Are remanufactured/refurbished rack and pinion steering gears, as well as the power steering pumps worth considering. My r/p gear has gone out, with fluid everywhere. It leaks out as fast as I put p/s fluid in, and my mechanic said the whole thing; gear, pump, lines, etc., all need replacing. I've seen reman/refurb gears for anywhere from $155 up to $450. An original Jag XK8 gear for my 2000 model would be many times that! Most of the r/r gears come with limited 1-3 year warranties. Anyone owned one of these r/r gears, and what was your experience? Thanks.
Steve

 

If faced with the same decision as you, then yes I would go with 'Refurbished'.

Just be aware that your XK8 has a fast 'Sport' rack MJC3900AB. Perhaps someone in this forum can confirm, but it is something like 2.6 turns Lock-to-Lock.
The XJ8 of the same period (Not XJR) has an interchangeable rack with your XK8 but it has a slower gear ratio. . So be aware that some Jaguar recon units are available on the market and will look the same and fit your car - but the rack gearing is slower and you will notice the difference. Choose carefully.