I don't want anybody to get me wrong. I own two Jags, the Xj6 for eight years and the XK8 for two+ years. I love them both for different reasons as one might guess since they are such different cars. I was beginning to think about updating one or both of the cars to newer models. But I may actually have the very best that Jag has built or is going to build. In my opinion there is not now and never will be nicer styling than exist with both cars.

I was considering looking for a 2003 or 2004 replacement for the 2000 XK8. But reading about all the fuel pump issues on those cars (six pumps in six months for SteveJacks) is something I don't want to go through. And I was considering going to about a 2005 XJ. But the recent Consumer Report put the Jag XJ and XF at the very bottom in the reliability ratings for luxury cars. Sure the cars I own have mechanical issues. But those are issues that I understand and can be worked as needed.

I'm wondering. What is going on with Jaguar? Are they never going to be able to build a really reliable car. Of course the reliability issue sure has caused massive depreciation which for us DIYers, with a little help, has been a big advantage.

Just wondering what others think.

 

I did a tremendous amount of research before purchasing our 2005 S-Type in December 2008, then much additional research before purchasing our 2006 XK8 in January 2012....

In a nutshell, I believe that Ford's ownership forced significant quality improvement across the Jaguar model lines (and undoubtedly saved the marque from the scrap heap of history), and by the 2005 to 2007 timeframe the company was building what will probably prove to be its best-ever products from a reliability / longevity standpoint. The fall-off-a-cliff depreciation issue will never reflect that concept based upon Jaguar's long-suffering reputation, but it certainly benefits those of us who always purchase well-cared-for second-hand vehicles. Our S-Type has proven to be the best bang-for-the-buck vehicle we've ever owned, and I hope that one day I'll be able to make that same statement about our XK8. Only time will tell....

I do not expect Tata Motors to be able to get their current and future crop of Jaguars to the same standards that Ford was able to reach. It may happen, but I doubt it. And I never expect to own a Tata-era Jaguar as a result....

That's my opinion. It will be interesting to see what others have to say....

 

I just bought my XJ6 because it is reputed to be mechanically one of the most reliable cars on the road. It appears the differential may not be up to that reputation, but I can live with that. I would not want one of the later XJ8's with the air suspension.
My XK8 with the nikasil engine should also have a long life now that I have replaced the secondary tensioners, water pump and thermostat housing. If the a-drum fails I can replace that myself, but by not horsing it in first and keeping up with fluid/ filter changes I hope that I can avoid that issue.

 

I did a similar change almost twelve months ago.

Other than a TPS failure, my 2001 XK8 needed the usual cooling system and suspension attention. I owned it for five years and it looked as good when sold as it did on the day I bought it. A reliable vehicle which gave little trouble and took me on several fast trips from the North of England to the South of France.

Whilst I prefer the larger 4.2 engine and 6 speed transmission of the 2005 XK8, the DSC is a constant source of annoyance. It displays fault warnings for no apparent reason which clear with the next engine restart. I'm also tracing a SRS (Supplementary Restraint System) error code which has so far seen half the interior dismantled!

My feeling after a relatively short period of ownership is the later model is unnecessarily more complex electronically than the preceding 4.0 litre models. This may not lead to problems but could equally prove to be a curse as the vehicles age.

We're already familiar with the transmission fluid issues and there's evidence the front and rear shaft speed sensors in these transmissions could be a weakness.

The major improvement is the engine. The tensioner issue looks to be solved and the cooling system is so far more robust.

Overall, no regrets at the change but I don't see the 2005 as a long term vehicle. Probably keep it for another two years and go for a change.

Graham

 

Graham
I had the same problem with my ABS/DCS and finally I re-soldered the pins ion the circuit board. I haven't had a issue with it since. Instead of cutting the case on the seam I drilled a .75 hole in the side and plugged it with a 3/4" plug. Less invasive. You need to use a drill press so you won't hit the circuit board.

 

Very interesting. What made you suspect the circuit board connections?

 

When I ran a diagnostic I had a C code I don't remember which one, but it referred me to the module. I had already cleaned the sensors and checked the harnesses. When I opened the ABS module I could actually see the crack in the one pin. I also re-soldered the other pin just to be safe.

 

Doug,

I understand and accept the issue with the circuit board on the 4.0 litre models as a regular issue but don't think this applies to the 4.2 litre models.

DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) adds another level of complexity with the addition of Yaw Control on the 4.2 models. This supersedes the simpler ASC (Anti-Lock Braking System, Traction Control) on the earlier 4.0 models.

Where the earlier ASC causes frequent issues with dirty Wheel Speed Sensors and the ABS Module circuit board, DSC adds several other controls and sensors e.g. steering wheel angle monitoring:



The number of extra sensors in the Adaptive Damping makes for a frighteningly complex system with many more possible sources for faults:



In comparison, the various parts of ABS, TRAC Control and DSC act individually as follows:

1. Anti-lock Braking prevents wheels from locking and skidding during emergency braking.

2. Traction Control intervenes to prevent wheel spin by automatically reducing engine power output and applying braking to individual wheels.

3. Yaw Control assesses the vehicle's direction relative to driver input and applies braking pressure to individual wheels if excessive variation is detected.

DSC supposedly masterminds the three in combination and further tweaks individual brake pressures.

The automatic application of the individual brakes in DSC coupled with engine braking feels extraordinary when cornering hard.

I use my XK8 throughout the winter and, with the icy roads we had in December and January, was able to compare performance of the 2005 with DSC against my 2001 XK8 with ASC. The result on the 2005 with DSC was noticeably increased pulsing from the rear brakes in situations where better progress could be achieved with a controlled slide. Switching it off was an improvement.

The reason I don't think the ABS module is the cause of DSC fault warnings is because these only appear when the vehicle is cornered hard and they clear at the next ignition ON. A circuit board break wouldn't do this.

I'm waiting for the bad weather when I can hook up my AutoEnginuity and record monitoring up to and beyond the point DSC error is invoked. This should give a better indication of the contributing factors.

Graham

 

EZ,

Were I you I would hold off till you can find a suitable 07 or better XK. They seem pretty solid, at least mine has been, and judging from the activity over in the XK Forum there are no serious chronic issues with the car.
I'm sure you will appreciate the improvements to the car from the XK8 series. The styling is a separate and wholly subjective issue but I love mine.