The Ultimate Jaguar XJ6/XJ8/XJR X300 & X308 Buyer's Guide
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- čas přidán 5. 11. 2021
- A buyer's guide for novices to the classic Jaguar saloon cars from the 1990s, the X300 and X308 body style XJ series models. This is a moderately in-depth review/guide using three X300/X308 models across the range with a number of points to consider when potentially buying.
The three cars seen in the first half of the video:
*1996 Jaguar XJR6 4.0 Inline-6 supercharged automatic (X306) in Sapphire Blue with black leather interior.
*1997 Jaguar XJ6 3.2 Inline-6 Sport automatic (X300) in Antigua Blue with oatmeal leather interior.
*1999 Jaguar XJR 4.0 V8 supercharged automatic (X308) in Antigua Blue with oatmeal leather interior.
THIS VIDEO IS IN NO WAY SANCTIONED BY JAGUAR LAND ROVER PLC. Use any guidance purely at your own risk. As such this video is for entertainment purposes only.
X300 (produced July 1994 to June 1997) Drivetrain Options:
Engines
3.2 L AJ16 I6 218 hp (155 kW; 211 PS) @5100 rpm, 232 lb⋅ft (315 N⋅m) @4500 rpm
4.0 L AJ16 I6 249 hp (183 kW; 249 PS) @4800 rpm, 289 lb⋅ft (392 N⋅m) @4000 rpm
4.0 L supercharged AJ16S I6 322 hp (240 kW; 326 PS) @5000 rpm, 378 lb⋅ft (512 N⋅m) @3050 rpm
6.0 L Jaguar V12 314 hp (234 kW; 318 PS) @5350 rpm; 352 lb⋅ft (478 N⋅m) @2850 rpm
Transmissions
4-speed ZF 4HP-22 automatic (3.2 only)
4-speed ZF 4HP-24 automatic
4-speed GM 4L80-E automatic (XJR and V12 only)
5-speed Getrag 290 manual
X300 Dimensions
Wheelbase
SWB: 2,870 mm (113 in)
LWB: 2,995 mm (117.9 in)
Length
SWB: 5,024 mm (197.8 in)
LWB: 5,149 mm (202.7 in)
Width
1,799 mm (70.8 in) (exc. mirrors)
Height
Comfort SWB: 1,314 mm (51.7 in)
Sport SWB: 1,307 mm (51.5 in)
XJR: 1,303 mm (51.3 in)
Comfort LWB: 1,333 mm (52.5 in)
Sport LWB: 1,326 mm (52.2 in)
Kerb weight
XJ6: 1,800 kg (4,000 lb)
Daimler Six: 1,825 kg (4,023 lb)
XJ12/Daimler Double Six: 1,975 kg (4,354 lb)
XJR: 1,875 kg (4,134 lb)
2,074 mm (81.7 in) (inc. mirrors)
X308 (Produced July 1997 to December 2002) Drivetrain Options:
Engines
3.2 L Jaguar AJ-V8 240 hp (179 kW; 243 PS) @6350 rpm, 233 lb⋅ft (316 N⋅m) @4350 rpm
4.0 L Jaguar AJ-V8 290 hp (216 kW; 294 PS) @6100 rpm, 290 lb⋅ft (393 N⋅m) @4250 rpm
4.0 L supercharged Jaguar AJ-V8 370 hp (276 kW; 375 PS) @6150 rpm, 387 lb⋅ft (525 N⋅m) @3600 rpm
Transmission
5-speed ZF 5HP24 automatic
5-speed Mercedes-Benz W5A580 automatic (supercharged models only)
X308 Dimensions
Wheelbase
SWB: 2,870 mm (113 in)
LWB: 2,995 mm (117.9 in)
Length
SWB: 5,000 mm (197 in)
LWB: 5,100 mm (201 in)
Width 1,800 mm (69 in)
Height
SWB: 1,300 mm (51 in)
LWB: 1,300 mm (52 in)
Kerb weight
SWB: 1,800 kg (3,968 lb)
LWB: 1,875 kg (4,134 lb)
A few extra points to add to the video:
1. Cracked exhaust manifolds are very common on the XJ6/XJR6. You will hear an exhaust blow that sometimes goes away when the engine is warm. Finding replacement exhaust manifolds is getting harder now. Cracked exhaust manifolds can lead to problems with engine emissions.
2. Check for rusty fuel lines near the fuel filter (located above the rear axle area) as the lines are vulnerable to road grime in that area.
