My cheap V8 Jaguar S-Type might well have met its end. I’m hoping that it may yet still be economical to keep on the road, but we’ll have to see… Follow me on Instagram for daily content: / itsjoelw
Since filming this video, the car has been re-tested with a more promising outcome, and is currently in the process of getting fixed. So, all being well, we will be seeing the Jag back on the road soon!
Joel AJF motor engineers Ltd in Westcott just outside Aylesbury on the a41 heading to bicester are very good with jaguars and not expensive I've used them for repairs on my XF. I hope you get her back on the road I like your videos 📹 🙂
To give the garage a bit of credit, what would your reaction have been if they called you after the first time saying "We've had a quick look and you're going to need some welding for the MOT in January". A lot of people think that garages are out to con you and so would probably ignore the points raised in that phone call anyway and probably wouldn't return to that garage because "they tried to tell me I need to spend more money with them"
Hi Joel, you are doing the right thing, a Jag specialist will help you no end. You are exactly right trying to preserve it. The suspension stuff sounds like just usual wear and tear. You need a good relationship with a garage, you did right sacking the first lot. Good luck and hope you fix the Jag
As a workshop owner, your perspective really makes me thinking on how I should make the customer experience better. If time allows, please include more videos on this topic. Thank you!
A Jag specialist is definitely the way to go. I had a problem with my alternator on my X-type and all my local garages wouldn’t even quote me. A Jag specialist quoted £250 and as it turned out it wasn’t the alternator but the pulley from the engine had failed. He changed that and the belt for the same price. I bet the “normal” garages would have charged me a lot more and changed the alternator first adding to the cost. With unusual cars always go with the experts.
Hi Joel, just wanted to jump in and say your not alone with the lack of confidence when dealing with things like this. I hate having to ring around and trying to communicate these things. I am lucky I found a decent specialist for my vehicle. They are extremely knowledgeable and reassuring and I have confidence in their work. Well worth finding a specialist like this if you can and it seems you may have. Keeping some savings aside for cars like this is also sensible. It can help soften the blow when hiccups like this happen. I always try and keep an account with £2000 in it. It really helps mentally. Hope you manage to get the Jag back on the road mate.
The MOT failure points for the ball joints is only for the rubber covers, not the ball joints themselves being worn. You can buy packs of replacement rubbers in various sizes, a tin of grease, a ball joint splitter and replace these yourself for about £30. Hopefully the welding needed isn't too onerous.
Do not scrap that car. Any garage that advises you to do so are not worth bothering with, walk away from them. Most of the jobs on that MoT sheet are fairly minor DIY jobs. Also, its time to buy yourself a welder, it would make for great content. I'm doing the same right now, i have an old Rover Metro that's pretty rotten but Chris Fix and Furious Driving inspired me to have a go myself 😃
Hi Joel. I think you have been very diplomatic about the garage which told you to scrap it! Especially as they had previously done the repairs to the coolant system. Bin them!!
Good on you for pulling the car out of that garage - you should feel like you can trust the garage you take your car to, and there are plenty out there who will appreciate your custom. The good news is that most of that is not a huge amount of work... I say get a quote for the welding and then decide what you want to do, the rest of it is basically maintenance on an older car ... if you do get it all done, you'll have a beautiful V8 for a few grand. I'm sure you could get your money back out of it if you did sell it once the work is done.
Like others have said, a Jag specialist is the best place for the car. I have a BMW and take it to a BMW specialist. When I first brought them the car for some work they looked over it for me without having to be asked and found a few other bits and pieces which needed doing which I was very grateful for because these were things I would never have spotted myself. And rather than just telling me, they sent me a video and pointed out the problems. They're also happy for me to have a look at what they're doing...I took my car in to have the intake valves walnut blasted a little while ago, they showed me how they were getting on and a comparison between a clean and dirty valve. Basically, take it somewhere that is honest and enthusiastic about the car and I'm sure they will be a great help. Hope you get it sorted!
Hello Joel I am a Jag enthusiast and to date have had 5 XJs. Current 2002 X308 4litre LWB has 211,000 miles. Runs like a dream! Rust is an issue with Jags. The worst is the X-type, closely followed by the S-type, and finally the XJ. MOT stations are becoming increasingly vigilant. In 2022 I needed front n/s chassis rail welded. In January 2023 I needed the front o/s inner wing, base of bulkhead, and drivers floor section welded. For next MOT I suspect that may need the rear n/s and o/s suspension mounts welded. I use an experienced bodyshop welder, a chap with 50 + years and who knows Jags inside out! When my car was in his workshop recently he had 2 other X308s in for identical issues. One of the vehicles, a Daimler Super V8 (X308) looked fantastic "up top" but like mine had corrosion issues beneath. Jaguars of this age need a specialist garage. I have always used XJ Motor Services, Lyne Lane, Lyne, nr. Virginia Water. Run by Chris Palmer and Sean Colin who have decades of experience. No frills and reasonable pricing. They will save you time and money, since they know all the issues! John Collet ( bodywork) is independent of XJ Motors but operating from premised in same yard. Frankly, I couldn't own one of these vehicles without them!
Glad to hear things are looking up.. let this jaguar and the range rover be a good lesson for you. Preventative maintenance is the key more so on older cars. Get the stuff sorted throughout the year rather than leaving it until the mot. In six months time get the car booked in for a pre mot check you will thank yourself for it come mot time..
Great news on the Jag. I think you are quite right to expect the garage to give you a heads up on the condition of your car. My mechanic always lets me know future problems or issue on any of the cars I have taken to him. 👍😊
Wow, there is a huge difference between those MOTs. I would never go anywhere near the former garage again. Nothing in the second MOT would scare me. The 'Upper Suspension arm ball joint' probably require a specialist. The anti-roll bar and tie rods are very DIYable; the latter requiring reallignment.
Great content! I’m happy to hear it will live and be a big participant to wedding bells! Felt your pain on the rover. Happy to hear your second opinion was better. Please keep the content coming on the Jag!
