The start of my expensive S-Type love affair!

[Ladams]

Hi, I am a new member and I would like to share my story with you, some of it may help other S-Type owners who have, or may have similar experiences to mine!

Just over 3 years ago my 5-series BMW failed its MOT on emissions and was beyond economical repair. I have owned many makes of vehicle from Audi, BMW (four of them and I still own a mint condition Z3 2.8 roadster), SAAB (2.5 v6 convertible), VW (Golf Gti), Rover (620gsi), Toyota (Supra) and a few Ford models, but never a Jaguar.

Browsing through auto trader I noticed that the S-Type Jaguar looked like a lot of car for the money on the second hand market. Because I do circa 15,000miles a year, I was wary of fuel costs so ruled out the bigger engines and "R" variant. I was attracted particularly by the "Sport" because it had the 2.5 v6 engine and no chrome trim (similar to the R-Type) as I personally think chrome makes the car look dated. So I narrowed my search to the sport model which I wanted in metallic grey with black leather.

I found one matching my requirements in a South London car dealership (oh dear I hear you say), it looked fantastic in the pictures and a snip at £2,700 for a 2003. This was about £2,000 cheaper thanI had seen similar examples selling for at that time. I decided to view it and took a friend along who knew a bit about Jags. The car did not disappoint. Inside and out it was truly immaculate without a single car park "ding" or mark, the upholstery and interior were also like it just came off the production line. The test drive went well with no apparent problems, it had a full service history from Jaguar main dealer Guy Salmon (from whom the south London dealer had acquired the car in a trade deal) and had two previous owners and was complete with all the original sales documents and handbook which looked unread. The mileage at that time was 87,000. The only apparent problem was that the remote central locking didn't work even though the remotes were fitted with new batteries. We haggled thinking the r/c locking may be an expensive fix and got the car for £2,500 cash.
A replacement central looking control unit was sourced from a breakers yard for £20, it was re programmed to match the keys and bingo! Central locking working again.

For the next two years the car was faultless and I fell in Love with it. About a year ago the "coolant level low" light came on. I topped up the water, but the light came on again after a day or so. The water seemed to be escaping from around the filler cap in the expansion tank, so I replaced it but the problem was still evident. I had the car looked at by a friendly mechanic who said it was probably a partially blocked radiator but said it was fine to drive till the next service providing I topped up the water and kept an eye on the temperature gauge, which never moved from "normal". For about a month I drove the car around, topping up the water whenever the light came on but one day after a long journey, there was a cloud of steam from the front of the car and the water was spraying out of the pressure cap. Clearly things had got worse! The car was towed to a garage where they carried out a chemical test on the coolant.... yup, there were engine gasses present indicating that one of the head gaskets was leaking.

I found an independent Jaguar specialist who was prepared to do a "cash deal" and replaced both head gaskets for £1,000. Ouch ... I thought, but this was only the start of problems with my beloved Jaguar. After the gaskets were replaced, I was still losing water, not as much, but the coolant warning light was coming on fairly regularly. It seems that driving the Jag around with a leaking head gasket had put a huge strain on other components in the cooling system. The Radiator was buckled and splitting, hoses were damaged as was the heater control valve which failed causing hot air to blow through all the vents and the climate control unit itself was now damaged. The garage who repaired all this also noticed that the air con condenser was leaking, so that had to be replaced as well.
All the remedial work came to another £1,800 including having the climate control unit reconditioned. But the car was finally back in good working order.

Then, about 6 months ago (mileage now 139,000)I started noticing some problems with the automatic transmission. Changes between gears were sometimes harsh and between 30 and 50mph the car was "surging" as though it wasn't sure which gear to select. I noticed the kick down was getting hesitant and non-responsive and also sometimes the car would jump slightly when it came to a stop as though someone had bumped into the back of the car.

I took the car to an automatic gearbox specialist (Planet Gears in Peterborough) who have a lot of experience with the ZF gearbox the S-Type uses and was nodding knowingly every time I described a fault. They stripped the gearbox down and declared it would take longer to fix and cost me more to have it repaired than to replace it with a factory reconditioned one, so that is the option I chose and I pick the car up this weekend. They are also replacing the prop shaft bearing which was getting noisy. Total cost: £2,600.... more than I paid for the car!

My total spend on this car (without taking into account routine servicing and a new wheel bearing it needed along the way) comes to circa £6,100.

Do I have any regrets? No. Am I going to get rid of my S-type? No. Why? Because it is now one well and truly sorted S-Type in virtually showroom condition and no car I have ever owned has been such a joy to drive or so comfortable. I think the S-Type is the best ride short of a Bentley and for an investment of £6,100, what else could I buy that drives like this car? Nothing!

It has been an expensive labour of love and I know the S-Type is considered by some to be the runt of the litter with it's retro styling, but I love it. I have nicknamed my Jag "Trigger's Broom", which fans of "Only fools and horses" will understand!

And NO ... it is NOT for sale.

Les Adams

[jeff1954]

Wow! Some tale that Les. But as you say most of the major faults with a car of this age have been addressed and I salute you for sticking with it. I don't want to throw cold water on your endeavours (and I sincerely mean that) but have you had the plastic sill covers off, and checked the sills, because some cars have suffered with quite bad corrosion in these areas. Hopefully yours will be OK.

Keep in touch.
Jeff

[GordonJ]

Hi Les,
I had bought my wife an S Type SE 3Lt 63000 miles with full service history for £3000 and never had a bit of bother and like you I would have to say that it was one of the most comfortable cars I have ever driven. I sold it along with my XJ8 4lt to pay for an XJ6 X350. And only this car matches the S Type. So I wish you well with your car and hope you have many more miles of happy motoring.
Oh and I sold our S Type for £3000 to a museum in Brittany.
You must look back over Mike Kennedys posts and articles on the S Type and that will help keep you running for many more years.

