Old Peter

Hi Scott, It can surprise you how many optional extras there are on Jaguars. There are some I didn't want and when I got my s type the previous owner has the nous not to specify a TV and Jaguar voice, but the foresight to specify the SatNsv and a proper spare wheel on a matching alloy. Regards, Peter.

I used to have a couple of friends who lived there, Charlie.

Adding to that post, Scott. It is an optional extra on the XJR too, so I think it will be the same on the others. Peter.

Hi Scott, On the Portfolio it is an optional extra costing £460. I think it could be included in some of the other models, but I will check. Peter.

Hi James, I have been told by a former employee of a Main Dealer that they go by the book when quoting for a job --- that is the repair manual from the manufacturer which says how long a job should take. A job which had to be done on my Rover was listed at 11 hours and my mechanic did the job in 7 hours which was the time he charged me for. The dealer would have charged 11 hours even if the job had been done in 7. Add the time difference and the dealer's hourly charge the job came out at half the price of the dealer. Having said that, I guess that some main dealers are better than others. Peter.

I will have a look at their schedule, Trevor. We are also fans of live music and good live entertainment. Peter.

It doesn't, Trevor. Quis custodet ipse costodes springs to mind. Peter.

Hi Trevor, I think the Police did make an admission --- but he did say something nasty to them which he did admit. Peter.

Hi Charlie, I would be assassinated it I wore a kilt round here. The Suttonians would think I was Bonnie Prince Charlie. Henry VIII gave the town a Royal Charter, and they are still Tudor --- even the Shopping Centre is called The Red Rose Centre. Mind you I have not got knobbly knees and my Rugby Shorts still fit me, as do my cricket flannels from 40 years ago. The dagger would be useful if my MP called me a plebeian, as he did the police when they wanted him to go through a side gate at No 10. The Police let me through the main gate ---- three times! Peter.

Hi Neil, and welcome to the Club. I have had the same problem, and the cure I used was to disconnect the battery, leave it disconnected for about ten minutes, and then connect it again. That should clear the fault. You will have to reset your settings again. Kenny might look in and give you some detail, which is always very good. Regards, Peter.

I had an oil and filter change on my S Type just a year ago. My mechanic used Castrol Magnatec [as I requested] and for two 4 litre containers he charged £45 [and left me one container with 2 litres remaining], £10 for the filter, and £30 labour. As Kenny has said there are quite a few companies who will do an oil change much cheaper than a main dealer. Peter.

Hi Keith, The steel wheel I had with my Rover was the basic wheel designed to fit most Rover Models with 15" rims. Just standard painted black. It is possible that 17" steel wheels to fit the Mondeo would also fit the Jaguar. Parts Gateway would be a site to look at. In fact you could get a replacement Ursa wheel there The spacesaver wheel is quite a narrow steel wheel. A use only in emergency wheel! Googling around throws up some interesting things! Peter.

Welcome to the club, Ian, I know it is soothing to do with a PIN number, but the s type is not that complicated. An XF owner will be able to help. Regards, Peter.

Especiaily when weairng a kilt.

That's right Charlie, but not for the UK. The main reasons for assembling in India were cost and the fact that they needed the capacity in Castle Bromwich for the booming UK market, and especially for the new XF and the XE. Peter.

Welcome to the Club, David. The club is a very friendly club with people who love and enjoy the cars they own and drive. You can get a map update --- I got one for my S type for £30 from SatNav updates which is a 2012/3 version, the last made for the S type. It did tell me once that I had arrived at my destination, and I had, but it was 50 yards away and I was on the M6 having passed the exit I needed three miles away! Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Darren. There is a topic concerning independent garages in the Jaguar Owners Lounge, and I think you could well find one near you. General speaking, most members prefer Indies because of the prices charged by main dealers. Regards, Peter.

