Old Peter

Hi Peter, Are the settings OK?. The air con is recommended to be on all the time but on the S type if you set it to demist the air con switches off. The same happens when you change the fan speed. I put the settings on auto and do not disturb it as it might seek revenge! Regards Peter.

Awful. With a bit of luck the perpetrators will be caught! Peter.

Welcome to the club, James. I think the best bet to find what the "little white thingy" is called is to find a car breaker --- there are several members who can help, and hopefully might even have one. There is a member The Jag Den who is worth contacting as he does break Jaguars. If you know a good garage/mechanic you could also struck lucky. Let us know you you get on. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the club, Phil. What size wheels have you got on your car and what model have you got? Tyres are often a person choice from experience, but it is worth having a look at the comparison sites - Halfords have a good site on which you can just type in "Tyres" and the Reg No of you car and then look through the ratings and look for those that come out top. I use Goodyear Eagle Asymmetric which are qyute quiet and good in the wet. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Eric. The s type is a great car, and it is so pleasing to see so many of them still being looked after and brought back to their best. The cub is a friendly place to be and you will get plenty of assistance. Regards, Peter.

Hi Andy, It was a very good match although there was a slight haze on one area. I rang up the bodyshop and the chap who did the job told me to either put some wax polish [non silicone] on or he would come over with some polish and do it himself. I did the job and it has come up great. I had thought it might cost twice as much, as it was quite bad. Where I live is noted for the prices tradesmen charge [Sutton Coldfield Rates] - which is why I went to somewhere 5 miles away. Worth the fuel cost! Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Bob. I understand your problem can only offer one solution which has worked in the past with other companies. Find out who is the CEO of Jaguar UK, and write to him. A nice polite letter works wonders --- sometimes. If you can get a telephone number all the better. I had a big indue with British Gas, and managed to get through to the MD's Personal Assistant, which got the job done immediately and a Cheque for £25 for being inconvenienced. Let us know how you get on. Regards, Peter.

Unfortunately not, David. The mud got there in the lane away from the bollard! But a very good job done - metallic paint too! Peter.

Hi Jason, Some members leave the car on a trickle charger when they are away. The XK8 is a big car and things like the alarm will use a little power. We were away for 8 days with the car on the drive, and although it started OK I did check out the battery and put it on charge for a couple of hours. Regards, Peter.

When my offside passenger door decided to argue with a bollard on the 13th September I decided to take it to a local "Chips Away" in Shenstone near Lichfield. The site was run by Paul Goodman, who came to my house, picked up my car and took it to his premises, and returned it this evening with the job done, and done very well indeed. £216 [inc VAT]. Pictures before and after.

Welcome to the Club, Franta. At a guess, I would check out the battery condition, as sometimes a failing battery can affect the car's pertomance. Hopefully there will also be other ideas coming forward. Lets us know how you get on. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the club, Graham. The club is all about sharing experiences and talking with like minded people who love their Jaguars. I hope you do enjoy the club. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the club, Lou. That is one piece of very useful advice! Assuming a battery lasts 5 years, mine will need replacing a year from now. I keep a can of WD40 in the car!! I hope you enjoy the club bandpass on such useful buts of information. Regards, Peter, .

Welcome to the club, David. I have not come across this before, although I have picked up other odours during the muck spreading season. I don't think it is normal and I would guess that it is a leak from somewhere. Air cons will pick up any odours in the air. Years ago when my company car was a Ford Escort, I used to cook chicken drumsticks and sausages wrapping foil on a biscuit tin fixed to the manifold. I could tell when it was cooked! Tell us what the garage says. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the club, David. The 2.5 AWD is a very nice car and a great performer on the road. I had one and thoroughly enjoyed it. Regards, Peter.

Some time ago a club member who is expert in body shop matters did convert an s type to a pick up,, and a good job he made of it. But his s type conversion is not the one in the Picture, which does very much look as it it was Photoshopped, as Simon quite rightly says. Peter.

Thanks, Guys. The wheel refurbishment fund will just stretch to it, and when the Chancellor of the Exchequer send me the Winter Fuel Payment [if he does] the Bank Balance will see me through Christmas. Peter.

My s type is not so beautiful today. I managed to scratch and dent the offside passenger door when making a right turn and couldn't see the rather low bollard. Booked in for Monday with a quote for £180 + VAT, Peter.

Hi Andy, My car had not been used for quite a few months, and apparently usage got them going properly again. Peter.

Hi Jim, That is very good economic performance -- and a lot of hills to contend with too. Peter.

Hi Paul, I like the word "panache" -- sounds like a good name for an S Type. Pity it is French! Regards, Peter.

Rodney is quite right. The 2.0 litre diesel engine in the x type meets the EU requirements without a DPF. My son has one in his x type and if he was here I could check to where the wire should be connected. Hopefully, an owner with a 2.0 litre D will help out here. If your location was in your profile we could point you in the direction of a helpful garage. Regards, Peter.

I had that gurgling noise behind the dash, too and it is nothing to worry about. It went of its own accord after I had had the car for about 6 months. I was told that it would by a Technician. Peter.

You can now start enjoying the Jaguar experience, Gary, The s type is a great car, and I have thoroughly enjoyed mine. Regards, Peter.

Hi Graham, I had the same quandary some years ago with aRover Sterling that I had from 8 months old and with the Rover Service price being £325 + VAT I guess that their labour charges would be astronomical too. This was in 2001, and as luck would have it a Mobile Mechanic put a flyer on my car - "Rover Trained Mechanic - Service £75 on all Rover cars". He has serviced my cars ever since. My S type is now almost 10 years old and I have only had one repair - A failed water pump -- cost of replacement and fitting £150. Three years warranty would have cost a quite substantial amount. My answer would be put a suitable amount in the bank, and if you don't have a breakdown you will be quids in. Regards, Peter.