Alright guys. I used to be a big poster on here but haven't been on in a couple of months. Heres my dilemma. I had a 03 x type with just around 100k on her. My girl friend rear ended an old lady about two weeks ago. I received a call from my adjuster today and they are totaling the car .
I do believe that this was a blessing in disguise. I never had any problems with my car, but i was never all that confident in the reliability of it once she got some miles on her.

The adjuster said that they where going to give me 7700 for it. So i guess that not to bad.
Here is the main problem. I don't want to spend much more than 9 grand total. I don't really want another x type because the transfer case thing has always scared me.
i can find some 03 s types around 80 miles for around 9 grand, but would really love an xk. I did fine a 2000 xk with 100k on it in Georgia. The guy wants 8500 for it and "says" its in great condition. What should i look out for when if I take a look at it?

What do you guys recommend? I really would love to stay in a cat!

 

That may be the exact car Fedora (in the xk8/R) area was looking at. You can follow his camaro vs Jag thread where he is documenting his search for one.

For $9k, I'd look at a 2002-2003 XJR, but that's just me. I'm afraid the 'good' XKs are going to be in the low teens. Good meaning tensioners, water pump, and other minor issues already addressed.

Good luck! Definitely a blessing. Time to upgrade. (and keep the new car keys away from the GF)

 

Hey scuba, sorry to hear about your probs, although as you say it may have been a blessing in disguise.
Sorry, but this is the help and suggestion centre for queries relating to forum use Scuba. Your post will have to be moved......
I'm adding it to the X type section, but if you think it'd be better off in the XK section or maybe the off topic either I or one of the mods can move it at your request.
I hope you get what you want scuba.....good luck

 

An 02-03 xkr for 9,000 grand! If you can find one for that I would buy it today!
Is there any way to tell if the tensioner's have been done? The guy is the second owner and doesn't know if there where done by the previous owner or not.

Sorry about posting in the wrong area. I would like it moved to the xk section i guess?

 

Ok,I am moving your thread off to XK Forums as you requested
I hope you can find whatever you want

 

..I typed x J r, not k...don't get excited.

 

You did get me excited lol. Yea I like the xjr but I don't like the pre 04 model as much as the 04 and up ones. Is there any easy way I can look under the hood and tell if the timing chain tensioners where changed? Or is it a hard process?

 

If you don't have documentation from the seller (from a dealer or independent shop with matching VINs) then you're going to have to take off each valve cover to see. IIRC, if you do it carefully, you don't have to replace the gasket when reinstalling the cover. But, if it were me, i'd end up with a leak afterward, so I'd spend a little and get new gaskets for when I put it back together.

 

As I understand it, the 4.2 litre engine is already OK for cam tensioners, it is just the 4 litres (and the 3.2s in Europe). Didn't the last of the steel bodied XJs have the 4.2 engine ? From your budget you can't afford the ally-bodied XJ8, or am I wrong ?

 

I'm pretty sure the 2003 = 4.0, the 2004 got the 4.2. The s-types got the 4.2 a little earlier, similar to the xk8s/r

 

What do you guys think about this? I figured I could get the two front seats redone and the top fixed and I would still be in budget. What kind of money are we talking to replace the tensioners myself? Is there a pretty good diagram or power point to follow to do the fix? Let me know what you guys think!
http://miami.craigslist.org/pbc/cto/1837195937.html

 

Using the Lincoln LS tensioners, which are Jaguar, and FelPro gaskets for the LS you are looking at $150 in parts plus rental of the tools. About $850 at an indy, $1200 at a dealer including labor. Took me 4 hours and I had never done that before.

An '03 will have the metal tensioners even though it is a 4.0L.

The top hoses are about $350 plus 8 hours professional labor, 12 of yours. Complete seat leathers are more like $700 plus your labor.

Big mileage, see the FAQ above on buying an XK8. Tensioners are a must. These transmission have a history of a 100k mile life if not serviced and Jaguar does not recommend servicing.

 

That has been up for a good couple of weeks now. I rejected it based on the condition of the seats alone.

 

You did not take a look at the vehicle did you?

 

After doing some research, I came upon this site for an easy to do tensioner replacement. What do you think?
http://jeg.serverhouse.com/Jag_docs/...in_tension.pdf

 

Scubayacts
Sounds like a good buy. All of the repair items are relatively DIY items. I never had to do the tensioners, but the hose replacement besides being time consuming and the seats are all simple enough. Blending the scratch would probably be higher than $75.00 but you should be able to bring this car up to fine condition for under $2000. $8800 sounds pretty sweet to put you behind the wheel. If I was in the market I would consider this car especially for the price.
Doug
2001 XKR Silverstone

 

I'm a little concerned about the craigslist car in the OP, I mean the seller is saying it will only cost some 'loose change' to fix some of these things, but he won't do them himself to increase the value of the car? To me, anyone that won't repair those small things (and undervaluing them in the description) in order to move the car would bring many doubts to mind, like what else he's not disclosing that isn't obvious (top doesnt work, scratch n dents, etc). I see red flags on this one.

 

Thanks for the input Doug. I test drove an 02 xk8 yesterday and loved it. The car I drove only had 21k on it and it wasn't as smooth as I thought it would be. It had a slight vibration in the steering wheel I don't know if that was From the wheels being out of balance or not. Are your guys cars pretty smooth riding?

 

H20 good point. I spoke with the guy on the phone, he said he's in the middle of a divorce and just wants out of the car so he can raise some cash.

 

These cars are very sensitive to poor alignments and vibrations...I currently have a small one at 75 mph (think its a bent rim, the tire shop said it had one) but it was 10x as bad when my lower shock bushing had gone away. There are several suspension components that can transfer vibrations into the car. Hard to tell, but all is fixable with some $$