I'm considering the sale of my current hobby car and getting a nice low-mileage 1995-1996 XJS Convertible (4.0 I6). I used to own an X308 and I'm well aware of the common weak-spots on those (Chain tensioners, transmission, etc.) , but I'm not sure about the XJS. Is there anything particular that should absolutely be repaired/replaced/updated on these cars? Smallest issues to the largest.

 

Great car. The crank sensor magnets get weak with age and should be replaced within 10 years. Coils can break down with miles. Transmission cooling lines will leak at pressed fittings from metal lines to rubber hoses. A/C leaks common.
Upside is engine is very strong and accessible. Damn good car overall in my opinion and a pleasure to own. The AJ16 does not have the same issues as the early Jag V8. My advice: get the very best one you can afford.

 

I've had two of these, for about 30k miles.

Never had any a/c issues. One car had a working ac, the second did not. I leak tested it and found nothing, so I evacuated and recharged and everything has been great for 10k miles now.

Never had any transmission line issues on either car.

No coils issues either. I purchased two, just in case it does start to go bad. (the made in Japan ones)

Lastly, no crank sensor issues either.

What I did find:
1. throttle bodies get dirty. They need to be cleaned. Rough idle, engine shutoff occurs if you don't clean it.
2. cruise control is spotty. The hood insulation tends to sag and cut into the bellows. I replaced the hood liner with some foam. No more problems. I cannot seem to get the second car's cruise control working.
3. My first car had an EGR Valve go bad.
4. Various bulbs will start to go bad. The ones behind the dash and such.
5. Second car had a high idle, which could not be fixed without hooking it up to an old Jaguar PDU computer. Make sure any car you have idles somewhere around 700rpm. It had a high idle regardless of engine temperature. It would idle at about 1,200rpm.

Other than that it's been a very easy car to drive, daily.