2.5 X Type estate

[piman]

Hello all,

I've been on this forum for years mainly in the older models section.
Having just bought the above I thought I would post it here as I'm a new arrival to X Type motoring.

I had been looking for an XJS manual transmission model for some time but came across this car fairly close to me and at what seems to be a very good price so I succumbed to the temptation. First drive home and it ran very nicely albeit not being quite as lively as I expected. The engine is nice and smooth and seems to be running correctly but I think I might do a plug change very shortly as I understand that the rear bank tend to get neglected due to having to remove the upper inlet manifold.
Other problems, hopefully minor, are no operating speedometer, loose rear drivers side passenger door card and water in the spare wheel well but no apparent damp in the carpets or trim etc? Other than that a very tidy car.

I'm impressed with the luggage capacity which is really the only reason I bought it, I wouldn't have bough a saloon, that being a petrol also was a significant factor (I just do not like diesel cars) I know that may sound illogical seeing as I was looking for an XJS but different cars for a different purpose

Alec

[robv12]

I'm on my second X Type 2.5 manual petrol estate, great cars, and manual petrol's are hard to find in estate form, I know I bought the ONLY one for sale in Scotland when my last one expired

I really wanted a 3.0 Sport Premium manual in black/black but so far have only seen one, and that was a bag of bolts

Look out for sill corrosion, both mine suffered and have had to be done, transfer boxes fail, that killed my previous car, get the oil changed if there is any left, my current car had a bit of sludge left in it that was all

A clutch will be 1100 quid and will often kill a car, I have a 62K mile from new one here with needing a clutch, on one wants it, so it will get broken

Headlight adjusters fail, there is a fix, Andy Carruthers sells a kit, check ebay, but it is a bumper off job and pull the headlight apart to rectify, a real pig of a job

rear drop links fail, leading to horrific rear tyre wear on the inner shoulder, I had a blow out on the A9 due to this, the tyre looked 100% over all of its width, but the inner shoulder was gone!!

Otherwise, I have found X Type to be a great little car, if a little thirsty in petrol 4 x 4 manual form, I struggle to see 30mpg on mine, considerably less than a 3.0 X350

[piman]

Hello Rob,

thanks for the advice. Fortunately I have quite a good workshop but modern cars are new to me. (I have never actually owned one before)

I'll have a good look at it underneath and check on the points you mentioned. Re the clutch, are these dual mass flywheels or is that only diesels?

Thanks again,

Alec

[robv12]

a rough idea on price for a complete kit, I'm sure ig you shop around you would do better though

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JAGUAR-X-TYPE ... Swc3ZUmtRq

[J44EAG]

A solid mass flywheel kit is available from Valeo for the Modeo and I`m told this will fit the X-type. My taxi friend operates a fleet and always puts the Valeo kit in when a dual mass unit expires. The kit is cheaper and more reliable than the dual mass OE fit. i think it is sold by Eurocarparts.

The transfer box only runs in about a litre of oil and any leakage can become catastrophic. Fortunately second hand transfer boxes are commonly available from breakers.

As regards get up and go and increasing fuel economy, after fitting new spark plugs, check the condition of the air filter. So many get left in place for years at a time and get choked solid with muck. My XJR was a victim to sloppy servicing in that respect. I always fit K&N flters which are washable and reusable and pass a higher volume of air than a standard filter.

Also use spray carb cleaner to clean the MAF hotwire of sludge and also use the cleaner and a soft rag to clean out the throttle body throat and butterfly spindle. If gunk is removed a better idle will result when the throttle plate in near shut. Check to make sure the plate snaps shut indicating a spindle that is clear of hard carbonised crank case breather residue.

Check and replace the two small rubber air elbows below the inlet manifold when you have it off for a spark plug change. The elbows split and crush with age so worth getting replacements in before you start the job.

Whilst getting the car up to a decent level, stick a couple of bottles of Cataclean in half a tank of fuel and drive gently for a few days. This stuff cleans out cats and makes a huge difference. Its not just me making similar claims for the use of this product. It really does work. My last emissions fell from an annual test of 79ppm hc to zero in just one day! The MOT man was most impressed.

Not sure if the dual mass unit is only on the diesel. Certainly a manual S-type V6 is dual mass.

Mike

[robv12]

Petrol X Type is dual mass as well

I couldn't find a good transfer box when mine gave up, EuroJag check them when they come off if they are "notchy" they bin them, they went through dozens looking for one for me, the car got sold for spares in the end

Replacement is a pain according to David Marks, and, I have no one here locally who would even think about tackling it or a clutch, that's why I have a low mileage breaker here!!

My current car got a transfer box oil change at 101K, no oil as such came out, 600ml went in, there is no drain hole, just a refill port, so where the oil goes who knows!!

Getting to it is a precarious job, the car has to be in the air and almost on one side, there are very specific parameters given by jaguar regarding the cars position when refilling, I took some pics of mine being done, so will dig them out

[robv12]

ok here we go with some pictures

the car needs to be chocked front and back

correct oil

manky filler plug

[robv12]

part two

begin to raise the car

check measurements as per Jaguar spec

then drop the ramp leaving the car on a transmission jack to give the required angle

rear view

crawl underneath if you dare and refill until excess oil runs out

job done, drive away, my car was much much quieter after this and has given 30K trouble free miles since, and , I fact when I bought it there was distinct hum, which the friendly vendor told me was a wheel bearing, to date one rear bearing has been changed, but gut feel says it was a noisy transfer box, and the po was told to get rid

[robv12]

oh and by the way, before anyone says those wheels look awful, I KNOW, they are gone and replaced with a correct set of X Type ones, the car rides ten times better now