Great update video Joel on your Jag. Hoping you can get it sorted as it will provide great memories for your wedding and make Katy happy. I’m hoping you get another Range Rover next. 🤞🙏
Hey chap, I enjoy your content, but this video feels a bit vlogger asking his camera stuff that should be figureoutable and easily things you can work on yourself, you don't need to get up on a ramp and be an expert to get a good look around and find where the issues are. Most mechanicing is pretty damned easy, it's as if it's design to be easily serviced/repaired by almost anyone... I think your content would benefit a journey of discovery in that area. I got myself an XF SV8 sight unseen off ebay and ended up going through the suspension with a load more wobbles than your MOT fail list for a few hundred quid (replaced everything up-front except the tie rods) and did rear traction links and ARBs which I bet are your fail issues and we're talking like £75 of parts and at most a few hours if they're awkward. Your rear issues are "probably" - from experience but not seeing your car obvious there could be more. But probably... as it was on my XF (all Jags of late 90s through to the XE (X760) / 2nd gen XF (X260) and F-pace - were practically the same underneath - rear tie/traction rod links like thiese - www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252641445089?fits=Car+Make%3AJaguar%7CModel%3AS-Type&hash=item3ad29a84e1:g:ja4AAOSwA45iSxkk&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA8IYpZiDxPg3PAmRgepfQHt%2B%2FkgH7VN9sCW1LjzynVEUj%2FcjOkzs9jWg9yZJtWpxvntcB6SR7gCgnPwXj7MrE%2B3mJRCOqfyCG1YLkusLjNZz0V%2BU%2FfWziYRDr1aJsqeKqVqNtiqS1CA1FeWsjAWTBs35%2BBhyW7iFQXrrKB0mxgRvmJq77GP5V1NJtc5iQsVS7nkGJa%2Fn2h%2BB69aw%2BJC9Om4wYj1ixbjTcxjCjqyjuxxHUQ4LJshD6js3yqPI4hDOsm8A2yG4xpleYOHkQTft3tHyoFbx7l1lRFOLRjXttBZCmN%2BPZJ570KY4il%2FqpWCrEWA%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9Kz4qvGYQ search "track rod arm stabiliser link" ebay £53 quid a pair aftermarket parts. Good chance that's your inner and outer boot issues/play. Then anti-roll bar drop-links which are nice and simple as well... www.ebay.co.uk/itm/392963866525?fits=Car+Make%3AJaguar%7CModel%3AS-Type&hash=item5b7e78bf9d:g:ARoAAOSwr9Zf~BHH&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA8IuS%2FYOuHQjZvJA%2BBJqqBfLNWJ1sEhCsrdy%2FEyYlo1pIQ4XHsZVrW25%2FOB9%2BIJZ90JjSJF%2BALp%2BmMdyegWAPU2xoibm6sANG1hyp8Q5NLENnUFT0yuv687Vro93DD%2BUrg8Rb9KQXFyiJOT9Od58mwssMXh89%2Bxl64uvHwYNAUpIe9n7bs0b9uSB4AMEZKwb%2FdGLpaVVAZ1AYBtxSD6bA8NP3E51xjNcKCxXpLucysyD%2BYtfwA%2BbrIt%2BdlimUw6Pa%2Fsqg7UQvhHsE%2Bu7WhLAhhOS2H90MRpolyQitDz7j03RSfVfZS2Zq8h7V2LSvUVfgtA%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABFBM-ISyrcZh Around £25 a pair. Headlight aim - probably something to re-bend somewhere. Luckily your-test saw no issue with the rust. Even when they do - shop around - I found a local place to weld the wife + Mums Civics (both had a bit of rust as they get to around 20 years every other year one side was bad on 1 of them - welded for around £150 ish - even delivered it back to us -> similar hole - probably bigger actually - than you pictured on your old L322. I wish you good luck -> I'm almost tempted to suggest you come down and I help you get it done on my drive-way, but for the MOT fail status etc... (to and from essential repairs) - where i've worked on all my cars for years (I did go deep down the rabbit hole - have an automotive engineering degree and worked at JLR for 6+ years - engine department) -> but I suppose you'll benefit from a partnership from a jaguar specialist long-term with your appetite - and you may be getting close to the youtube clout for a bit of a deal
Getting this S type revived would be a lot of content for your channel. A beautiful car, that is to be brought back to full life again! Thanks for your channel. By the way, those other ding bats that you took your car to is just ripping you off. I went through the same proses with my STR until I discovered a Jaguar enthusiast/mechanic. He went through the car and pointed out what is the real concerns, and from there on worked within my budget the next step. From a dilapidated to an up to standard(beautiful) car.
Thanks for sharing the story so far with us Joel , great content as always, id agree to get the Jag fixed aslong as it doesnt cost silly money to do so, it is a stunning car and if you keep it long enough you will get some of your money back. You must watch Matt from High Peak Autos video called "Matt & The Mechanics" it tells you all you need to know about some the conning and anti depressant merchants out there and how through experience you learn who to take your cars to and who to avoid. ( seen your update comment below great news!)
I’m in a similar situation with a little car of mine that I’ve had since 12 years old, needs over 3k worth of welding. And I’ve not been able to experience the car properly on the road due to this and it’s been pretty hard to see. So understand what you are dealing with with your jag. Hope you get it fixed Joel!
Glad you're getting it fixed Joel, I'm all for saving an old car. After having a few Rovers over the years I share your rust pain! Always difficult with corrosion, you never know how much needs removing before you find good metal to weld to. I'm not surprised the garage didn't give it a once over but would like to think that the Jag specialist will be better. Good luck
Excellent news Joel everyone who owns a old car goes through this, my Jaguar X Type is 21 years old and is due a MOT soon I've had it nearly 17 years and keep paying out each year and will probably continue, Jags are such great cars 👍
Ive just had my E38 728i welded rear sub frame both sides ,mot passed now welding cost me £300 to get it through the test .And you should have asked for a pree MOT test .and those parts are all buy and bolton there simple DIY jobs easy a days work.
You are right about the first garage unfortunately they are in the majority. Be very happy to see you save the s type and i would donate to it and maybe other subs would? Ive got 2 in Australia and i love them ! Fortunately we don't have m.o.t s here lol. Ive followed you awhile now at least 5 years and you do a fantastic job Joel. I feel you are on the cusp of bigger successes and congratulations on the wedding thats super! Cheers ,maybe a Jag fund?
Good job!👍 Just maintain it well and you have 100kmiles more easily. I have two 3.0 S Types and maybe third would be again R like I had years ago. Also had the similar naturally aspirated V8 as well as 3x V12.. 2 XJS and one XJ 12.. number plate you might guess 😁
I took a car for an MOT at Kwik Fit years ago - they said the rear suspension had collapsed, the windscreen wipers weren't clearing and the number plate was delaminating! took it somewhere else, they pinned the rear wheel arch protectors back, put new windscreen wipers on it and weren't bothered about the number plate!! Potentially the garage had wanted to devalue your car to then buy it to then sell it on for profit
Joel. Just imagine that it's 1975 and you've just taken your beloved E type for MOT and it's the same outcome at the local garage. You've taken their advice and today you drive a Hyundai, because they are reliable and hardly ever rust. Today, your old E-Type, with it's mechanical issues is worth north of 40k as scrap/restoration. Hang in there and give this beautiful old Jag the owner it deserves ❤️
Do a DIY undercarriage under seal video / project (Bilt Hamber Dynax UC and hydrate 80, best stuff out there, actually stops/converts rust rather than just cover it like Lanoguard)
Hey Joel, you're young and inexperienced in garage dealings, main on a car, ta-te-ta-te-ta (I recall you servicing your Rangepoo. Welding aside, to a home spanner weilder, those advisorys are a weekend's work. Your fiancee wants to get wed in it next month and your f-i-l elect wants to drive her there in it. That alone makes a reasonable cost (
Good video. I used to run S Type Jaguars for more than a decade. The first a 4ltr V8 like yours was particularly unreliable, ate gearboxes, (I got through three), and suffered electrical issues but there was something about her and when a learner driver hit me and wrote her off the replacement had to be another S Type. I looked at the diesels but figured that as I was coming up to retirement in a few years this would be the last chance to offset the running costs against tax I went for a two year old STR with 14,000 miles on the clock. I still congratulate myself on my choice - inspired. That car was a real gem, resplendent in Ultra Violet blue with a black and grey leather interior and equipped with all the bells and whistles. I ran her for 5 or 6 years and took the mainly trouble free mileage up to 168,000 before I retired and traded her in against a two year old Aston V8 Vantage. Still miss the Jag and wished I had kept her as well. Great cars, quintessentially British.
An MOT is the health check you're looking for. Jag specialist certainly isn't required for the welding. Probably best to go and see a classic car restorer, like I was. They really know how to weld properly. Typical garage mechanics will only weld to the minimum MOT requirements, meaning it'll probably rust out again very soon. I like the car. I'm an XK8 and E-type owner myself.
