Newbie

[phanc60844]

Hi all,

after years of thinking about getting an XK8 , I've just taken the plunge, must be a mid life crisis! I've loved them ever since they came out and i'd always promised myself one after years of sampling various vauxhalls, mazdas toyotas, you know, just run of the mill stuff. So now I've got myself a sort of weekend car/work in progress thing! Got it off eBay (dont laugh), the guy wanted £3500 (1998 coupe ,132000 miles). Small amount of rust around the rear arches and lower quarter panel, drivers door does register open ,A/C pump a bit noisy on start up, heater doesn't work, air intake snorkel cracked, and so on........ I offered £2800 and we agreed on £3000.I had to pick up from London so took the train and he picked me up from the station. It drove very well, was quiet, overall in very good nick for a 17 year old motor. We did the deed and I drove it home. On the way,I could resist putting it in sport mode and floored it, I nearly had to change my underwear, I wasnt expected the acceleration! However when I came to my senses I could smell burning Oil and the PAS started to get heavier and heavier until I lost assistance completely. Stopped off at the next services to find the engine bay covered in Oil and the PAS reservoir empty. Looked like the pump had blown a seal when I revved the engine, oops! Got one off eBay again for £40 but what a pig to change, afterwards, back to normal, drives like a dream again. Got round to looking at the rust blisters at the back, did a quick a dirty fix to get me over winter. I will weld in new panels (sill, arch, quarter panel) on both sides and get them professionally finished next spring. This morning just started to Dinitrol the front of the car. Looked behind the wheel well covers and there was rust in the usual place, to the interior side of the wheel arch but was just surface. Cleaned then up, converter on then Dinitrol wax. However there is more serious corrosion behind the engine cross member where it connects to the front wish bones/strut. With the cross member in the way all I could do was poke about with a screwdriver. One side is flaky and the other goes through. For the time being I've sprayed converter in followed by wax and I will weld it up next spring. I'm not looking forward to it but then like a challenge. 

 Well thats my first experience of XK8 ownership, a baptism of fire but as long as its fixable i'm fine with it all

 

Paul

[phanc60844]

ops, forgot to mention that the car had a cherished plate on it. I've put some feelers out and got it valued at about £875. So the car has only cost me £2125! :D will have to put the money towards the repairs though

[Old Peter]

Welcome to the Club, Paul.

 

I look forward to seeing your car finished and raring to go!

 

Keep us posted,

 

Regards,

 

Peter.

[phanc60844]

Peter, do these projects ever get finished? I've go an old house that's like the Forth Bridge ,I've a feeling that my XK will be the same <_<

[Old Peter]

The do get finished, Paul.

 

Our house is 90 years old and I know the feeling.  I have a shelf in the garage with umpteen half empty tins of pain!

 

Peter.

[elizabeth]

hi paul . I am also new to the club, my dad has an xk8r in the garage, his sunday car when the weather is good, liz

[tommac]

lot of car for no money. you WILL get it sorted.  I bought an xkr a few months ago and 3 days after I got it the engine management light came on . Long story short took it to Jag specialist and its back like new. New suspension and new sensors( nothing wrong with engine -it was just the poxy knock sensor but had to take supercharger off to get to it) Point is I thought I had bought a pup and it was going to need a mortgage but in the end wasnt too bad.

Good luck with it