It is now almost a year ago since I bought my 98 XK8. The car had a full service history, was kept in a garage, and is still in very, very good condition for its age.

I have been reading on this forum about everybody’s problems and accomplishments, and without actively participating, I have learnt a lot about the beauty in my garage. Of all the forums online, I have found the Jaguar Forum to be the most active, and I can speculate why it is like that!

Having read the forum for the last year, you may actually start to believe that all XK’s are really bad cars. Then denial steps in, and you think that since about 100,000 were sold worldwide, that mine may be one of the good ones, and it was taken care of by the previous owner. In the year I had it, I had a small repair on the cooling system, and that was it. Maybe I was one of the fortunate ones.

Last week, I took the car (yes to the Jaguar Dealer where it was always serviced) to get a coolant leak fixed, and a small oil leak at the sump and at the valve cover repaired. I have also asked the dealer to inspect the secondary tensioners while the covers were off, and replace if needed. The car’s service history had no tensioner upgrades, but maybe the owner had it done somewhere else.

Well, timing (excuse the pun) was perfect. After the valve covers were removed I got a call from the dealer and went to have a look. On the left bank, all was well. The original plastic tensioner looked exceptionally good for 86k miles! On the left, it was a different story. The secondary tensioner’s plastic was broken in pieces, and the primary tensioner guide was cracked. This would have not lasted many miles! I am replacing both sides’ guides, primary and secondary chains and tensioners. And yes, it is at the dealer, and yes, it is very expensive. On my cars and motorcycles, I will not touch the engines. I fix almost everything else, but the engine is where I draw the line. Trust me; I have tried in the past! When I get the car back, I will send the rear view mirror in to be repaired, and replace the headliner on the A pillars, and the above the visors.

BOTTOM LINE: If you read this, and you want to buy and XK8, or have an XK8, make sure the tensioners have been updated. Do yourself a favor and DO NOT WAIT. I was still lucky. We will see what the next year brings! The car still makes me feel like I am 12 again!

 

Congratulations on both the anniversary and the lucky escape.

 

Congrats. Are you using Flow Jaguar in Winston-Salem? Overall impression of their people, quality of service, and prices?

 

I use Flow Jaguar in Greensboro. The car was purchased and serviced there when it was still Bob Dunn Jaguar.

Overall, the few times I have been there has been very good. Prices? Parts are higher than Ebay, but not too excessive in my opinion. With my current repairs, it seems that they really care about the client and the car.

 

Glad to hear that. I really liked the staff and customer care approach at Bob Dunn Jaguar. I was sad to see them sell out to Flow in 2011. Haven't been to Flow yet. Hope they take care of you as well as Bob Dunn would have....

 

Congratulations on the Anniversary.

That was a very lucky escape with the failing tensioner!

Graham

 

happy anniversary! I hope you bought her wine and flowers lol

 

One year is the paper anniversary and it sounds like you spent some green paper on her.

As in any relationship, if she is happy, you are happy.

Now don't take these car/wife metaphors too far and let us find some incriminating pictures with your ding-a-ling in the muffler.

B

 

Congrats and happy motoring!