Help just bought a 2008 xk coupe with 23k on it what is the best way to approch
any issues that may crop up i.e.:battery's etc Iam a car guy so i do know what
end of a wrench to use. pre-mentive maint etc
thanks Rick

 

Spend a couple of hours on this forum. Look back at past posts. It's been a wealth of knowledge for me.

 

If you don't drive the car everyday, it is advisable to hook up to a ctek charger to prevent electrical gremlins from appearing as a result of low voltage at the battery. Other than that, just make sure to check oil and coolant levels regularly. Since there is no dipstick, it is a bit of a pain to check on the computer as it takes a while after stopping for the ability to check the oil level. I just do it before I leave for the first time in the morning.
Enjoy your beautiful new (and with just 23K miles on it, it really is just like new) car.
And welcome.

 

congrats on your new car. the forum is full of marque experts and they have been very helpful to me. I think you will enjoy your car and find among the prettiest and most reliable cars on the road!

 

Hi Rick, welcome to the forum and congratulations on your new purchase. As others have said, read through the forum, it is a wealth of information on your new car. Check the oil and coolant levels weekly and look for drips on the floor where you park it, there should be none. As your car is a 2008, it has a 4.2 Ltr. engine, the dip stick is located on the left side of the engine near the front. If you drive it regularly, there should be no problems with the battery but if you don't, as Tberg says, invest in a Ctek battery maintainer and leave it on the car when it will be sitting for more than two or three days. Please put the information about your car in the signature line so when you ask a question, the members can determine the MY and whether you have an XK or XKR easily. Happy motoring in your Jag and by the way, we really like pictures here.

 

Hi and welcome Rick.
Yes per tberg's advice, use a battery maintainer on your car. If your battery is the original and you replace it, I think most on this forum lean toward AGM type batteries.

Also you will note the lack of gauges (coolant temp, oil pressure, Battery voltage) There are a couple of solutions for this but the most economical is to install a bluetooth dongle in the OBD II port and download the Torque Pro app to your phone. This will allow you to monitor these and other functions on the vehicle.

At 23k miles, there isn't much to do. I would:

Check for leaks (coolant, oil, A/C, Differential.

If tires are OEM, have them inspected for dry rot as they would now be 9 years old.

Replace all belts.

Check the hoses for softness and bulging, replace as needed. Change the oil, oil filter.

Check air filter and cabin filter.

Detail vehicle inside and out.

Replace the fuel filter as it may be gummed up.

Flush the brake fluid - should be done every 2 years, regardless of miles.

Drain, flush, back flush and refill your coolant system. Jaguar uses OATS coolant (aka Dexcool). I must be changed every 5 years regardless of mileage.

Others will chime in. Enjoy your beautiful new ride.

 

cj005,

+1 on the CTEK. Search this Forum on the various ways to hook it up. Other common issues with the 4.2L include the A/C condensate drain ("duckbill") and shrinking of the leather dashboard cover. Since you're in Florida, I recommend that you invest in a reflective sunshade for the windshield and tint the other windows if that hasn't already been done. There are lots threads on the duckbill and dash shrinkage, including ways to prevent those issues from happening and how to fix them.

Stuart

 

thanks for the support. I have a few questions. are most of the electronic
components and some drivetrain components from ford or specific to jag. like
processor and other sensors. can they be re-programed via aftermarket ?
can I hot rod it up?

 

cj005
As many of us have done, you can certainly "hot rod it up!" I have done the pulley/tune from Eurocharged, although there are several good tuners available to Jaguar owners, and am somewhere around 600hp on my 5.0L XKR. There are similar tune/pulley packages available for the 4.2L engine as well. Eurocharged, ECU, Viezu, Velocity all have these packages available at very reasonable pricing. Have fun!

 

As an 08 xkr owner as well, I ordered the integrated transmission pan/ filter and appropriate ZF fluid. I got about 7.5 quarts out, and after this time, even low mileage I was very pleased with the improvement in shifting and responsiveness. In addition to what others recommended, I really believe in this as a critical change every 3 /4 years regardless of mileage. The forum is great, this is my first post but I have been using it for many years for various models I own.

 

the car we bought has wheels that aren't our style I would like to replace them
with oem 2008 R wheels. not familiar with max tire size for those wheels F&R
and locate a set, cost ? thanks

 

There are several OEM wheels that fit the 2007-2009 X-150 cars, in 18", 19", and 20" sizes, so you'll need to be a bit more specific in what you are looking for. These cars have a 'staggered' setup, so in general the front wheels are 8.5" wide, and the rears are 9.5" wide (there are some exceptions).

My 2007 came with the Carelia style 19" wheel, but I was always partial to the 20" Senta style. This fall I picked up a set on ebay for a good price. They were in pretty good shape, but I thought I'd make 'em new again and so I had them refinished. Looks great.

When you determine the style you like, I suggest keeping an eye out on ebay, and even the market place thread on this forum, until you find what you want at a price you like.

 

Check out the Coventry Whitley wheels in Hyper-Silver with a Mirror Cut Lip. Me and a lot of other guys on this forum love them. I got mine (20") for $320 each at Discount Tire.

 

Here are the stock choices but only covers model years through 2010.

 

There are several aftermarket exhausts that can 'open up' the sound of your Jag, but they're pricey and many are too loud for my taste. So, what I and many other XK owners have done, is replace the XK’s back muffler for a back muffler from an XKR.

I got mine from a great friend who replaced his XKR's whole exhaust with a aftermarket system so he had no need for his old stock rear muffler. Then I found a local muffler shop who welded it up and installed it for $60 ... in as half hour!

Trust me, you will have a fabulous, throaty (but not obnoxious) sound all the time ... the exact sound I was looking for. And, if you drive in 'sport mode' ... it will really put a smile on your face!

 

That's a great listing, just wish the numbers were correct.
I spotted some errors, which I wouldn't think would exist in such a publication.
For example, the 2007 Carelia 19" front wheel is 8.5", not 8", and the rear is 9.5", not 8".
And I'm 'pretty sure' the Senta wheels didn't change between 2007 and 2008, and I'm also 'pretty sure' the fronts are 8.5", not 9".
So take the numbers in the table 'with a grain of salt'.

 

A better listing of the wheel and tire options in 2007 (and maybe through 2009).

 

I would replace all fluids in the car you don't have a receipt for being done and then just do regular maintenance. My transmission pan was leaking early on. It's plastic and cracked, so I had do that pan/fluid/filter service earlier than most do.

 

Rick - welcome aboard!! you are in for some great driving. How about posting some pics? All I can add to the above is; if you have a vert, look seriously a Steve Klonsky's remote control for your convertible top, it can be found at TheJagWrangler - Home - About Us. that makes a terrific 1st add-on/accessory. All the other respondents have covered pretty much everything else.