www.jec.org.uk

Morning All,

My X350 Super V8 has covered most of the way to the moon and I'd really like to get it to do the return journey as it's such a fantastic car.

But, the old torque converter is making more and more ominous rumbles and other "cattle grid" noises so I suspect it is about to give up.

I know a s/h unit would be cheaper but they are rare for this car so thinking about getting the box rebuilt. Anyone on here done that or have an idea of the likley cost (I know £2k or more)?

I live on the edge of Gloucestershire with Oxfordshire & Wiltshire a few hundred metres away, so if anyone has any recommendations for companies in any of these counties, I'm listening!

TIA.

David Q

Some years ago I had the Borg Warner gearbox on my XJ6 overhauled by a specialist in the Solihull area, who had previously been in central Birmingham. I forget the name, and it's probably 20 years ago, so I thought I'd try Google for "gearbox overhaul Solihull". That threw up several candidate web sites that look good. After all, Birmingham is the long-term home of British engineering.

Of course, you need to avoid the mistake I made looking for a local gearbox specialist. I phoned one and asked for a quote. £10,000. Well, they only made new ones for F1 cars! That's what comes of living near Silverstone.

Thanks, Paul!

Hi David,

You could try Bristol Transmissions. I phoned them last year about some advice for my X350 V8 and found them very friendly and helpful.
And not a million miles from your area.
Anyway check out their website.
Tel 01179 524920 (9.00am - 5.00pm)
Address: Bristol Transmissions, Unit 3, 4 &; 5, McArthur Buildings,, Foundry Lane,, Bristol, BS5 7UE

Hope this helps.
Regards
Merlin

You could try Bristol Transmissions. I phoned them last year about some advice for my X350 V8 and found them very friendly and helpful.
And not a million miles from your area.
Anyway check out their website.

Thanks, Merlin, I've looked them up and they are ZF approved so they will be getting a call from me.

I fear the TC is losing its will to live now!

Best regards,

DQ

Morning All,

Well, I bit the bullet and delivered my X350 SV8 to Bristol Transmissions in early December. Drove it up the M4 then M32 very gingerly as I was worried the TC might go at any moment. Luckily not too many steep hills en route.

They were very helpful and I felt reassured that she was in safe hands - and hoping for not TOO big a bill. I had a call a few days later to tell me the TC was in its death throes and the box would need a rebuild and they gave me the quote. Luckily I was sitting down for the call.

I picked her up today and the bill was less than the quote (how often has that ever happened?). They told me the car had been taken out by several engineers and each had passed it as good to go.

I drove her gingerly out and back onto the M32. Couldn't even feel the gear changes. In 6th, there was no surging or rumbling and bearing in mind the car had been doing this since I bought it in 2018, it was a real treat. I drove home via M4 and back roads to Cirencester then home.

Faultless! Quiet! Like a new car! Some might say I was daft to spend more than the car originally cost on sorting the gearbox but I love this car. The best car Jaguar built (Ihaven't tried a X351 yet) in my opinion and it will go on for as long as I do.

Okay it wasn't cheap but I can't wait to get her MOTd and out on the road again.

Thanks to Merlin for suggesting Bristol Transmissions!