Chaps.

After about 6 months of looking I'm hopefully returning to XKR ownership in the next couple of weeks. Found a 2012 XKR in my perfect spec (IRR, ivory, performance seats/performance exhaust), 1 owner, 25k miles, fair price, immaculate condition. Starting to do my research and found the mileage has only gone up by 400 miles since Jan 2018 and hadn't been serviced from Jan 2018 until it will be next week (400 miles but obviously 3 years). The owner couldn't use the car but didn't want to sell it either, apparently health related, so he's only just now part exchanged it. Car looks stunning (from the video - Covid restrictions prevent me from viewing it yet). The dealer is putting on a new battery & 4 new tyres.

Thoughts? Slightly worried I will start running into issues when I start using it. Should I be getting additional work done before I start using it above the standard service it's about to get to try and prevent problems from a long period of no use? Car will have a warranty.

Cheers,
Andrew.

 

Andrew,
Even though it has only 25K miles, it's over 9 years old and time will cause rubber parts to dry out and deteriorate. So check all the hoses, window seals, and especially front and rear suspension bushings, which are known to split.

You're in the UK, but if you were in the USA that 2012 XKR would no longer be eligible for a Jaguar Select Certified Pre-Owned Warranty. If that's the same in the UK, your statement that "Car will have a warranty" would be incorrect. What you really mean is that it will be covered under an aftermarket extended service contract. See my Post #6 in this thread. Even though you're in the UK, I think the principles might apply to you.
Difference Between a Warranty and Extended Service Contract

You may want to pay a Jaguar dealer to do a Pre-Purchase inspection to identify any items that need repair or replacement. You may be able to recover the cost of that inspection by using it to negotiate a lower price from the seller. I'm a firm believer in the old adage, If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Good luck with your quest!

Stuart

 

Andrew good to see you getting back in the saddle again. Since you've owned in the past, you know the usual suspects. Aside from the rubber the Stuart points out, the gas may be bad and imo should be drained. Also the cooling system should be flushed, brake fluid flushed, drain and fill the transmission. Hope it works out.

 

Thanks chaps, some points I definitely hadn't considered. Stuart - you're spot on that it isn't a warranty at all and I like the idea of getting a pre-purchase inspection which I will do.
Sean - I see the HMI has come on a pace since I was last tinkering!! Do you recommend the Tesla approach? Not sure I could get over the size of the screen. Impressive stuff though.

 

Andrew,

I would be slightly more concerned about the missing scheduled servicing than the effects of lack of use. A low mileage example like this should have been serviced every 12 months regardless.

Be prepared for a slew of error codes if it's not had the battery on a tender. New battery suggests this is likely to the the case. There shouldn't be anything serious but electronic "manifestations" can be annoying until resolved and cleared.

As mentioned by Stuart, rubber deteriorates over time as well as mileage. New tyres removes concerns about them but cooling hoses and suspension bushes could have suffered. The worst that could happen with bushes is likely to be squeaks or impaired handling but burst hoses or a failed water pump could be far less trivial.

This is more a bargaining position than a reason not to proceed. JLR have made it clear we aren't going to see anything like the XK again so this is the time to get one in good condition.

Don't forget the number one problem with used Jaguars. Make sure it has two smartkeys and both work.

Graham

 

Depending how it was stored. If it sat outside for 3 years... maybe take a hard look. If it was stored in the garage - just change all fluids and you are good to go.

 

SinF - Garage stored amongst a nice collection of other Jaguars I'm told so hopefully no issues related to 3 years of Yorkshire weather, I certainly couldn't see any weather related cosmetic issues from the video.

The price has already been agreed and 4 new tyres (they were 9 years old) and new battery negotiated. So assuming I go ahead it's straight to Tom Lenthall (highly respected Jag Indy in UK) for a complete inspection. Graham - I agree that it's not great at that the car wasn't serviced every 12 months, I would be a lot more relaxed if it had been, but I think it's worth the gamble given how long it's taken to find a car and my hope that I can somewhat reset the condition uncertainty with a trip to Tom.

You mention 2 smartkeys (it does). How come? Are they not available anymore?

 

X150 Smartkeys are still available, but they're expensive brand new from a Jaguar dealer. Think of a used X150 Smartkey as a child, and the car to which it uniquely paired as its parent. Before that Smartkey can be reprogrammed, it must first be electronically divorced from its parent using the Jaguar SDD software. If the Smartkey hasn't been cleared, it can't be reprogrammed. So, if you buy a used Smartkey, make sure it's returnable. Get it in writing. Also, the emergency key in a used Smartkey won't work in the new vehicle, so you'll have to get a new blank and have it laser cut. A new Smartkey from a Jaguar dealer will come with an emergency key that is cut by the factory to match your VIN.

 

Hi Andrew, my thoughts on your prospective purchase

1) My car sat in probate for 14 months and missed 2 x services covering just 300 miles in that time. I had a major service done on purchase and an oil flush, the gloop that was in there actually stopped the flush machine from working...it was that BAD, recommend you do the same.

