Used buying guide: Jaguar XJ (X350)

A facelift for the 2008 model ushered in an updated grille that received a mixed response from the public, along with new bumpers, mirrors and rear lights. The Jaguar badge was embedded in the grille, rather than appearing as a bonnet-mounted ornament. The front seats were also redesigned and the front wings featured faux side vents. 

Today, facelifted models command a premium (despite the public reaction). Either way, there’s never been a better time to buy an X350. Depreciation has long since slowed and cars can range anywhere from £2000 up to £19,000 for the finest, low-mileage examples – a decent saving compared with launch prices of £39,000 for the basic V6, rising to £68,500 for a supercharged V8.

An owner’s view

Harrison Paganini-Parker: “I bought an XJ to share with my dad. Originally, we were going to get an SUV, but we saw the Jag, test drove it and it really stuck in his head. It’s a 2003 model and we spent £2500 on it. It had done 79,000 miles when we bought it and we’ve done 16,000 since. It’s the 3.0 V6 petrol, and while it is a very thirsty beast, it’s a great runner. We did need to get a few mechanical gremlins sorted out, like the brakes and a few hoses – only to be expected with a model of that age and price.” 

Buyer beware…

Brakes and suspension: It can suffer after years on the road, particularly the front-mounted compressor, but repairs aren’t too expensive. The bushes can split on the front lower wishbone arms and the bushes at the rear can also fail. Beware leaking brake pipes. A recall was issued for cars built from December 2005 and October 2006. 

Engine: Diesels that have been sat around on forecourts or driveways will need to have their particulate filters cleaned, which is normally done by driving at motorway speeds every few weeks. You could end up paying £1000 just to have that filter cleaned. Some cars also required an engine management recalibration, as the particulate filter would overheat and potentially catch fire. A recall was issued for cars built between April 2005 and March 2007. Some owners have noted the coolant reservoir experiencing abnormally high pressure. 

Body: Corrosion can be caused by steel rivets that connect the high-tech body. Pay special attention to the door pillars, bootlid and wheel arches. Some drivers have complained of paint bubbling, with the bottoms of the doors particularly at risk. Window surrounds are another problem area. 

Transmission: Models built before 2003 were recalled due to a gear selector fault that required a reprogramme. The issue would cause some versions to go into reverse at high speed. Ensure this work has been done. 

Need to know 

Specification levels changed over the XJ’s production run. At launch, the model was designated as XJ for entry-level models, followed by Sport, SE and the top-of-the-range XJR. 

The line-up changed in 2006 with the addition of a Sport Premium spec and SE was replaced by Sovereign. 

How much to spend 

£2000-£3499: Some very worn-out V6 petrol and diesel models with well over 100k miles. 

£3500-£4999: Plenty of choice here, including some high-spec, pre-facelifted Sovereign models, but beware as some cars might not be as pristine as they seem.