1998 Jaguar XJ8 from UK and Ireland - Comments

The boot courtesy lights did not work when I took ownership of the car.

Passenger seat electric headrest not working.

Windscreen Wiper motor is faulty and stops at annoying times without warning at any random position on the screen "Dangerous when travelling at speed on the motorway". Jaguar want £211 + vat for a new motor assembly OUCH!. Some switches don't illuminate.

I have, since purchasing the car discovered that the engines in this year range were "Nickasil" treated in the piston bores, this can mean disastrous and total loss of compression requiring engine replacement.

Jaguar were not the only manufacturer to use this treatment, and all the others had serious problems with it.

I'll keep this site posted as to my experience with this Jag. FINGERS CROSSED.

The car is fantastic to look at and drives superbly well, the engine is very powerful compared to the XJ6 3.2 and the auto transmission is silky smooth, scary on kick-down.

The interior is very luxurious and nothing rattles or knocks even over bad road surfaces.

Road and engine noise are absolutely minimum, credit to Jaguar for superb build quality.

The faults on this car are forgivable for the age and mileage. Except for the wipers which should not malfunction on a luxury of this age.

I have a 1998 xj8 with 59000 miles (up until a year ago it only had 40000) i too had the stalling problem and the dealer told me that they would do all that they possibly could, and they did. they cleaned the throttle and checked everything that they could figure could be causing it, my wife went to pick it up and on the way home the car stalled again and immediatley she called the dealership and demanded to be picked up. 2 weeks later we recieved the recall notice from Jaguar in our mailbox and they did reiburse us for the cost of the problems, luckily.

I'am looking at purchasing a pre owned 1998 XJ8in Canada. Car has only 40000 miles to date and it is from a reputable dealership. Are there any specific recalls or recommendations you can provide for this vehicle?

What is your opinion too buy or not to buy?

BEWARE...If like me You have a 1998 3.2 V8 you also probably have the plasic cam chain tensioner. Mine went at 70,000 mile. The car has a FULL jag service history. The engine needs a total re build and a new piston.

John 07800702559 if you have a question.

The water Pump is also VERY suspect on this model.

My 98 XJ8 has the "nikasil" liner engine - it's done 160K miles - still going strong. The car does suffer from the annoying stalling wiper fault.

The engine used to cut-out occasionally when warming up, then restart without a problem, the dealer cleaned out the throttle body and reflashed the ECU with up to date software - this cured the problem.

I also have a 1998 XJ8L and have had a boat load of problems, but I'm also stupid enough to keep loving the excellent driving car anyway. I have now replaced the alternator, plugs, all 8 coil packs, the dealer has warrantied the fuel pump 3 times until they finally realized there was build up in the gas tank, new ECU and I had the same boot problems, but fixed them myself. On the right side of the boot where the wiring harness follows along the pivot arm that attaches to the car the harness probably has broken wires from opening and closing the boot over and over through the year. A couple wires of mine were broken straight through and I had intermittent lights in the trunk and the button on the back didn't work sometimes. After repairing and soldering back together all the wires in the harness everything works like a dream now. Check the harness before you do anything else!

P.s. After $8000 in work mentioned above, standing water hit my undercarriage the other day and cracked the block on my engine in 4 places. Insurance is putting in a NEW NON_NICACEL engine... lucky me!