Since I have got one of each, I will second that!

There is no way a V12 is Slower than an AJ16 whatever it says in the book.

In any event they are two different Cars, that cannot be compared.

 

idk, most of the book times i have ever seen on my XJS are pretty fair. Some are, and some aren't, this is the case with every car that exists. Of course the car can cost more and take more time because of crumbling bits and parts failing causing other parts to fail, this is the case with any older car, nothing special about the jag.
I'm not really sure about the comment about it being specifically a Jaguar v12. Any shop I have ever been in that is afraid or unwilling to work on the Jaguar v12 definitely wouldn't be willing or able to work on a more complex v12, even of a similar vintange, like the bmw or mercedes engines.

From my experience if you find a european shop, the specializes in fixing mercedes, volvos, bmws, etc, they are more willing and able to work on older cars and this includes Jags and Land rovers. Most other shops around town are used to working on newer cars, and more common ones at that.
I think you guys are giving the majority of mechanics more credit in saying that most won't work on cars like the XJS as a business decision. I've met a ton of mechanics that don't know squat about a basic carb and I'm blown away if I ever see something like a super beetle at a Tires plus or Pep boys shop. I asked safelite whether they would replace the glass on my XJS when I was getting the Land rover windshield replaced, and they said "no way." They said they did a midget a few weeks ago and it took 3 guys 3 days to do it. When I told her I've only put a windshield in once, and it was a super beetle, she basically offered me a job.
Many many mechanics are simply parts monkeys capable of removing and replacing parts, if it isn't on the vehicles they are used to, they can't and won't do it. Many times they are "afraid" of messing stuff up because they understand so little about what they are actually looking at.

My local german shop has said "no, problem" to every time I have ever asked if they would do something, just to see if they would. I've had shops turn me down on my XJS from parts as lowly as changing tires or repairing the exhaust.
Part of the reason I don't want to be a mechanic is because of the people that are mechanics. I worked in a shop for a little while and hated it solely because of the people. The ones that I knew that weren't terrible wanted to leave as bad as I did, but they were in too deep.
Not saying this is every mechanic or anything, just that in my personal experience, the reluctance to work on Jags really is from inability or at least doubt, which is very indicative of inability.

 

I agree as well, I always feel kinda bad when people come onto the forum and ask about getting a car that can't work on it. If you have the money, its no problem, but most people buying an XJS only have 10k or so to spend on a car, so they probably don't have the pockets for maintenance.

The weird thing about it is I feel it should come hand in hand. People buy cars like the XJS because they are interested in cars and learn how to work on them because they are interested in them. I just can't wrap my head around being that interested in cars but not wanting to learn anything about them.

 

If you don't know much about repairing XJSs is a good business decision to avoid working on them.

If you depend on consistently producing xxx-billable hours per day it is a good business decision to avoid older cars and especially older *special interest* cars like the XJS.

If you have space/time limitations in your shop, it's a good business decision to avoid working on old Jags.

I could go on.

If a shop wants to specialize in certain cars and/or repairs....and has the right clientele to go along with that notion....then it's a different story.



Having doubts can be an important when you are making business decisions....or even living life. It's very important to know what you don't know. This isn't *quite* the same as ability/inability.

Anyhow....

I have the ability to repair XJSs. No problem. However, I am very skeptical and selective about actually doing so. I would certainly say 'no' more often than 'yes'. There are good reasons for this....some of which have already been mentioned in this thread.

A lot would depend on how the customer interview went.


Cheers
DD

 

What is it about the V12 that makes it so much harder to work on than the L6? I have a 94 L6 and it is a rock solid reliable car. It smokes sometimes on startup but that is by design. Other than that its a daily driver. Very reliable.

The only thing I can think of that would be different on the V12 other than space issues, is the cooling system, the fuel harness, and the hoses go quicker because of the heat. Is the cooling system better on the 95 than the 91? Is the harness better material? The lucas ignition seems very quality with no issues on the 95?

What are known issues with this year V12? Engine fires?? ?

this post has me thinking of selling my 91 V12 and 94 L6 to get a 95 V12. maybe I will buy this car.