Gordon

[Ladams]

Wow! Some tale that Les. But as you say most of the major faults with a car of this age have been addressed and I salute you for sticking with it. I don't want to throw cold water on your endeavours (and I sincerely mean that) but have you had the plastic sill covers off, and checked the sills, because some cars have suffered with quite bad corrosion in these areas. Hopefully yours will be OK.

Keep in touch.
Jeff

Thank you Jeff. Yes the condition of the bodywork and interior were the main reason for buying this car. The only evidence of rust was on the front o/s wheel arch and that has been fixed (properly)... metal cut away, treated and rebuilt be a coach works. Sills and all are good. I reached the point of no return with this car so I guess anything that needs doing will be done in the foreseeable future unless I win the lottery in which case it will be for sale when my "F-Type" is delivered

[J44EAG]

Hello Les,

I ran a 2002 V8 for nearly ten years. The car acted as a repair mule for many of the articles I wrote when I was S-type Co-ordinator. That car and I explored what could be done on a DIY basis and most of the work is viewable on this site and in past editions of the magazine.

The vast majority of repairs needed were feasible given a reasonable tool kit, some relevant skill and a good dollop of research and help from the guys posting here.

If you have any issues in the future, always feel free to ask about them. There are several very experienced chaps actively doing their own maintenance and getting great results in the process. Just ask away and we will do our best to help you.

Mike K

[Ladams]

Hi Les,
I had bought my wife an S Type SE 3Lt 63000 miles with full service history for £3000 and never had a bit of bother and like you I would have to say that it was one of the most comfortable cars I have ever driven. I sold it along with my XJ8 4lt to pay for an XJ6 X350. And only this car matches the S Type. So I wish you well with your car and hope you have many more miles of happy motoring.
Oh and I sold our S Type for £3000 to a museum in Brittany.
You must look back over Mike Kennedys posts and articles on the S Type and that will help keep you running for many more years.

Gordon

Thank you Gordon. Interesting that you sold your S-Type To a museum. I think these cars got some unduly bad press for the looks, but I think in time it will be remembered fondly, especially by those who owned and cherished them. As you can see in this picture, it is well looked after so maybe it will end up alongside yours, or in a similar place.

[Ladams]

Hello Les,

I ran a 2002 V8 for nearly ten years. The car acted as a repair mule for many of the articles I wrote when I was S-type Co-ordinator. That car and I explored what could be done on a DIY basis and most of the work is viewable on this site and in past editions of the magazine.

The vast majority of repairs needed were feasible given a reasonable tool kit, some relevant skill and a good dollop of research and help from the guys posting here.

If you have any issues in the future, always feel free to ask about them. There are several very experienced chaps actively doing their own maintenance and getting great results in the process. Just ask away and we will do our best to help you.

Mike K

Thank you Mike, I am afraid I know not one end of a spanner from the other and I am somewhat disabled now, so D.I.Y. is not really an option for me. Nevertheless I find reading about such matters very interesting. It is also handy to know what to look for in the car. For example I was able to tell the local garage about the faulty heater control valve causing damage the climate control unit, something he didn't know and I wasn't aware of till I read it on a forum such as this!

I will have no hesitation taking up your kind offer if and when the need arises. Thank you.

Les

[jeff1954]

She looks good Les. I hope you have many years of happy motoring in her.

Jeff

[GordonJ]

Hi Les.
should have said that my XJ8 also went to the same museum in Brittany and that fetched £3000. This lad flew over and bought both cars after my local Jaguar Specialist let him have the use of his ramps to inspect them both.

Gordon

[Ladams]

That is really good Gordon. It is nice to hear the cars went to a good home where they will be appreciated for years to come.

I picked my S-Type up from the garage Saturday morning after having the auto-transmission completely rebuilt and took her for a long drive (circa 240m) to the New Forest and back on Sunday (stopping for lunch and a cream tea of course) so the gearbox could "learn" .... What a difference! When I first picked it up, as warned by the garage, some of the changes were a little bit harsh, but now it is as smooth as silk and drives like new. I never understood how complicated these thing are1

As a treat (for the car of course) I have just ordered some TSW 18" Silverstone alloy wheels in black with polished mirror outer rims. They have been ordered from America so will take a week or so to arrive. They will be fitted with new Firestone sport 245/18 tyres. It has been a very expensive weekend!

I will post pictures once fitted and I look forward to showing the car off at a meeting soon.

Les.

[Ladams]

She looks good Les. I hope you have many years of happy motoring in her.

Jeff

Thank you Jeff.

[GordonJ]

Hi Les,
great to hear that the car is running as it should. As I said we enjoyed our time with the S Type and it was only sold to accommodate the XJ6 X350 which is living up to it's reputation. We had a great day out yesterday on our drive it day and every mile we do keeps a smile on my face.
All I would say is keep looking at Mike Kennedys posts on here and in the magazine and you'll be fine.

Happy Motoring

Gordon

[Brakebuster]

Hi Les.
should have said that my XJ8 also went to the same museum in Brittany and that fetched £3000. This lad flew over and bought both cars after my local Jaguar Specialist let him have the use of his ramps to inspect them both.

Gordon
1.jpg

BOOM , and the memories come flooding back , lol

BB

[GordonJ]

I can imagine they do, but I would suspect it's being well looked after. And I do know that he had done the headlights in both so spending so much money buying them, maintaining them and shipping I am sure both are sound and well. I might one day go and have a look. I do know he had other jaguars and two rollers. I wont tell you what he did for a living on here but will find you at Windsor.

Gordon