81 k on that engine is very little if maintained, your car is just suffering from a little old age. when all cars get that old they will nickle-dime you to death, so the question is how much you like it. but a new engine will not solve your problems.

 

everything you mention had nothing to do with the power plant / core engine. It’s all a list of engine “accessories”. Just bite the bullet and keep fixing whatever breaks. Everything you have fixed are things that will probably break on any other replacement engine.


Z

 

I was able to mitigate the "clearance" with new front shocks. The other, well..........................

 

You're right. It sucks getting old

 

I've come to the very same conclusion......Thanks

 

I feel your pain. Once a car becomes 10 years old it’s no longer a suitable car for a wife’s car. Too many things to go wrong. There is always an exception but Jaguar X’s can become temperamental with age.
My 99 XK8 Cabriolet (Gwendolyn) now has 127k on her odometer. After 7 years of happy ownership and over 30k miles of great summer touring with the top down, I’m looking at the once little oil drip on the garage floor which has now increased to the point of needing flattened cardboard slipped under her still powerful engine.
I’d love to send her off to have a complete conversion done to a modern engine and tranny, but this is a Pandora’s Box! Once it’s opened there is no closing it. It’s trade for newer model or in my case disassemble the front of the engine compartment to get to the oil leak. I think it’s timing cover. I can only hope the cover isn’t cracked but only in need of seal replacement. Won’t know unless it’s taken apart. If I take it to a shop it will cost more than the cars worth. If I can fix the leak and put it back together, I could get another 30k miles of summer fun.
Hell she’ll be an antique in 3 years what else can you expect from an old car? If I could find a carpet kit I’d put it in too!