1994 Jaguar XJS 4.0

[düdo]

I enjoyed the Le Mans reportage. Those blokes in sleeping bags enjoying the race in the early hours! Not what I'd imagine. Nice Jag you've got - Stock Broker Belt Barge of yore!

[dan]

Oct 5, 2016 20:13:30 GMT baggy798 said:

Unless I'm way off the mark, their name is given on page 1.

Small claims court?

Yeah, I thought that but I can't be arsed and frankly never want to see them again.

They talked a good game and photos of the work was promised but never came. I suppose I should have seen this as a warning sign especially as little issues where never successfully sorted or caused problems elsewhere.

I had some preventative maintenance done with the underside of the car being painted however, this was undertaken with no regard to the handbrake cables so the pads wouldn't release on one side and knackered a rear caliper resulting in a £400 bill. Also had a leak from the fuel pipe which they cut and spliced in a bit of hose with jubilee clips rather than replacing the pipe from the tank. This continued on and off until I took it to another Jag specialist in the centre of Birmingham to sort the caliper who were horrified at this repair. All of this was on top of the screen which still leaked.

Anyway, it's in safe hands now with a garage I trust before the rubbish weather arrives

[dan]

Advice needed guys

The situation is worse even than thought. The body shop has now cut away the tops of the scuttle and exposed the most appalling bodge repairs. Lots of filler and fibreglass just squidged-in, which has trapped water which has rotted out even more steel. The rot has extended deep into the driver's side bulkhead which is a major structural component. So right now the car is too dangerous to drive.

I was prepared to go to 3k but to correct it is going to cost in the region of 5 large. I love this car but I'm really struggling to make a decision on which way to jump now. Any thoughts on whether I cut my losses or see it through?

[oldntired]

I know you said you really can't be bothered to deal with the first 'Jag specialists' again, but I really think you need to face your problems head on, by firstly confronting them with pictures of the damage that your car still has - only very recently having paid them for these very repairs ! Letting them get away with this sort of blatant rip off bodgery has to stop. I understand you wouldn't trust them to work on your 'baby' again, so I think you need to get some of that free advice that solicitors hand out.
Your faced with having to shell out of the same repair twice - bad enough if it was a cheap repair, but this obviously isn't. We're all different, but in your shoes, I'd be chasing these crooks all the way to the claims court. I'm sure you've better things to spend the money on ? I hope you sue the hell out of them, but that's just my personal opinion. Sorry to see you in a rotten position over your pride & joy.

[highvoltage]

Blimey thats disgusting..
The previous "specialist" really needs taking to task with this,they made the problem worse than it was before and charged you handsomely to do so.

I can understand a reluctance to be bothered with the small claims court but it's not difficult or expensive to bring a case.You would have to approach the garage and make a complaint first and fail with a negotiated settlement before going to the court.I imagine KWE would be happy to give you an engineers report or similar as evidence.
That £1500 would go some way towards the proper repairs.

Personally i wouldn't let it go easily,they shouldn't be able get away with it and do the same again to some other unlucky Jag owner.

Failing that would KWE do a pay as you go arrangement where they do the Jag in quiet time?

[kevins]

A difficult call, when done it would be worth about 5K so you are going to be 5k down either way, if the rest of it is good I would be inclined to ploughon. In the long run the 4.0 is likely to be one of the most desirable XJS's so you shouldn't loose out.

Generally with this sort of work it is the stripping out and putting back together which takes the time and money (looking at the pictures the metal work wold only take a couple of days on bare shell), can you take any of this on to save some cost?

[dan]

Oct 31, 2016 15:56:03 GMT kevins said:

A difficult call, when done it would be worth about 5K so you are going to be 5k down either way, if the rest of it is good I would be inclined to plough on. In the long run the 4.0 is likely to be one of the most desirable XJS's so you shouldn't loose out.

This is same conclusion I've come to. I've done the maths and if I write off the car now I'll be ~£5k down but will still need to get a replacement and knowing me I'll go and buy another old Jag or a Rover 800. Alternatively if I plough on with the repairs I'll be £5k down but wont need to go car shopping. XJSes (?) aren't depreciating and although it's not the bargain it was I wont lose out quite as badly.

I'll sleep on it but I'm pretty sure the coventry cat has been spared the scrap man's axe.

[DrSebWilkes]

Ask for your money back before any litigation. But to be honest that won't work and litigation SHOULD be done. You're not just helping yourself to your own money, but when you defeat those bastards, you'll be saving others.

[mk2polobloke]

Awwe bloody 'ell Dan, that is an absolute disgrace. If they were pre repair pics you'd just have to suck it up, but to have paid out £1500 just 18 months ago and now be faced with this is just taking the *iss.

