As I am planning a longer trip (>3000 miles) to countries with reduced Jaguar network (Baltic countries in Europe), I have to think about required spare parts.
What are your recommendations?

Thanks in advance!

Bill

 

Hi Bill. I asked the same question somewhere in this forum last year when planning a European trip in my 1998 XK8 which had done about 103k miles at the time. I got lots of advice and came to the conclusion that it would be so hit and miss to try to pick the right spare parts, that I'd not take any and trust in a friend to source any parts locally in the UK if I needed them and ship to wherever I was. What I did take:

• A small selection of screwdrivers, sockets and spanners - if you do any work on your XKR you'll know which ones you need!
• Electrical wire and insulation tape for the inevitable wire breaks
• A selection of cable ties and gaffer tape to fix things back on
• Some ready mixed coolant and screenwash
• A replacement bulb set (still compulsory in some countries, I think)
• Small Battery Booster Pack
• DIsposable gloves, cleaning wipes, rags
• Bug removal spray - definitely needed in the warm months
• European Breakdown Cover - provided as part of the JEC insurance policy
• A credit card....

Before we left I did the sensible things - fluid and filter changes, cleaned the MAF etc.

In the end, we did over 5,000km through France, Spain and Portugal and the only thing I used was the bug spray and the credit card for the big fuel bill. The car didn't miss a beat and gave us pleasure every day.

Enjoy the trip - you'll get a lot of attention. In our case it was from young boys and their grandparents!

 

I think it really depends on the current state of the car, ie. what work has been completed on the car previously and also during your ownership? Are you currently having any problems with anything? Got good tires?, serpentine belt, etc.

Yes, change the oil and filters, check all exterior lights, bulbs, etc.

You’ll know when your ready.

Best of fortune on your journey!

Brian W.

 

Thanks for your reply, Mark! That's an interesting approach for me aswell. I could convince a friend to do that . . .
Nevertheless: after 2 breakdowns with misfire during the first weeks with my car (that's serious to me on a long trip!) I always keep 1 - 2 ignition coils in the glove box.
Any more ideas of parts causing a limp home mode (such as MAF . . .)?

@Brian: the car is in a pretty good state with regular maintenance, all typical issues solved, no current problems, but . . . it's a 24-year-old car with 24-year-old sensors!

Bill

 

Definitely take a spare MAF, and some duct tape for cracks in the intake plastic
pipe.

a spare fuel filter and the tools to change it.

spare oil and coolant too.


Have fun !

Z