PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - Anyone know XJ-8?

bhatt · #8 03-13-2006, 08:36 PM

Here's the basic rundown on these models.. I was considering buying one and this is what I found:

Pre-96 XJ6- reliability is pretty bad
96-97 XJ6- new body style (round headlights) but old style interior. Many consider this 'best of both worlds'. Although the interior looks 10+ years older to me!
98-00 XJ8-two major problems: Nikasil engines that self destruct (BMW and Porsche had the problem also). Search the web for this.. pretty expensive if you have a problem. Second issue is the timing chain as someone already mentioned. This can be fixed ahead of time (before it causes a problem) but I remember the cost was about $2k. I found these cars not worth considering for these reasons
01-04? XJ8-best XJ8 to buy. Has all of the timing chain/Nikasil stuff sorted out
04?+ XJ8-new aluminum body. Some say it's the best XJ8, but I found that the back end REALLY made it look like an S-type Jag. The older XJ6's and XJ8's looked MUCH more expensive and classy to me.

I ended up deciding against the Jag and am back onto looking for a W140 for a few reasons:

-Look at parts prices. Parts for the Jag were easily twice the price. If you look at an R model (XJR, XKR, etc.) wait till you see the parts price! I think front pads & rotors for an XJR were over $800 just for parts!
-No support. There is a Jag DVD service manual, but that's it. There are a few forums (jaglovers, etc.) but they're not busy and are NOWHERE near as good as this forum!
-Not that much cheaper - might as well buy a W140 and have a MUCH bigger, more reliable, and easier/cheaper to maintain car for not a lot more money. Consider the XJ8 to be more of a 'nice E-class' than an S-class type car.

However:
-They're beautiful cars!

So there was really only one reason to buy (beautiful cars) and a whole ton of reasons not to get a Jag.... for me anyway...

Neal