New to the Forum North Wales

Steve owen · November 12

Evening all,

I’m brand new to the forum. I’m currently in the market for an XKR 5 litre, forward planning where I can get it serviced in the North Wales area. I’m based in Denbighshire.

I’ve seen some rival forum posts suggesting main dealers are reasonable, other posts suggest an independent called the Jag Centre in Llandudno but with mixed reviews.

Any recommendations from the forum members.

Many thanks.

N6 JMX · November 13

Hi Steve, welcome to the JOV Forum and good luck with finding the correct XKR for yourself. I suspect the independent you are referring to is The North Wales Jag Centre, see link below.

Master Tech Jaguar Service and Repair – North Wales Jag Centre Ltd

I have not used them myself, but have heard quite decent things about them from other members I know.

An alternative is Horner and Hudson Ltd, who are a little bit away in Macclesfield, but these guys have a good reputation in the Modern XK arena.

Independent Jaguar Specialist Manchester Cheshire Northwest

Don't know if you have looked at the Classifieds Section of the JEC for any potential purchase - there are currently 28 cars listed on there, albeit not all are 5.0 XKR, but there lots to consider.

N6 JMX

Steve owen · November 13

Good evening Jim

Thank you for the warm welcome. Yes, that’s the garage I’m referring to, thanks for your feedback. Macclesfield is a four hour round trip so a little far out. How has your XKR ownership experience been, any words of wisdom before buying?

Many thanks.

Pete Tucker · November 13

Hi Steve, I'm also relatively new to the forum having purchased an XK8 7 months ago. Look out for what is called the 'waist trim' which I believe is on the XK as well as the XK8. These trims are on the top of doors. These alloy trims corrode and blister, and can be refurbished if not too bad, but are not a part currently in production. Good luck with your search, they are a cracking motor!

N6 JMX · November 14

Hi Steve, I have had my XKR Convertible since 2012 (second owner after Jaguar Cars Ltd) and in that time it has been the perfect car for me, although it has always been a "Summer Car", meaning it doesn't get taken out onto the salted roads of the Northeast winters. Consequently, the undersides are in perfect / original condition with zero corrosion, not even surface rust. That said, I have come across X-150 models (aluminium body) with severe underbody corrosion to the steel subframes and crossmembers.

Accordingly, my advice is always to purchase the best you can afford but look very closely at all aspects of the car's metalwork. Cars used all year round, or which have spent at least part of their life living by the seaside, can have quite significant underbody corrosion. Ideally you want to see it on a ramp, or at least be prepared to crawl around to get the best view of the underside, especially the rear end, using a torch or inspection lamp. Similarly, the aluminium body can corrode - it obviously doesn't rust, but that does not make it corrosion free. Stone chips on the leading edge of the bonnet, front edge of the roof and A-Pillars, plus trailing edges of the doors and the boot lid can all develop the white, powdery, corrosion products of aluminium. Look closely as these corrosion products can cause the paint to bubble, just like on a steel bodied car with surface rust.

You also want a car with a full service history, preferably from a main dealer or specialist independent. The 5.0 litre engines are very strong and robust, but like all mechanical devices, they do need to be looked after. Servicing should be annual, irrespective of the low mileage covered, plus there are a number of age related service items that should be covered, especially if you are looking at the early 5.0 engines - supercharger belt, auxiliary belt, gearbox Oil and filter to name just a few.

The XKCC (XK Car Club) has a very strong contingent in North Wales and would be a sound investment to join them - it only costs £10 per annum. The local coordinator is very active, organising runs, drive-outs, site visits and a strong social scene. Look them up at the link below. They would also be on hand to offer advice and input to you ahead of any final selection.

Home | XKCC

For Pete from Gloucestershire with the XK8 (X-100 model), your waist trims can be replaced by profiled rubber trims, generally available on eBay or other auction sites and are practically indistinguishable from the aluminium covered versions fitted originally. There are also firms which will offer refurbished units. If you have any difficulty finding these, come back here and leave a message.

N6 JMX

Steve owen · November 16

On 11/14/2024 at 9:50 AM, N6 JMX said:

Hi Steve, I have had my XKR Convertible since 2012 (second owner after Jaguar Cars Ltd) and in that time it has been the perfect car for me, although it has always been a "Summer Car", meaning it doesn't get taken out onto the salted roads of the Northeast winters. Consequently, the undersides are in perfect / original condition with zero corrosion, not even surface rust. That said, I have come across X-150 models (aluminium body) with severe underbody corrosion to the steel subframes and crossmembers.

Accordingly, my advice is always to purchase the best you can afford but look very closely at all aspects of the car's metalwork. Cars used all year round, or which have spent at least part of their life living by the seaside, can have quite significant underbody corrosion. Ideally you want to see it on a ramp, or at least be prepared to crawl around to get the best view of the underside, especially the rear end, using a torch or inspection lamp. Similarly, the aluminium body can corrode - it obviously doesn't rust, but that does not make it corrosion free. Stone chips on the leading edge of the bonnet, front edge of the roof and A-Pillars, plus trailing edges of the doors and the boot lid can all develop the white, powdery, corrosion products of aluminium. Look closely as these corrosion products can cause the paint to bubble, just like on a steel bodied car with surface rust.

You also want a car with a full service history, preferably from a main dealer or specialist independent. The 5.0 litre engines are very strong and robust, but like all mechanical devices, they do need to be looked after. Servicing should be annual, irrespective of the low mileage covered, plus there are a number of age related service items that should be covered, especially if you are looking at the early 5.0 engines - supercharger belt, auxiliary belt, gearbox oil and filter to name just a few.

The XKCC (XK Car Club) has a very strong contingent in North Wales and would be a sound investment to join them - it only costs £10 per annum. The local coordinator is very active, organising runs, drive-outs, site visits and a strong social scene. Look them up at the link below. They would also be on hand to offer advice and input to you ahead of any final selection.

Home | XKCC

For Pete from Gloucestershire with the XK8 (X-100 model), your waist trims can be replaced by profiled rubber trims, generally available on eBay or other auction sites and are practically indistinguishable from the aluminium covered versions fitted originally. There are also firms which will offer refurbished units. If you have any difficulty finding these, come back here and leave a message.

N6 JMX

Evening Ian and Pete,

Thanks both for your replies. Ian, I’ve been to see a 2009 facelifted XKR today beautiful condition low mileage (2009 28.000 miles) but with the exception of some yearly service bills from 2016 to 2021 there were no other service records/book/stamps to confirm service history or maintenance. There were two warning flashing on the dash (I’ve posted this in the technical section) the car is £16.500 private sale, Should I avoid or investigate further.