For the oily spanner brigade, here is the latest update.

Took it to a Jag main agent for a service/some repairs.

I would have gone to an independent, but the guys I used to use have gone.

Wandered into the main dealer to look at Astons and saw they were listing servicing prices for older Jags.

Turns out they have realised that they will only keep owners of the older cars if they discount their prices, and this they have done, for anything 10 years old or more, on parts and servicing. I guess newer owners like Gazzer are subsidising older paupers like me.

I'd already fixed a number of glitches that were there when I bought the car - things like replacing the electric aerial, headlamps, alternator, etc.

But there were some things that were really tricky - some power steering hoses that were leaking and looked impossible to reach. Various other bits and pieces and lastly I wanted the car to have a major service LESS replacement of all the service items I had done, like new air filters.

Came in at

 

What's the bodywork like at that age? I always have this image of Jags rapidly dissolving in rust - unfounded, or do you have a good one?

(Nice Q car by the sounds of it )

 

I was going to ask for a pic, then I finished reading the essay.

What would the cost have been if you'd had the garage do all the work for you? Double?

 

Euan

It's spotless, with the exception of a microblister on the roof. Door bottoms, bonnet leading edge, floorpan, arches etc are all rock solid. There are a couple of scratches but no corrosion anywhere.

Early XJ40s are very poor on the body front (as are most Jags pre '92).

By all accounts, things improved with the Ford takeover in, I think, '92. Not just bodywork, general QC.

They only put the V12 in the 1993-94 (last two years) XJ40 as well.

Rust won't kill this car in my ownership. It would probably have to be something like an engine failure (highly unlikely) or gearbox failure (also unlikely), both of which would likely cost more to replace than the value of the car. The sheer size of the bugger makes those jobs impossible for a DIYer without 4-post lift etc.

When you think the car I have now cost about two thirds of the annual depreciation on an S, it looks pretty good value.

 

You should see inside it Rich:




Yeah, I think at least double. Although you could then take a third off again if an independent did the work.

See here:



There is very little working space under the bonnet, so even straightforward jobs like changing a headlight are complicated and fiddly. A proper lift would be fantastic - that will be in my dream garage one day.

Parts are remarkably cheap - and that's OE. For example, the two air filters are

 

looking very nice Pete - are you planning to take it to Le Mans, or worried about a possible deja vu "incident"?

 

50:50 on Le Mans Alex

No worries if I do - I have absolutely no belief in superstition.

It would be fun to take it down, different to the S, but still fun.