I'm considering the purchase of a 97 XK8 coupe with 110k miles.
It has one owner and service history but original tensioners "never told by the dealer those have to be changed" says the owner.

Would it be enough to change secondary tensioners only?
Is there a way to check chain, guides and primary when replacing the secondary ones?

I know an indie will be doing the whole lot for 1350€ and i guees only secondary for much less. Is there a proportional refrence i could use? Say 30% of total for instance.

 

what ever you do have them do the water pump and all the idler and tensioners for the serp belt also. You will have it apart, may as well get it done.

 

do it all. the chains have stretched a little.

 

I agree with Stevepaa - at 110K miles it's time to replace the lot. Could be the best money you ever spend.

 

Just bought an earlier XK8 (2000) and am very concerned about the tensioners myself. The answer to this question may be obvious but how would someone figure out if the tensioners HAVE already been upgraded?

 

Unless you have a service paper showing it's been done, you have to take the cam covers off and look.

 

A one owner 1997 XK8 with service history is excellent (and rare) provenance.

It is reasonable that the owner is unaware of the tensioner issue if he has exclusively used a Jaguar Dealer for servicing the vehicle. Although Jaguar is well aware of the problem and has had three re-designs of the tensioner, they are not the subject of a recall nor is inspection part of any Jaguar service schedule.

If your intention is to keep the vehicle for some time then it would be false economy not to change primary and secondary. The additional labour is low as most of the dismantling has already been done to access the secondary.

Ask the Indie who will be doing the secondary. I'd be surprised if the answer was in excess of an additional 250€.

Graham

 

Replaced everything on my '99 at 36,000. We enjoy this car so much it was not worth any kind of chance.

 

Insurance. I've owned my 50k '99 XK8 drop top for 2 years. I had all the chains and guides replaced for peace of mind. Yes, would recommend the water pump at the same time. Per my mechanic, cleanest 4.0 inside he has seen. Just confirms my prior owners claims of an engine replacement with one which only had 20k miles. Did not need the repair. Still peace of mind it was worth it to me. If I like something, I will keep it for ever. Rich