Hi there,

anyone else have that feeling, that when they list up all the parts they need, that they feel "poor" afterwards?

I'm currently making a list of all parts I need to complete the front of my XJ-S project and that list is getting longer and longer... And it doesn't yet include the headlights and some other bits and bobs...

The list has something like 600 parts all listed up. That means everything including nuts, washers, screws, brackets and co... Loads of puzzling to come soon!

Should make it easier ordering later too

Or making a christmas wishlist

"Dear Santa,

I would like 2 exhaust downpipes, 1 compressor mounting bracket, 7..."

 

I avoid emotional trauma by contemplating parts needed only for the next upcoming step. The list is much smaller that way


Cheers
DD

 

Not as poor as actually buying them, Daim!
Greg

 

I actually think that the Jaguar prices are totally cheap! Not kidding!

If I compare the proces to my other brand (Volvo) then Jaguar is like a bargain. I had to buy a headlight lens for my 960 a while ago. Costed €190 just for a lens and that was aftermarket and cheap. I bought an entire headlight from Jaguar new... for €150!

I've spent a fraction of that, what I paid for my 960, on my XJ-S and have more parts... Best thing is that the cars have more after market parts than Volvos do... At least afaik...

 

I did that too... As to know what orders can be placed together, I've added it all up and co... Some parts would be bought before others in an attempt to get stuff here before it is needed... Simple 'thinking'

 

I've found the cost of parts is not the problem, It's the wife's needing special sunglasses, purses, shoes and etc... to match the car she's in.

 

I'm nearing the end of a Corvette restoration and have done it largely this way. At the very beginning we ordered up a bunch of stuff that was known to be needed. I even made a spreadsheet comparing prices from all the various Corvette vendors and ordered groups from each based on lowest cost. But each weekend as more and more parts came off the car, sometimes in smaller pieces than they were supposed to, the list grew. Then halfway through, the car starts going back together and the list grows even more as we discover parts that were in worse shape than we thought or had gone missing. And then there's supplies like 3m strip caulk and various special paints and primers, rivets and such. We wound up ordering a bunch of stuff in small batches, otherwise we'd be stuck without whatever we needed for the next weekend's phase of the project. The bad part of it is that the shipping on all these small orders adds up to a lot of money and sometimes it doesn't arrive in time for the next weekend. But this ain't my first rodeo. I learned 30 years ago that you only keep the receipts for warranty and documentation purposes. Whatever you do, you NEVER add them up. Just compare to other hobbies like golf or fishing or travel. At the end of the weekend, those guys have nothing but a memory or a very expensive seafood meal. You on the other hand may be just as broke, but you have a better Jaguar than you did on Friday.

 

I just stopped counting the $$. I did the body and suspension a few years ago and now I am settled in my new house have started on the mechanicals, I recon by the time I am finished I will have spent at least $40k on the XJS.

 

I agree with that. All my other recent cars have been Toyota & in the UK at least parts prices for equivalent things on the XJS are far less. Typical example: Front shock/strut for my Celica:£150. Front Boge shocks for an XJS are about £35!

 

Absoluely! I bought all bushes, springs, shocks, screws, fulcrum shafts, nuts and co for the front axle for around £280 IIRC - all new of course. That cash would only buy me a new wishbone for my old C30. As the bushes aren't available separately... My XJ8 is sometimes shocking but most times I just happily pay...

And if an original part is too expensive, just go after market. Front wheel bearing kit: Jag original part is about £50 + Vat. Aftermarket about £15 + Vat with the same parts...

 

My goal is to stay below €5000. And that will work quite well. I am at about €2500 at the moment. Parts and buying price of my XJ-S will stay well below €8500. Like that, should I have to sell, I can male a good profit, as the car is worth around €15000 when done and that is without bodywork as a condition '3'. If I can get up to a '2' I'm looking at prices north of €40k!