Bumped into this beautiful platinum '02 XKR Coupe (VIN: SAJDA41B12PA25817) for sale in Arizona.

Add lists for $14.9K w/68K miles.

The Carfax suggests it's been dealer/premium serviced too.

Add: https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/d...5526/overview/

Carfax:https://www.carfax.com/VehicleHistor...&partner=CDM_O

 

the ad and the CarFax make no mention of replacement of the cam chain tensioner assemblies or the water pump either. Unless there is some documentation showing these problem areas have already been addressed, I'd suggest adding $5,000 to the purchase price for a realistic total of what the car will cost the next owner.

FWIW, my '02 XKR didn't swallow it's cam chain tensioner until it had 115,597 miles on it. Fortunately, that expense was incurred by the previous owner. Thanks to this forum for helping me know the major flaws that these cars have. So I was able to look for a car that had already been thru that pricey repair.;


Z

 

That's a good point and brings up a question. For 2nd generation tensioners/timing chain do you think that delaying such a repair (aside from leaving the mechanical risk of engine self-consumption unsolved) ultimately makes it more challenging to find a Jaguar mechanic (or friends) experienced with the repair? What population of XK8/XKRs with 1st or 2nd gen tensioners could be running but unrepaired?

 

 

XK8/XKR was produced in (by Jaguar standards) large numbers - 96,616 of which 50,048 were sold in the US.

Aside from accidents, the big killers are powertrain issues. failed tensioners or overheating for the engine and "sealed for life" transmission which, even with careful fluid and filter changes, is going to need a rebuild at some stage. Plastic tensioners are a well known issues but I doubt many but the wel informed and enthusiast owners will give too much consideration to later generation replacement.

The minor issues are generally electrical and, as the vehicles age, these could be the end for many unless an aftermarket industry for low cost repairs flourishes.

As numbers of remaining XK8/XKR decrease, values will rise and with this the specialists will thrive. However, a large majority of those buying at the trough of values either cannot or will not spend the money necessary to keep the vehicles in prime condition and more will be scrapped or need so much doing to restore that it's not economic sense.

The fraction of well maintained XK8/XKR with good provenance will then increase in value and the specialist support has a vested interest and a financial incentive to continue.

As the years pass, anyone with a good XK8/XKR should not have a problem finding experienced specialists BUT should be prepared to pay for it.

Graham

 

Jaguar introduced the new metal tensioners on engines manufactured after August 2001 - so its possible that if the car is one of the last 4.0 versions it already has the latest tensioners. The only way to know for sure is remove one of the cam covers and have a look.

 

........ but there were four generations of tensioner. The first of these was the original plastic. Generations 2 and 3 were metal but did not fully resolve failures. Generation 4 introduced with the 4.2 appears to be a robust resolution.

Graham

 

Looks like someone drove the vehicle from Arizona to Georgia and raised the price to $16K.

https://www.wranglerranch.net/2002-J...9/Details.aspx

https://www.carfax.com/VehicleHistor...817&source=BUP

 

Receipts and/or pics or it didn't happen.

I have receipts for the parts on both my 4.0 cars, AND pictures of the old in before and new ones in after. AND bags with the old crap saved. This is a critical repair and drastically devalues the car of not done.