Newbie / thoughts - 1998 3.2 XJ Sport

[Pragster]

Hello all,

First post so be gentle..

I've recently taken the plunge and bought a 1998 BRG 3.2 XJ Sport. I paid my dues and joined the club and this forum. North London based.

With work planned on the car in coming weeks, I thought I'd share some thoughts and ask some questions. This forum appears to be really well organised with lots of useful information. Thanks to all those that have endeavoured to share their knowledge.

I am, sad to admit, someone that doesn't have the skills or space to be getting hands on with my car. Saying that, I am fortunate to know some people who have those skills (at reasonable prices).

My plan with the ole girl is to carry out a comprehensive service and if time allows, a trip up to the Blenheim in mid May. She has been looked after by an old boy for nearly a decade. The cars looks original and not messed around with. No bling alloys here Rodders.. (Yes, I will check for the latest metal bodied tensioners, the water pump, throttle bodies etc). Having covered about 10,700 miles in the last decade, the last five years saw about 473 miles travelled, and about 9 miles in the last year. Probably to the MOT station and back. I will post pictures in the next few weeks as the journey begins.

So the questions. For someone like me, it would be really useful if there was a page on the forum giving details of the service items required. And what I should expect to pay. For example:
1. Seems like the coolant should be the original Jag stuff at £41.28 per 5l container. Are there any other options?
2. The Oil filter from Jaguar is £15.85 whilst an aftermarket is £5.51
3. An original fuel filter will cost £26.00 whilst a Bosch aftermarket, £5.32
4. Changing the gearbox/filter will cost nearly £300 in original parts (from Jaguar) alone

Do you see where I'm going?

Not trying to be cheap, but sensible, is the difference in price acceptable to you wise old men?
Would Bosch put their name on a product that's significantly cheaper (and inferior)?
Has anyone bought two items and compared them side by side?
Or am I sounding like a whining old fool?
Thoughts welcome..

Pragster

[Andy P]

Hello Pragster and welcome to the club and forum.
Congratulations on getting your car, I hope you'll be pleased with it.
Regarding service items I think it's up to personal choice on what you buy really.
I try to find good quality parts at reasonably prices as I don't like being ripped off but you have be careful.
There should be a sticker or label near the coolant top up cap which tells you what coolant to use,they changed the type of coolant from JLM204043(ESD-M97B49-A) to JLM209723(WSS-M97B44-B) after VIN Number (F00035).
They use Ford Coolant so search for the relevant part No.
Nothing wrong with Bosch in my opinion,I have been buying the XJ8 special tools from the Jaguar Land Rover Tooling & Equipment Web Shop for a few years now(slowly building up my collection )here's a link.
https://jlrequipment.service-solutions. ... tID=321496
I've noticed there is a connection to Bosch so they can't be that bad.
I've got Bosch Super 4 spark plugs in at the moment,£21.00 for eight of them,been in there over a year now and runs great.
I shall give mine a service before Blenheim and have found BOSCH IRDIUM SPARK PLUGS C2A1535
for £55.00 for eight so I will try those next time.
Be careful with the transmission service,make sure the people doing it know what they are doing.
I can send you the correct procedure in PDF if you PM me your email address .
I also have the complete workshop manual in PDF if you would like that as well.
All that said and done the main thing to do is get out and enjoy the luxury by driving it .
Looking forward to the photo's.
They truly are a wonderful car.
Here's mine

2000 XJ8 Sovereign

Hope that helps a bit.
Andy

[Pragster]

Thanks for the welcome Andy and appreciate the advice.
As this is my first Jag, I bought some of the service items from Jag; oil, air, fuel filters. I will have a look at the coolant.

I just picked her up this afternoon and drove about 70 miles home. Faultlessly. Apart from a few niggles..
1. The drivers door rubber trim seems to be a little loose and requires attention.
2. There was significant steering wheel vibration at about 50mph
3. At higher speeds, there appeared to be some whistling coming from somewhere around the dash. I had ventilation off but could not locate.