 

"what are the issues with a v12"? I only know what I read in The Forums through the years, I suggest you do the same. Ever change a timing chain tensioner, drop valve seat? to name a few. How about changing a broken fan belt @ a road side rest. I guess if one carries a tool set & floor jack it can be easily done. None are rocket science jobs, just comparisons

 

so the 95 has the same dropped valve seat issue as the earlier ones? a fan belt is more maintenance than a known issue. I already have a v12 91... trying to see how much of an upgrade a 94-96 v12 would be. other than the ignition which is a big upgrade to lucas from marelli.

 

No difference in ignition between '91 and later XJS's, they all used marelli. Why do you say Lucas was superior?

 

I can't speak for any year but a 91 v12. The Lucas/ Marelli subject is covered by Kirby Palm's writing "The Book", every owner v12 should read it. Dropped valve seat's are usually caused by overheating. IMOP Jaguar's 20 years of v12 production should have recognized this problem in early development of this production engine, along with the timing chain tensioner , these valve seat's should have been threaded & screwed in or pinned. Steel seats & aluminum heads have different heat property's. Broken fan belt, hoses, "are maintenance". How many of us follow it that closely ? No one ever had a belt or hose break????????

 

I think for every 1 great mechanic, there are probably 5 mediocre ones and 20 crap ones.
I took my 75 MG Midget to a "specialist" Brit mechanic. They talked a good game at the front counter then handed my car off to to a bunch of 20 somethings. It was in because there was a huge engine stumbling at around 2500 rpm. The charged me an arm and a leg not to solve it. Took it to my motorcycle mechanic and it was solved in 15 minutes.
The majority of mechanics these days are incapable of identifying issues unless they can hook your engine up to a computer.

 

Time marches on.

I've hired mechanics who have never installed a set of points or worked on a carbureted engine!

Cheers
DD

 

Agreed Doug, but a garage should not pretend they know how to do things they do not. That is DBAM's justified grumble, not the fact that they do not know about older engines and systems, but the fact they said they did.
Greg

 

Exactly, this was not some Toyota dealership. Its a vintage Brit shop.

 

I never suggested otherwise.

I was really just going along with the theme that it is getting harder to find places that can/will successfully repair old cars. I'll be more careful with my remarks in the future.


Cheers
DD

 

Lucas does not have the fire issue that Marelli has. Period. I am also speaking of a later Lucas system, that I thought existed. Maybe it was a dream.

I thought Marelli was only in 1991, its nice to know I am not so alone with this. For some reason I thought they went back to a Lucas 1 coil system in the later cars. Could this be the xj I am thinking of? Or maybe I just read what I thought was v12 but it was 4.0.

 

The 6.0 V12 as used in the X300 sedans had a distributorless ignition system. Perhaps that's what you're thinking of.

The 6.0 as used in the XJS was Marelli ignition, as were the 5.3 V12s after VIN 156xxx

The 5.3 V12 as used in the Series III sedan was Lucas ignition right till the end in 1992....the same system used on the pre-Marelli XJS.

Cheers
DD

 

The later cars used the Zytek system I believe.

 

Only the jaguar sport 6 litre in the xjrs used zytek. When the factory 6 litre was released it used the marelli ignition.

 

I read and reviews all your comments! First of all thank you so much ,your passion is undeniable . It is indeed a great Forum, don't you think?

I do have a little bit of knowledge when it comes to cars but I am no mechanic per say .Lets just say that I can do very basic things (Changing a battery, bulbs, hoses, spark plugs etc ) So ok please don't laugh ....as I do have a particular set of skills , wait a minute ... Joke ( Movie Taken)

I know that the early 5.3 engine had a lot of problems but do the same problems also exist in the 1994-1995 6.0 engine ? I thought they were resolved..

What are the main flaws of that particular engine and what I should be wary of ? I would like to read from V12 6.0 owners if possible or ones familiar with that engine .

Thank you
Terry

 

Probably should start with what you think were the many problems with early 5.3's.