3. Timing chain rattle on start-up with the XJ6 engine. The secondary timing chain tensioner is a known weak point on the AJ16 engine. They rarely fail altogether, but can start to loose oil pressure when old. If you hear an engine rattle for a few seconds after engine start, it is possibly due to the secondary timing chain building oil pressure back up to function properly.
4. Misfires on the AJ16 engine can be caused by failing coil packs and faulty oxygen sensors. Inspect coil packs and check condition of spark plugs if you have a misfire as your first port of call.
5. Sit in the centre rear seat with your feet either side of the transmission tunnel on a test drive if possible. This is a good way to test whether or not the rear differential is good. You will feel a rumble/vibration through the transmission tunnel if the differential is failing.
Check out this video for more info on X300 running problems
• How to Diagnose Jaguar...
For a guide to common rust traps on X300/X308 series Jaguar also check the video below
• The Ultimate Jaguar XJ... - Auta a dopravní prostředky
I had a 2001 XJR, black on black. What a brute. I loved it so much and still miss it. Your video and the in car footage brought back some fond memories. I remember it was faultless on a 3 week trip around France and it happily sat in blistering heat in traffic.
Good review ! I have 6 Jags, two of them are X300, the XJR6 and the XJ12. No problems at all. Ever I see my cars I am in love with them.
Excellent guide from a proper knowledgeable enthusiast with first hand experience 👍🏻
Great video mate and your words were totally up to par. You know these cars.. I have a Jaguar car channel here too..I have owned 6 Jags, X300-X308's and the best one was the 97 Vanden Plas with the straight six, that car was bullet proof. I now have a 98 XjR with 84,000 miles
Thanks for those kind words!
I’m glad you mentioned the mismatched steering wheel wood colour - I keep spotting it on various XJ’s and wondering what had happened!
Jag being Jag I'm afraid. Yet I forgive them everything! There is a way to fix this though, if you really want to. X308s were available with a dark half-wood steering wheel. You should be able to fit one to an X300 and use the existing airbag, everything should fit.
Very interesting and informative, especially the on-the-road footage. I went for my '97 3.2 Sport simply because I specifically wanted an X300 - I think it looks better inside and out than the X308 - and it was the best example I'd seen by a mile. I've never driven a 4.0, sadly, but while I loved the shove of the XJR6 manual I spent a day with a few years ago I think the supercharger whine would have driven me mad longer-term; the 3.2 delivers enough performance for me and is near-silent… until you poke it with a big stick! 😁
Very well put and I’m glad you are enjoying your X300. The 3.2 Sport is a fine package. A 4.0 adds just that more torque goodness and propellant to make it as much Jag as you would ever need. Going for a XJR or XJ12 is more a matter of preference after that. I’m a self confessed XJR6 fanatic so obviously I like the punchy performance and the whine of the blower, but when I get a bit older I may well prefer something whisper quiet like a Daimler Six (which is also a wonderful thing). Currently I’m happy finishing off the restoration of my XJR6 manual. Admittedly though in “sea trials” it is proving to be frighteningly fast and you just can’t use anywhere near all the performance it has to offer. The V8 XJR is far more user friendly in that manner and more likely to keep you out of a hedge. The XJR6 is an animal!
PS. The blue XJR6 in this video now has, under new ownership, a manual gearbox.
I like the video (with the Jag engines purring in the background), plus his video gives some useful background information, and it finally put my mind at ease regarding "Nikasil", as I simply was not sure, if I have a X308, where the engine with the Nikasil had been replaced or not - now I know that I do not need to worry anymore...
XJ6, the middle one. Much better inside (prettier) and much more user friendly in the engine bay. All the power you need.
The 4.0 XJ6 is probably the best compromise between easy to live with/work on and effortless performance. The 3.2 is indeed enough, but the 4.0 is a noticeable improvement and in the real world uses practically the same amount of fuel! A 4.0 Sport X300 is a fine Jag.
Awesome video! I love the jags from those eras. Smitten actually, hope to add one to my garage one day
Superb Mr Biggles, very useful knowledge.
Very informative great job!
Very, very nice indeed. Thank you. A 4.2 non-XJR 350 for me I think. I love the more classic looking X300 as I sat in those at the NEC car shows with my Dad, in my teens! But now I hate the "black tray" switchgear panel around the steering wheel and the engine sound just doesn't compare. Only my opinion of course. Excellent video though, thank you for doing these cars justice.
Awesome video. I love my 1996 XJ6!
The whine of that supercharger coupled with the straight six makes the xjr6 the one to have for me
It’s glorious!
