1999 Jaguar XJ

Vanden Plas Sedan

8 Cylinder

Automatic

SAJKX6040XC855415

Gasoline

Power Windows

1999 Jaguar Vanden Plas with front end damage. Car is repairable or could be sold for parts. I'd just installed a new, pit-free windshield and new all-weather tires from Costco, and was planning on giving this luxury car a paint job, when we got a little too close to the truck bumper in front of us. The steel bumper got us right at the headlights, pretty straight across the front, and pushed the front end in fairly evenly. The damage appears limited to the headlights (which still work), the body panels, and the support struts across the front. I'm not a mechanic, but it looks like it can be repaired by replacing the hood, side panels, headlights, grill, and some of the supporting work behind the grill. I've shown a break in a fiberglass strut on the left side under the hood. The radiator wasn't affected, and I drove the car to work, 20 miles each way, for a month, until I found a replacement car. My really only problem with driving it, other than the looks, was the headlights. The ABS and Stability Control lights came on, of course, and I don't know if that is just from the shock of the accident or due to some other damage. I can't show an exact mileage because of these warning lights, but it's around 111,000 miles. I think the car is repairable. We kicked around the idea of buying a salvage car for the front end, fixing it up, and then selling the repaired car and the junker, but that's more work than I have time for. I know the car is valuable for it's parts. I replaced the "throttle body", one of the three things wrong with this model - see below - and a used one cost $1000. Of course, the car will need to be painted after repair, which I was going to do in the first place! I've repaired the three things that are known to go wrong with this model and year. The timing chain broke around 78,000 miles, requiring me to nearly rebuild half the engine. As a result, the engine is in very good shape. As mentioned above, the throttle body was replaced. Jaguar apparently put a computer chip in the throttle that closes it periodically to clean it out while driving. This chip could sometimes keep the throttle closed. Jaguar had to recall a number of vehicles to fix this and I had it replaced shortly before the accident. The other problem was with the water pump, causing overheating, and that was also fixed around 80,000 miles. Other than the accident damage, there are only two things on the car, in my opinion, that need to be fixed: The sun roof will not open and close properly. The rails are apparently broken. The front driver door check needs to be replaced. It is broken, causing the door to open too far. Car includes 6 disc CD, power seats, headrests and steering wheel, plus memorized positions for 3 people. Original cheap plastic cupholders, easy to break, have been replaced.I've tried to be as complete as possible in my description, but keep in mind the age and condition of the car and understand it is being sold as is. Please feel free to come by and see the car for yourself - send me an email and I'l provide directions. 4/13/2010: After reviewing my receipts, I saw that the timing chain work mentioned above occurred at 85,582 miles in Oct. 2006. The work included $2,252 machine shop service to the cylinder heads, replaced water pump, hoses, seals. Removed and replaced all timing chain, timing chain tensioners, and timing guide rails with new. Total bill was $3,975.81 The starter was replaced in Oct 2007 at 97,639 miles. Receipts are available. 4/15/2010: Although I received a lot of inquiries in the earlier auction, the car didn't sell, so I've relisted at a lower price and for only 5 days. Please note that I require a deposit within 48 hours of the winning bid. Good luck!