Martinkessy

If all has gone to plan there should be attached some photographs of The west Midlands meet in and around the Heritage Motor Museum at Gaydon. Thanks all for a grand day out, and big thanks to Paul and Peter for arranging the event!

I have a 2005 S Type Ta Martin kessy

Might be a bit late for this but just found this thread, I would be up for a meet Gaydon is fine as venue.

Hi Paul, I have had a recent major problem with my S type Diesel auto box. Like you I had a to have a major rebuild of the 'box to the tune of £3600 from an independent Jag Specialist in Derby. From what I gather I have now got a new 'box in the old casing and it works wonderfully. The cause, apparently, was glycol from the antifreeze from the engine coolant system contaminating the oil in the gearbox which in turn destroys seals etc. irreparably killing the gearbox. I understand that the original oil cooler is part of the radiator and over time the alloy corrodes between the tow coolers allowing water and antifreeze into the gearbox, the water evaporates and the glycol does its damage. As part of the gearbox rebuild Performance and Elite Jags in Derby fitted a new cooler with new piping so this particular problem can not raise its head again. This seems to be a well documented problem with these vehicles on other forums etc. and appears to happen at any time, my Jag has only now passed 60000 miles and is a 2005 model. This may not be the cause of the problem but if they have not got rid of the gearbox oil it can be analysed for contaminants and this problem put to bed. Hope this helps. Martin

HI Jonathon, I bought my 2005 S type earlier in the year and instantly fell in love with it. Unfortunately as I got it from a smaller garage I only had 3 months warranty. The auto box failed at 5 months and I had to have it rebuilt to the tune of £3600, some would say good money after bad but the old girl still makes me smile every time I take her out. Me and the missus would have preferred not to have paid so much but well worth it in our opinion. By the way thanks to Elite and Performance Jags in Derby who carried out the work, highly recommended. regards Martin

I would love to come along but have a weekend away planned. A shame, as I have been before and its really an interesting visit. Hopefully next time. Martin

Not had my S type for too long, 2.7 diesel. but still puts a smile on my face every time I get in it. Shame the old SE is bound for the scrappers, still I suppose it comes to us all! Regards Martin

Not ashamed to say that seeing these brave men and women brought a tear to my eye. We should not forget!

Managed to get away to Lincoln over the Whit week, not Sherwood forest as intended, but a good test of the Jag all the same. The Jag has turned out to be one of the best tow cars I have ever had! We have a largeish caravan, 19 feet and 1.4 tonnes, and it towed it effortlessly getting 27mpg. As the car is heavy too it's manners on the M1 were very good, with next to no "tail wagging the dog occurrences." In fact I found myself having to use the cruise control to stop me going up and beyond the legal limit of 70mph never mind 60. Roll on the summer Holidays! regards Martin PS S type is still putting a smile on my face every time I get in it, long may it continue.

Do not go with Triangle tyres! I have these on the rear of my S type, not through choice, bought with them on. They are cheap for a reason, the road noise under load is awful and again whether it is due to the compound on some roads it feels like the roads are corrugated. Really not recommended. I have since done a search on line and found that a there are a lot of complaints, grumbles etc. not a tyre I would use again. Thanks Martin

Judging from the results shown above I am going to have to give this a go. Never used it before though, I guess others are in the same boat so without repeating what already may be on the forum any tips on its use. Thanks Martin PS never really had a car before that I wanted to put that kind of a shine on!

Arrived late in the day due to having to go all the way to Bromsgrove for Midday to pick up my S Type which was finally fixed. I did have a very pleasant conversation with Steve and Simon, Simon thanks for arranging "the Do", but would have liked to have met more members, hopefully next time. By the way my wife, Helen, loved the XK, one for the future perhaps! Looking forward to the next meet. Big thanks Martin

For those in the Derby area there is an independent, Elite and Performance Jags, which has been recommended to me. They have their pricing for all services displayed on the site so you can see exactly how much you will pay. Already spoke to them about a problem with my S type and they did seem very knowledgeable.

Getting the S type back today after having a new torque converter fitted. Will be having the tow bar fitted on Thursday, after you apparently as we had to put the fitting back due to problems with the car. Other than that it should be all ready for a trip out to Sherwood Forest at half term, somewhere reasonably close for a first time to see how the Jag performs. Really looking forward to the break Good luck Margaret, hope everything goes to plan!

Swadlincote, South Derbyshire

Had some good news late yesterday afternoon, the Jag is apparently ready for collection. I will have to collect it today ideally so I will be late to Alfreton, probably mid afternoon as the car is in a garage by Bromsgrove. Fingers crossed I will see you all later. Thanks Martin

Bugger, Jag still not back from Mr Fixer so me and my wife will be coming up but not in as much style as I had hoped. Ah well if it's as nice a day as we are all expecting then at least it should be a nice run out in the wife's 93 convertible.

I too have had the dreaded dings and bashes in car parks. I have lost count of the amount of scrapes on various cars over the years, the worst being a van reversing into a Mondeo I have recently sold on the car park at work, £1600 worth of damage but the bloke did have the decency to come to the main office and admit to his mistake. Like the others above I park as far from the store, and therefore everyone else, to minimise damage and have done this for some time what ever car I am driving. Thanks to all the lazy shoppers as this gives us more room for our big cats, and the wife's Saab 93 'vert Rant over Martin

Thanks for that, looking forward to hitching up Whit week hopefully for a couple of days in Sherwood forest. Enjoy the car! Martin

I am hoping to get up to Alfreton with my brother in law but not sure if I will have the Jag as It's in for repair. Either way I should be popping up to see the show and meet some like minded people. Thanks Martin

Hello Margaret, I had the same problem as I have just bought an S type diesel to tow. I live the other side of the midlands to you but found a small company JIB Towbars who cover the midlands tel 01675 292292, or google the name. I have not had my bar fitted yet, May 14th is the day, but this was the only company I could find that would do the job. Hope this helps Thanks Martin

Hi all. Thanks for the swift responses, after writing the above I found an American site discussing the benefits of an auto box service and although the unit is supposed to be sealed for life they have then had excellent service from the 'box afterwards. They do hint though that if the ATF heat exchanger is perforated and Glycol from the coolant is getting into the 'box then that will have to be replaced first and hopefully it has not damaged any seals in the auto 'box before it is changed. I'm thinking I will have to get mine checked out properly! Thanks all Martin

I have had my S Type about 2 weeks now and am very happy with it bit it too has started with this vibration at low speeds. It's as if the auto gearbox is hunting for a gear, if I manually select a higher gear the car is as smooth as ever. The only thing I can find is to have the gearbox serviced and a change of oil, has anyone had this done and did it do the trick. I have been recommended Elite and performance Jags in Derby so I think I will give them a call.

Picked up my S Type and it's everything I could hoped for! Good ride, quiet and powerful! I could do some kind of comparison with the missus but I think she may well object. Loving it. Thanks for the advice on the towbars. I have sourced a company JIB Towbars in the Midlands who have quoted under £400 for a detachable, seems pretty good to me.

Thanks Gentlemen, I was thinking of using a detachable bar so as not to ruin the lines of the Jaguar, I know it seems like sacrilege putting a towbar on the S type but this was part of the deal with the other half otherwise I would have had to have waited another score of years before picking up my dream Mark. Thanks for the welcome and looking forward to hopefully attending some meets. Martin