LDK

Gearbox done!!!! Alternator gone!!!! Replaced......some wally scrapped my rear bumper "great" so had that painted professionally had a small bit of rust sorted on rear arch that was starting to come through, the guy I use for painting had all the trolley dents sorted for me £70.00 absolutely over the moon with the finish......NOW PLEASE BEHAVE AND LET ME ENJOY DRIVING YOU!!!!! I will post some pictures on shortly, I took the Jag out parked it up in a car park full of new BMW's, Mercedes and others.....and the Jag looked stunning.

I really don't know, I just booked it in and got it done, I was going to do it anyway just like you.....but the Jag beat me to it and forced my hand, I love my Jag but it's been a bit of a pig to me......still!! "Not worth anything if it's not working" that's what I say to my wife every time it goes wrong. It's good if you can do it your self :)

This sounds very similar to what happened to my XJ8 3.2....had it in a garage and they couldn't find any faults, took it to Jaguar specialist "unfortunately chains had slipped 1 tooth and I was very lucky" chains changed and all good except for empty pockets :) Apparently the n/s side of my engine showed no spark so was not working, but I drove it 15 miles fine....lumpy but ok. Sorry it's not great news but could be worse.....good luck hope you get it sorted ok. Liam

Thanks Charlie, for the reply. That is the point you can have just as much trouble with a newer more expensive car as my Jag, let's hope that's the last big problem (for a while, I hope!!) I got it back in 3 days, and it's lovely, I have a Mercedes E270cdi 2003 auto and choice of keys every morning is always the "Jag"!! I'm scared to get rid of my Merc as it is so reliable......but we shall see how the old Jag goes and will have to make a decision. Regards, Liam

Hi I would take it to a local car trimmer, I have had a go myself recovering the dirty saggy headlining in my Landrover Discovery 1 and even though it looks 1 million times better than before....... it isn't perfect, and would never try again. The materials are cheap enough and you must use high temperature contact adhesive but it is a right pain to get the material in all the nooks and crannies. If you take to a local trimmer, you can change the material for any colour/finish if you fancy a change, Good luck

This car is killing me......I want to keep it, look after it, improve it BUT!!! I'm sure it wants to be laid to rest. My 1999 XJ8 is or was a bit of a dog and I really shouldn't of bought it. But after the following items being done "in for a penny, in for a pound" :( Day 1: rear diff fail (replaced) Month 1: chain slipped, engine ok (new chains & tensioners) fully serviced Month 2: paintwork bonnet/wings/front & rear bumpers (repainted) front wheel bearings Month 4: flooded engine (good ol' AA man sorted) lights on dash "Trac & ASC unavailable" new ABS pump Done other bits I want to forget!! Now!!!! Gearbox had it!!!! (Being replaced with 60000 and serviced) My wife keeps making remarks "get rid of it" but I like driving it very much.......it is getting incredibly imbarassing but I suppose you just keep going it's nearly all replaced.....I keep saying :) What could possibly go wrong now???? Is it just bad luck, poor maintenance in the past or are these cars really that bad?? It's such a shame as from the cars available for me to drive daily I always pick up the Jag keys!!!!

Hi, I use Essex Jaguar Spares in Upminster.....I live in Chelmsford apart from being a breakers they always offer used parts if they can to help with costs, they also do servicing and repairs, did my chains & tensioners £800, helped me quite a few times. I posted all the details in "recommended garages" Hope this helps

Thank you Peter, spoken like a true gent :) I have put a couple of pictures on here not the best quality, it's nearly where I want it condition wise. Would like to get the drivers seat refurbished as a little worn on the bolster and a couple of trolley dents in a couple of doors "hardly noticeable but I know they are there" and a gearbox service for peace of mind. Your totally right it is only 15 years old and I enjoy driving it so much......it's not a classic car but so many people come over and comment what a lovely car, it sort of makes all the trouble worth it. And as you say you can have just as much trouble with a new car!!! Kind regards Liam

Hi Ivan, I just did a post that completely answers your question......it's in the Jaguar lounge "didn't know about this area being new" I paid £900.00 for my jag with part service history......"I know totally wrong" but did it anyway and have had to go throughout the car and now with a red face have to admit I've spent double that and some, but have a totally sorted XJ8 that I know is hopefully sorted now! I love my Jag and can only laugh at my journey of ownership, have a look at my post "owning a rather used Jaguar XJ good & bad" I'm sure I have OCD as I can't stop until its spotless cosmetically & mechanically but the drive and experience is unbeatable for the money. Good luck whatever you decide........the Jag is better looking in my opinion :)

Upminster in Essex, These guys have been pretty good.......be warned they are a breakers but workshop area is tidy and clean. They also offer used/new/genuine parts and have all spares no matter what at hand. Been honest with costs and work they have done has been very good. Essex Jaguar Spares K & H Industrial Estate St Mary's Lane Upminster Essex RM14 3PA 01708 228150

