It seems to me that everything on these cars fails nearly simultaneously near the 80k mi mark.

Off the top of my head, within the past 10k mi I've replaced:
Water pump
Thermostat
Radiator
Radiator hoses
Octopus hose
Valley hoses
Drive belt
Throttle body elbow hose
Intake manifold gaskets
MAFS
Intake hose and filter
Shock absorbers
Shock mounts
Radiator fans
Control arm bushings
Sway bar bushings
Tie rod
Timing chain tensioners
Throttle body gasket
Brake pads
Tires
Overhead homelink braket
Audible warning speaker
Part load and full load breather pipes
Valve cover gaskets
Fuel filter
Power steering return hose fix
and a paint job.

I am still pending the wheel bearings and the rear window regulators; the green shower happened 20k mi ago.

Can I expect anything else to go bad soon?

I almost gave up on this car, but the thought that I've put so much time, effort, and to a lesser extent, money, into it, that I may have made it reliable for a new owner is grim.

 

I hope they don't go bad at 80k, mine has 85k.

 

Mine currently has 84k and that is the laundry list of things I have had to fix our replace and that list is incomplete. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one here who has had to tackle as many fixes.

 

why haven´t you bought a new car :-))))

its not usual, that you have to change so many parts at only 80k mls ...

I got some XKR 2004 ... with 60k mls ... changing parts untill now?

Brakepads & rotors front
Brakepads & rotors rear
some bushes and rubber parts for the suspension
lower bearings of the shock absorber rear
and the usal changing of the gearbock-plug/connector

thats it ...

 

It would help if we knew what year your car was, I believe reliability varies by model year. I'm guessing its a 1999 or 2000, I had one of those for 32K miles. That's why I have a 2006 and have personally put all 124K+ miles on it and have replaced less than half the parts you mention.

 

Yikes, I bet it is more due to age than mileage, I am well over 80 thousand and have done very little outside of routine maintenance, (Knock on burlwood)

 

My XK8 has only had me replace the sealed for life trans, the chain tensioners, the trans fluid and filter, oil and filter twice, a homelink module, a power mirror switch, a very good air conditioning leak filler(metal and seals). The refrigeration specialist told me it should be permanent, and I am coming up on a front brake pad change.

I have spent more on new interior leather, wire wheels, a luggage rack, and louvering the hood, but that is not necessary stuff.

I knew I was going to replace the trans soon, because the car had 90,000 miles on it, with nothing being done to the sealed for death unit, and I learned about the chain tensioners on this forum.

I bought the car for $3400 including sales and state taxes, and would have less than $5000 in it without playing with the shiny stuff.....I figure with proper maintenance, and over maintenance on the trans, she should be trouble free for at least another 100,000 miles....P.S. the previous owner got the green shower, so those hoses are new.......I guess it is your car.

These engines live forever, if maintained properly, and with fluid changes(antifreeze, brake, and oil) they should run pretty much trouble free. The key, as in with all cars is to address problems, when you start to hear a noise, or something doesn't feel right, instead of waiting for Armageddon to occur.

Before you buy a used car, always have it checked out, by someone who knows that make. It is worth the hundred dollars, to buy a good car, instead of a shiny pig. It may seem like a lot, but saves you many times that over the life of the vehicle. People don't sell Jags, because they get tired of the looks and luxury. It is usually that some mechanic has told them to get rid of it......My 2 cents.......Be cool.....Mike

 

Many of the items in your list are rubber (hoses / bushes / tyres) or seals which deteriorate with age.

Shock absorbers and brakes are more mileage related.

The vehicle is now 15 years old and, as well as the age factor, you may be picking up on some neglect by the PO.

Anything else to go bad soon? The transmission is a candidate unless it's had fluid changes.

Graham

 

Yes, for reason my signature doesn't show up when I post from my iPhone. This is a 2000 model year car. I don't plan on selling it. I do think the PO (my dad) neglected the car some.

After so much, I think now the car may be reliable again. I've never been left stranded, but I have had to change a lot of stuff, which, as you say, is stuff that deteriorates over time or that I broke by myself. A lot of this stuff has been done by myself out of preventive maintenance. I just feel I have had too many headaches.

Also, the trans fluid did get changed about 30k miles ago.

 

<p>Part of the problems you are seeing could be a result of the heat and salt air of PR, but with all you are doing to keep the car going&nbsp;here's hoping she gives you many more&nbsp;miles of driving pleasure.</p>

 

That is certainly a possibility. The conditions here are very different from those found in England. I doubt Jaguar tested these cars for durability in tropical islands. However, my car is rust free.

With my latest fix, the water pump, a 40 minute job became a 2 day job due to a stripped bolt head.

 

Agreed! You've addressed most, if not all, of the known issues for that model year. One question, has the throttle body itself ever been changed? The throttle position sensor is a weak point.

As noted deterioration from age and lack of proper care are the things that will be most prevalent moving forward - this is not necessarily due to lack of quality.

 

Greetings, I think I know what a "green shower" is, but kindly share which hoses should be examined. Along with the timing chains, tensions and guides, plus a bunch of other parts, I have replaced every hose in the engine bay. I recently bought new floor matts with the leaping Jag and have received new leather for the seats. I sure don't want this stuff soaked in green goo! Thanks very much! Regards, Ken

 

<p>Ken - with your coupe, you won't need to worry about the green shower as this is due to failure of the hydraulic hoses or latch ram in the convertibles.</p><p>Where did you get the floor mats with the leaper - I've been searching for some for a while</p>

 

1999 XK8, 111,000 miles and still going strong. I've owned it for coming up on 3 years and have only replaced the headlight lens and repaired a bore wash issue, which was my fault for moving the car 5 feet and shutting it off to put up Christmas lights.


These cars WILL fall apart if not taken care of. That and if someone who thinks they are driving in the Indy 500 on a daily basis, or they firmly believe they must floor it off the line at every stop.


Take care of the car and the car will take care of you...

 

95K and still going strong. Suspension mounts and hydraulic top pipes have been the main issues. Keeps bringing me home. love my daily driver.

 

I all the cooling system hoses more out out of preventive maint then anything. Once my fuel rail sprung a leak at one of the dampeners I said screw it and dug in and did the valley hoses and everything else hose related.
I am working on the front end now.

 

Hi Steve, Thanks for your reply. I wasn't thinking about hydraulic fluid. Regarding your floor matt question - I purchased two custom front floor matts to match my creme (NDR) color interior with the leaping jaguar logo in bright red from World Upholstery & Trim. I ordered them on 30-SEP-2014 and with shipping the total was $217.00. Their website is World Upholstery & Trim, American Manufacturer of Car/Auto Upholstery, Carpet, Convertible Tops, Car Seats, Headliners & Door Panel Parts for Classic European Cars like Mercedes, BMW, Porsche, Jaguar, Fiat, Ferrari and Alfa Romeo. I worked with Mick Dukellis (nick@worlduph.com) who was most friendly and helpful. Best wishes, Ken

 

<p>Ken - thanks for the info - will be contacting them this week</p>