Hi Group

I am trying to make a decision to buy a 2009 Jaguar XK convertible. The car has 140,000 miles. The owner said they air conditioning is not blowing cold air and the car engine runs rough when at idle, like it wants to stall. He thinks it is a cam or crank sensor causing the idle problem. It drives OK on the highway when the revs are up. The car is in nice shape for a 2009. Did this model have any other problems that I should be aware of, before I make a decision to buy it? Any green shower problems? The owner wants $7,000 as is.

Bill

 

Three quick and probably obvious reactions:
- what's the market value of the car without any issues? That gap is your "repair budget," but...
- since it's running and you can get it to a shop, have you scheduled a PPI? You need at least a ballpark of the costs to remedy those issues and any others lurking.
- There are a handful of other common issues with these cars (water pump fail, rear window in convertible top separating, etc) which you can find on other threads here. Do you have a full maintenance/repair history to see if any have been addressed?
How far are you from a good dealer or experienced indie who can do that inspection? With 140K miles on it I wouldn't even consider the car otherwise.

 

$7000 isn't a lot money. Would you be financially hurt if it turned out to be a total heap and only worth scrap? If you're buying it for and as a daily driver, that probably isn't a good idea.
Anything can be fixed because everything was made. The actual question is would it be WORTH fixing it...
Have you checked around for a different and running great XK in your area? (area = within 1000 miles)

 

First thought is that's allot of car for seven grand even with issue's. Second thought is 140,000 miles with one or two owners no biggie, 4+ owners Hmmm. PPI is worth the all the effort/cost/hassel.

 

I would only buy a Jag with that mileage if I could do all my own work (which I can). Even then, 90% probability I'd pass.

Don't get me wrong. Jags are good cars, and Jag engines are pretty reliable. But unless maintained, 140K is a lot of miles. Jag plastics and rubbers are old at 140K, so bushings are sloppy and gaskets leak vacuum.

• Get all the service records. Critical importance, and don't buy it without them.
• Check all the codes with an OBD that can read JLR codes. Drive it for a half hour and check the codes again. The previous owner probably cleared them before you tested it.
• Battery age? 5 years is an old battery.
• Check the LTFT, since high LTFT (15-20% at idle is out of spec) will give you a good indication that you have vacuum leaks, a problem on older ones.Time consuming to chase them all down, and very expensive if someone else does it. Fuel filter should have been changed.
• Pretty much all the bushings in the suspension will be tired due to drying and age. Jag suspension parts are overpriced -- you can find Lemfoerder (the OEM) replacements for a much better price, but bushings and aluminum parts add up fast.
• Unless you're on your second set, the shocks/struts/dampers will be aged out by now.
• The ZF transmission, if the fluid was never changed (a few times), will be late in life and ready for problems.
• Alternator brushes are likely old.

All the "late in life", "old", "end of life" comments mean repairs are due.

Then look at all the usual items: brakes, tires, plugs, fluids and so on.

Good luck.