As for the first garage. If they managed to do all the coolant work without getting it up on a lift then I wouldn't have expected them to check for rust etc. If they did need to get it up on a lift then I'd have thought they would have just said to you that there's rust and not to bother.
Network locally with car folks, you WILL find a great local garage run by an enthusiast. I mostly work on my own cars but one of the best things I’ve ever done was meeting my mechanic who sorts the stuff I don’t have the skills/time/energy to do.
Did the second garage find that if you measure it differently, then the rust is 301mm from a subframe mounting? 🤔 I always have a pre MoT test carried out a couple of months before it is due and address any potential issues ahead of time. Whether you do your own work or not it allows time to gather parts and get the items dealt with. And for the cost of an unrecorded test, (same price as a regular test at the two garages I use) it covers all the important inspection points without rendering the car unroadworthy. For a garage to give you a health check, then you can reasonably expect to pay for it. Main dealers do it as a matter of course, but you are paying them two or three times the hourly rate that an independent garage might charge. Ball joint boots are a pretty innocuous failure, usually fixed with new ball joints, (once you've dismantled in order to fit new boots, you may as well just fit new balljoints rather than chance just replacing the boots... Time/effort vs reward). Basically that car requires a handful of ball joints, tyres and some welding. The number plate lamp has been a failure item almost as long as the car has been tested... And the other odds and sods are typical 'we've inspected it properly and found these typical nonsense items to justify the test' items... Rusty ferules, undertrays fitted or sill covers fitted being the three most common🤐 As for whether it is worth doing or not, how much can you buy the same car with a years MoT for? I don't know how mechanically minded or able you are, but learning to get your hands dirty is a life skill. Most of that list can probably be done on the driveway over a weekend.
Hi Joe I'm deano from Lancashire I also own a 2005 Jaguar S-Type 3.0 Auto my mot is in June I'm also worried as I see these nightmare scenarios. But I'm going to keep my classic even if I end up spending up to £2k or £3k over a period of time to me it's worth it for my own pleasure of owning one and keeping my S Type alive into the future. This is what being a jaguar Enthusiast means it take commitment and hard earned money 💰
Good luck. You are definitely not wrong in expecting a garage to keep you in the know about upcoming important repairs. It's a great looking car. A rescue mission is in order.
Just hit the like and subscribe. Keen to see what comes of this one bud. Loved your vids so far, and with a better garage its totally saveable. First garage sounds like a bit of a miserable lot to be honest. "Scrap it". Ah yeah cheers for the input there. Sounds like the sort of place that is happy to charge customers an arm and a leg to do an oil change but don't want to actually fix anything. (A certain "Jaguar Specialist" here in Plymouth is the same). Don't give up mate, reckon this British metallic beige lovely has some life left in it yet. I did the same drive from Lands end to ness point on the Shortest day (Top gear challenge style) as a charity run. Done it twice, but the second time used a S-Type Diesel and literally went non stop. No fuel, stops breaks or even a wee. Saw some naughty speeds and landed me three bonus points on my license. Ce-La-Vie. A car is more than a tool or a toy. Its memories, its smiles, its sentimentality. If my XJ8, my XJ40, or my old MG ZT could talk, they would all tell stories. Thats what the "normies" wont ever understand. Looking forward to more from you chap.
Joel, you are right to be disappointed in the first garage. Just from a good business standpoint, it makes sense to inspect a car and give the owner a perspective on its health and needs.
You should have asked the ‘sub-par’ garage to have a shufti over it. I would imagine that like many garages, they are busy and wanted your jalopy out asap so as to make space for another car. Got my fingers crossed that the other garage is a tad more ‘sympathetic’.
Nice video Joel. You are always going to get rust plus suspension wear and tear on a car of this age so finding a garage you can trust is the key thing. Looking forward to seeing how you got it through the MOT and what happens next. It is a lovely car. Yes, you should have got the Range Rover fixed 😊, but everyone on TH-cam has a Range Rover so you are a bit different.
As much as it sounds like the garage you used to fix your coolant leak with is useless, I wouldn't necessarily lay the blame at their door for this one. Generally garages are only going to do the job you pay them to do and rust can sometimes be well hidden until you start really poking around to find it. As you say it's an old vehicle, so it would be a good idea for them to have preemptively had a look around, but the same argument could be made in saying that you should have probably asked them to give it a check over as you know from previous experience with your Discovery that older cars are susceptible to rusting. Sounds harsh I know, and as I say it does sound like they aren't particularly competent, but I'd be hesitant to say it was their fault for not spotting it.
Had a look at the recent mot and man, that first garage are utter donkeys! All will be well with this car! And with regards to making calls, i used to have the same issue, literally used to shake if i had to phone someone, doing it consistently got me through it, its always the start thats the worst aint it, then once you step over youself and call without a way out, you just get on with it! Ul be fine brotha.
The local garage are useful for normal every day cars and normal jobs such as springs etc but for something a bit more unique or special then specialists all day long. Think about it this way, if you do the work needing done you’ll have a well sorted luxury car!
Another great video Joel, I think you should get full health check on the car with a quote for the work then setup a go fund me page and I for as a subscriber would donate to get the car tip for Katy and her Dad for the big day.
very kind of you, I don't like to ask for money, however I do think there's an option called "Super Thanks" on TH-cam if you would like to make an individual contribution!
I would second this. It would be nice for your TH-cam subscribers to club together to buy you and Katy a wedding present. Can’t think of a better gift than to put this car back on the road so her dad can drive her to the church, in something that means something to all three of you. 😊
in my view the garage you used to have the coolant fixes done obviously were not interested in fixing your jag, you did the right thing to get a second opinion.
Hi Joel I have no end off these in my garage infact had another today with similar amount off work I've got a 4.2 in tomorrow for welding if you don't want to fix it I will buy i
Hi Joel. Have a look at the previous MOT certificates. It’s a good way if judging a car’s history and maintenance. Unfortunately, for your V8, the MOT history appears to show that maintenance was never a priority. Hope you manage to get it through the next test though.
with the range apparently if you covered rear arch with black tape it would pass haha. MOT inspector is not allowed to remove it as MOT I believe are more of visual check, safety (brakes, no warning on dash and lights) and to make sure the vehicle is not polluting more than what's recommended and would of past unless you had rust elsewhere and other issues. I believe that's why they do not remove undercover trays to expose engine below
Enjoyed your video, just to make a point that you may consider....the guys at Drive Tribe are doing a project involving Jags, and have many contacts, why not see if they are in a position to help you out, maybe a good video to watch ???? just a thought !!!
Take it to an actual Jaguar Land Rover dealership or do a colab with Tyrell’s and have it restored they would be the true foolproof way to look after her.
Joel, imo the garage would not check the overall condition of the car, why would they (and risk a grands worth of work) unless you had voiced your concern about the car with them. In hindsight you should have sourced out the Jag specialist first for the coolant work. I'd have a chat with them before committing to repairing!