I will load pictures after giving some tlc..!

[andypryce]

Agree with Andy, aftermarket parts fine for most jobs, but transmission oil must be the proper stuff, though you can still get cheaper than £300. It will exasperate you at times, but when it's running well nothing finer!

[RichardSEL]

Thanks for the welcome Andy and appreciate the advice.

Enjoyed my time with the XJ8 (X308) So much so that I had three of them

<snip>
2. There was significant steering wheel vibration at about 50mph

If it's been standing about for some time over the past five years suggest you check the date codes of tyres now fitted even though you might have enough tread. Flats can occur over the years from standing in stead of being driven. They balance out OK but are still there

Otherwise suggest all-round re-balance with exact tyre pressure check to eliminate that possibility.
Then it's onto check wheel bearings and track rod ends

[RICHARDEDGELL]

Pragster decided not to keep the car, so I bought it from him, replying to his JEC advert.
It is a good car, I have changed all the oils (i got a good automatic transmission specialist to change the gearbox filter and oil using his old stock of Esso LT71141)and given it a good look over.
Can some expert tell me about lubrication of the u/js?
The inboard joints have grease nipples, but the service schedule that came with the car makes no mention of any greasing.Should i give them a shot or two, and how often?
Any other advice on regular servicing would be a great help.

[Andy P]

Hi RICHARDEDGELL and welcome to the forum,
Hope your enjoying your X308.
In answer to your query,yes I would give them a greasing as they often get overlooked.
There are also outboard ones as well which are tucked away in the recess of the hub but if you rotate the shaft you can get better access.
I give mine a greasing twice a year.
I have this Vehicle Maintenance Sheet which was kindly sent to me by forum member RichardSEL which you might find useful.
Here's the link:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=11j0ys ... 3YNkk_RNeK

Hope that helps.
Take care.
Andy

[RichardSEL]

@OP -- Are you still getting that vibration your previous keeper mentioned at 50mph-ish?

[RICHARDEDGELL]

Hi Andy and Richard
Thanks for your replies and for the service schedule. I will delve around the u/js and give the four nipples a shot or two of grease.
Whilst researching cars to buy I noticed that many had MOT advisories concerning wear in the inner u/js,
they seem to be particularly important on these cars.
Are there other grease points, eg on the prop shaft?

Andy
Did I see that you are something of an expert on wheel nuts? One of the wheel nuts on my car is shorter
and therefore more deeply recessed than the others, I think it is an odd one and should be replaced.

Richard
The previous owner explained that he had all four wheels balanced, and sure enough there are fresh weights inside the
wheels. There is no vibration at speed. The P6000s are fairly old but the rears especially are as new,still with traces of
the coloured bands on the treads.
Many thanks
Richard
ps i have owned 3 new aluminum XJs and an XJ40, and the wife has an XK8. This sub- £2000 XJ8 compares very well with them I would say,
although no ball of fire.

[Andy P]

Hi RICHARDEDGELL,
Don't know about being an expert more of an enthusiastic amateur really .
I think the 98 3.2 Sport came with Dimple wheels as standard but they might have been changed by a previous owner.
The wheel nuts should be all the same length and I think the Dimple wheel takes the long shaft wheel nut.
If you have different wheels here's the info for all wheels fitted to the X308 as standard.
Quite easy to navigate the site:

https://parts.jaguarlandroverclassic.co ... nd/jaguar/

Hope that helps.
If you have time post some photo's.
Would love to see it.
Take care.
Andy

[RICHARDEDGELL]

Andy
I will attempt to attach a photo of the car and the wheel, I believe it is a standard 'Dimple'
the car paint code is HGD(solid BRG), with AGD trim (oatmeal)
I was interested that the paperwork with the car included a specification of the paint mix dating from 2003 when it obviously had
some paintwork, it seems the solid BRG includes a lot of blue.

[Andy P]

Yes that's a dimple wheel which will use the long shaft wheel nut.
Part No CCC7029.
Car looks very nice.
Hope your enjoying it.
Take care.
Andy