Should I be looking at an XJS with a mileage of over 200,000?

[edward.kellow805]

By chance I saw an unrestored XJS 4 litre with a mileage of over 200,000. Rust is not a problem. I'm very tempted, but should I even be considering a car with a mileage this high? My S Type has just failed its MoT very badly so I am looking for consolation.

[PaulGover]

One view:

I'd guess that's about twice the average mileage. Of course, many low mileage versions may have been clocked! At a guess, for some part of its life, it's been well used and therefore likely well-maintained. But as it's an average of only about 5,000 a year, there's the same possibility of long periods of neglect that all old cars may have suffered. If you can find out when the majority of those miles were done, you might be able to estimate how well it's been maintained recently, which is probably what matters.

As to mechanicals, the 4.0 ltr engines are, as far as I know, very long-lived and strong; I think 250,000 miles without problems is normal. I guess the things that might suffer most would be suspension components (bushes, shockers, springs), though you can consider them consumables on classic cars; indeed they age even without use, so the likelihood of regular maintenance is still relevant.

Overall, IMHO, you're still in the same position as anyone buying a 40-year-old car is. Take the usual precautions: perhaps get an independent inspection, make sure you see under it, check for oil marks on the driveway, check the paperwork, don't by from a someone who's not at their normal address, etc., and understand why it's being sold.

[edward.kellow805]

Thank you very much indeed.

I believe it was driven between London at Scotland regularly over a long period. It may not have been used for a while.

I'm completely un-mechanical so this is all very good to know.

Kind regards,

Edward

[davidr]

Hi - if I'm reading your post correctly then you imply the bodywork is in good rust-free condition. If so, then the major issue has already been overcome.
I had an old X300 XJ saloon for a while. It had nearly 250k on the clock (the same distance as between Earth and the moon!) and yet it still drove beautifully. The body was falling apart around it but the drivetrain, suspension etc were all good. Even the interior was pretty good after a little fettling. So these drivetrains are capable of interplanetary mileages with only basic maintenance.
What I suggest you concentrate on is the major mechanical components and if you are not confident then get someone who is to look at it. I would also be looking for solid evidence of regular maintenance. Has it been serviced regularly? Have problems been fixed with the car as they have arisen? Is it still on its original engine and gearbox? By solid evidence, I mean a big thick stack of bills - not just a few stamps in a book.
It can also take a lot of money and/or effort to bring a poor interior up to standard so bear that in mind.
Then go into it with your eyes open. If its solid, cheap and you fancy taking it on as a project then have a go. But also bear in mind that if you are not very mechanical yourself and so you will be paying someone else to fix it then it may become a money pit. But then again, you can say that about any classic car!

[edward.kellow805]

David,

Yes, you are reading correctly. The body is pretty good.

The seller is a reputable garage specialising in classic cars.

But as you say I would be paying someone else to maintain it, and it could be a drain on my finances.

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I really appreciate your insights,

Kind Regards,

Edward

[Lastmin]

I guess it also comes down to £ and how long you are likely to keep it.

If you are looking at long term ownership i wouldn't be put off but if you think you may keep it 18 months then move it on you may find the market is smaller and could take longer to shift.

If the body is solid and the engine isn't smoking or showing any negative signs of the mileage the rest of the issues you would find with most potential second hand old classics.

[edward.kellow805]

Good point! Thank you.

[Lastmin]

If the £ is right a high miler wouldn't put me off and buy on condition sometimes low mileage cars sat around a long time have their own issues pros and cons.

However these cars with that mileage will always be a harder sell when you come to get rid so just bear in mind some people will skip it just for that.

[poprivet]

My previous Series III V12 Sovereign had a replacement engine at 250,000 miles and was still going well. Eventually body rot was too far gone to do anything about it.

[SimonR]

I think it depend greatly on what your reasons are for buying the car: if it's a driveable investment then steer well clear because high milers just don't make the sort of money that original low-mileage cars do. As the saying goes with toys of all sizes - you only get to enjoy them once.

When I was looking for my replacement XJ-S, there was a red 3.6 manual located in the south of England that I was tempted to have a look at. It had 180k miles on the clock, but clearly had had a lot of work done, including complete bodywork rectification, respray and re-trim. If it had been an original car with 10k miles on the clock (which is the sort of condition it looked to be in) then it would have been around £20k, however, the mileage meant that I could have bought it for around £8k. When you think about it - that's a lot of car for the money - but you're unlikely to make much profit when you sell it.

If, however, you're looking for a car to cherish and enjoy driving - and also possibly plan to put another 200k miles on then I don't see a problem with it. Just judge the car on its merits and if it's free of corrosion, everything works and it has a solid maintenance history then it's as likely to be as good a car as any other. The engines in these cars are capable of huge mileages if maintained properly, and even if it's shot, replacement ones are readily available at relatively inexpensive prices. The rest of the mechanical parts would probably have been replaced/repaired/reconditioned already at that kind of mileage and age so in a way as long as they're visually OK they're less of a worry and will fit in with the regular maintenance schedule.

[greeban]

My Aj16 4.0 XJS has 155K on the clock and still purrs! I checked the valve clearances a year ago (these engines use shims) and they are all in tolerance!! She burns a little oil over the service period so perhaps once in a year I need to top up with 1/2 a litre so no worries there. There is no timing chain rattle and the car goes like stink (it's a manual) - I am confident it will be 300K+ before any real issues. I will be pulling the head off in a year or so to see what internal wear there is as there is a small 'weep' at the rear corner of the head but I am expecting very little wear.

As said, rust is the big cost - I had to repair the windscreen scuttle on mine which is common and more likely I suggest so on the higher mileage cars as they will have seen a lot of rain which is driven under the windscreen aiding the tin worm. If yours is sound I suggest as others have said, find someone you can trust to check out the mechanicals and if they are OK go for it. Good bodied cars are becoming rare - they will not be around too much longer. Like my house, if I tried to buy my manual XJS now, it is unlikely I could find the cash as value now into 5 figures and will only go north from here. It is still the case for me today that I happily drive it whenever I can as I know that if some twat smashes into me I can find another body shell worst case, to rebuild it but this may not be the case in 10 years or so.

[simondmill504]

As is being suggested, "Mileage is only a number", I spent over a quarter a century in the retail motor trade and trust me clocking in the eighties was standard practice. I remember removing the speedo head from a Ford Granada 2.8 Ghia only for a piece of paper to fall out and written on it was " Oh S**t not again". People tend to focus on the latter years the important era is the first three years when the expensive new car was probably used as a motorway mile muncher. Most clocking occurred before the first MOT and even that lovely stamped service history book might not be the one the car left the factory with, easily bought blank from parts departments and low paid service reception staff had access to the stamps!!
You have to ask yourself when looking at these low mileage examples, why? where have they been? and why were they bought, happens sometimes but most likely been clocked.
I have just bought a 167K 1996 XJS, it just might have the right mileage displayed, but who knows?

[edward.kellow805]

Many thanks for your reply and your thoughts.

In the end I got cold feet and didn't buy it.

Thanks to everyone who replied.

[ptjs1]

Edward,

Put it behind you and keep scouring the classifieds. Your car is out there somewhere!

Good luck

Paul