I noticed last week that it looks like I have some coolant seepage around the bypass hose (new one ordered) so I have been checking coolant level every couple of days just to make sure it is full. Today, when I took the reservoir cap off - it was in 2 pieces. Luckily Advance had a replacement - CARQUEST PN 10263.

 

Similar to how the older models are labeled with having inferior electronics, I fear that our models will be known for their cheap plastics that have gone brittle.

I just broke a couple non-critical plastic parts doing the thermostat/water pump/pulleys. All I did was bump into them and SNAP!

 

Such is life with these cars. In my nearly 50 years of driving, my experience is that Jaguar plastics age the worst of any vehicle I have ever owned. I try to be extremely careful when doing anything in the engine bay due to the collateral damage I may cause if I accidentally bump something with a tool or my elbow....

 

it's definitely going to continue to be a challenge to keep the plastic bits from breaking.

 

maybe, but I would hesitate to characterize the plastic as cheap because it's breaking after 18 - 21 years of service. These cars, just like ALL cars, were designed to turn into a pumpkin after 10+ years. So any service we get after 10 years is a gift.

Z

 

z - good point and a trade-off from being a heavy tank to a nimble tourer - just hope the replacement plastic parts last as long as the originals!! Mine is fast approaching 20 years with my 7+years being used as a daily driver.

 

The plastics in my 1999 Dodge Ram are indeed superior. Its factory original coolant expansion reservoir is very thick and still just as pliable as it was when it was new. The rest of the engine bay plastic components are holding up just as well. No fluid leaks of any kind. So do not assume that ALL automotive plastics are engineered to turn to dust in just ten years....

Granted, I did have to replace a two-foot-long segment of nylon fuel line a couple of weeks ago because it had cracked and was leaking a small amount of fuel down near the fuel pump. Rather than replacing it with another nylon segment, I opted to go with a segment of rubber fuel line hose in that spot....

 

In Bahrain, plastic ages worst I’ve seen. Temps of 45degC (45x2 - (4.5x2)+32) = 121degF during summer and relentless sunshine really ages a car. This weekend, I’m replacing all my door card fir tree fixings as a result. Window tinting is a must - not a wannabe gangster accessory. Sunglasses are necessary parts of survival kits, not a fashion statement. Premium cars here must be garaged as Sun is a car killer here.

i’m a big believer that 3D printing will save classic cars. Jay Leno said it in an interview recently. On another thread, look at what Tom Baker is doing 4D printing parts on the dodgy Centre Console.

My belief is that the demise of the X100 will be the complex connectivity of the different control modules. In 20 years time who could diagnose and repair the chips in our PCBs.

 

My car has been garaged almost every night since 2005, except for a vacation here and there.
I firmly believe that this has contributed to overall survival of many parts of the car.
Less direct sunlight, fewer temperature extremes.

 

Likewise, the Mistress has been garaged nightly since I purchased her 7 years ago but we do get some pretty intense summertime temps - not as extreme as David's but last week saw 100+ degree temps. Greg, Do you store yours in the winter as well?

 

what goes around comes around.

Nowhere is this more evident than car care. As far as I can tell from the ownership records, my '02 was always garaged except for road trips. Aside from the benefits of garaging a car, our cars will definitely appreciate having the hood opened when at rest in the aforementioned garage. I don't know the total dollar amount of all the under-hood hoses, but it's not peanuts. Keeping the hood open as the motor cools will keep heat soak damage at bay as long as possible.


Z