Hi Charlie, The XJ and XF are having booming sales in China, as well as in India, and TATA motors have built a new assembling line in India which will save a lot of money in import duty and cut costs significantly, as parts to be assembled do not carry as much import duty as a assembled car. [That is why MG is now assembling cars in the UK rather than in China]. The XF and XJ models to be assembled in India are being fitted with a 2.2 litre diesel and a new 2.0 litre petrol engine which is being made at the Wolverhampton Factory built by TATA over the last two years. TATA are copying Ford [bridgend] which Engine Plant is now providing 20% of engines used in the UK [ It could even be Europe but I am unsure]. The local press had some very good articles on the move at the time, but since that the sales of the XF in particular have increased tremendously, and the new XF will be manufactured in the UK and will make its debut in New York in 2016. I would also make a guess that if the new XF takes off in the USA in large volumes, then TATA will take advantage of the unused capacity in the USA to assemble some cars over there, too. Birmingham is still the British Motown! Regards, Peter.

Hi Ben, I actually know what you are on about, but don't know the solution, as having company cars for 30 years I got used to someone else getting oily hands. I am sure that someone will know how to do that job and will be along shortly to explain how it it is done. Regards, Peter.

Hi Phil, I will add my welcome to those of others. I hope you will like it here. We try to stay a bit friendly and while it sometimes it strays away from the topic, the new members introductions is there so that you can get a feel of the other members and they of you. So that is goodI I was pushed a bit from some of my colleagues to live in the Cotswolds when I was requested [told] that I was being moved by my employers from Derbyshire to the Midlands, and must admit that I was tempted to do so. My offices were in Sutton Coldfield and I did not fancy the drive of about 45 miles each way every day. Plus I didn't think the staff in the Office would take kindly to the Boss living so far away, So I bought a house 500 yards from the office, and even after retirement 15 years ago we are still here. I hope you still enjoy the club! Regards Peter.

Hi Mark, I am uncertain as to whether they are OK or not and I would hesitate on giving a firm opinion on wheels --- they are a quite important part of the car!! A previous owner would have had an MOT with those wheels fitted though, so I assume they would be OK. Jaguar will probably fit a standard alloy wheel in the factory dependent on the size specified and I do know that they fit wheels from 17" to 20" for certain, and there is a body of opinion as to which give the most comfortable ride. Probably, I would continue using the wheels you have and get a replacement or try to get your wheel repaired. The only other solution is to revert to what the factory fitted and sell the ones you have, which could be rather costly. Regards, Peter.

Hi Keith, I have had a look around and found that the Ursa 17" Alloy is rather pricey, too. I had a Rover Sterling for 11 years and the spare was a steel standard wheel rim and was only ever used once in all that time. My X type had a spacesaver but it had a warning notice on it not to exceed 50 mph and to get it off as soon as possible, so I was looking for a matching alloy, but never got round to it. I also carried an aerosol with the squirty stuff in but never used that, either. My S type has a matching alloy, thanks to a previous owner. I feel much safer! I would suggest that if you don't want to pay silly money for a matching alloy, you could get either a steel wheel or a fairly cheap alloy wheel that will fit, bearing in mind that you will probably not have to use it very much. Regards, Peter.

No Charlie. Castle Bromwich is still the prime factory for the XF and XJ, and will remain so. They do assemble some in India for the Asian market, but I am sure that the engines and most components are made in the UK. Jaguar have also bought a large piece of land next to the Castle Bromwich site which they will used to expand production and build new models. Peter.

Kenny, I googled XKR timing chain and it came up with some for sale. I know what the S type has as I am able to see it [i think?]. I come from the era when all you needed in the toolbox was a lump hammer and an adjustable spanner, and the only drive belt was for the dynamo! Regards, Peter.

I am fairly certain that it is a timing chain on the XKR, Kenny. My S type has a belt which has to be changed at 105k, and considering I do less than 7000 miles a year and as the engine has only done 35k miles, I will either be dead or have sold the car/stopped driving. Regards, Peter.