Nice cars! I have a 1991 Sovereign XJ40 and I love it!
I own a 1998 x308 sport tin worm free with 92,000 miles.
Runs like a dream, interior beautiful.
1 problem, saggy headining.
I'll get that done when inevitably I have to replace the windscreen becauase of stone chips from ropey UK roads.
Edited because of poor spelling🤦♂️
I have replaced half a dozen headliners on X300s/X308s. Having the windscreen out certainly helps, but you can quite easily get away with removing a front seat and, contrary to what others have insisted, you can fold the original headliner board in half and get it out via the front door. There is a company in the UK that will supply new material to retrim the headliner board along with a very good adhesive. With some time an patience you can retrim the headlining for some £60 DIY.
@@Biggles
👍 cheers, thanks for the info.
Thanks for this nice video.
Love the sound of that Supercharged X300 Engine
The unique feature of these XJ series, is that one sits as low as in a sports car, while being in a luxury super sedan.
The Car being so low creates a special driving sensation, that no other Super Sedan Car manufacturer in the world offered.
A SWB X308 XJR accelerates faster than a Ferrari 355 says Jeremy Clarkson !
The nice thing about the SC V8 , it does not have variable valves, that makes it more reliable.
The SC V8 are outfitted with a very reliable automatic transmission made by Mercedes, the 5G-Tronic,that is also in a Mercedes SLR, able to handle +625Hp.
The Supercharged V8 should have transmission maintenance like every 40.000 Miles , my mechanic assured me.
He used to be a top mechanic at Mercedes , before starting his own Garage.
And he was amazed that a Jaguar had a 5G-Tronic.
Last week I let my neighbour take a ride in my 00 Super V8 X308.
I sat next to him and he was totally stunned by the power, thinking by the looks, it do 9 seconds to 100.
He used to own a XJS V12, and told me that the X308 is a whole other dimension, in driving, and even in modern luxury.
I use the Nulaxy Bluetooth FM transmitter for Android and Audio.
The XJ is definitely not an old man's car , they would break their back and bump their head, while entering,
Greetings to All!
Is x308 drives faster and stronger than x300?
It is a bit faster but the x300 is more reliable I think
@@a7lyqq X308 Supercharged got more horsepower.
Hey @Biggles , great video! Thanks for clarifying lots of questions.. In the end, for my 1st Jaguar, would I be well served (and less headache) with a 1995 XJ6 3.2 Executive? Many many many service history and the stamps of official service at Jaguar. Thanks ;)
Thanks for the nice feedback. A 3.2 Executive is a great starter X300 and indeed a great first Jag. The best way to save headaches is to make sure it’s absolutely the best one you can find. Having the service records is good but you still need to inspect it carefully to see that it has been worked on well and no bodged maintenance etc. If you can take a knowledgeable mechanic friend with you to view the vehicle that might help a lot. Good luck finding your first Jag. Being informed is the best way to enter into owning one. You will always need to be ready to fix something, but they are special cars and worth the work.
I have a British racing green 96’ xj6 that needs paint, what color is that xj6? I really like it👍
Thanks! The 96' XJ6 Sport is in Antigua blue.
I'm looking for a LHD X300 - preferably a 4.0 - and last weekend I testdrove a black on black 3.2 sport with a sunroof. I like the looks, but was put off due to upcoming rust under the rearscreen and the small side windows. On close inspection one can see the rust bubbles und the paintwork. It was also visible at the left rear door below the window/ black trim. The underside of this Jag was pretty brown as well altough rust started appearing halfway each doorsill. Question is...how long does it take before it's totally gone... Also the sunroof showed some rustbubbles... I'll check another one this afternoon: a brg over black 4.0 Sovereign. Hopefully it's not suffering from the tinworm. Oh! One other question: does a LWB drive very different from a regular X300?
From your description of the black on black 3.2 litre car I'd say it's too far gone already. There will be far worse rust under the bubbles, I'm quite certain. In answer to your question by the time you start to see little blisters or rust here, there and everywhere the car tends to be quite rusty overall. The more you dig away at the blistering paint and flaking underseal, the more tinworm is exposed in my experience. Best to walk away from examples like that. Also avoid cars with a sunroof unless they have been garage their entire life. The sunroof will more often than not collect water around the edges (hence the rust you described) and leak water into the cabin. This is a sure fire route to the front floors/jacking points/sills rotting. Unless it's a very, very nice car I'd really avoid a sunroof! I have had a 4.0 Sovereign X300 LWB (video on my channel). It is quite woolly to drive and the proportions of the car are strange because the rear doors have been stretched, giving around six inches more rear legroom. Fundamentally it doesn't drive too different from a SWB Sovereign, but being a softer model it's quite different from a Sport and certainly quite different from an XJR. Good to hear you are looking at a 4.0 litre also, I think you will prefer that engine!
