Neighbor has a 2000 Jaguar xk-8 with 50k miles on it. Yesterday it came home on a flatbed and I went over to talk to her. She had tried to start it in a Target parking lot and it made funny noises and wouldn't run right so she had it towed home. She started it while I was there and it ran but lacked power and wouldn't run right. Today she had it towed to a shop and they told her the right side timing chain broke. No compression in cylinder 1. She's wondering what to do with it. Mechanic figures bent valves but doesn't know if the pistons were harmed. Should she have the head pulled ($1500 labor) to check the pistons? Should she look for a used engine and have the engine replaced? Should she sell it with a bad engine? Any advice out there? Seems odd to me that the timing chain would break with that low a miles on the car. Anyone know if chains are a problem on these cars. She says its a Ford engine.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13