Russ68

Another thing! Would the alternator be compatible from the 03? I almost certainly need one but can't get to see the car until Saturday. Another spares or repair job has just popped up, even cheaper (£295), it is an X200 but auto and wrong colour exterior (green) and interior (cream), although is very local. No point in it for me though, a high miler ratty T reg, no thanks! If enough bits on the 03 Sport are compatible, it could be worth going for, only done 69K! Now £400 inc the heated memory seats...

Haha, just seen it! I know the show and bet I'd look like this or worse after grinding, brushing and sorting the underside of the car! Which is why letting someone else do it on a 4 post lift seemed the best bet! So you have a Disco as well? I have a 300TDI, currently SORN'd and a TD5 which is the daily drive. Interesting to think they would've been competing for the same money with the S-Type back in the day, i.e. do you want a rugged 7 seater for your £30K, or sporty, luxury mid size executive etc...

Thanks Ralph, very helpful! Good to know that at least some X200's had the option, so there is a chance the wiring and modules could be there. I wonder if anyone can confirm if my X200 is likely to have the wiring and or module and how I could identify it / them? I wouldn't find it a big issue to remove a module and switch pack from the donor and fit to mine, providing it was ready to accept it and it was a case of dropping it in. But if there had been major trim changes, the X202 parts may not be compatible. I've had a look online and can't find a definitive answer, there seem to be a couple of different options, as below. Can any owner with heated seats tell me which they have and what year there car is please. I'm not cutting things about will only do it if it's essentially plug and play. I did think they seats I took out would make an awesome office chair if mated to a suitable base, so I'm not sure they'd be free Ralph, but I'm open to options here, so would consider passing them on if I didn't go through with this

Hi all, There is a black 2003 Sport with an auto gearbox fault being sold locally for spares and repair. I've been thinking about sourcing a donor car for my 2001 X200, and the heated memory seats are really tempting! I'm guessing the seats would be a straight swap? Can anyone confirm this? Would the X200 loom have wiring for the switches and power or would there be a lot of fresh wiring to do? Other than that, I'm guessing most of the interior including centre console is incompatible? I have manual gearbox and handbrake etc. My ideal donor would be a cheap X200 manual in the same colour, but not sure they ever came with the heated memory seats! So this may be too much to ask! So I wonder if I should take this one for the seats and either break or try to repair it. Any help with the decision would be appreciated Thanks, Russ 😉

Yup, I think the earlier STR had the larger rear spoiler, but the later ones had the more minimal type I've gone for. I like it and for less than £40 delivered and painted, difficult to fault really...

Here is the link to the spoiler, you'll need your paint code. Mine was all the way from Taiwan in about a week, self adhesive too, don't know how they do it! I've always been similar and could not have been running the car I have without doing my own mechanics. It's only in the last year or so since our business has got busier that I've subbed out the odd job. Like I let the guy strip back, rust proof and then Waxoly the underside of both the Jag and one of our Discoveries, just easier for them to do it on a 4 post lift than for me to do it on axle stands and ramps. At £200 (each), I thought it a good investment and saved me a couple of filthy weekend (sure there's a joke there somewhere!). Generally though, if I do it myself, I know it's been done right, and like you, when I've subbed out mechanics, I've had some expensive mistakes! Luckily I have a guy I trust now, so if I can't be arsed or don't have the time, it gives me another option

Hi Ralph, I also picked mine up for a song with known faults, and luckily I can do my own mechanics when required, so it didn't take long before having her running well. I've since spent (much) more than the purchase price on parts and maintenance, but she's pretty well set now. New brakes and tyres inc staggered 275/35/18's on the back, Waxolyed and serviced, helluva car! After some research I picked up the induction system from an STR (eBay £20), which intakes from above the grill and not the wing. This has a better inlet flow, but I haven't had the chance to fit it yet so can't speak to the benefits. The rear silencers, while not being Adamesh, and a 2nd hand eBay purchase at £60 each, have opened her up nicely. And the boot spoiler was a steal, only c£40 painted and delivered, I'll send a link if of interest. She's not our only car and I hope to have her indefinitely, even if I get another Jag (XKR) as planned. So I've been viewing most expenses as an investment in her future, rather than just unwanted costs. Being a manual, even the fuel is not that bad, especially when driven sensibly. But driving her sensibly all the time would be missing the point I think! Good luck!

Hey Ralph, Same here, I can appreciate wafting around in an auto could be more relaxing, but the manual Sport was my preference. Lighter, faster, more economical and more engaging. I looked for ages before I found mine and then had to travel for it, but I don't regret it! I've fitted stainless rear silencers plus a few other cheeky mods that have really brought out the 'Sport' nature of the big cat! Helluva car, especially for the money you can pick them up for What you describe does seem to be quite extreme though, worth checking all seals, breathers, vacuum pipes etc. Have you had the manifold off yet and done the coil packs and plugs? I hope you enjoy yours as much as I have mine! Cheers, Russ

Hi Ralph, I think you, like me, have one of the rarer manual box cars? Not saying that your car is not at fault, but I understand that Jag built the ECU on the manual to raise revs for smoother gear changes. Someone more knowledgeable will hopefully confirm details or you could research. I was almost convinced that I had a vacuum leak or something after removing inlet manifold to get at plugs and coil packs, as when revving, it would go up beautifully, then hover around 1800-1500 rather than returning to what I considered normal idle. Since being told this is a design feature, rather than a fault, I have found it easier to live with All the best, Russ

