the transmission was a dealer replaced stock type and it was done in the past few years that it would have a new more reliable "A" drum?

Thanks

Eric

 

I'm not sure about it having the updated part, others can chime in here, but if it does, I have not seen any transmission rebuilt with the updated A drum on on this forum failing again from a failed updated A drum. If the transmission was rebuilt by the dealer in the past few years, it is safe to assume it has the updated part.

 

I have yet to see the actual receipt for the work but from what I have been told it it is a brand new Jaguar supplied unit.

thanks

Eric

 

216K on my 2000 XJR and still going with quite a sense of urgency. Bought from original owner who was incredibly diligent on regular maintenance and actually did 5K full synthetic oil changes. Also gave me a (literally) 3" thick stack of records with the car. Everything works on the car, save for the sunroof which needs a new module. That's a low priority fix right now as it's booked in at the local Jag dealer for chains and tensioners as well as lower ball joints and a new turn signal stalk. That bill will probably amount to $4K so I figure the sunroof can wait

Most people would call me insane for putting that kind of money into the car but the way I look at it is that as long as the body, paint and interior are nice (all of which are in amazing condition), why not just keep the mechanicals up all the same as if it was a 50K car? Sure, more things are bound to go wrong, commensurate with the higher miles, but I've long made peace with the simple fact that I'd only replace this car with another X308 R, and given my car's previous excellent maintenance history, at least I know what I've got.

And by the way, I've had an X350 ('04 XJ8) and it was also a magnificent car, alongside an '05 full fat Range Rover, again, a lovely vehicle, but I personally find the looks, comfort and performance of the X308 to still be tops in my book. If I want to take something more interesting out, I'll hop in my TR6 or my '53 Bentley.

 

Burgxu,
we think alike, i treat my car as if it was new (bought it new) maintain, and take care of the little things, as far as cost $72,000/150 months= $480 month as far as I'm concerned it's the best money I ever spent on a car

 

Roger,

When you break it down, it definitely is the best money you'll spend on a car.

The lease options are very attractive right now on XJs and XFs, but I can't bring myself to take the plunge, which further solidified the fact that another X308 will be in my stable. The only difference is that my next one will be an '03 in BRG.

 

I have owned my 2001 XJ8 X308 for ten years and one week. I bought it for 3K at 128,400 miles and it now has199,455K It had the upgraded A drum installed in 2017 and had the upgraded tensioners on it when I bought it. I just replaced the original gas cap and gave it a new battery. It rides so gracefully and powers its way around Savannah like a muscle car. (Muscle cat?). I plan to take it to 300K and then see where we are at together. The Jaguar makes me feel special every time I sit into the freshly redone Connolly leather seat. My entire interior is like new. My favorite room in the house is inside my Jag.

 

With the proper maintenance, care and scrutiny. there is absolutely no reason
to believe our ladies will not last until parts can no longer be obtained. Many
forum members have elected to acquire "junked" Jaguars, just for the use of
their parts. Of course, that means, maintaining two Jaguars from the ravages of time.

 

Lord Donnington after paint correction and ceramic coating.

Glorious front on view


Seats, armrest, parking brake gaiter, third brake light cover redone in Connolly leather.

Backseat bottom is from GAHH in Van Nuys.

Some shots of Lord Donnington. Carnival red over Ivory leather. Perfection.

 

It is nice to see another member who is enthusiastic about their Jaguar.
Nice pictures.

 

I don't see why you shouldn't get 200 to 300K miles out of your car. 80 MPH on the Freeway is easy; the hard stuff has been taken care of (ZF and tensioners), but expect breakage, plan for it, and fix it as it needs it: Tires, brakes, shocks, ABS system, fuel pump, A/C, steering rack, throttle, door-locks are the obvious, all doable with sufficient techs you have in SoCal. Most of the work is DIY, as opposed to some of these new cars with tons more electronics to go bad. Even a used Corolla would need to have these parts replaced over the next five or six years (only advantage are most parts are more readily available. . .).

Yesterday, taking wife to her Bible class, routinely hit 80 on the Interstate, to and from, and use it every day -- getting 18.6 MPG (US Gallons) at an average of 25 MPH. Super reliable (knock on wood). . . . over the three years I have owned it. I expect it will outlive me if I keep the routine maintenance up . . .

And this forum has guidance in every thread.

 

Any vehicle regardless of type will last as long as you want it to as long as it’s looked after accordingly. If you’re serious about keeping it going forever you need to stash parts and sundries for the car for when they go out of production, and I don’t just mean some filters. You’ll need hubs, diffs, steering racks, door motors, switches, modules, engine parts, transmission parts and there may even come a time when you’ll have to stash tyres.

You need to keep on top of the scheduled maintenance as well as carrying out preventative maintenance too. Regular deep cleaning routines, protective measures for the inside, protection from the elements, limited or zero use in salty conditions. Yet above all you need to keep your wits about you when you’re on the road, because the average intelligence of other drivers is ever decreasing.

 

Getting a fender hit would total my XJ8 in my insurance company’s eyes and that is my biggest fear of losing my car. Especially driving around Savannah. Running red lights is a thing here. I always delay a bit after the light turns green.

I wish I had stashed more new interior trim parts ten years ago. Like panel bulbs and third brake light covers. I did score an unbroken radio surround (screw mounts are usually snapped off) but my J gate got cracked by my overzealous shifting auto detailer and I luckily have a backup part in my bin I can swap in.

 

If it were only a fender...I doubt I would even report it.

 

Mine have 103k,163k and 191k miles. I keep plenty of liability but no comprehensive or collision. I know the insurance would pay me less than I would get if I parted a car out. Stated value collector car insurance was not an option because all the companies I checked with would not take me because I regularly use all three to commute.