Hi Joel I had an S type for a few months here in Canada. It was a 2004 v8 with the 4.2 litre. I loved it but unfortunately for personal reasons could nt keep it. Im always amazed at the detail the MOT goes to and every year too. Im from England so know all about getting cars passed. Here, its almost the opposite as you only need it tested, known as the safety, when you have bought it. Hence you can own cars for years in substandard condition. However, personally I dont really believe in most cases it is a cause of accidents. I used to do a the necessary work like brakes myself if it seemed dangerous. Anyway, sorry this is so long! It would be a crime to scrap that beautiful car. Find a cheap but good welder. And that garage sounds like crap..just greedy people. Check others but always look at reviews and try to talk to someone who knows them.Good luck. Thanks Joel!
How about chatting to your mate Mat at High Peak motors. I know its a bit of a treck but could be worth it. I probably should nt mention this but I have been offered a safety certificate for $150.. wink wink!
They probably didn't check over the rest of the car when doing the coolant. Sounds like they barely paid attention to the coolant issue tbh. It will be 1 big bill, but once it's done the car should last a good while longer
I get what you're saying about pre warning about other issues with the car before spending a ton of money mending one thing (my local garage I use I trust him with stuff like that) I think the misconception is that most garages are trying to find 'extra' work to rip people off to come back or making up jobs for more custom from you. Obviously not all garages are cowboys or rip off merchants but I've been to a different garage than my regular before for broken suspension and they've rang me telling me that my wipers needed replacing when I'd just replaced them a week before 🤣made me feel like he had the same car as myself and just wanted some wipers for his own
Good Luck - interesting video you are so right about the coolant system garage - rip off . I am a Jag enthusiast - dont scrap car stick with it ..... stick to independent Jag specialists if poss .
This car is a deserving survivor and happily it seems now that you are getting it repaired by a proper garage and back on the road. All the faults are standard stuff especially on a 22 year old car with presumably original consumable parts underneath. The original garage are at best average, their advice to scrap it shows their lack of ability or competence but realistically they were sending you away and ultimately doing you and the car a favour. There have been 2 great video series about reviving down-at-heel but deserving S-Types on WatchJRGo in the US and TJM The Jag Man Down Under in Australia. Both just needed sensible TLC and spannering and responded very well. Living With a Classic has a long term liability S-Type that is still waiting completion after a 4.0 V8 engine swap but that should live again soon.
I also have a Jaguar S type, it was my dad’s, at the moment it is parked on my drive due to the flexi pipes on the exhaust blowing, I’m trying to find a garage who will replace them, it’s due it’s MOT next month, I will not get rid of it, it has sentience value, since my dad is no longer with us. Thanks Joel,
I commented on one of the previous videos slating the garage you had used - a £555 bill for straightforward work and charging you £15 plus VAT per spark plug - rip off merchants. That said most garages are the same. You do need to find one you can trust, who take a genuine interest in your car and what you want as a customer; but that’s a challenge and they all garages are expensive. Gone are the days of £30-40 per hour labour.
I don't have a lot of experience managing garages but I do have a lot of experience managing suppliers and manufacturers in other areas and generally speaking they will do the job you ask them to. A full inspection is a labour intensive job and it's not worth them doing that at their own cost proactively when the likelihood is the customer will not want to pay for the follow up job. Last time I took a car for a full look over was a BMW 3 series and it cost me a couple of hundred quid for them to go through the car and tell me everything that needed doing to it and then I could decide what (if anything) I wanted fixing. Ask the garage what it would cost for a full assessment of the vehicle and what you would get for that and make sure it covers all the areas you want to know about. As long as you are paying for their time they will be happy to do the work.
That you said about MOT history and mileage. In 2016 it was reading 113,470 but then in 2017 it dropped to 101,456 so could this indicate a dashboard change?
I really hate the Its not worth fixing...to me any car with port injection and no turbo is an absolute prize as keeping a modern direct injected turbo car going for 26 years will be nearly impossible. I wouldn't run down your previous garage. Old cars do need special care that just does not fit with the semi dealership style service that many garages operate with. They should have head checked the engine like you did as multiple leaks is a symptom.
Did you know the car has been clocked? 2nd of August 2017 it was -12,014 miles? Also it hasn’t been looked after as every MOT has had loads of advisers and it has failed SO many of them. Some garages are arse holes. Had a garage fail my mrs car on some stupid things, rang up and then they said they had made a mistake and it hadn’t failed. If they think they can mug you off they will.
"You can be fined up to £1000 for driving without a valid MOT." Wow. since end of january my "MOT" is expired, too. but i'm from germany and the fine would be like 10 euros if the poilce pulls me over. i usually exceed the period for 1-2 months, because you'll get the full 2year period anyway without extra costs.
About how much they are worth but it would be nice to keep it so if it is reasonably priced the repairs when you're doing a lot of metal work maybe see about what can even be taken from a wrecked car and maybe they all have to just weld pieces in
A car of this age is always going to be susceptible to the dreaded tinworm & a lot of garages don't like having to weld cars, which may have been the case with the 1st garage you used. I'm fortunate enough to be able to do this kind of work myself, as garages tend to charge a fortune for this kind of work. Good luck with the car & for your upcoming wedding 👍
Should have had it checked before you bought it. But it’s worth fixing. It is a really nice motor. It’s gonna cost a couple of grand max. You should watch “Living with a classic”
As far as your first garage goes, they sound like a bad garage. They’ve seen you coming, taken advantage and you’re left with a car they knew would need more work soon. They probably anticipated you taking it back to them for the work or scrapping it. They’d have had their pound of flesh and either never seen the car again, or had several more out of you. As far as a health check goes, you’ll find it’s dealer or chain only. Most independent garages I’ve been to won’t point something out unless it’s obvious or they discover it during repairs so I wouldn’t hold them to a health check so much unless you ask. You’ve now done the right thing. Gone to someone who knows the car, knows the marque and how to fix them. You’ll typically pay more per hour for their time but you should still come out ahead by the time you don’t have frivolous repairs done by unscrupulous garages. Get a quote, take it from there. There’s even an opportunity for content by fixing bits up yourself. Basic mechanical repairs, a bit of wire wheeling and hammerite to stem the rust, changing the odd fluid here and there.
Since filming this video, the car has been re-tested with a more promising outcome, and is currently in the process of getting fixed. So, all being well, we will be seeing the Jag back on the road soon!
When it's fixed get it rustproofed
Joel AJF motor engineers Ltd in Westcott just outside Aylesbury on the a41 heading to bicester are very good with jaguars and not expensive I've used them for repairs on my XF. I hope you get her back on the road I like your videos 📹 🙂
This is great news Joel. Glad it's getting sorted and it will be ready for your wedding!
That's good news Joel, best wishes buddy 👍
so the rust suddenly disappeared as a fail on the new fail mot ?
To give the garage a bit of credit, what would your reaction have been if they called you after the first time saying "We've had a quick look and you're going to need some welding for the MOT in January". A lot of people think that garages are out to con you and so would probably ignore the points raised in that phone call anyway and probably wouldn't return to that garage because "they tried to tell me I need to spend more money with them"
Hi Joel, you are doing the right thing, a Jag specialist will help you no end. You are exactly right trying to preserve it. The suspension stuff sounds like just usual wear and tear. You need a good relationship with a garage, you did right sacking the first lot. Good luck and hope you fix the Jag
As a workshop owner, your perspective really makes me thinking on how I should make the customer experience better. If time allows, please include more videos on this topic. Thank you!
A Jag specialist is definitely the way to go. I had a problem with my alternator on my X-type and all my local garages wouldn’t even quote me. A Jag specialist quoted £250 and as it turned out it wasn’t the alternator but the pulley from the engine had failed. He changed that and the belt for the same price. I bet the “normal” garages would have charged me a lot more and changed the alternator first adding to the cost. With unusual cars always go with the experts.
