I am still on the hunt for a good XK8 or an XKR my friend made an off the cuff remark during my hunt that's a face-lifted model.. we got on to another subject before I could ask how he knew it was face-lifted.

There is an obvious difference say between a 2002 model and his 2009 model but at a glance I cannot spot a facelifted 2004 and a non face-lifted one.

So how do you spot the difference?

Thanks.

 

The difference is easiest to see in the front valance. It comes down lower, there are vents at the bottom and a mesh grill.

Facelift:


Non:

 

Also, do note that it doesn't take much effort to alter a non-facelifted model to look like the newer car as long as your cheque book can cope with it. Almost all parts are readily interchangeable save for the boot plinth which requires some drilling and the tail lights which require some metal work.

 

Thanks for the replies. The thing is he was looking at the side of the car.......

What year did the facelifts start? Aside from the cosmetic differences is there any other practical differences?

 

The 4.2 engine was introduced in '03.

From the side you can check for the presence of the door guard mouldings. That trim however can removed easily. The rocker panels on the facelifted car is a little more squared off and closer to the ground.

 

Easier to see with a direct comparison.

My Sapphire Blue 2001 XK8 Coupe 4.0 on the right and Frost Blue 2005 XK8 4.2-S Coupe on the left:



You may notice from the Indigo Blue 2007 XK Coupe in my SigPic, I have a favourite colour!

Graham

 

1997-1999
Recessed fog lamps, Harmon Kardon stereo, angled script nomenclature.
2000:
Head unit changed to Alpine, nomenclature is a blocker style, fog lamps still recessed.
2001-2002:
Fog lamps flush, jeweled style tail lamps, separate head rests (except optional recaros) lower rear valence
2003:
4.2L engine and 6 speed transmissions
2004-2006:
Lower front and rear valences, single mesh grill (XKR), no side molding, side skirts added

Hopefully this is a good list to spot the year using fairly obvious things. Am I missing anything gentlemen?

 

The later models also have less chrome/silvering in the headlight than the early models.

 

Thanks for that Gentlemen. Obviously he spotted the "added side skirts" .

In some ways (don't shoot me for this) I think I like the look of the non-face lift models.

What I really need is a good look around an XK with someone who knows what they are talking about. Anyone in the Malvern area?

I have a friend who has just got himself an XKR 2009? I think. But with all due respect to him he probably would not even know where to top up the oil. But he does have a lovely car.

 

For the benefit of those beyond the shores of Olde England, Malvern is in the county of Worcestershire (pronounced Woostershur), approximately 50 miles from the Jaguar plant.

Graham

 

I kind of like the non facelifted as well. Now my 2001 xkr has separate headrests. Changed perhaps? Seats are like new and had to of been redone at some point

 

Here are some comparisons of facelift/no facelift

 

You just scared the hell out of my dogs....

As soon as those photos popped up they took off running and I haven't seen them since....

 

Manufacturers tend to encorporate styling cues into end year models to reduce shock when updating to a new version of an iconic model. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesnt. Sometimes its just a matter of personal opinion to what looks best to us. And sometimes the manufacturer is just trying to give an old horse new life. With my XJR I felt that the updating (all new car) was worth the loss of what I considered the more aggressive look of its replacement. It still however retained the look of an XJ. The facelift on the XKR to me looses some of its traditional aggressive look for I guess a more modern one. However unlike the XJR its still the basic same horse. There just isnt a thing Id do aesthetically to the current bodylines of my older XKR. I think Jaguar did a remarkable job. (I do however question thier choice of rims and brakes)

 

Or you can do what I did and make your XK8 look exactly the way you want!! This happens to be the Arden ground effects kit on a 2002 XK8.

 

And that's a facelift.

 

After looking at the facelift and the non face lift I like the grill on the face lift one but would want to keep the headlights. The 'old' ones look "cleaner" if you know what I mean.

As for Malvern being in Olde England, yep that's right. Where the Morgan car comes from. Charles Morgan, nice guy, still lives nearby though they have kicked him out of the company now.

On another note- a lady from Tewksbury, about 2 miles away, asked on Freecycle if anyone had a spare modem. So I sent her an email saying yes come and collect. Then she said "where is Malvern?" I told her to go into the garden and take a look around and if she spotted large hills going up into the sky then that where she should head. Email back "cant see any hills" turns out there is a Tewksbury in Boston USA. No wonder she couldnt see the hills

 

You want to take a look a look at the "improvements" Stallones mum did to herself........... ahhhhhhh

Just found a newspaper clipping http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...rt-attack.html

 

Hi guys. I was looking for something else and came across my previous post. Talk about coincidences. I am currently looking at two cars. I more than likely will be buying one of them. The colour choices between the two cars are the two above. The frosty blue one is a 2003 and the other is a 2001. Currently I am leaning towards the 2001 model. Half the mileage but I have a better gut feeling about it than the other one.

I am busy trying to find the posting where someone offered to find the specs of cars for me via the Vin number.

 

Just keep in mind that pre 2002 XK8 has the major tensioner issues. Unless you have definitive proof that they have been changed, I'd steer clear of the older ones. There's an engine build date that a dealer can pull and check if it was done at the dealership if you don't have paperwork. If it was done independently, there won't be any record other than a receipt from the shop. This is an expensive repair and necessary on the older cars so do your homework. The 2093 is safer bet on this issue.
My 2002 had original metal tensioners but while doing some other work, we noticed the plastic "shoes" that the chain runs on was almost worn off on one and wearing on the other. We ended up changing them to err on the side of caution.