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XJS HE engine but 4.0 or 5.3?

7.1K views 30 replies 11 participants last post by  AlastairCM  
#1 · (Edited)
Hello All,

In the New Year I hope to get a weekend, dry use only XJS but have seen conflicting performance and reviews on different models and specs.
Can anybody provide pro's and con's for the different engine types 4.0 vs 5.3? It will be HE engine on auto transmission.
(any general buying advice also very appreciated)

Thinking of mid to late 80's / 90's car with as low mileage as possible.
I want a car in good condition that can be immediately driven without care/worry and enjoyed. (fairly sporty and quick, not chugging along)
In time restoration and refurbishment projects can take place to maintain a good/excellent condition.


Checking out car mag reviews vs Parker's guide vs Autotrader stats, 0-60 and mpg are mixed.
4.0 quoted 6.6secs, 5.3 quoted 7.8secs in Autotrader but Parker's quotes 7.8secs for both engine types.

( or 6.0 !!)
 
#2 ·
Hi Stu,

You will get a lot of conflicting advice on here! Because it is all down to personal preference....for me the V12 is a great engine and car, and if one has been looked after with regular servicing should give you no troubles at all....hopefully! and servicing is not that expensive if you use a specialist garage, rather than a main dealer - but be prepared to spend if you have to, you can't have and XJS on a shoestring unless you are able and lucky enough to carry out all the work yourself. They need maintenance...

But another thing is which style of XJS you prefer - I prefer the pre-facelift, both inside and out, but many prefer the later styling. If you prefer the earlier then you are looking at a V12 or a 3.6

Performance wise I don't think there is a lot of difference - they are all fast...for their age and size!

One last thing - if you are concerned about fuel economy or petrol prices - forget it, buy something else!!!

Cheers

Reg
 
#3 ·
Hi Reg,
Excellent, thanks for your reply.
You are absolutely right- to have the fun you have to accept the costs with classic cars.
(Like your XJS puts a smile on your face no doubts, my XFR just got main dealer treatment & about 200miles to a tank isn't great, but to drive is so good)

I will investigate the pre-facelift / post-facelift option too - thanks for reminding me of that option.

Happy driving.
Best Regards,
Stuart
 
#4 ·
There's another possibility, if you go for a 6 cylinder car there are some out there with manual transmissions. If you can find one this can put a whole different perspective on the driving experience.

Another thought, I know you said 5.3 HE, but have you considered the 6.0? Just a little bit better, possibly.
 
#5 ·
No doubt about it. For every day use the AJ16 4,0 is the way to go in terms of practicality and performance. Different matter for the weekend (dry and sunny) variant. I think for the pureness of design and despite some BL impositions the 5.3 pre HE would be the one to interest me most. I know, at the risk of sounding like a stuck record like everyone else it's not really a mileage thing with these cars but previous maintenance and fastidiousness of the previous owner(s) to look out for.

My current XJS (AJ16) was imported to the UK some little while ago. I had been using it with a Kph only speedometer for years but finally got round to changing it last Spring for one reading Mph (actually wish I hadn't in some ways). It now reads about 3K miles. So looks good and very low mileage ! :)

Nick
 
#11 ·
main thing to watch is metal worm! these cars were never designed to last beyond 10 years and jags idea of treatment basically sucked!
go over one with a fine tooth comb checking the scuttle, sills, rear window area, floor, inner sills, front and rear subframes.

these are very freindly cars and welcome every kind of rust worm you can imagine! so engine size shouldn't really matter, its whats around it!
 
#15 ·
Hello Foshi, many thanks for your reply. This is perfect to hear. People who have had manuals really rate them and although I want an HE engine I'm still also more interested in the earlier models than the +1990s.
I want also to modernise the suspension, brakes, exhaust, engine performance to get a good handling, 6 sec 0-60 car for weekend, country lanes fun.
Best Rgds.
 
#20 ·
Hi Mick, many thanks for the recommendation and link. After seeing a programme on Discovery tonight- Turbo Pickers I'm interested to see & drive the TWR spec cars. This programme the pickers went to Clarkes Jaguar, Sussex and got a couple of XJS coupes for restoration and put them back together. One was a 5.3 XJS-R.
 
#31 ·


Depends what you mean, XJR-S are all post May 88 cars and are more common, the limited versions of the pre May 88 TWR cars had a fuller range of customer ordered performance options and proper ones are pretty rare, there are likely only a tiny handful of fully specced ones with all the inherent problems of trying to maintain serious custom made items.

Most of the things TWR did to the XJR-S cars (aside from the 89 onwards 6.0L engine) to improve performance can be replicated on a standard XJS on a more limited budget but without the inherent problems of running the Zytec engine management system.