Sounds like a straight forward enough welding job, not all garages can be bothered with welding.
The other mecanical items are small jobs.
Hi Joel, just wanted to jump in and say your not alone with the lack of confidence when dealing with things like this. I hate having to ring around and trying to communicate these things.
I am lucky I found a decent specialist for my vehicle. They are extremely knowledgeable and reassuring and I have confidence in their work. Well worth finding a specialist like this if you can and it seems you may have. Keeping some savings aside for cars like this is also sensible. It can help soften the blow when hiccups like this happen. I always try and keep an account with £2000 in it. It really helps mentally.
Hope you manage to get the Jag back on the road mate.
The MOT failure points for the ball joints is only for the rubber covers, not the ball joints themselves being worn. You can buy packs of replacement rubbers in various sizes, a tin of grease, a ball joint splitter and replace these yourself for about £30. Hopefully the welding needed isn't too onerous.
Do not scrap that car. Any garage that advises you to do so are not worth bothering with, walk away from them. Most of the jobs on that MoT sheet are fairly minor DIY jobs. Also, its time to buy yourself a welder, it would make for great content. I'm doing the same right now, i have an old Rover Metro that's pretty rotten but Chris Fix and Furious Driving inspired me to have a go myself 😃
The S Type is the reason I subscribed to your channel so you've got to keep it going Joel...👍🙂👍
Hi Joel. I think you have been very diplomatic about the garage which told you to scrap it! Especially as they had previously done the repairs to the coolant system. Bin them!!
Good on you for pulling the car out of that garage - you should feel like you can trust the garage you take your car to, and there are plenty out there who will appreciate your custom. The good news is that most of that is not a huge amount of work... I say get a quote for the welding and then decide what you want to do, the rest of it is basically maintenance on an older car ... if you do get it all done, you'll have a beautiful V8 for a few grand. I'm sure you could get your money back out of it if you did sell it once the work is done.
Like others have said, a Jag specialist is the best place for the car. I have a BMW and take it to a BMW specialist. When I first brought them the car for some work they looked over it for me without having to be asked and found a few other bits and pieces which needed doing which I was very grateful for because these were things I would never have spotted myself. And rather than just telling me, they sent me a video and pointed out the problems. They're also happy for me to have a look at what they're doing...I took my car in to have the intake valves walnut blasted a little while ago, they showed me how they were getting on and a comparison between a clean and dirty valve. Basically, take it somewhere that is honest and enthusiastic about the car and I'm sure they will be a great help. Hope you get it sorted!
Hello Joel
I am a Jag enthusiast and to date have had 5 XJs. Current 2002 X308 4litre LWB has 211,000 miles. Runs like a dream! Rust is an issue with Jags. The worst is the X-type, closely followed by the S-type, and finally the XJ. MOT stations are becoming increasingly vigilant. In 2022 I needed front n/s chassis rail welded. In January 2023 I needed the front o/s inner wing, base of bulkhead, and drivers floor section welded. For next MOT I suspect that may need the rear n/s and o/s suspension mounts welded. I use an experienced bodyshop welder, a chap with 50 + years and who knows Jags inside out! When my car was in his workshop recently he had 2 other X308s in for identical issues. One of the vehicles, a Daimler Super V8 (X308) looked fantastic "up top" but like mine had corrosion issues beneath.
Jaguars of this age need a specialist garage. I have always used XJ Motor Services, Lyne Lane, Lyne, nr. Virginia Water. Run by Chris Palmer and Sean Colin who have decades of experience. No frills and reasonable pricing. They will save you time and money, since they know all the issues! John Collet ( bodywork) is independent of XJ Motors but operating from premised in same yard. Frankly, I couldn't own one of these vehicles without them!
Great video Joel, I love this Jag… I hope she’s ok ❤😢
Glad to hear things are looking up.. let this jaguar and the range rover be a good lesson for you. Preventative maintenance is the key more so on older cars. Get the stuff sorted throughout the year rather than leaving it until the mot. In six months time get the car booked in for a pre mot check you will thank yourself for it come mot time..
The garage will only really fix what they are told unless you ask them to run a dummy MOT check to see what it might fail on. Can't really blame them.
Great news on the Jag. I think you are quite right to expect the garage to give you a heads up on the condition of your car. My mechanic always lets me know future problems or issue on any of the cars I have taken to him. 👍😊
Wow, there is a huge difference between those MOTs.
I would never go anywhere near the former garage again.
Nothing in the second MOT would scare me.
The 'Upper Suspension arm ball joint' probably require a specialist.
The anti-roll bar and tie rods are very DIYable; the latter requiring reallignment.
Great content! I’m happy to hear it will live and be a big participant to wedding bells! Felt your pain on the rover. Happy to hear your second opinion was better. Please keep the content coming on the Jag!
The question is "What else can I get instead for £1000 - £1500 that has the same class?
Don’t give up on this beautiful jaguar, sometimes it’s worth paying out to keep something you love ,
Cool video Joel. Keep them up. You need to have a selection of garages you can rely on and know you can call upon any time.
Indeed. With Porsche and BMW I'm sorted, but need to expand my contacts list!
Great update video Joel on your Jag. Hoping you can get it sorted as it will provide great memories for your wedding and make Katy happy. I’m hoping you get another Range Rover next. 🤞🙏
Hey chap, I enjoy your content, but this video feels a bit vlogger asking his camera stuff that should be figureoutable and easily things you can work on yourself, you don't need to get up on a ramp and be an expert to get a good look around and find where the issues are. Most mechanicing is pretty damned easy, it's as if it's design to be easily serviced/repaired by almost anyone... I think your content would benefit a journey of discovery in that area.
I got myself an XF SV8 sight unseen off ebay and ended up going through the suspension with a load more wobbles than your MOT fail list for a few hundred quid (replaced everything up-front except the tie rods) and did rear traction links and ARBs which I bet are your fail issues and we're talking like £75 of parts and at most a few hours if they're awkward.
Your rear issues are "probably" - from experience but not seeing your car obvious there could be more. But probably... as it was on my XF (all Jags of late 90s through to the XE (X760) / 2nd gen XF (X260) and F-pace - were practically the same underneath - rear tie/traction rod links like thiese - www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252641445089?fits=Car+Make%3AJaguar%7CModel%3AS-Type&hash=item3ad29a84e1:g:ja4AAOSwA45iSxkk&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA8IYpZiDxPg3PAmRgepfQHt%2B%2FkgH7VN9sCW1LjzynVEUj%2FcjOkzs9jWg9yZJtWpxvntcB6SR7gCgnPwXj7MrE%2B3mJRCOqfyCG1YLkusLjNZz0V%2BU%2FfWziYRDr1aJsqeKqVqNtiqS1CA1FeWsjAWTBs35%2BBhyW7iFQXrrKB0mxgRvmJq77GP5V1NJtc5iQsVS7nkGJa%2Fn2h%2BB69aw%2BJC9Om4wYj1ixbjTcxjCjqyjuxxHUQ4LJshD6js3yqPI4hDOsm8A2yG4xpleYOHkQTft3tHyoFbx7l1lRFOLRjXttBZCmN%2BPZJ570KY4il%2FqpWCrEWA%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9Kz4qvGYQ search "track rod arm stabiliser link" ebay £53 quid a pair aftermarket parts.
