Greetings,

I am looking at a 2001 xk8, tripple black with 15,500 on the clock. Is there a way to glean the engine build date from the VIN, SAJDA42C61NA16886, or the engine number, N60012111442? Does anyone have access to info the layman does not that could run these and see what comes up?

I have learned, from this awesome forum, the build date in on the engine, left side but one has to put it up in the air to read it, correct me if this is not the case. I don't really have access to a lift until the PPI and I want to do some leg work before we get that far.

The car is in SUPER shape, one small paint blemish and one small scratch on the driver’s seat, otherwise everything works as it should. A really nice car. I drove it for an hour and a half on the highway, through some winding roads and finishing in stop and go traffic. No issues, no rattles, no vibrations, it passed the eye test and an initial test drive.

I have read the stickies’ on what to look for, top hydraulics, chain tensioners up grade (not done yet), bushings, ball joints, thermostat upgrade, coolant system, is there anything I have missed? I know with a car of its age, 2001, and such low miles the concern is having issues from lack of use, I’ve read many times from you guys, not mileage but care. We will have to evaluate the purchase as a whole if we get there.

I know it’s not supercharged but one has to start somewhere.
Thanks much,
Griff

 

Hi Griff,
The car was built on the 21st December 2000 according to Ford's website. Engine date is in the number. Ignoring the N6, you have 00-12-11-1442, which is 11th December 2000 at 14:42 (I hear the time may not be accurate), tying in with the build date.

You've hit the most important hot topics, but make sure that everything electrical works as it should and that you have the 3 keys and two fobs.
Any Jaguar dealer should be able to give you the car's service history from the VIN, and some may not charge you for it.

I'm sure others will chime in with anything else you may need to know.

Good luck!

Mike

 

Thank you Mike that is great information so if they ended building those engines in August of 2000 and that is a December of 2000 build looks like we're in the clear there. Now time for a PPI.
I called my bank to get a rough loan value of the car they said $9500. I will have to look up NADA Kelly Blue Book and Edmunds see where those ranges come in any thoughts on pricing?

Again thank you for your information
Griff

 

oh what the dealer is ganna ask and what it is worth will be worlds apart!

 

Ya got that right!!!

 

What Tim said.

I'll defer to US members to steer you on price. This side of the pond, and in the islands in particular, sellers seem to have an even more vivid imagination...

I looked at a black-on-black 2004 XKR recently. Pretty, but it had a dent in one of the rear wings and the grey window trim was corroded in places. Just a general air of not being particularly loved.
Dealer wanted the equivalent of ~$22,650. At the end of the day it's still a 12 year old car no matter what it's fitted with.

Mine is on value-agreed insurance for just over $11,000 equivalent. The valuation came from the local classic car restorers that I trust: they won't inflate the value as it's their reputation.

Happy hunting, and make sure that whoever does the inspection knows his Jaguars.

Mike

 

Just curious what importance the engine build date might have. Something to do with car registration?

 

Depending on the model year 4.0L, It can tell what tensioners the car should have and whether they need to be changed tomorrow or in a couple years.

 

Mid 02 was the change date on tensioners, there's a thread somewhere that gives the engine date. Any 01 would be in need of change if not done. Not sure what year the Naskil issue was resolved which would be more a concern, I think 01 would not be a issue but the op might want to check.

 

August 2001 was the engine build date conversion to metal tensioners. My '02 MY car, built in June, '01 had the plastic tensioners as will this car. August '00 was the conversion to steel sleeves replacing Nikasil plating.

Any dealer will have warranty repair information. Only the servicing dealer will have non warranty history and only going back to when they last upgraded their computer system.

 

Thought that Aug 01 was also the change to second generation (but still plastic) chains.
Ken in WV

 

The second generation of plastic tensioners with a spring assist began to be added in very early '00 if my memory still works. The metal 3rd generation was August '01.

 

From thoroughly going over the stickies' in the X100 thread I believe this is correct information:

The conversion to metal tensioners occurred supposedly at the start of '02 model production. The conversion date was August 13, 2001 at the engine plant. Test Point et al.

The conversion to third generation tensioners occurred in 2003

The end of the Nikasil motors 08/13/2000 2:45pm. Michaelh et al.

Do not confuse the model year build date with engine year build date they are not necessarily the same. You can have a 2002 MY car with a 2000 MY engine from the factory. Check both dates to be sure what you have.

 

Thanks, tp - I stand corrected.

Mike

 

From Jagtec See bottom for web site on this also.

In their zeal to reduce the weight of the valve train and related components as a way of improving fuel efficiency, the engineers under designed the AJ-V8's timing gear: in particular, the cam chain tensioners. These plastic components are part of the AJ-V8's single-chain design, a weight-saving alternative to the more robust double-chain approach Jaguar has used on most of its six-cylinder engines. (The new 4.2L version of the Jaguar AJ-V8 engine has double timing chains.)
As a result of their weak design and other factors like engine overheating or poor maintenance, the plastic cam chain tensioners on 1997 to 2000 V8 Jaguars began to experience stress fractures, and so did some of the plastic guides. While the cars were under warranty, many tensioners were replaced by Jaguar service departments with improved components.

Engines subject to this problem include XJ8/XJR engines with the last six digits of their VIN numbers between 812256-F41862, and XK8/XKR engines with the last six digits of their VIN numbers between 001001-A24195.
Note that late in the 1999 model year the factory began installing upgraded plastic tensioners. These second-generation units are, to the best of our knowledge, more reliable than the originals.
In 2005, Jaguar introduced a third-generation metal-based tensioner kit.

Jaguar Tensioner Replacement | Jagutek | Ely Cambs

I believe all of the 4.2L V8s had the metal.

Ken in WV

 

At last count there were 21 separate parts numbers associated with the evolution of the cam chain tensioners.

The original plastic version introduced with the '96 MY in Great Briton has been referred to as the first generation.

In 1999, in response to failures under warranty, Jaguar changed the design to include a spring assisted chain slipper but retained the plastic body of the tensioner. The only affect of this was to quieten failing tensioner noise; the infamous start up 'rattle'. This version has been referred to as the second generation.

In 2001, in response to continued failures of the tensioners, Jaguar introduced the metal bodied tensioner with an improved chain slipper. That was put into engine production at the referenced August 2001 date. While about the time of '02 model year production start a number of '02's missed the new tensioner, including mine.

In February 2002 Jaguar introduced an upgraded cam chain referred to as a Morris Chain or quite chain. The metal body tensioner was retained as is.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

 

Hope this helps

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...ur-xk8-160384/

A quick entry using your VIN revealed this build date:
21.12.2000

 

Going by the engine number the engine build date is 11th December 2000 at 14:42
N6 00(year) 12(month) 11(day) 14(hour) 42(minute)