Hi Andrew, On my 2001 model there is a keyhole, you'll have to bend down to see it, but it is there! Central, adjacent to button etc... Hope this helps, Russ

Thanks guys, no addons like that and I suspect the alternator. I've had enough battery issues with other cars to know this is not a slight drain, interior light or similar. It's all or nothing, it'll either last for weeks / months, or go twice in consecutive days, and that's a big battery to drain in such a short period! I also have a pretty awful squeak from the front belt area of the car and it which I wondered if it could be alternator bearings, so it would be great in a new alternator sorted both issues! I'll pop the mulitmeter on it in the 1st instance and have the battery tested, but I'll leave off fitting a new battery unless I have a better idea in what's causing the drain. Where do we all stand on new vs remanufactured alternators, not done a full search but the new ones are pricy! Won't go with just a 2nd hand one as I don't want to do this job again anytime soon! But once sorted I'll treat to a new battery and in the meantime I'll make sure the retaining thread is lubed up as I understand these can corrode . Thanks,

Hi Steve, Hope you're well, long time no hear! The alarms / locking don't seem to like direct sunlight, mine refuses to lock / unlock remotely if in strong sunlight, but I've never had an issue with my alarm. Would the 1 click lock, 2 clicks alarm activated be the same for all models does anyone know? Hope you sort it! Cheers, Russ

Hi all, I have an intermittent battery fault, she can be fine for months, then suddenly go completely flat overnight, without even enough power to unlock the doors. My only option has been to manually unlock the boot and jump start when this happens. I don't think the battery is duff, she takes and holds a good charge, but is at least 2 years old, probably more. I'd change the battery if this was recommended. I haven't been able to isolate it and wondered if the X200 was known for this and if there are any recommendations as to how to resolve it. Many thanks, Russ

Hi Peter, It sounds like a great day was had! I'd be interested in a future meetings, including something in October. But as I'm on the Isle of Wight, it does present some logistical considerations! I had the pleasure of visiting the British Motor Museum in Gaydon last week, including the amazing Jaguar collection, which included the 'last of the line' STR I show below. I can't recommend it enough, any club member would love it I'm sure. So I'm also interested in the Jaguar breakfast meets Joe mentioned are held at the venue. If I had an excuse to be in the vicinity, perhaps we could get a few S-Types along and meet there? All the best, Russ

Exactly Joe, a complete Waxoly has been high on the list since having the car, she's pretty solid and I want to keep her that way

Hi all, I've been a bit cowardly re taking off my sill covers, it was a Schrodinger's cat situation, all the time I hadn't looked at them they were both OK and not OK, but once I looked, it could've been a disaster! I've also been wanting to prepare and Waxoly the underside of the Jag since I've had her, and eventually decided to subcontract this to a local mechanic (but only after I tested him doing the same job on our Discovery!). He's on this now and we took the sill covers off, to find a fairly rotten bit in the centre of the nearside, as shown below, but the rest not too bad. I feel quite relieved and that I've gotten off lightly compared to some. He's going to charge an extra £100 for all the welding prep and finishing which I think is fine. Compared to some that have been posted about, it could've been much worse! Cheers, Russ

Well done as always to Joe and Peter for their detailed responses. Taking Joe's comments into consideration, and also that my 3.0 V6 is running beautifully, I won't be doing this on the Jag, but I may have one of my Discoveries done as she's running like a rough old dog! Cheers, Russ

Good question Jamie! I don't have those guys, but there is a Terraclean agent near me. For the c£100 they're charging, it could be worth a punt. If anyone has experience of these types of cleaners, I'd be interested in hearing about it as well

On really hot summer's days, if my car is left in the sun, I've found my remote locking completely inoperative. I'm not the only one too as I posted about it before and had similar responses. Wonder if it's related or what it is about hot atmospheric conditions that interfere with remotes and central locking?

Not the expansion tank then, which leaks from the back. There's a lot going on at the front of the engine and difficult to identify what's what, I have an annoying squeaking and haven't been able to isolate it, even using an automotive stethoscope. Could be belt, power steering, water pump or alternator. I may start a separate thread about this with an audio file if I can work out the technology! So good luck with tracking down your leak, water pump or dodgy hoses could be likely suspects

Hi Jonny, Expansion tanks have a tendency to crack, but with mine this resulted in a leak once you stopped driving, as opposed to when it was driving. Hope this helps, Russ

A matter of personal taste of course, but I love the wood trim in my Sport, it's slightly different to the standard finish and sets the car off well. I'm think I'm right in saying that all S-Types use an actual wood veneer and not just a tacky wood effect or printed vinyl such as you'd find in a cheaper car...

Interesting to know Tristan, we might be able to help each other out! I have a laser cutting business Cutlasercut, can you post or PM your work details. Either I or other club members might have projects you could help with

Hey Joe, I saw your post on the DRL before but hadn't really how good it looked, well done Sir! Not sure that same look is in keeping with my older X200, but if it was, I'd be going for it! Cheers, Russ

A bit far for me Peter, but thanks for the invite...