www.jec.org.uk

Hi Folks

Well...I suspected there would be a few problems with the XJS I just bought...turns out, there were a few more than I bargained for!!!

The major one is that the auto box is toast. I had problems with reverse gear and it turns out the whole box is on the way out.

What else?...well, .. new shocks required front and back, rear brakes need replacing (discs and pads) and quite a few miscellaneous suspension parts and steering bushes. The back end work is the time consuming one as they need to drop the rear axle.

With a full service on top, the bill will be approx 3k. Considering this includes a new transmission (reconditioned one from another xjs) I don't think it's too bad...as it includes fixing the drivers window, new bonnet struts, air con conversion, steering rack work, drivers door mirror fix, some sill work and a few tweaks here and there.

It's being done at Hollygrove Jaguar in Ringwood...so I'll let you know how things go.

Should see quite an improvement to ride and performance when I get her back.

It does make me wonder...the car passed an MOT in October...just 1000 miles ago...so surely the brakes, steering and suspension issues should have been flagged....i.e. how did it pass? I know the place where I have my Land rover mot'd are extremely thorough....there must be a big varience in how stringent different MOT centres are.

The good news is that otherwise, the car is in pretty good shape....underbody is good, front sub-frame and engine etc. so at least I have a solid car to build on. I was a bit shocked at first when I heard how much needed to be done, but I don't really grudge any of it, as it will get the car back to where it should be mechanically. I'll need to do some bodywork repairs later...but nothing is too urgent at the moment.

Hope to give an update before Christmas.


Stuart

Hi Stuart,

Sorry to hear about the bad surprises but it sounds like you've got it covered and from what you've listed above £3k doesn't sound too bad. It's also very promising that the parts that often go (like front subframe and floors) are all OK...

Let us kow how you get on...!

On the subject of MoTs, I know what you mean - my garage uses another local test centre and last year my Maestro passed the MoT with quite a catastrophic suspension failure that meant it was impossible to drive straight or accelerate. Obviously I only found out how bad it was later but I reckon a decent place should have spotted it.

When I bought my XJS the MOT was issued the day before but they had failed to pick up on the tired front suspension bushes. As you say the thoroughness of the various test centres varies considerably.

Going back a few years but I bought an XJS and MOT had expired by about a month or 2, you might not believe the state it was in 'WITH' an mot. Link here (if it works) if you want a look

http://www.jec-xjs-forum.org.uk/xjsbb2/ ... .php?t=597