heya, long time jag enthusiast (only some models), first time poster
My dream car as a kid and still to this day is a XJ220
I cannot afford a XJ220 but keep track of all the ones that come up for sale

Im from Aus, I know the differences and main issues with both these models,
i love Manual V8s in general, obviously the XK8/R is auto

I feel that now is a good time to get them, however im not at all hands on
Ideally i'd prefer a XKR but theyre obviously expensive and out of my price range except a high mile one
One XK8 has come up (pretty easy to find) its an import from Japan, current owner is old and retiring/selling off and is a mechanic and does all his servicing
full service history but log books misplaced, but receipt of all Japan services
Claims to be immaculate, perfect, no rust, its quite cheap and its got stupidly low klms, under 40k

Am I asking for trouble? Appreciate the feedback folks,

 

I’m not a fan of low mileage cars, especially the XK8 / XKR’s. These car deteriorate if not driven. The fuel pumps especially are prone to failure if not used on a regular basis. And they are a bear to replace.


The weak point of the 4.0 XK8’s is the transmission. The 4.0 XKR has the stronger Mercedes 722.6 transmission.


Many / Most of the 4.0 cars will need the cam chain tensioners replaced. However, it should not be difficult to find one that has already had it done. I found my 2002 XKR 6 years ago that had already had these known issues fixed. They are out there, you just have to be patient.

My advice is don’t buy a car that has not already had the known issues fixed.

If you purchase a car that has not had the cam chain tensioners replaced, then you have a ticking time bomb. Low mileage is no indication that the tensioners will last. They will fail at any time. And the repair can be very expensive if you can’t do it yourself.

the electrical system is complex. Many of the parts are no longer available new, you will have to search for good used serviceable parts .


You will need to keep the car on a good battery tender. Otherwise many electrical gremlins will make your life miserable.

 

I was in the same position as you are a few months ago. It doesn't mention what year yours is and that was a big factor in my search. After doing some a lot of research I decided I wanted the model with the 4,2 litre engine and 6 speed gear box. Also I'm a cruiser, not a racer, so the XK8 has more power than I'll ever need. Your decision also depends on what work you can do yourself. For me I'm ok with mechanical stuff and to a lesser degree electrical, but body work is a no-no, so rust free was a must for me as well.
However, they are complicated vehicles (and I haven't even scratched the surface yet) but the beauty and the feel of the drive makes up for all of that.
Good luck!

 

Look for a 4.2 car that has a high mileage with no rust. That will be the best one.

 

thanks everyone
definitely not hands on
looks like i might wait for the 4.2L, i certainly dont want to be up for $1000s to replace timing chains and whatnot

the one i was looking at was a 96 or 97 so the 4.0L, i was unaware the 4.2 was so much more reliable. I kind of got drawn in by the price

Ideally id like a xkr , but $ is a concern too


Appreciate everyones feedback, learnt years of stuff in 3 posts

 

If you are creative with your searching you might find a 4.0 XKR that has already had the tensioner upgrade for the same price (or less) vs. a 4.2 XK-8.

once this upgrade is done there’s no reliability difference between the 4.0 and 4.2 models. And arguably the 4.0 XKR has the strongest transmission of any 4.0 or 4.2 model.

you mention that an XKR is really what you are wanting anyway.


From experience I can suggest that it’s better to be patience and get what you want instead of being hasty and settling for a car that doesn’t scratch your itch.

Z

 

I came from a high mileage CLK500 2002 with 200,000kms

I had it for 5 years and only did 10,000kms on it, becuase admittedly , everytime I touched it broke down, and they were not maintenace related, that did scar me quite a bit and I rarely drove it, but I loved it, but let it go because I got scared to drive it.

in 10k kms, I replaced/repaired
- left rear window arm,
- right rear window mechanism (window went down one day and wouldnt come up)
- sunroof one day stopped closing in one shot, had to press it multiple times
- engine mounts
- indicator stalk would not stick
- reverse gear wouldnt go in
- water would drip onto my right arm area in heavy rain (roof rack rails clogged)
- seat belt extendor wouldnt extend (right)
- seat belt extendor wouldnt extend (left)
- hole in some pump in engine bay
- hand break got harder to disengage until it wouldnt
- gas strut stopped working
and thats all I can remember

i know it was a 20 year old mercedes, but so it looks like im on the lookout for a 4.2 S with tensioner changed and good service history, i guess mileage should be not too high eg 200,000

 

The 4.2 engines do not need their factory tensioners replaced. That issue was resolved prior to the introduction of the 4.2....

The advice most of us give to newcomers is simply this -- If you cannot perform the majority of the maintenance and repairs that these XK8s and XKRs require, do not get one. If you must pay someone else to keep your car roadworthy, it can drain your bank account in the blink of an eye....

 

Just as background , I bought my 2002 XKR about seven years ago for $7,800. It had 116,000 miles on it The owner had just spent about $5,000 on the tensioner change repair after it failed while driving. He also had the water pump replaced at the same time.

He put the car up for sale because the repair bill scared him. He was afraid of another similar bill.

The car now has 190,500 miles on it. The longer I have it and drive it daily, the less repairs it needs.

In nearly 80.000 miles the repair list is quite short:
a fan for the CPU failed and was replaced
a heater valve failed
a back up sensor failed
Oil cooler hose leaked and all
were replaced
and most recently, the original radiator began leaking from the plastic side tank.

that’s a very short list for a 22 year old car.

I keep a close watch on the engine vital signs and change the oil and filters more often than needed I’m sure. So far it’s been a very reliable car and easy to maintain.

aftermarket parts are hit and miss on auality. Mostly misses. I try to find good used OEM parts whenever possible.

best of luck in your search. The chase is nearly as fun as the capture.

Z

 

Look for a good independent shop.😆