All XJR-S cars have modifications to the gearbox to move the shift points higher up the rev range and firm up the shift. However that modification can be done to a standard XJS V12 gearbox via various kits you can get from the US. Changing the shift points is a reasonably simple yet long winded trial and error task through changing the governor springs and inner weights and fitting a variable modulator. It will liven up the car so you can hold gears better into the power band whether at partial throttle or full throttle without kickdown.

Firming up the shifts fully is a bit more involved and requires removing the sump pan and modifying the valve body, so the car needs to be raised at least to do this and the transmission fluid drained.

The 6.0 XJR-S versions have larger air intakes which can be replicated on a standard 5.3 XJS to give a little more power, as can cold air ducting and low loss filters. Intermediate exhaust boxes can be removed to add a bit more power with straight through pipes. The bore of the rear section of the exhaust can be enlarged a bit more and still fit under the axle and better back boxes can be fitted. All in all you can get up to 30BHP extra depending if you want to start modifying the advance as well. That was the basis for the pre May 88 TWR engine efficiency kit.

XJR-S and pre May 88 TWR shocks are bilstein one off custom made so not easily replaceable, there are plenty of "modern" adjustable shocks that will do as good a job with lowering/firming the car. Likewise there are more easily available alternatives to the speedline alloys for fitting bigger tires. TWR bodykits are reasonably readily available second hand to improve the aerodynamics if you like the look. The only real bit that is difficult to replicate is the quicker steering rack with reduced power assist. You can fit modern bushing that will help with the feel but not much more unless you can pinch the rack from a scrapped XJR-S which is a straight swap.

So other than the extra torque and slightly different power curve you get from the 6.0L XJR-S engine and the steering, you can replicate/improve the rest. Unless you seriously want to go down the insanity of trying to find one of the proper TWR hand built engines and custom manual gearbox. Depends if you motivated by owning some form of "genuine" TWR car or just looking for performance enhancements. If its the latter I would just improve a standard XJS and save yourself a lot of hassle.

One other thing to bear in mind is that in mid 87 there were a number of "mini-facelift" styling changes to the V12, like the wood centre console replacing the black vinyl one slight change in switch placement on the shifter, metal door treads replacing plastic ones etc. Also the changes on the HE from Salisbury to Dana back to Salisbury diff in the 80s. Depends whether you consider such things important for which model year you go for.

The V12 car in standard form is not sporty, its a stylish GT designed for very comfortable long distance driving. Yes if you try you can make the car loose the back end in the wet or make some noise if you absolutely floor it and engage kickdown. But if you want sporty the standard auto box will drive you mad, it will upshift into top gear as soon as it can to improve fuel consumption, likewise the diff/gearing is made for efficient motorway cruising not for quick 0-60 times off the line. The handling/cornering is "wallowy" and the steering light IMHO, yet overall the drive is very easy/smooth and the engine with standard exhaust very very quiet (breathing and power is sacrificed for quiet refinement).

I've never driven the manual straight six version so I can't offer a comparison. Anecdotally I have been told that the reduction in weight of not having the V12 with slushy autobox and having better gearing is just about offset by the reduced torque/power so aside from top speed the performance is much of a muchness.
 
#21 ·
She's a heavy old girl at 4000 lbs, depending on how sporty you want to get. They are dogs off the line and heavy in the curves, but such a beauty of a ride.

Think it over carefully, you might like a modded MG, Corvette, mk2 Lotus Cortina a bit better, if you want swift acceleration and some sportsmanship.
 
#22 ·
ignore him he's from Nebraska lol....

sorry i had too i was watching a comedy on tv the other day lol
 
#24 ·
you sold a vette to buy a jag? thats backwards driving without rear view mirrors! :lol:
 
#28 ·
#26 ·
Hi Chappy, excellent comment and I imagine you've got an advantage over me with some big, wide straight roads to floor an XJS. I'm needing a weekend fun-about to enjoy twisting and narrow country lanes, zipping around.
You're bang on correct with the alternatives- I'm really interested in the modded MG options. We'll see what happens.
Although for style, build quality and value for money the XJS is a pretty decent car in UK, the Classic & Sports car prices are going silly.
Best Rgds.
 
#29 ·
build quality? i think you had a bump on the noggin. the XJS is/was actually poorly engineered, the build quality is better on a Marina yup morris! the v12 only punches out around 250hp the 3.6 and 4L are around the same so is the extra weight worth it? yes the v12 sounds absolutely gorgeous but it could do with more horses like almost double to make it worthy.

dont get me wrong i love jags always have because i was brought up in and around them, learned to drive in holyhead in my dads 4.2 XJ6. i think i was 4 or 6? yeah i couldn't really reach the loud peddle but had fun driving round a feild while camping back in the early-mid 70's. i think its because its an iconic British car, about the ONLY British car made with any style. they were never sports cars even now, more of a sports tourer. fire them up select waft and go.

Jag is the only thing that makes me patriotic to this pathetic island lol