I was looking for information on the later XK/XKR and came across this for the XK8/XKR.

The first Production Serial Number (last 6 digits of the VIN) for each year:



The VIN schema changed part way through the XK8/XKR production run:



A regular question is about introduction dates for upgrades:



The final XK8 (A48684) came off the production line at Jaguar’s Browns Lane factory on Friday 27th May 2005. This Frost Blue XKR 4.2-S Coupe was handed over to Jaguar Heritage Trust.

Graham

 

My last 6 are 005562, build date Oct 13, 1996 so early '97 model?

 

For Jaguar, Model Year and Calendar Year only synchronised in 2013. The new MY specification was always introduced after the traditional factory Summer holiday shut down. Consequently your 1996 built XK8 is a 1997 MY specification.

Graham

 

Another significant date was 13 Aug 2001, when the last 4.0L A27 engine with plastic cam chain tensioners was produced. That means there were only about ten months of production of 4.0L XK8/XKRs (less than 6,000 cars) that had metal tensioners from the factory before the 2003 model year incorporated the 4.2L AJ33 in June 2002. I feel most fortunate to have one of them.

 

However, the engines were often build well before being fitted, so a car can have a date which makes it seem like it would have the metal tensioners yet it doesn't.

That's where the date on the actual engine is the right thing to check (or better still pull the covers and look what's there).

 

+1

Although Jaguar use the 'just in time' delivery for parts arriving on the assembly line, the engines were built at a 'factory within a factory' of the Ford Bridgend engine plant which is 140 miles from Jaguar Browns Lane in Coventry. This inevitably resulted in days or even weeks between engine completion and vehicle completion. The engine of my 2001 XK8 was built 17th August 2001 and the vehicle was despatched only two weeks later on 5th Sept 2001. In contrast, my 2005 XK8 engine was built 10th Dec 2004 and the vehicle dispatched six months later on 15th June 2005.)

I think only Australia requires Build Date to be stamped on a vehicle. Even a full specification printout in the UK does not give build date although it does give the date the vehicle was dispatched to the supplying dealer.

Graham

 

Graham,

 

Roger,

It was a 2002 Model Year specification but a 2001 build (Calendar Year).

I use calendar year in my forum signature and descriptions. Where I refer to Model Year, I use the suffix MY as in 2002MY.

Several US members have 2006 XK8/XKR where all the documentation correctly shows this year (because that was when it was imported to the US) even though manufacturing actually ceased in May 2005.

Graham

 

^^ Confirming Graham's response above, my wife's XK8 was designated as a 2006 Victory Edition model built in May 2005....

 

So... according to this:

The first Production Serial Number (last 6 digits of the VIN) for each year:
The first XK built in 2002 is sitting in my driveway...my 2002XKR!

 

One down, nine more to find.

Graham

 

Here's a chart that shows the breakdown of models. Not sure if the years are calendar-year or model-year...

 

The design looks familiar. I put that together and posted it on 12th April 2012 with my initials and the date on the bottom right!

XK8 Production Figures- 1996 to 2005.pdf

The figures were a combination data published by JDHT and in Nigel Thorley's "You and Your Jaguar XK8".

At the time it wasn't clear whether the numbers referred to Model or Calendar Year. The latest chart at the top of the thread is from JHT records and is Calendar Year.

Graham

 

Interesting thread.

So my 2006 MY Victory Edition SN 48631 was 53 cars from the end of the run.

I think all the stuff Jaguar should have fixed during its run was done by this time. Very reliable, serviceable car.

The one exception is the hydraulic convertible top lines. They never fixed that. They should have. Beats me why they didn't use good stuff like you can buy from Top Hydraulics.

Jack

 

^^ Agreed, the green shower is the primary issue that haunts all of us ragtop owners if we keep our cars long enough. Thus far my wife's 2006 XK8 has been spared that very unpleasant experience....

 

Jon,

I replaced all of my lines with Top Hydraulics. They were all flaking black sheathing. It was just a matter of time before they blew. I feel comfortable using the top now.

Jaguar should have dealt with this. They know better.

Jack

 

Jack,

I hear you loud and clear. Wayne (cjd777) and I replaced his 2000 XK8's rear hydraulic lines in the spring of 2015 with Top Hydraulic lines. The black sheathing fell apart in our hands as we removed his original lines. He also had Top Hydraulics refurbish his rams at the same time. His front lines had already been replaced before he purchased the car....

It was a real learning experience and I really enjoyed helping Wayne with this messy and time-consuming project....

 

Sorry I missed your attribution. I had probably copied and saved the JPG image from the post, and your initials were outside the image.

Thanks for all you do for us.

 

No problem.

I consider anything and everything I post on the interweb to be free to copy, cut or criticise.

Graham

 

After demonstrating my 2000 convertible top functioning several times, the buyer experienced the 'green shower' the very first time he operated it. I had advised him of the problem with the lines as well as the tensioners. Guess I got lucky.