Hi everyone,
I’m hoping for some honest advice from fellow Jaguar owners. I have a 2016 Grey Jaguar XF Portfolio 2.0-litre diesel, and over the last six months it’s been nothing but problems. I’ve already spent around £2,500, and it now looks like I might need to spend another £3,000-£4,000 just to get it fixed. I’d really appreciate your views on whether this all sounds genuine, what I can do to reduce costs, or if I should just sell the car and move on.
Here’s the timeline of what’s happened so far:
It started about six months ago. The battery was nearly ten years old, so that got replaced.
Then we replaced the alloys and wheels.
The exhaust began shaking, so a new dampener was fitted.
Some dashboard warning lights appeared soon after.
A neighbour (not a qualified mechanic, but quite good with cars) started helping me to save costs instead of taking it to garages like Halfords. We bought parts and tools from eBay for a few hundred pounds and did most of the work ourselves.
Since then, we’ve:
Fixed the EGR filter,
Installed new brake discs and pads,
Noticed the car started shaking again afterwards.
The neighbour said it might be an engine mount, so we took it to Millennium Jag in Croydon (we’re based in Chislehurst, Bromley). They quoted £900, but agreed to do it for £750 if I paid directly into their account without VAT, which I later realised might not have been entirely above board.
They replaced both engine mounts with brand-new JLR parts, but just two weeks later, the car started shaking again. When I went back, they said the issue was now the vacuum solenoid, which would be another £750. I complained because they should have identified that the first time.
Now there’s a whizzing sound coming from the engine.
At the next MOT, the brake pads and discs failed again, so they were replaced, and it passed, but with advisories:
The exhaust is corroded, and
There’s a leak in the turbo.
The neighbour thinks it could be the turbo bearings or a small leak, and that a reconditioned turbo should cost around £500. But Millennium Jag quoted £4,500-£5,000 for a brand-new turbo, and wanted £179 + VAT (£215) just to check it. They also said they’d assess the exhaust to see if it’s just the back box that needs replacing, or the full system from front to back.
The neighbour also checked the DPF filter using his diagnostic tool and said it hasn’t been cleaned in 70 cycles. He recommended getting it professionally cleaned (quoted around £350) but warned that if it fails and the soot goes into the engine, it could destroy it completely.
In total, I’ve spent over £2,500 already, on tools, parts, alloys, brake components, and paying the neighbour for labour. Before all this, when I just used to take the car to Kwik Fit or Halfords once a year for around £800, it always ran fine. Ironically, trying to save money by doing things ourselves has ended up costing two to three times more.
The car’s mileage is only 67,000, as I work from home. I genuinely love this car, but the constant issues are becoming unbearable. I don’t want to let it go, but if I have to dip into my savings for another few thousand pounds, I might be better off buying a newer Jaguar that’s less trouble.
So I’d really value your advice:
Are these problems and prices genuine or inflated?
Is there a way to reduce costs or find reputable specialists around South London / Kent?
Should I cut my losses and sell the car before things get worse?
Any guidance or recommendations would mean a lot.
Thanks in advance,
Sheela