Good chance that's your inner and outer boot issues/play.
Then anti-roll bar drop-links which are nice and simple as well...
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/392963866525?fits=Car+Make%3AJaguar%7CModel%3AS-Type&hash=item5b7e78bf9d:g:ARoAAOSwr9Zf~BHH&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA8IuS%2FYOuHQjZvJA%2BBJqqBfLNWJ1sEhCsrdy%2FEyYlo1pIQ4XHsZVrW25%2FOB9%2BIJZ90JjSJF%2BALp%2BmMdyegWAPU2xoibm6sANG1hyp8Q5NLENnUFT0yuv687Vro93DD%2BUrg8Rb9KQXFyiJOT9Od58mwssMXh89%2Bxl64uvHwYNAUpIe9n7bs0b9uSB4AMEZKwb%2FdGLpaVVAZ1AYBtxSD6bA8NP3E51xjNcKCxXpLucysyD%2BYtfwA%2BbrIt%2BdlimUw6Pa%2Fsqg7UQvhHsE%2Bu7WhLAhhOS2H90MRpolyQitDz7j03RSfVfZS2Zq8h7V2LSvUVfgtA%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABFBM-ISyrcZh
Around £25 a pair.
Headlight aim - probably something to re-bend somewhere.
Luckily your-test saw no issue with the rust.
Even when they do - shop around - I found a local place to weld the wife + Mums Civics (both had a bit of rust as they get to around 20 years every other year one side was bad on 1 of them - welded for around £150 ish - even delivered it back to us -> similar hole - probably bigger actually - than you pictured on your old L322.
I wish you good luck -> I'm almost tempted to suggest you come down and I help you get it done on my drive-way, but for the MOT fail status etc... (to and from essential repairs) - where i've worked on all my cars for years (I did go deep down the rabbit hole - have an automotive engineering degree and worked at JLR for 6+ years - engine department) -> but I suppose you'll benefit from a partnership from a jaguar specialist long-term with your appetite - and you may be getting close to the youtube clout for a bit of a deal
Getting this S type revived would be a lot of content for your channel. A beautiful car, that is to be brought back to full life again! Thanks for your channel. By the way, those other ding bats that you took your car to is just ripping you off. I went through the same proses with my STR until I discovered a Jaguar enthusiast/mechanic. He went through the car and pointed out what is the real concerns, and from there on worked within my budget the next step. From a dilapidated to an up to standard(beautiful) car.
I agree with your comments on first garage. Hope all goes well with next garage and love these cars. 👍👍👍👍👍
Thanks for sharing the story so far with us Joel , great content as always, id agree to get the Jag fixed aslong as it doesnt cost silly money to do so, it is a stunning car and if you keep it long enough you will get some of your money back. You must watch Matt from High Peak Autos video called "Matt & The Mechanics" it tells you all you need to know about some the conning and anti depressant merchants out there and how through experience you learn who to take your cars to and who to avoid. ( seen your update comment below great news!)
I’m in a similar situation with a little car of mine that I’ve had since 12 years old, needs over 3k worth of welding. And I’ve not been able to experience the car properly on the road due to this and it’s been pretty hard to see. So understand what you are dealing with with your jag. Hope you get it fixed Joel!
Glad you're getting it fixed Joel, I'm all for saving an old car. After having a few Rovers over the years I share your rust pain! Always difficult with corrosion, you never know how much needs removing before you find good metal to weld to. I'm not surprised the garage didn't give it a once over but would like to think that the Jag specialist will be better. Good luck
Excellent news Joel everyone who owns a old car goes through this, my Jaguar X Type is 21 years old and is due a MOT soon I've had it nearly 17 years and keep paying out each year and will probably continue, Jags are such great cars 👍
Ive just had my E38 728i welded rear sub frame both sides ,mot passed now welding cost me £300 to get it through the test .And you should have asked for a pree MOT test .and those parts are all buy and bolton there simple DIY jobs easy a days work.
What it really comes down to is you need to give any car you get you need to look over it properly before buying it
You are right about the first garage unfortunately they are in the majority.
Be very happy to see you save the s type and i would donate to it and maybe other subs would?
Ive got 2 in Australia and i love them ! Fortunately we don't have m.o.t s here lol.
Ive followed you awhile now at least 5 years and you do a fantastic job Joel.
I feel you are on the cusp of bigger successes and congratulations on the wedding thats super!
Cheers ,maybe a Jag fund?
Good job!👍 Just maintain it well and you have 100kmiles more easily. I have two 3.0 S Types and maybe third would be again R like I had years ago. Also had the similar naturally aspirated V8 as well as 3x V12.. 2 XJS and one XJ 12.. number plate you might guess 😁
👍👍👍 for the Jaguar S-Type. Please save her, Joel!
Save it! It’s a beautiful car and deserves to be saved and you’re the man 😀👍🏻
I took a car for an MOT at Kwik Fit years ago - they said the rear suspension had collapsed, the windscreen wipers weren't clearing and the number plate was delaminating! took it somewhere else, they pinned the rear wheel arch protectors back, put new windscreen wipers on it and weren't bothered about the number plate!! Potentially the garage had wanted to devalue your car to then buy it to then sell it on for profit
Joel. Just imagine that it's 1975 and you've just taken your beloved E type for MOT and it's the same outcome at the local garage. You've taken their advice and today you drive a Hyundai, because they are reliable and hardly ever rust. Today, your old E-Type, with it's mechanical issues is worth north of 40k as scrap/restoration. Hang in there and give this beautiful old Jag the owner it deserves ❤️
keep the classics on the road and all the best for your wedding! greetings from munich!
Do a DIY undercarriage under seal video / project
(Bilt Hamber Dynax UC and hydrate 80, best stuff out there, actually stops/converts rust rather than just cover it like Lanoguard)
Hey Joel, you're young and inexperienced in garage dealings, main on a car, ta-te-ta-te-ta (I recall you servicing your Rangepoo. Welding aside, to a home spanner weilder, those advisorys are a weekend's work. Your fiancee wants to get wed in it next month and your f-i-l elect wants to drive her there in it. That alone makes a reasonable cost (
Good video. I used to run S Type Jaguars for more than a decade. The first a 4ltr V8 like yours was particularly unreliable, ate gearboxes, (I got through three), and suffered electrical issues but there was something about her and when a learner driver hit me and wrote her off the replacement had to be another S Type. I looked at the diesels but figured that as I was coming up to retirement in a few years this would be the last chance to offset the running costs against tax I went for a two year old STR with 14,000 miles on the clock. I still congratulate myself on my choice - inspired. That car was a real gem, resplendent in Ultra Violet blue with a black and grey leather interior and equipped with all the bells and whistles. I ran her for 5 or 6 years and took the mainly trouble free mileage up to 168,000 before I retired and traded her in against a two year old Aston V8 Vantage.
Still miss the Jag and wished I had kept her as well. Great cars, quintessentially British.
An MOT is the health check you're looking for. Jag specialist certainly isn't required for the welding. Probably best to go and see a classic car restorer, like I was. They really know how to weld properly. Typical garage mechanics will only weld to the minimum MOT requirements, meaning it'll probably rust out again very soon. I like the car. I'm an XK8 and E-type owner myself.
As for the first garage. If they managed to do all the coolant work without getting it up on a lift then I wouldn't have expected them to check for rust etc. If they did need to get it up on a lift then I'd have thought they would have just said to you that there's rust and not to bother.
