Old 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.

It was a fixed camera on an average speed check, Kenny, but I never saw it was a 40 mph limit, and neither did my wife. I assumed [!Removed! u me] that as it was all dual carriageway the limit would be 50 mph. Peter.

Andrew, the s type is a nice car to drive and it can be driven slowly and sedately, as well as quickly and safely. Your 4.2R is very quick, and can see off most other cars on the road --- if you want --- but even my rather slower 2.7D can attract a brown envelope with a suggestion that I attend a speed awareness course next week. Apparently they have also taken a nice photograph of me driving it on the A5. Pter.

Hi John, and Welcome to the Club. I have not the DPF warning yet, but I do make a point of at least one long run a month. I agree that it would be nice for aDPF status to be available on the dash. I have had a small issue with the EGR valves and found that a good blast with the S button engaged has cured it. The other thing I have done is to have the Terraclean service done and it has made a world of difference both to performance and mpg. I had to drive up to Sheffield two weeks ago using the A38 and M1, the latter having a 50 mph limit the whole way and I got 53 mpg, which I thought was pretty good. Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Ian. I hope you enjoy the XF. A young woman round here has a Bright Red one -- I think she is married to a footballer -- there are quite a few round here on a big private estate that has been there for 70 odd years -- just across the road! Regards, Peter.

Welcome to the Club, Andrew. The S type is a great car to drive, either quickly or slowly, and I hope you enjoy the Jaguar experience. The Lexus is a Luxury Export to the US. Allegedly said at a meeting of the Toyota USA management to determine the name of the new product. Written on the back of an envelope by a secretary and then sent to Japan. Regards, Peter.

Hi Phill, Glad it is sorted somewhat. I am guessing that a quality check has found a minor fault in a component from a supplier --- both suppliers and assembly do have fairly strict quality controls, which is good. I agree that telling the truth in the first place does often prevent bad feeling later. I worked in the Steel Industry almost all my working life after my small accountancy business was not getting customers due to my refusal not to condone practices that the Inland Revenue [as was] would not approve of. I hope the sun shines on your daughter's wedding. Regards, Peter.

Hi Mark and welcome to the club. Potholes cost me four tyres in the last 3 years. I have them, especially in the dark! You could try Rimmer Bros, who have been recommended by another member. Just google them and take it from there. Jaguar Classified will also have some on sale but I think they sell 4 at a time! Let us know how you get on. Regards, Peter.

Hi Phil, I have had a few enquiries and find no explanation for what your dealer says. None of my contacts seem to know anything about cars not coming out of the factory as they are still coming off the production line without any hiccups. Short of sitting outside the factory gates [not difficult with the massive roadworks at the moment] I can think of no other solution. If you have a firm date from the dealership I would ask for an appointment with the Managing Director. It could be that the particular dealer from whom you have ordered the car is not getting cars delivered to him for some reason only known to the MD. Sorry not to have been able to find out more. Regards, Peter.

Hi Scott, There are lots of opinions about changing to winter tyres, and a lot depends on where you live. I lived quite high up in Derbyshire for 12 years and had to dig my car out on a couple of times, and had there been winter tyres available and had it not been a company car I might have done so. When I lived in North Wales in the 60's I did have Town and Country tyres on the rear wheels which were brilliant in the snow. Living here in the Midlands where anything over 250 feet is a mountain I use Pirellis all year round without a problem. I do believe that there are garages which will store your winter/summer tyres. But as Kenny says, have a look around. Regards, Peter.

The bracket on my S Type has retaining nuts on the top ---- it must have been redesigned. Peter.

Thanks, Kenny. I thought of going back to check when I got the letter, but the roadworks were only about 100 yards long and there was a strong probability that the roadworks [painting road markings] would have been finished by then and all back to normal. There was no way of proving it, unfortunately. Peter.

On the Sutton Coldfield bypass [A38] a motorcyclist was caught by an hand held speed camera, and the Magistrates sent him for a Psychiatric assessment! There is a time and place for everything, and they determined that it wasn't the A38 but rather Donnington Park.

Hi Gerry, Don't get me going on speed cameras. On the 5th July I went through some roadworks on an empty dual carriageway where the speed limit is normally 70 mph. I was doing 60 isn and didn't see any camera warning or speed signs and neither did my wife. I reduced my speed to 50 mph as that is the usual reduction on dual carriageways with 70 mph limits. A week later I got a letter telling me I was doing 50 mph in a temporary speed restriction area and they had photographic evidence. And that is why I have to spend 4 hours doing a speed awareness course next week! Peter.