Long-term update: Jaguar XK gets preventive maintenance, and some fancy gadgetry
Our Jaguar got a bit of work done last December, and also got a fancy new set of aftermarket door gadgetry last month.
The XK started sounding like an American muscle-car one day after a petrol fill-up, with a slow-drumbeat exhaust note that was rather awesome in a 1970s kind of way. But clearly it’s a British grand tourer and it’s not supposed to sound like that. At first we suspected a bad tank of petrol, but when it started going into limp mode on occassion, we took it in for a look at Das Auto Works garage in Al Quoz, whose rates are higher than most typical outfits, but they offer a bit more attention to detail when working on your car.
It was diagnosed as needing a new engine oil separator with accompanying pipes as well as a single new ignition coil and eight new spark plugs. The parts were ordered from the UK directly as the dealer didn’t sell them as separate pieces.
While the car was in, the injectors were rebuilt. We also got several aging items replaced, such as the water pump assembly, the steering reservoir tank (yes, it has hydraulic steering!), front brake pads with sensors, an engine belt, and front tie-rod ends with an alignment done later. These should future-proof our car mechanically for the next few years.
After a few weeks, we got the car back, and it now seems to steer a bit more directly than before, while regaining its refined V8 burble that only opens up on hard throttle. Yep, it’s still worth it. We’ll hold off on picking up that Jaguar F-Type for now.
In January, we got the SlamStop device installed on our car. It’s a soft door-closing mechanism that we’ll talk about more later. Now it truly feels like a Bentley rival every time you step in and out of it.
Original Mileage When Bought: 99,150 km
Latest Mileage To Date: 105,301 km
Latest Average Fuel Economy: 14.4 litres/100 km
Cost of Latest Problems: Dhs 7496
Cost of Latest Maintenance: Dhs 1445Total Non-Fuel Running Cost Since Bought: Dhs 26885
Comments
Ahmad Shumayal
Would love to buy it for 25k 😛
Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury
Good luck.
NITIN Bhaskar
The math does not seem to be comfortable, 6000 kms and 9000 AED for the latest upkeep…..in toto almost 27000 AED !
Sure looks like a bottomless money pit.
Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury
More like 105,000 km and the major maintenance that would entail. And it’s pocket change for what I got in return, especially since I didn’t pay full price for the car.
Jenison Koshy
NOT WORTH THE EXPENSE…btw an hard core Car Collector and enthusiast.
Uzman
I don’t think Civics and Corollas count as car collecting lol. But curious what do you own?
Mentalist
You are not really a car enthusiast if you keep complaining about expenses. I know a guy who spent 25k dressing up his Honda Civic with a widebody kit, seats, exhaust, engine swap and still it is slower than most V6 cars. Too much?