Glad to see you got a second opinion with positive news.
Network locally with car folks, you WILL find a great local garage run by an enthusiast. I mostly work on my own cars but one of the best things I’ve ever done was meeting my mechanic who sorts the stuff I don’t have the skills/time/energy to do.
Did the second garage find that if you measure it differently, then the rust is 301mm from a subframe mounting? 🤔
I always have a pre MoT test carried out a couple of months before it is due and address any potential issues ahead of time. Whether you do your own work or not it allows time to gather parts and get the items dealt with. And for the cost of an unrecorded test, (same price as a regular test at the two garages I use) it covers all the important inspection points without rendering the car unroadworthy. For a garage to give you a health check, then you can reasonably expect to pay for it. Main dealers do it as a matter of course, but you are paying them two or three times the hourly rate that an independent garage might charge.
Ball joint boots are a pretty innocuous failure, usually fixed with new ball joints, (once you've dismantled in order to fit new boots, you may as well just fit new balljoints rather than chance just replacing the boots... Time/effort vs reward).
Basically that car requires a handful of ball joints, tyres and some welding. The number plate lamp has been a failure item almost as long as the car has been tested... And the other odds and sods are typical 'we've inspected it properly and found these typical nonsense items to justify the test' items... Rusty ferules, undertrays fitted or sill covers fitted being the three most common🤐
As for whether it is worth doing or not, how much can you buy the same car with a years MoT for?
I don't know how mechanically minded or able you are, but learning to get your hands dirty is a life skill. Most of that list can probably be done on the driveway over a weekend.
Hi Joe I'm deano from Lancashire I also own a 2005 Jaguar S-Type 3.0 Auto my mot is in June I'm also worried as I see these nightmare scenarios. But I'm going to keep my classic even if I end up spending up to £2k or £3k over a period of time to me it's worth it for my own pleasure of owning one and keeping my S Type alive into the future. This is what being a jaguar Enthusiast means it take commitment and hard earned money 💰
Good luck. You are definitely not wrong in expecting a garage to keep you in the know about upcoming important repairs. It's a great looking car. A rescue mission is in order.
Just hit the like and subscribe. Keen to see what comes of this one bud. Loved your vids so far, and with a better garage its totally saveable. First garage sounds like a bit of a miserable lot to be honest. "Scrap it". Ah yeah cheers for the input there. Sounds like the sort of place that is happy to charge customers an arm and a leg to do an oil change but don't want to actually fix anything. (A certain "Jaguar Specialist" here in Plymouth is the same). Don't give up mate, reckon this British metallic beige lovely has some life left in it yet. I did the same drive from Lands end to ness point on the Shortest day (Top gear challenge style) as a charity run. Done it twice, but the second time used a S-Type Diesel and literally went non stop. No fuel, stops breaks or even a wee. Saw some naughty speeds and landed me three bonus points on my license. Ce-La-Vie. A car is more than a tool or a toy. Its memories, its smiles, its sentimentality.
If my XJ8, my XJ40, or my old MG ZT could talk, they would all tell stories. Thats what the "normies" wont ever understand. Looking forward to more from you chap.
Don't scrap her Joel you'll regret it and it's a classic needs to be saved I've done this in past and stupidly scrapped them brilliant video
Joel, you are right to be disappointed in the first garage. Just from a good business standpoint, it makes sense to inspect a car and give the owner a perspective on its health and needs.
It will be good, wish you all the best man.
You should have asked the ‘sub-par’ garage to have a shufti over it. I would imagine that like many garages, they are busy and wanted your jalopy out asap so as to make space for another car. Got my fingers crossed that the other garage is a tad more ‘sympathetic’.
Nice video Joel. You are always going to get rust plus suspension wear and tear on a car of this age so finding a garage you can trust is the key thing. Looking forward to seeing how you got it through the MOT and what happens next. It is a lovely car. Yes, you should have got the Range Rover fixed 😊, but everyone on TH-cam has a Range Rover so you are a bit different.
As much as it sounds like the garage you used to fix your coolant leak with is useless, I wouldn't necessarily lay the blame at their door for this one. Generally garages are only going to do the job you pay them to do and rust can sometimes be well hidden until you start really poking around to find it. As you say it's an old vehicle, so it would be a good idea for them to have preemptively had a look around, but the same argument could be made in saying that you should have probably asked them to give it a check over as you know from previous experience with your Discovery that older cars are susceptible to rusting. Sounds harsh I know, and as I say it does sound like they aren't particularly competent, but I'd be hesitant to say it was their fault for not spotting it.
Had a look at the recent mot and man, that first garage are utter donkeys! All will be well with this car! And with regards to making calls, i used to have the same issue, literally used to shake if i had to phone someone, doing it consistently got me through it, its always the start thats the worst aint it, then once you step over youself and call without a way out, you just get on with it! Ul be fine brotha.
The local garage are useful for normal every day cars and normal jobs such as springs etc but for something a bit more unique or special then specialists all day long. Think about it this way, if you do the work needing done you’ll have a well sorted luxury car!
Another great video Joel, I think you should get full health check on the car with a quote for the work then setup a go fund me page and I for as a subscriber would donate to get the car tip for Katy and her Dad for the big day.
very kind of you, I don't like to ask for money, however I do think there's an option called "Super Thanks" on TH-cam if you would like to make an individual contribution!
I would second this.
It would be nice for your TH-cam subscribers to club together to buy you and Katy a wedding present. Can’t think of a better gift than to put this car back on the road so her dad can drive her to the church, in something that means something to all three of you. 😊
Can't we all chip in to help you out??
I'm afraid I did warn you about this. I had the same issues - had to spend circa £3,000 on mine to get it sorted in 2015. It'll be a lot more now!
in my view the garage you used to have the coolant fixes done obviously were not interested in fixing your jag, you did the right thing to get a second opinion.
Just looking at the mot nothing major couple ball joints bit of welding,and a dust cover or 2 ( most of the stuff are advisory)
Hi Joel I have no end off these in my garage infact had another today with similar amount off work I've got a 4.2 in tomorrow for welding if you don't want to fix it I will buy i
Its a good job nobody bought it when you advertised it a few weeks ago.
Agreed. But this stuff came as a shock to me given its previous MOT (before I bought it)
Why not have a word with Richard Hamond at the Smallest Cog.
Hi Joel. Have a look at the previous MOT certificates. It’s a good way if judging a car’s history and maintenance. Unfortunately, for your V8, the MOT history appears to show that maintenance was never a priority. Hope you manage to get it through the next test though.
with the range apparently if you covered rear arch with black tape it would pass haha. MOT inspector is not allowed to remove it as MOT I believe are more of visual check, safety (brakes, no warning on dash and lights) and to make sure the vehicle is not polluting more than what's recommended and would of past unless you had rust elsewhere and other issues. I believe that's why they do not remove undercover trays to expose engine below
Jag people at Stokenchurch have been going for many years, previously at Bovingdon.
You definitely have to be ruthless when it comes to asking for what you want to be done otherwise most garages will just do the bare minimum
Enjoyed your video, just to make a point that you may consider....the guys at Drive Tribe are doing a project involving Jags, and have many contacts, why not see if they are in a position to help you out, maybe a good video to watch ???? just a thought !!!
Take it to an actual Jaguar Land Rover dealership or do a colab with Tyrell’s and have it restored they would be the true foolproof way to look after her.