@@Biggles Perhaps if it was a 4.0 it might be worth adressing the rust. Thanks for your advise! If the one this afternoon doesn't match my criteria I'll go and see an XJR in France (with sunroof, but according to seller garage kept) and the week after that going to Spain for a 3.2 XJsport (non-sunroof) low mileage / one owner. Talking about fuel economy in respect to the XJR: will be around 1litre to 7 kilometers I guess? Not that far off a n/a 4 litre is it?
@@Huisjongste They are all thirsty cars. The 3.2 will use slightly more fuel in the real world than the N/A 4.0 from my experience. On a long, steady cruise I've had 35 UK MPG from a 4.0 Sport, which is quite good really. They really prefer a fast cruise for fuel efficience. A good 3.2 sport might do 28-30 MPG on a cruise. The XJR will to 25 MPG on a cruise if you are careful. In mixed driving I get 20-22 UK MPG from an XJR. The XJR is very thirsty, but it's an amazing car and worth the extra fuel. Sorry I don't have time to convert the fuel economy metrics. Good luck with your search!
@@Biggles The company selling that BRG Sovereign was closed... so I went to see a Daimler Six LWB in Spruce green over Oatmeal with all the options one could ever wish.(a four seater so to say) Guess what?! I bought it! It'sa beautiful example with just 85.000 mls / 138.000 Kms on it, and feels like you're driving an almost new car. Do have to admit that was also a lot more expensive than the average X300. Sure it doesn't feel as sporty as a SWB XJsport, but I don't mind; the 'new driving style' everybody has adapted nowadays results in less room for playing anyway on the motorways.
@@Huisjongste Fantastic news. Congratulations! A Daimler Six is a very special X300 indeed. Great colour combo too. I covet the rear seat tables in these. Enjoy the car!
Great video. The seats must have been swapped out in the x300 jxr? They look more like the sovereign/executive style seats.
Correct! Someone swapped out an oatmeal interior with "sport" seats for black with "comfort" seats. I believe back in the day you could possibly ask Jaguar to fit comfort seats into your XJR6 by special request from factory, but that would probably have been very rare. The sport seats are more comfortable in my opinion. Ironically I find the half-leather sport seats, although the "cheap" option, are the most comfortable of the lot!
@@Biggles I had a 1999 x308 sport back in 2007 and whilst the "sportier" seats were not as plush/soft, they were much more supportive on long journeys. I also agree with you regarding the half leather alcantara/suede combination, they looked very plush and less "cold" than the full leather. There was even something strangely appealing about the (arguably horrendous) patterned cloth on the entry level x300s!😁
I loved my x308 sport though, and for what was the "entry" model, they really packaged it well (perhaps cruise control as standard would gave been nice) those 16" polished "dimple" alloys were one of the nicest wheel designs and really worked with the cars lines. Coupled with the de-chroming of the boot plinth, windows and grill, it was in my opinion the best looking saloon still to this day. Understated yet menacing at the same time. Funny, I used to pass a guy in his red x308 daimler super v8 every morning and whilst it was no doubt the superior machine, I was never in awe and always happier to be in the "poverty spec" sport .. although cruise control would have been nice!🤣 Videos like yours put a terrible longing on me to have a crack at owning an x308 or x300 one last time before daily driving of such cars is a thing of the past.
What’s the difference between an XJ8 & an X308?
The numeric & alphabet soup gets very confusing.
What can you tell me about a 1998 XJ8 in terms of reliability? Thanks.
X308 is a code name for the chassis. XJ8 is a model name and not just on X308s because the subsequent XJ chassis also had V8 engines available. All X308 chassis cars came from the factory with a V8 (3.2, 4.0 litre or 4.0 supercharged), so they were all XJ8 in a sense. However, the X308 supercharged is badged XJR instead of XJ8. Daimlers are a different matter with different badges. You could have an XJ8 of the subsequent generation XJ, which has the chassis code X350. There was also a V6 option for the X350, which is an XJ6 and there is a supercharged XJR V8 X350, which is simply badged XJR. Having just written all this I can no appreciate it’s a little confusing. Hope that helps. Main reliability concerns for a 1998 XJ8 are the same as for that XJR V8 in the video, but note the gearbox on the regular XJ8 is going to fail if it doesn’t get serviced (they were specced sealed for life, but this is wrong).
