Saw this today and couldn't help sharing. I just did a copy and paste of the text.

I have an 82 Jag that runs and drives great. It's got the v12 and let me tell you it sounds ballsy. It's in pretty good shape. It really is one of those cars that pictures don't do justice for. I put a whole pile of new parts into it and I still have a trunk full of stuff. I'm looking for 2200 or the best offer. I'm getting rid of it just for the garage space and I've got another project car that I would like to pull in. They don't make cars as easy to work on as one of these, honestly it's been a walk in the park getting it to run and drive again, all you need to repair anything on this is your socket set and a can of WD40.

This would actually be a pretty cool first car for someone that is looking. It hasn't failed me yet, and starts every time it needs to. It's a very simple car and it has a whole lot of life left in it. Think about it when's the last time you saw a car with 50k on it for 2 grand? This guy probably has a whole lot less problems than many cars you can buy today.

UPDATE: I was driving it the other day and a fuel line gave way. I have the new part I just won't have time to fix it for a while so I dropped the price to accommodate for trailer rental/tow and the time it'll take to fix the part(still a steal though)

If you have any questions or anything shoot me an email I'll gladly answer anything


I found thead by searching XJS in Western Mass.

 

Lies, lies and lies
That guy should be slapped.
Nothing simple or easy about a Jaguar

 

Fixed.

 

Depends upon what you are used to. I find a 6.0 XJS much easier to work on than my 9-5 Saab V6 for instance. The V12 may be tight in places, but it was obviously designed to be worked on in-situ, there is a space to get a wrench or socket in place. The Saab engine was designed to be assembled and dropped into the car in one piece.

To change the V12 thermostats is about 30 min work. On the Saab the fuel injection and intake manifolds (3 of them stacked on top of each other) and the radiator and cooling fans need to come out. A good 1/2 to 3/4 of a days work.

The V12 is a walk in the park in comparison. It's not a complex engine, but there is a lot of it.

 

I certainly agree. I'd consider the Jags to be about middle-of-the-range in repair difficulty. Some repairs are tricky, others are a cake walk. It all averages out.

As for V12s in particular, well, 'hard to repair' is mostly just a matter of getting over the initial shock of seeing so much 'stuff'....'there's a lot of it' as you say. Thanks to the internet all the tricks and quirks....and fixes....are widely known. That makes repairs much easier.

One thing about these older Jags (or any other car) is that they're 98% DIY-able. That is, almost nothing absolutely requires outside help from a specialist....nor 'dealer only' equipment to reprogram and/or diagnose the various sub-systems. So, in that respect, they are indeed easy to repair.

Cheers
DD

 

I certainly can't argue with anything Doug or Jagboi said. Yes, the first look of what's under the hood can leave someone feeling quite intimidated. And there is plenty of help available to anyone who asks for it.

But, to try and tell people that "all you need is a socket set and a can of WD40" is misleading at best. I hadn't turned a wrench on a car in over 20 years when I bought mine. Thankfully the PO kept the car in good condition ("buy the best example you can afford") so that I could enjoy the car and then dive into some repairs as I felt comfortable. Then, when I started, it took a lot more than just the tools I had on hand and some penetrating oil. To advertise this as a great first car that's easy to work on is unbelievable.

One other thing, these cars have so much going for them that to try and sell one by promoting it as an easy car to work on is just plain wrong. Far above ease of maintenance is the silky smoothness of the v12, the superb handling and those gorgeous lines. What is so wrong with the XJS that you are selling that you have to make up stories about how easy it is to work on and skip over the brilliance of the car?

Anyway, that's my rant for today.

 

Of coarse there are harder cars to work on. Thats not the point.
To suggest that the XJS is simple and easy to work on is a LIE.

 

Good thing it is a continent width away, or I'd be tempted.


This is an opinion, not an outright lie. Huge difference.


I was in a local garage the other day. Telephone discussion over a need to recharge the Ac on a car I didn't hear the ID. But, "we may need to remove the intake manifold" comment struck a chord.


And, late Ford trucks apparently had a propensity for tossing out spark plugs. Serious thread damage in the alloy heads. Access limited. Best way, remove the cab!!!


Reading he owner manual for my daughter' Passat, most popular phrase, "take it to the dealer". One grand to replace the heater matrix!!! Complete dash dissassmbly needed.


Carl


Carl

 

Hi

daily driving my XJS since I got out of high school.

It was parked since 1997, bought int 2010.

I dumped the fluids, replaced battery. Normal stuff. I'd probably slightly modify the post to Socket set and PB blaster

These cars are beasts. Haters gonna hate

 

when I owned a stick shift XJS Coupe, many years ago, I found the maintenance to be fairly easy although sometimes a bit time consuming. For example changing 12 plugs.
When I look under the hood of my 2005 XJR its so much less "impressive" than looking under the hood of the XJS V12! I certainly did not think it handled
particulary well though especially compared to my XJR.

 

jackra_1 they handle much better with new bushings. The bushings in yours were likely much older than those in your XJR, the XJR is supposed to be stiffer, and the rubber they used in the XJS was pretty poor. Upgrading and replacing with new rubber or poly bushings changes the ride dramatically.

Comfort wise the ride is amazing, even on 30 year old bushings, handling wise, they could certainly use new bushings and shocks.

I have heard an upgraded XJS used in autocross referred to as a "big miata." Pretty good praise in terms of handling

 

Why is he bringing another project home if this one is so easy and running so good. Who has a boot full of parts if it is in good condition or not in need of anything. I'd bet it runs good but the body is full of rust and he found out metal replacement costs.

 

When it came time to remove the I6 from my XJ wuzza six, I up dated my socket set.


Two sets of 3/8" dive deep sockets. One metric and one SAE. Just about all I needed.
Well, one of the Whitworth spanners undid the Ujoint bolts!


And, a big flat head screw driver for the battery hold down, since replaced.


Much the same to install the LT1.


I don't recall needing any of my 1/2" drive tools.


Carl

 

I think most people compare the V12 to the V8 as a comparison for simplicity, when you could keep a V8 running with chewing, string and a gallon of moonshine back in the day the V12 has never been that simple even when fitted with carbs

 

I still love the look of the XJS and did enjoy the one I had way back in the 80s for many years. I would love to get another one however I dont think my wife would let me!

 

I've had several V8's, straight 6's, four cyl's and V-12's, sorry, have to disagree, doesn't seem any harder to me, just a bit more of everything.

 

Its not difficult for me either but you will see a lot of posts on this site for engine will not fire so some people must find it hard to understand

 

It is to compare. There is just more stuff with the v12 and it is technically more complicated compared to most pushrod V8s. That being said though, it is funny you just hear the v8 guys suddenly grasp for simplicity and reliability when compared to the v12. If that is the case, why aren't they driving i4s?

 

Don't know. Not an overall hard engine per se, just time consuming and bulky, but not extremely difficult.

Getting pricey / hard to not DIY though, freakishly so at some shops..