What to be "Wary Of" in Buying a '97 Jag XK8????

Dick, thank you for your summary!!! Guess my options are to tell the dealer I'm interested in the vehicle, but , if he wants my business, he must visual check to see the status of the tensioners in this car, since I'm sure he has no record, having just purchased the vehicle for sale, or I just tell him I will pay xxxxx amount (far less than what he wants)since i'm taking a real chance that the bomb may go off any moment. Thanks, again. jim

You are right in stating that not all XK's had problems with the plastic tensioners. There are still some out there that have not been updated and the cars have not broken yet. I do use the word "Yet". They are a time bomb waiting to go off. Not a matter of if but a matter of when.

Hi, thanks for the additional info. Final question: a reading on the history of this car shows no problem with the chain tensioners or timing chains., Worn, certainly, but, that doesn't necessarily mean they need replacing immediately, does it? I really don't want to drop $4,000 on a car that may only cost me $9,000. Thanks, Jim P.S. I'm assuming not all XKs had problems with plastic tensioners. Call me naive!!!!

If the cam chain tensioners haven't already been replaced, you will probably want to have that done yourself first thing. At 80,000 miles, the originals will almost certainly be badly worn, and failure usually means a new engine. Replacing the tensioners with upgraded components will set you back a few thou' - mine cost $4,000 including new chains, coils (not related to the tensioner work, but another consideration as a couple of mine had failed) and full 70k service at a non-Jaguar repair shop. Bear that in mind regarding the purchase price, or perhaps you could negotiate the work as part of the deal if you're buying from a dealer.

Glenn & Diane, thank you for the feedback. It turns out that this '99 XK has no history, based on the lengthy CarFax Report of any problems you described. I assume since it has over 80,000 miles without such problems that this is a good sign. Assuming, of course, that the problems you mentioned probably would have surfaced by now, hopefully. I may take a chance and buy it tomorrow if all goes well at the dealership. Any last suggestions? Thanks,again. jim

James - providing these issues have been addressed with upgraded components, there shouldn't be a problem. The thermostat on my '98 XK8 convertible gave out on the way home from the dealers after buying the car (telling me in the process why the previous owner traded it in). Although the incident was traumatic at the time, the dealer took the car back and made the upgrades at no charge. That was over six years ago now, and the gauge has stayed exactly in the middle ever since.

Ditto for the cam chain tensioners. I understand the first ones were soft plastic, upgraded later to harder plastic, and finally to metal. Mine needed changing this year, and I caught it just in time. The slack chains had skipped one cog, but fortunately nothing met in the middle and went 'boom'. But if these issues have been rectified, and most importantly, with the later components, you should be good to go. If not, just allow for the work in your buying price.

One other horror story I was told about on early cars was the Nikosil on the cylinder liners breaking apart. I've had no problems with this myself, and I've heard little about it since, so I don't know how big a problem that was, if at all. My XK8 has been one of the most reliable cars I've ever owned, and one of the cheapest to run. Over the last six years, my wife's Volvo wagon has cost more to service than my Jag.

Andre, thanks, you were (are) right on the money. According to CarFax that 97 XK I was interested in had two water pumps and two thermostats replaced over an eight year period, plus some of the other maladies you touched on. I must ask. I'm now looking at a '99 XK with 80,000 miles. Can I expect similar possible problems? Or, by '99 did Jag correct these deficiencies, I hope? Or, are there other possible red flags? Do appreciate you info. Jim

Andre, thanks, you were (are) right on the money. According to CarFax that 97 XK I was interested in had two water pumps and two thermostats replaced over an eight year period, plus some of the other maladies you touched on. I must ask. I'm now looking at a '99 XK with 80,000 miles. Can I expect similar possible problems? Or, by '99 did Jag correct these deficiencies, I hope? Or, are there other possible red flags? Do appreciate you info. Jim

Hello James,

Secondary timing chain tensioners, water pump, oil in the air filter, valve covers gaskets leaks, thermostat housing if original in plastic check for leaks, noise in rear suspension, upper shock mount bushings, oil pan leaks.

I had one never had an issue with it, still have a 99 FHC with 50K miles I love it!