^^This!
I have been through this before. Boats and cars... @GGG is spot on @Reverend Sam . If the dealer won’t install a used engine, (liability may be a factor) flat bed the car elsewhere. For the cost of towing I’d bring it home first.
Look at the head. Is it repairable? Or is a replacement necessary? Take the head to an experienced engine shop.
If replacement, find a head or an engine. Perhaps on ebust but I’d be going to the wreckers network (only because of the national index). I do like @jons idea (I’ve seen this done with a glass top on a 12 cylinder…. also old top gear episodes, of course. Bitch to move though

At a $11K quote, if you come out of this at $6K, you’re well ahead. At $3K, you’ve sourced a vacation. At $1K, the lottery.

 

I was under the impression that they removed the head. They didn't say anything about a borescope. But I'm not certain. I'll ask when I pick up the car later today.

There was no noise from the engine other than the sound of it running very rough. It was running fine when I parked, but 15 minutes later it started running rough the instant I started the engine.

I doubt I'll be replacing the engine. I'll sell the car for parts before that happens. A used NA engine on eBay is $5000. I'm hoping to source a head.

 

How many miles has this car covered?

 

Im actually shocked the dealer would suggest a repair rather than replacing the whole engine.

 

Yea, I am on the side with everyone else in this thread. When I first read $14k to have just the heads replaced, I laughed to myself thinking it's the "everything is too expensive in CA" theory. Then I thought, how could a dealer straight up quote a repair for more than the car is worth with a straight face? Sounds like they just don't want to do the repair so they are forcing you elsewhere.

It'll take some work on your part but I have a feeling you'll get this sorted out once you find the right shop. Good luck!

 

I have a contractor friend here; if he's busy and making money, he'll throw out a ridiculously high quote for some jobs just to see if he'll get a bite.

 

105,000 miles. I've owned it since 75,000. I have been diligent about oil changes.

The bill for the diagnostics was $750. They borescoped the cylinder and found the valve seat hanging from the valve. There was a little damage to the top of the piston where the dangling seat banged against the piston, but the mechanic didn't think it was bad enough to require a piston replacement. It was just some scratches. I guess I'll see when I get the head off.

I found out today that the $14,000 was labor only. If they needed any parts, like a new head, that was going to be extra. I will be doing the work myself. I'm either going to find a replacement head, or have a new seat installed in the existing head. I did a little research and learned they can actually do that.

While I'm at it I'm going to change the supercharger oil, replace the supercharge coupling, and upgrade the pulley to get a few more horsies. I'll also replace the timing chain tensioners if they look the tiniest bit worn. You can never bee too careful with an interference engine. And I'll go ahead and change the plugs, and maybe even the coils while I'm in there. AND, with the supercharger removed I should be able to access the AC drain and get that fixed.

That's what I think this dealer was doing. They didn't want to have to deal with it, and I was asking too many questions. They figured I'd be a pain in the ***, so they just gave me an outrageous estimate to make me go away.

 

You didn't quote post #15 though.

 

I saved the best for last.

Are you serious about the $200? I haven't priced having a new seal installed. I'm going to take the head off and take it to a head shop (lol) and let them fix it for me. My biggest concern is getting the timing right when I reinstall the head. I know Jaguar has special tools for that. I'm going to have to do some research.

 

You also have this option:
2012 Jaguar XKR-S Full Engine and Trans for sale - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum

 

There are some good youtube videos on timing the 5 litre, especially a local guy named samcrac who's done it. I'll warn you though, it's not easy and requires specialty tools.

 

A carry-in separated exhaust seal was $190 last time I had it done, I guess three years ago? So, maybe a bit higher. Any excess damage would increase the cost, of course. You should have the whole head checked, and probably magna-fluxed also. Just in case.

 

Wow. That's 70 hrs at $200 per hour, or 35 hrs for 2 techs.

 

Reverand Sam,
Eight years ago when I was getting ready to purchase my 2010 XKR, when the seller brought the car to my mechanic, within 30 seconds, my mechanic said he could hear that the engine was "toast." This might have explained why when I test drove the car I was less than impressed with its performance. The seller after recovering from the shock, realized he had an aftermarket warranty, and he called them. They agreed to have my mechanic source a used engine and install it. We found a 5900 mile wrecked car with a good engine for $6000,00. I've put a 125,000 miles on the car since, and I still have the old engine which had some damaged rod bearings. I can ask my mechanic who still has the engine at his shop (we've picked parts like sensors etc. off of it over the years,) if the heads are still good and useable. And if they are, you can have them for the cost of shipping or if you want to pick them up in Los Angeles, you're welcome to take anything you need of the original engine.
It would be a shame for you to have to part out such a gorgeous example. PM me, and I will check with the mechanic on Monday as he is out of town until then. Undoubtedly, like me and others on this forum who have or had X100s prior to our X150, you have discovered in the 30,000 miles you've put on yours, just how much better the X150 platform is than its predecessor. I would hate for you to not enjoy many more years of your X150 as I have. Eight years later and nearly 190,000 miles on the odometer, and it's still my daily driver and the best car I have ever owned among at least 30.

 

Wow! Thank you for your generous offer! I might take you up on it, but I need to get the existing head off first, which is going to take a while.

I don't know if you're aware, but I made a whole bunch of videos of repairs I did to my X100. When I bought this car I was thinking I would make videos of it, but I only made a couple. I have a different job now that keeps me pretty busy. However, this engine issue has gotten me in the mood to make some more videos. I'm planning on documenting the whole repair process on video and posting the videos on my YouTube channel. If I get the head off and it turns out to be unrepairable, I'll reach out to you (on video, of course )

 

Oh yeah... I got side-tracked in that last post. It's going to take a while because I want to make a video of the process, and right now my garage is completely trashed. There's just everywhere. There's enough room to pull the car in, but the car is surrounded by junk. I need to get all of that cleared out before I can start work. That's my project for this weekend.

 

I remember using some of your videos to repack the center console top pad to redo my trashed one on my XK8, routing a replacement aerial for a whip delete, and something about a granite counter top being used for something improper...

 

probably your converters going bad.My car was doing the same thing with all cylinders misfiring and it was cause my converters had stopped up.Probably need new spark plugs or your fuel pump going bad as well maybe.Oh and this too,they had to replace a cyclinder in my engine and all this helped the misfires stop.You have to put fuel injector cleaner,fuel treatment, and cataclean in it every 500-1500 miles cause that's what i do for mine to keep my engine healthy once i had that problem and I got everything fixed back and now also i only use good gas like Exxon.Also don't put any gas in your XKR higher than 93+ cause i made the mistake of putting 112 racing gas in my jag that stopped up my converters cause i heard it contains lead and it will destroy your converters

 

Quick question: you mention you had changed the oil religiously (I would expect no less from someone named "Reverand"...)
Would less-frequent oil changes have led to this issue?

 

I was wondering about that myself pk4144. What could cause a valve seat to become unseated. This is not a common issue these days. An overheated, and dare I say ‘warped’ head? Lack of lubrication sounds odd to me as there should not be any space between the seat and its home.