1998 Jaguar XJR from UK and Ireland - Comments

Number 8 piston keeps bashing the electrode on the spark plug, causing it to run on 7, probably crank wear.

Smokes like a chimney on start-up and whilst running.

Air filter box is filling with oil, probably worn bores causing back pressure.

Windscreen wiper parks where it wants to and sets off by itself.

Steering judders and the car has new brakes all round, and has had all bushes checked and steering tracked and wheels balanced.

I have wanted a quick 8 potter for ages and thought that the Jag V8 supercharged would be the one. After having the S-type, I enjoyed the traditional English character and thought of staying with the manufacturer. I am used to running around in run of the mill stuff, for example I had a 180,000 mile 1043cc VW polo and thought now's the time to treat myself, but I wish I hadn't.

The XJR has a full service history up to the last minute, so what the heck is it doing giving me all this grief in so little miles?

My 21 year old 1.0 litre VW Polo was a better workhorse and I treated it like a dog. All I can say is that I am very disappointed and this car has cleaned me out without giving me any fun..

You don't expect to buy a prestigious marque of this calibre and have these types of problems at such a low and well maintained mileage. Beware.

Geez! Do you burn the tires off at amy given opportunity or what?

Seems like problems that would be attributed to hard wear.

Sounds like Nikasil issues, new engine time!!!

You don't need to abuse these to break them. The nikasil bore liner problem can rear it's ugly head any time after 50k on pre 2000 engines. They reckon that the high sulphur content present in unleaded petrol in the 90s reacted with nikasil lined bores, effectively corroding the coating away, thus causing the piston rings to rub against now bare aluminium barrels as the coating has gone, resulting in smoke and blow back. If you buy one of these, buy a late 2000 one and make sure that the last 8 (check up I can't quite remember if it was the last 8 or 6) characters of the engine code begin F, This means the engine has the newer & more traditional cast iron sleeved bores and no problems. Stay away from the ones where the last 8 characters begin 8, trouble could well arrive somewhere down the line. If you do decide buy an older one, all is not bad, check that it has had the newer engine fitted as many were replaced under warranty. I wish I knew all this before I bought the one above. Good luck.

I have a 98 xjr with all the typical Nikasil signs: rough starting, smoke on start up, oil in air intake. It still runs well. We'll see how it plays out; probably not well. I wish I had known about this when I bought the car. The cost of an engine replacement is equal to what I paid for the car. That being said, I still love Jaguar. It's just a shame that they used Nikasil lining. 15 pounds lighter = short life span. Not a good equation.

Well.. Over 2 years later I have read the comments to my original statement about the XJR.. I'm now somewhat calmer as I was very upset at the time (cost me a fortune to fix).

I must say though, when it was good.. It was very, very good..

Re-mapped & unrestricted with straight through stainless pipes.. Sounded like one-o-those Nas cars (snarled like an angry tiger) and with rolling road figures at 440bhp... It was pretty damn impressive!! (lit the rear soles at 100mph once)

Absolutely like mother Theresa freaking out at an Iron Maiden concert! (wolf in sheeps clothing).. The original statement!