Don't judge me!!! ESSEX.........Chelmsford

So after purchasing a rather smart looking.....but well used XJ8 3.2 "my first Jaguar" hopefully now I might be able to enjoy it!!! At 140000 miles I thought the guy I bought it off was genuine enough and handed over under a thousand for a majestic piece of English engineering. For sure it drives beautifully and looks amazing so much so!! That no matter what....I want to keep it, even if the odds are against me, it's not a classic but people look and comment what a lovely car it is, so hopefully the wife doesn't read this and find out what a wally I've been with my money......I will be in for it!!! So the point of this post is, hopefully someone will make me feel better with encouraging comments? Buy a cheap sort of tidy example. Diff needed replacing a week later "GULP" oh no!!! Cam chain slipped a couple of weeks later!!! Can you believe it, but luckily for the Jag engine was fine and chain-tensioners-guides have now been done. Serviced oil-filters-plugs Wire brushed all underside and waxoiled Front lower shock bushes replaced and front wheel bearings I've gone this far........shall I carry on??? We'll I did!!! Front & rear bumpers re-painted Bonnet and top of wings re-painted Oh....and corroded rear bumper fixing brackets replaced "rubbish design" So as you can see I've spent so much more on the !Removed! thing than its worth......but I enjoy driving it so much!!!! I know I should have waited for a for a better lower mileage example and payed better money for it, but........and this is my point......all this could still of happened. Couldn't it???? Be kind :)

Well got my Jag back.......differential needed replacing and now it's all done it is super smooth!!!!! All gears work, sports and standard mode work too, no rumble, judder so very pleased :) BUT £700.00 fitted!!! Ouch!!! So hopefully sorted XJ8 for £1500 isn't to bad.......as long as nothing else serious needs replacing.

I will post all the findings as soon as I find out. Hopefully won't need to remortgage to get it fixed lol Kind regards Liam

Thanks JimC64 and msmicksmith for your comments.......definitely the first thing to address will be bearings and fluid levels/change, this is booked in for Monday! I found out today that if I put my car into manual 3rd gear the car runs up to 70+mph with no vibes??? As soon as I select 4th and accelerate the rumbles come back and shakes the car??? Ease off the throttle cruises good. So I think not the diff gearbox but no faults or lights on dash and with my OBD2 "cheap one" no fault codes either!!! Very strange.....I don't know it's going in Monday so I will throw myself at the mercy of the mechanics :)

Hi all, bought my first Jaguar last week,1999 Xj8 3.2 145000miles but has not done more than a 1000miles in 3-4 years for not a lot of money so I am expecting some issues but! does anyone know if there is a definitive answer to a failed rear differential??? Symptoms Very slight rumble from rear at 30+mph only when accelerating. At 45+mph loud rumble and nasty vibration (shakes car) when accelerating but stops if I let off and cruise In sport mode the same happens but at 50-60mph NO metallic crunching or banging What I have tried to check No fault codes or dash warning lights Wheel bearings on rear have got some play (ordered new ones) 2mm play Wobbled all drive shafts and no sloppy moving parts Greased all joints as they where dry Tyres seemed ok My guess with very limited knowledge of these cars Prop shaft out of balance Worn UJ joints (hopefully not.....GULP!!!) diff and the wheel bearings are definitely a factor but not the big vibes and rumble I took it to Essex Jaguar Spares in Upminster, does anyone have any experience of using them for servicing and repairs. they seemed happy to help but recommendations would make me feel happier using them. HELP!! :(

Gulp!!! That hurts!! -£20000 :( I had this with my Landrover Discovery 4 lost £1000's can't tell the wife so got shot of it and will never buy newish again, however nice it is.

Thanks for the welcome guys :) These Jaguars second hand are fantastic value for money the fuel doesn't even matter.....To be honest have broken all the rules buying my Jag.....fully stamped service book upto 115,000miles "no receipts" to prove what had been done by the 1 owner chauffeur company (Alan Sugar's) then the 2nd owner has done 25,000 miles in 6 years "no bills but serviced by his neighbour" seemed a genuine guy, retired police man got the Jag for his daughter's wedding and kept it ever since :) it's done just 200miles in the last 2 years. I'm hoping it'll be ok but do have a few issues to sort out. As Peter said the depreciation is the problem but for me it's gives great value for money.......Trevor the comment v Aston Martins gives me great pleasure to know I'm driving around in something that's up there with the best for under a £1000, I was out the weekend and had people looking at the Jag whenever I stopped.......love it lol If this one turns out ok I will sell my mercedes and just keep the Jag!!!

Hi Just wanted to say hello and complement you all on a great forum filled with a wealth of knowledge and interesting facts. I have just purchased a 1999 Jaguar XJ8 3.2 LWB.........and have started to work through some of the items that need addressing due to the price I paid and the history of the car. But what a car!!! in navy blue with chrome window trims looks stunning, and the drive is unreal smooth........apart from some mechanical issues I'm over the moon with my XJ. Had the car a couple of days now and sorted out the key fobs "both not working" a good clean and new batteries now working as good as new, replaced rear view mirror via eBay and a thoroughly good clean and polish makes the car look like I paid £1000's Why are these cars so cheap to buy second hand??? I have a Mercedes E class diesel and apart from fuel consumption "isn't as bad as I thought" the Jag will be my first choice every time. Now the problems!!! Rumble from the rear at 60+ mph??? the rear wheel bearings are ordered as I had at least 3-4mm play in rear wheels, but I don't think the rumbling is all down to the wheels.....feels more like prop or maybe diff?? all guesses but have booked it into a Jaguar specialist near me to find out what could be possibly wrong. only time will tell. I look forward to using the forum in the future.