I've got a 99 XJ8 L that I bought with about 80k miles. Drove it for a few years to about 120k until the radiator hose came off and caused an overheat, cracking a cylinder. It sat in the garage as I looked for the money to put a new engine in, but now I'm thinking of selling it. Any ideas on what it might be worth?

 

Hmm from where I see it you have 3 options

1- scrap it, the scrap yard might give you a few hundred. This is the fastest option

2- sell it to someone whos willing to find and install a new engine, I'm gonna say about a grand at most as a true jag engine worth more than its scrap value is quite expensive, unless you find a redneck who wants to "lump" it.

3- if you are handy with a wrench and have the time space and tools part it out. If your interior body and ancillary systems are good you might end up with a few grand. A mint interior you can get upwards of a grand whole. Various individual trim pieces anywhere from 20 to 150 a piece (a good example is a non broken cupholder) various engine parts you could sell off for half of their normal selling price, I would say use rock auto or amazon as a pricing guide. This is assuming they are not worn out though. Rims probably 3 to5 hundred for a complete set, and tires around 75 to 100 a piece assuming they have at least 50 to 75 percent tread.

Additionally when you are done you have a frame you can sell for scrap value. The body panels have value as well especially to someone who just wrecked their xj8 like me.

As you can see these suggestions move up in order from quickest with the lowest pay off to longest with the best payoff. Really now the value you get depends more in how much time you want to dedicate, now the choice is up to you.

 

As suggested, parting it out redeems the most value. It takes a great deal of effort to market, pack and ship individual pieces but its a great help to the enthusiast community. I've parted a few cars myself (tho not Jaguars specifically). I rather hate the idea of selling it to a salvage yard, especially if its cosmetically in good shape. Salvage yards typically sell only a few choice mechanical parts off each car before its crushed to make room for the next one. Cars 14 years old or more typically wind up on the self-service yards where careless and inconsiderate customers destroy a lot of good parts in the process of getting access to the one part they need. Plus they typically sit outside for months with the windows and sunroof open, ruining the interior. I prefer to buy parts from members of the enthusiast community who very carefully remove the parts and store them indoors. For instance, I could use some defrost vents off a northern climate car to replace my Texas sun-baked ones.

 

Thank you so much, these were just the answers I was looking for. I would like to part it out, but I am on a deadline and not particularly handy. That being said it is in good shape and will not be going to a salvage yard. I am going to look for a buyer who will perhaps try and replace the engine or part it out himself. The garage is no place for it any longer. Thanks again.