The 5k you have been quoted, is that just for the screen surround/bulkhead repairs or does this include the floorpan/jacking points and all paint rectification?
Lets face it, in our hobby (like virtually any other) we generally spend a lot of money which we never get back. We do it 'cos we love our cars. Even if you were to call it quits now, you'd still have to pay KWE for the work they have done so far. You'd then have to pay for the car to be recovered to your house/garage etc. Then you have to spend time stripping it down and selling off the good parts. You would probably make a fair bit in parts. However, I doubt it'd anywhere near cover all of your time and costs so far.

The chances of buying another XJS without any rot are very slim. I'd stick with what you have and get it repaired. It'll be a stunner once properly repaired.

Firstly, you must get in touch with the other company and try to get your money back. Show them the pictures and get a covering letter from KWE outlining the previous so called repairs and the issues that have ensued would help. Keep it polite but be firm, tell them in no uncertain terms you will be taking it further if they do not pay up.

I know it's easy for us to sit here and say "do this and that", but these people need to be held to account.

All the best Dan, stick with it if you can-eventually you'll have one of the best XJS on the road.

[eternaloptimist]

Any update on this?

[DrSebWilkes]

I too would like to know.

[dan]

Well, repairs are underway and should be done by this time next month and I could really do with my car back.
I've also sought legal advice from a couple of people but you'll have to wait for that news.

[eternaloptimist]

Good man - looking forward to both updates!

[daklone]

Nov 11, 2016 0:41:00 GMT dan said:

Well, repairs are underway and should be done by this time next month and I could really do with my car back.

Ah. Have you challenged the previous "repairers" about the problems? Have they offered to put it right?

I ask because I once had problems with some work a garage had done but needed the car to get to work in and had the rectification done myself. When it came to the inevitable legal wranglings, I was told that because I hadn't given them the opportunity to correct the problem that I couldn't sue them. I had told them there was a problem, but they kept avoiding my calls and not phoning back, so after a week off work without a car I had to get it back on the road. I look back now and kick myself for not holding out.

Good luck, I hope things go better for you

[s1105117]

I certainly hope you have initiated some legal challenge, I hate disgraceful jobs like that, as we all do!

With negligence actions it is a matter of proving fault, usually determined through looking at the chain of causality. There is also possibility of breach of contract I believe. Awaiting news!!

[s1105117]

Oh another thing, if they market themselves as jag specialists then the degree of workmanship on a jaguar is expected to be higher than by a normal garage, means the standard legal duty level becomes higher to, meaning that when they fall short they are more likely to be liable. Anyway... gr, hate bodges!

[dme123]

My 1992 XJR-S has bubbling in the usual places at the bottom of both front wings, but those pics have given me pause.  Otherwise it seems solid, and has been cherished for most of it's life and comes via a JEC member who would know if it was a nail.  I was thinking of getting it sorted out in the spring but maybe I should just punt it on in case there are horrors like that lurking!

[DrSebWilkes]

Nov 21, 2016 18:08:34 GMT dme123 said:

My 1992 XJR-S has bubbling in the usual places at the bottom of both front wings, but those pics have given me pause.  Otherwise it seems solid, and has been cherished for most of it's life and comes via a JEC member who would know if it was a nail.  I was thinking of getting it sorted out in the spring but maybe I should just punt it on in case there are horrors like that lurking!

Hello, another XJS fan here.

Pictures please! Always handy for a diagnosis. And If you're local I can come and have a look and talk to you if you like.  

What you must remember are these Stock-broker barges aren't going being made anytime fast, and the R-S version are even rarer again - and the 6 litre (I think that's what they had isn't it after 91?) is rarer still. Don't give up! They are wonderful beasts and what you must remember is that his car had issues when it was "fixed" that led to those horrors, while already  present, being exacerbated beyond what really is necessary (forgive the pleonasm). I mean all XJSs go on the scuttle and getting it fixed now, and then primed, along with good maintenance techniques with regards to water-flowing down your A-pillars should [then] vastly increase the lifespan of any XJS's scuttle.

PM me if you want some anecdotes from my experience with a XJS. 

[dme123]

I'll get some pics of the rust on the weekend. I'm ashamed to say the car currently lives outside, which won't be doing it the world of good. It is indeed a 6 litre, and with 333 bhp the most powerful XJS from the factory. The three speed slush-o-matic blunts it a little, but it's still faster to 60 and to the quarter mile than the later factory 6.0 with the 4 speed audo. 3000RPM at 80MPH gets tedious though.

Meanwhile a couple of pics of the car












and....

[Smiler]

Looks awesome! (though I am squinting whilst looking at the last pic to purposely make it too fuzzy to read)