What book(s) on maintenance/repair would you recommend for a new XJS owner? I see a few on Amazon ranging from Haynes to original Jag issued to a restoration book.

TIA,
Tony

 

Even though it leans more towards the older models you'll want this:
Kirby Palm's Jaguar XJ-S Help Book

You'll also want the factory service manual, parts catalog, and wiring
guide. JDHT has them all on a single DVD or you can buy printed
versions....with a bit of searching in some cases. Some of the Jag parts
vendors sell both the DVDs and the printed manuals. Ebay is a good source as
well but watch out for bootleg CDs/DVDs

Haynes is good for propping up the short leg on your workbench.


Cheers
DD

 

the factory manuals are really comprehensive but lack the "human element" and sometimes sometimes just says remove A, B, and C. instead of saying how to or giving u tips.
The cd roms are only like 30 bucks.

that kirby palm pdf is awesome.

haynes and chiltons generally you get what you pay for. They try to just cover all models and years on one how-to and let you figure out the difference sometimes. The jag books cover everything, most of the time looking stuff up in them is flipping past 3.6 and pre-HE pages

 

Ordered the CD's. What about the Jim Patten restoration book - any good?

Follow on question: I have a pretty basic tool box - standard spanners, sockets, screwdrivers, etc. I do have a torque wrench and a small pancake air compressor. What other tools would you recommend? What are the ones you use most? What ones would be good to carry in the car?

TIA (and for everything so far),
Tony

 

Interesting, I looked at JDHT's CDs and it has one called "1992-1996 XJS V12 6.0". To my knowledge the 6.0 was only introduced in 1993 and the 92 models had the 5.3 engine.
Does anyone know whether this CD is applicable to the 5.3 engine? Does this CD for example describe the Marelli ignition that was used in 1992?

Thanks, Mark

 

I have an original Jaguar XJS ROM and it lists the 6.0L as a 1993.25 model year and yes the 1992 is a 5.3L. Only the XJR-S had the 6.0L in 1992. The ROM lists the Marelli from 1992, strange because my 1989 has Marelli (not the only problem I found in the ROM.)

The ROM touches on the Marelli but is very light on detail, so I would assume the CD is a copy of the ROM. I have the parts catalog on CD and it is a scanned catalog copy of the book.

 

The paper copies miss out on the true start date for Marelli too so at least they seem consistent, ISO9000 no doubt. (ISO only guarantees errors are consistent, not that they are not there)

I agree to all of what has been said above. Consequently I have OEM WSM & Parts catalogue + Heynes + the Jag World resto book (although it only covers 3.6L). In addition I have the '90 specific wiring diagrams, and so far I have not found a mismatch between map and actual topography here (famous last words?)

 

@warrjon: where did you get the ROM and the parts catalog from? The DVD offered by JDHT seems to have both.

"Each DVD provides access to the original parts and service publications relevant to the XJS 6.0 Litre, as held in the Archives of Jaguar Heritage."