Old Peter

Why? is this an improvement? If it isn't broke, why try to fix it?

Hi Paul, We are well set for the First Annual Meet of the JOC West Midlands then! And the weather will be fine. Peter.

Hi Tom, Frank has just said something I should have remembered. I think the Sale of Goods act could come in here. And we have a member who knows more than a bit about the Law. You could send a PM to Kenny, a Moderator, and ask for his opinion. I am sure his legal knowledge will come in useful. Regards, Peter.

Hi Luqa, No dipstick seems a retrograde step to me. I had a Rover Sterling for over 11 years and even the auto gearbox had a dipstick. Peter.

Hi Sam, Having a late model S Type I have not had a rust problem. There are members who have taken off the plastic covers and found some rust. It can be rectified if it is spotted early enough. Some cars with rust have been standing outside for some time without being used though. Pre facelift models that are clean and well looked after can be quite a good buy, particularly if they have a good service history and good bodywork. Facelift models are 2003/04.

Terrible, Tom. £5000 sounds like a new engine price. Did the warranty you got when you bought the car not cover anything expensive? Peter.

Hi Luqa, Yes - the ECU is an inquisitive piece of kit. I think the repair might not have been done by the book by the supplying dealer. I have heard that the DPF regeneration is helped along by diesel fuel and that it could cause too much unused fuel remaining in the engine oil. I found that with my s type last year --- the dipstick readings showed more oil than there should be. Your engine must be burning off the diesel that is excess. Is the supplying dealer a Jaguar main dealer, as they should have the top of the raange diagnostic equipment. There is a new member who has this equipment and is very expert in diagnostics, but he is based in Chesterfield which is a long way from Hampshire. If he reads this he might be able to give you a clue. Regards, Peter.

Hi Ian, What I usually do with warranties is that I note every little item that I query on performance, niggles about switches etc and take the car in after about two months to see what the dealer thinks about them. It might give the idea that if anything is wrong you will be along with the car. Peter.

Have JOC stickers arrived yet, Paul?

Hi Paul, The only advantage of a car not fitting into the garage is that you get it washed free. Certain things arrived today! Regards, Peter.

Hi Ian, Assuming the dealer is giving a good warranty, and the car has a lot of the bells and whistles, it is around the price I would expect from a well maintained diesel. Two years ago I paid £9700 for my diesel s type with 48k on the clock but a new engine at 21k while in Jaguar Ownership. One little thing which might help on shaving the price down is the fact that the cam belts on the 2.7 diesel should be changed at 105k miles. The work will probably cost about £500. The dealer could well say that he will do the job a bit cheaper [there were a few dealer offers about 18 months ago for a change at £350]. Remember the words of Marriot Edgar -- "In the spirit that makes Lancashire what she is, We'd rather be drownded than done". Regards, Peter.

Hi Ian, I have a March 2007 S Type, and when I bought it two years ago I had the Mobile mechanic I have used for years have a good look at the car, including the underside. It has passed the MOT twice without a problem, so it appears to me that that that issue does not arise. You do not say if the car you are looking at is a petrol or a diesel, but otherwise the only problem I have had is a minor water ingress into the boot which is now completely cured. My car had been sitting in the inside of a main dealers garage for four months, and I think the seals had been possibly compressed for too long, and a good clean appears to have done the job. Regards, Peter.

I think you will have to make the VW an Honorary Jaguar, Steve! Peter.

Hi Paul, and welcome to the club. That is a mystery. If the engine is running nicely, it cannot be the fuel system, and as the mechanic says it can't be the sensors, I am just wondering if it could be a minor electrical fault somewhere. If you had an OBD2 code reader you could erase the code and see if the amber light goes out. That is just a guess as I am from the era of the Stillson No 8 and the lump hammer! Regards, Peter.

Hi Luqa, and welcome to the club. I have never had that problem with my 2.7 diesel, doing the regeneration run regularly. I am wondering why your DPF was 82% full, having done all the proper things. I have had a problem with my egr valves and found a product in Halfords to clean them without taking them out. While I was there I saw a product that claims to clean the DPF. I just wonder if you could try one of those products, give the car a bit of a blast, and see the result. There might have been some traces of soot still left. I think that it might be worth a tenner. Let us know how you get on. Regards, Peter.

Hi Sam, and welcome to the club. The s type is great car both in looks and comfort. It also drives rather well! I note what you have said, and coincidentally a member has just put an s type up for sale [for one of his friends], which I think is a 3.0 litre petrol. The 2.5 litre petrol is a good engine, that was more or less discontinued when the 2.7 diesel came out. It is the engine that also went into the X type. Regards, Peter.

I am looking forward to seeing the XE close up, Phil, I have seen the F Type --- a lady who lives not far away has one and parked it next to my S Type --- she admired my car!! Peter.

Downloading Photos, Andy, seems to have rules of its own. Sometimes I can, and sometimes it tells me that the file is too big. I will love it one day. Peter.

Welcome to the club, Ian. The club is about sharing experiences, and you musts have an abundance of them! Regards, Peter Lancastrian in exile.

Thanks, Alan. I thought that only the "R" version had that. Peter.

Hi Christopher, Independents are usually very good. I have used a mobile mechanic for 12 years, who takes my car away, does the work, and brings it back. Yes, the M6 is a well known car park. I avoid it whenever possible, but having lived up here for over 30 years I know all the ways to do so. Peter.

Hi Alan, the XF 3.0 litre diesel is the successor to the S Type 2.7 litre diesel and has similar performance although somewhat improved. The second turbo on the s type comes in at 2000rpm [70mph] and I would expect similar on the XF. Driving with the S button pressed gives a real kick in power, but a worse fuel consumption. I might be guessing incorrectly but I don't think the XF diesel 3.0 litre has a dynamic mode. Regards, Peter/

Hi Christopher and welcome to the club. Andy has pointed you in the right direction. The S type, in common with other models, needs a battery in first class condition, and normally a battery will only last about five years. It is also worth checking the service record if you have it, as sometimes changing the fluids can be skimped when a a car is serviced. I have had problems with the park brake sticking on when applied and when the car is started again from stationary I do not get into heavy traffic much but I do resist the temptation to put the car into park and put the bark brake on on occasions when I am. Regards, Peter.

Hi Ian, and welcome to the club, You could try the David Manners Group, SNG Barrett, or maybe Breakeryard. Let us know how you get on. Regards, Peter,

Hi Brian, and welcome to the club. There is a met at Gaydon on Saturday -- a bit far away from Peterborough, though. Regards, Peter.