2) Tyres - yes they are being replaced but with what Chinese ditch finders? Personally I'd look to choose the tyre I wanted on the car, even if it meant having to meet them partway on cost.

Best of luck!

 

Hello Andrew,
I'll put my experience with a similar purchase on January 2021 for my 2009 XKR Black and Ivory with B&W sound and adaptive cruise control.
This car was garaged for the last 3 years. very minimal driving. Last owner was an old person who had health issues and had to sell.
3 owners before me. And the second one had made idiotic mods to the car that I had to remove.
1- Cheap halo rings on the headlights!
2- Removal of exhaust silencer and installing a cheapo muffler. Active flaps that are useless now
3- Removal of the centre heat shield in the process of #2

The thing is, all but the first owner ignored doing proper servicing on the car.

Things I had to do are listed below:
1- FULL front-end suspension (arms up-low, stabilizer linkages, steering, strut mounts...). I was going to replace bushings only but ballpoints were not that great, so they had to go.
2- FULL rear-end suspension (arms upper, stabilizer linkages, toe link, strut mounts...). same as above, however, rear control arm does not have ball joints like the fronts do, so, bushings only for rear arm.
3- Engine mounts + transmission mount.
4- Fluids all round (engine, transmission, coolant, brake). Still need to change supercharger oil, and possibly steering oil too.
5- AC recharge.
6- Air filter and cabin filter.
7- SC and engine belts + tensioners + pullies (not required to replace, but preventative)
7- Replacing the dried-up tires (Michelin PS4S) worth every single penny!
8- Replacing a broken drive shaft centre carrier bearing.
9- Fixing a bent wheel.
10- Wheel nuts (they are prone to fail). Replaced with Toyota 21mm. Note if you do that, you'll have to get a wrench tool with 21mm socket and keep it in the car when you have a flat tire.
11- Removing the halo ring in headlights.
12- Tinting the car + polishing + full protective wrap.

All in all it cost so far ~8K$ + 13.5K$ original cost. The car has 86KM at purchase. Now it has 89KM in 3 months.
I am planning on keeping the car. I am enjoying everything so far and not regretting paying this much to fix it.

These are the things I had to do, the one you described should not be as bad condition as the one I had. Bare on mind I read about the 5.0 are a pain to work on the engine bay.

Regards,
Mohammed

 

Availability isn't the issue - it's the cost. I mentioned it because a question very high on our post list from recent Jaguar buyers is "where can I get another smartkey/remote - it only came with one". Remotes were quite expensive but a replacement smartkey with blank key cut and programming for recent Jaguars costs hundreds. Every time I see smartkeys and remotes listed on ebay, it makes my blood boil.

Similarly with the Handbook set - replacement costs around 80 UKP. As for service records, OSH (OnLine Service History) was introduced in 2014 for the Europen market so a 2012 may still have the old style printed Service Handbook.

I agree it's worth the gamble and Tom Lenthall will uncover any underlying issues from the extended period of inactivity and missing services.

Graham

 

Welcome to the forums Mohammed,

Great first post. I'd have appreciated seeing an Intro from you in advance of that. We do like to know a little about each other.

Graham

 

It's the price. My XKR only came with one key, but the selling dealer agreed to fund the cost of a replacement. This can only be paired via a Jaguar dealership and they needed the car for an entire morning to do it. The cost was £650 UK! It is worth shopping around if you need a replacement key because I was quoted £850 by one Jaguar dealership! £650 was the cheapest for a dealership within a sensible driving distance and after a lot of tussle I got my local dealership to agree a price match and had the job done locally.

 

Key (without side chrome bits as I have that kit) £184.99 after my discount.

Cost for programming at my local Indy £50+ VAT

Total = £244.99 inc

That is without having the blank cut as my rear plate is stuck on s well I figure I'll never get to the hole in an emergency (as the Bishop said to the Actress)

 

A CAUTIONARY TALE

I always pull my car out onto the road and go back to close the gates. During the Summer I had the smartkey in my jacket pocket which was on the passenger seat. Got out of the car (2007 XK) and shut the driver's door with the engine running.




I heard the clunk as the doors locked!

Engine running - doors locked - smartkey inside the vehicle. This should be impossible.

Went back into the house to fetch the spare smartkey. However, because the other key was inside the vehicle, the second smartkey did nothing. Couldn't unlock the car. Ended up using the emergency key blade to open the vehicle.

Carry a hammer. If it happens to you with no key blade that'll be the only way in.

Graham

 

Now I will have to try this at home... but I will have my windows down first.

 

You'd think the smartkey inside would still be in range for the boot to open. Try that too Cee Jay

 

Oh, duh, VEHICLE RUNNING... I missed that part. Of COURSE the doors should lock (depending on your settings), it thinks you're about to drive away. I'm not going to try that, it's what it does.

 

Drive away locking (if setup) is only initiated by selecting a gear and moving off ......





....... it should NOT initiate with the selector in in P.

Graham

 

I fixed the manual graphic... It is also possible to lock the doors when the engine is running. Not with the doors open though, I just tried that.