So it might be time for me to buy yet another Jaguar after a 10
year hiatus and I need some opinions on what I am thinking about
purchasing.

I found a 2002 Jaguar XK8 w/ 42K on the clock. In Gunmetal w/ black
top. All options including Nav and 18'' wheels. Single owner, with
good records. She is wanting $12.5K for the car. Minus a scratch or
two the car is in excleent shape. I am waiting on the carfax and
prior owner says its clean.

So if the carfax comes back clean what do you folks think? Anything
I should be looking for in particular? I know the nicksyl is not an
issue on this year car, and I will listen for the chain tensioner
issues. I would like to grab the car for $10.5K, do you think this
is a feasible price point.

Other than that if this goes as planned my lovely miata will be up
for sale, hate to see it go but I can't justfy owning 2
convertibles in Colorado.

Thanks for your insight

Cheers

Moltenburn

 

Gunmetal: great color!

The only caveat I would offer is that you won't necessarily hear anything out of the ordinary heralding a tensioner failure. Sort of like heart disease ... the first symptom is sometimes death.

I would just budget in getting the secondaries replaced asap.

At $10.5k, it would be a steal, if all the records are good and clean.

Good luck.

 

I disagree the notion that tensioners will fail without any warning. It could and does happen, but in the highest majority of cases, there will be indicators to provide some warning that the tensioners and/or chains are about to cause some major problems for you. I have a 98 XK8 with 80K on it. Had a Jaguar mechanic inspect the chains and tensioners, He says they are like new. He says they are the first generation tensionsers and they are not showing any wear. I discussed this issue at length with him as he has years of experience around V8 Jaguars. In his humble opinion the tensioners were a problem area but, it is very rare that a tensioner will have a total failure without any warning. If you listen carefully, when you start your engine, the tensioners or chains will rattle it they are about to give you problems. You will hear a rattle that may only last a few seconds on the top front of one or both cam covers. If you hear this then check it out. If not, then it unlikely you will suffer any problems.

However, I guess it's better to be safe than sorry. But, this does not alter the fact that based on comments about tensioner replacements there are many forum members who would never take the risk. They have replaced perfectly good parts on their cars for nothing more than peace of mind.

 

Check the manufacture date on the driver 'B' column. The '02 MY converted to metal tensioners in August '01. If your potential car was manufactured Sept '01 or later it has the latest tensioners. August would require an engine number inspection. Check the FAQ sticky for the fine details.

My '02 had plastic but was manufactured in June '01.

If you are relying on a 'noise' to advise of an impending failure of a plastic tensioner then you are a fool.

 

Your first mistake is to call anybody here GENTS,

lets turn this around.

Does it make you happy?
Do you have the money to maintain it?

Assume these things,

If you wrench it yourself think about a possible parts bill of about 800 dollars to wipe the slate clean by fluids filters tensioners etc.

If you have to rely on a mechanic you will see that number jump to 2500-4000


YMMV

 

If you reviewed the posts of all those who posted their findings (and there were many) after a preventative tensioner change, the vast majority found at least a 1/4" crack in the plastic housing, some a lot worse. I can recall one, maybe two, who found apparently 'perfectly good parts'. Anecodotal, yes, but good enough for me.

 

Buy it. Do the tensioners, and enjoy the ride.

 

Do it! Even at $12k you will enjoy.
I'm getting ready to spring for the "Tensioner Peace of Mind Option"

 

Just got back from looking the car over and it has potential. Starting a new thread with what I found, stay tuned.

 

You would really risk your engine based on what this mechanic said....knowing the history of these plastic tensioners? I thought my '97 was fine until I heard that little rattle. I didn't ecen kow they were a potential problem, but I was also driving a '91 ZR-1 at the time with the DOHC 32V engine. Those can have a lot of chain rattle without busting anything, but to be safe I replaced my tensioners. It was a helluva lot harder than doing the Jag secondaries, but well worth it to quiet it down.

So, I was super sensitive to the sound of a loose cam chain on startup. When I heard it from the Jag I pulled it in and did the job before I drove another mile. If I had missed the sound -- which is VERY easy to NOT hear inside the Jag's quiet cabin -- I would have destroyed my engine.

There is always more maintenance to be done at that point anyway, so why take a chance for just a few hundred dollars (or even a grand)?