Three beautiful examples without sunroofs!!! I've been looking for a year over here (USA) and not seen a descent Jag of this era without a sunroof. Frustrating.
I agree with your sentiment regarding sunroofs, avoid at all costs!
1994 - 1997 was the years for X300
I am talking here in terms of model years. Early cars were overlapping with the XJ40 and some X300s were already produced in the second half of 1994, but in essence X300s were sold in three model years: 95', 96' and 97'.
How are these for tall drivers? I’m 6’5 (or just over 195cm)
Not brilliant to be honest. The X308 has seats that go slightly lower to accommodate a taller driver. X300s with power seats and a sunroof will be the most difficult. If you have manually adjustable seats in an X300 and no sunroof you get a little more headroom. The problem with X300 fully electrically adjustable seats is that they don’t quite go down as far as you would like for a tall driver. Hope that helps!
@@Biggles it does! I appreciate your reply! I figured if I were to ever own one it’d be an X308, I like the x300 but thankfully both are gorgeous cars so you can’t go wrong
I'm 6'2 and I have the seat in it's lowest position and I'm fine. I think the newer X350 model although it looks similar is taller.
They are prone to rot, specifically around the jacking points, suspension mounting points, sill ends along with the rear arches and lower front inner wings, they also bubble between the double skins on the front inner arches.
I agree they are prone to rot in those areas, but only if they are neglected and owners let mud/road grime build up. There is no real need for this to happen if you keep the car clean and ideally as dry as possible. I have recorded footage for another video, which I will publish soon specifically showing the common rust problem areas.
@@Biggles no most of that is down to a double skin which is just a poor design, I dont know about you but I have been restoring vehicles for nearly 30 years and I believe thats just poor design like any double skin.
@@Leo060708 Ah now I think I see what you mean. Are you referring to the double skin on the X308 inner arch? Yes that is pretty rubbish. The X300 doesn’t have that so is better in that area.
@@Biggles The XJ40, X300 and X308 all had double skins here there and everywhere, its pretty common on all cars but no amount of maintenance will resolve it just dowsing it in wax oil from day one is your best bet and keeping it in a dehumidified chamber and lets be honest thats never going to happen because cars are designed to be driven in my opinion.
@@Leo060708 Come on now. What steel-bodied cars don't rot ? Let's forget the millions of other models that were recycled down the years. Take proper care of ANY vehicle and it will last for decades.
So...How is the transmission in the xj6 1996?
It’s a very typical ZF 4-speed automatic of the era. Simple, effective, but not particularly sophisticated. Use of the J-gate for holding certain gears can be handy if you want to get moving in a hurry.
@@Biggles Thx for the answer. Are they reliable?I was offered an xj6 from -96 for around 1500 and i really want one of these cars,i think they are beutiful. :)
@@lorangajapp8086 They can be quite dependable, but only usually if looked after properly from the start. I would be looking for an example which visibly doesn't look neglected, and with a good documented service history. A cheap, neglected car often gives lots of trouble and ends up costing more in repairs than something that was good in the first place. My first XJ6 was an X300 4.0 Sovereign LWB with over 280k miles on the clock. It had a very extensive service history though and was totally reliable.
@@Biggles This one has around 120000miles on it and no rust at least.The only thing i saw was the seat had a rip in it(a seam)
3 great examples , love the XJR 6
What?
Bought a 2002 XJR X308 in 2008, 15 years later I still have it, its a weekend summer toy for me, just can't seem to part with it
I always wanted a wrecked XJR-6 to convert my rare X330 4 seater Sovereign to make a Sovereign-R. already done a few (reversible) upgrades XK 18" wheels, XJ8 all round light upgrade colour coded front indicators and white side markers and reflectors. After running for 8 years as my daily I treated it to new rear arches , wings and any rot chopped out with 3/4 respray .
Unfortunately after 9 years of ownership I never ever wanted to sell , but my life took a turn for the worse during the pandemic and had to sell, It went to Frankfurt which is a bonus as i`ll never see it and get upset lol
Her it is @Biggles ( I live close to Pock and used to work there)
czcams.com/video/LnocbNsFWD8/video.html
Sorry to hear you had to sell your pride and joy, you really did some great work on it from what I saw in your video! Incidentally my first Jaguar was a 4.0 Sovereign X330! One thing is for sure though, there are always other exciting cars to get along with out there. Maybe try a Daimler Super V8 out some day, which would not be far off what you were hoping to do with you X330?