....lies selber....
yet with hard-hitting performance, and well within our budget, the XJR is a real contender.
Checkpoints
• Pre-2000 engines had a Nikasil coating on the aluminium bores that is prone to degradation. When this happens compression is lost and the car won’t start. Unfortunately this is a terminal problem and although Jag did replace affected units under warranty back in the day, you’d be hard pushed to get them to do it now. It’s essential, therefore, to get the engine compression checked before buying, or, better still, only look at cars that have had the engine replaced (there will be a green label at the right-hand rear of the block) or post-2000 model-year cars.
• The plastic used for the timing-chain slippers on early cars can disintegrate over time. Listen for a rattle from the front of the engine when it is cold. The slippers should be replaced at 60,000 miles. If not done, valves will hit pistons… Replacement is a labour-intensive job, so expect to pay up to £2000 to get it done, but it will cure the problem completely as the later steel slippers will be installed. From 2000 reinforced plastic versions were fitted and these should be fine; the steel type came on stream in 2002.
• The heavy wheels can wear the front wheel bearings, but the suspension is generally robust; dampers last around 80,000 miles.
• The electrics should all be working fine. There are no common problems, but check everything functions correctly as fault-finding is time-consuming.
gruss gert