Joel, imo the garage would not check the overall condition of the car, why would they (and risk a grands worth of work) unless you had voiced your concern about the car with them. In hindsight you should have sourced out the Jag specialist first for the coolant work. I'd have a chat with them before committing to repairing!
Hi Joel
I had an S type for a few months here in Canada. It was a 2004 v8 with the 4.2 litre. I loved it but unfortunately for personal reasons could nt keep it.
Im always amazed at the detail the MOT goes to and every year too. Im from England so know all about getting cars passed. Here, its almost the opposite as you only need it tested, known as the safety, when you have bought it. Hence you can own cars for years in substandard condition. However, personally I dont really believe in most cases it is a cause of accidents. I used to do a the necessary work like brakes myself if it seemed dangerous.
Anyway, sorry this is so long! It would be a crime to scrap that beautiful car. Find a cheap but good welder. And that garage sounds like crap..just greedy people. Check others but always look at reviews and try to talk to someone who knows them.Good luck. Thanks Joel!
How about chatting to your mate Mat at High Peak motors. I know its a bit of a treck but could be worth it. I probably should nt mention this but I have been offered a safety certificate for $150.. wink wink!
a bit of welding and rubber covers on joints - which wear regularly - not too much work hopefully :D
Great Channel :D
Great car Joel. Keep it on the road.... love to see it at the wedding
They probably didn't check over the rest of the car when doing the coolant. Sounds like they barely paid attention to the coolant issue tbh. It will be 1 big bill, but once it's done the car should last a good while longer
I get what you're saying about pre warning about other issues with the car before spending a ton of money mending one thing (my local garage I use I trust him with stuff like that) I think the misconception is that most garages are trying to find 'extra' work to rip people off to come back or making up jobs for more custom from you.
Obviously not all garages are cowboys or rip off merchants but I've been to a different garage than my regular before for broken suspension and they've rang me telling me that my wipers needed replacing when I'd just replaced them a week before 🤣made me feel like he had the same car as myself and just wanted some wipers for his own
GREAT VIDEO BUD 👍👍KEEP THE JJAAGG ON THE ROAD 👍👍DIFFERENT GARAGE DIFFERENT OUT COME 👍👍THATS WHAT I FOUND WITH MY MERCEDES 😀😀
This car is well worth it seeing how good the engine, interior and mostly exterior is. I think 2k is acceptable.
Specialists do tend to be better and more professional, most local garages are pretty useless and have no customer service skills.
Good Luck - interesting video you are so right about the coolant system garage - rip off . I am a Jag enthusiast - dont scrap car stick with it ..... stick to independent Jag specialists if poss .
This car is a deserving survivor and happily it seems now that you are getting it repaired by a proper garage and back on the road. All the faults are standard stuff especially on a 22 year old car with presumably original consumable parts underneath. The original garage are at best average, their advice to scrap it shows their lack of ability or competence but realistically they were sending you away and ultimately doing you and the car a favour.
There have been 2 great video series about reviving down-at-heel but deserving S-Types on WatchJRGo in the US and TJM The Jag Man Down Under in Australia. Both just needed sensible TLC and spannering and responded very well. Living With a Classic has a long term liability S-Type that is still waiting completion after a 4.0 V8 engine swap but that should live again soon.
I also have a Jaguar S type, it was my dad’s, at the moment it is parked on my drive due to the flexi pipes on the exhaust blowing, I’m trying to find a garage who will replace them, it’s due it’s MOT next month, I will not get rid of it, it has sentience value, since my dad is no longer with us. Thanks Joel,
I commented on one of the previous videos slating the garage you had used - a £555 bill for straightforward work and charging you £15 plus VAT per spark plug - rip off merchants. That said most garages are the same. You do need to find one you can trust, who take a genuine interest in your car and what you want as a customer; but that’s a challenge and they all garages are expensive. Gone are the days of £30-40 per hour labour.
Totally agree about the garage...don't give then anymore money as they are definitely not trustworthy
Some garages love to string you along for work, always get a second opinion if you dont have a trusted mechanic
Get hubnut on the case! 😂. On a serious note it would be great to save. Once you find a good garage stick with them!
I don't have a lot of experience managing garages but I do have a lot of experience managing suppliers and manufacturers in other areas and generally speaking they will do the job you ask them to. A full inspection is a labour intensive job and it's not worth them doing that at their own cost proactively when the likelihood is the customer will not want to pay for the follow up job.
Last time I took a car for a full look over was a BMW 3 series and it cost me a couple of hundred quid for them to go through the car and tell me everything that needed doing to it and then I could decide what (if anything) I wanted fixing.
Ask the garage what it would cost for a full assessment of the vehicle and what you would get for that and make sure it covers all the areas you want to know about. As long as you are paying for their time they will be happy to do the work.
That you said about MOT history and mileage. In 2016 it was reading 113,470 but then in 2017 it dropped to 101,456 so could this indicate a dashboard change?
When ever I see the S type it seems like only a few years since they were new
I really hate the Its not worth fixing...to me any car with port injection and no turbo is an absolute prize as keeping a modern direct injected turbo car going for 26 years will be nearly impossible.
I wouldn't run down your previous garage. Old cars do need special care that just does not fit with the semi dealership style service that many garages operate with. They should have head checked the engine like you did as multiple leaks is a symptom.
Did you know the car has been clocked? 2nd of August 2017 it was -12,014 miles? Also it hasn’t been looked after as every MOT has had loads of advisers and it has failed SO many of them.
Some garages are arse holes. Had a garage fail my mrs car on some stupid things, rang up and then they said they had made a mistake and it hadn’t failed. If they think they can mug you off they will.
"You can be fined up to £1000 for driving without a valid MOT." Wow. since end of january my "MOT" is expired, too. but i'm from germany and the fine would be like 10 euros if the poilce pulls me over. i usually exceed the period for 1-2 months, because you'll get the full 2year period anyway without extra costs.
Keep it mate spend the time and enjoy it
About how much they are worth but it would be nice to keep it so if it is reasonably priced the repairs when you're doing a lot of metal work maybe see about what can even be taken from a wrecked car and maybe they all have to just weld pieces in
A car of this age is always going to be susceptible to the dreaded tinworm & a lot of garages don't like having to weld cars, which may have been the case with the 1st garage you used. I'm fortunate enough to be able to do this kind of work myself, as garages tend to charge a fortune for this kind of work. Good luck with the car & for your upcoming wedding 👍
Should have had it checked before you bought it. But it’s worth fixing. It is a really nice motor. It’s gonna cost a couple of grand max.
You should watch “Living with a classic”
As far as your first garage goes, they sound like a bad garage. They’ve seen you coming, taken advantage and you’re left with a car they knew would need more work soon. They probably anticipated you taking it back to them for the work or scrapping it. They’d have had their pound of flesh and either never seen the car again, or had several more out of you. As far as a health check goes, you’ll find it’s dealer or chain only. Most independent garages I’ve been to won’t point something out unless it’s obvious or they discover it during repairs so I wouldn’t hold them to a health check so much unless you ask.
You’ve now done the right thing. Gone to someone who knows the car, knows the marque and how to fix them. You’ll typically pay more per hour for their time but you should still come out ahead by the time you don’t have frivolous repairs done by unscrupulous garages. Get a quote, take it from there. There’s even an opportunity for content by fixing bits up yourself. Basic mechanical repairs, a bit of wire wheeling and hammerite to stem the rust, changing the odd fluid here and there.