Over the last weeks, @MartinScherz was kind enough to lend me his E-Type for a few days, three fillups. I believe he put up a few pictures in the #e-type thread. Besides that, I somehow fixed his e38 BMW and enjoyed to drive that one, too, while he was on vacation. Thus I got used to both horsepower and oil consumption, both of which my small BMW doesn’t have ‘enough of’. Not to mention the fuel consumption and lack of AC… anyways.
With new confidence I more or less spontaneously decided that it was time to take the XJ to Lake Constance and visit a few friends. First the good, then the bad!
- Almost everything went over smoothly! The car runs absolutely great, joy to drive. I don’t have to tell you that, so let’s move on, shall we. Despite having temperatures in excess of 34°C (93F), traffic jams and a light coolant leak towards the end of the journey, it did never touch the 100°C mark. Did not have to open the bonnet for cooling.
- Oil consumption over 400km (250mi) was bearable, less than three litres (quarts) - surely the heat and long periods of driving between 140-160kph (85-100mph) played a part there. When it’s cooler outside and the plugs still look as good as last time I’ll she what she does.
- Fuel consumption was somewhere between 12-14l/100km but I did not fill up yet.
- Most important of them all, the car started up perfectly each and every time. To my amazement! It never started right away before, when hot. In Constance, it did!! @Frank_Andersen, your ign amp suggestion did help but the trip sure loosened something.
- Last good point, I had to fix only two things. The coolant hose was changed with a friend while the others cleaned up the aftermath of the party we had. The RH high beam that I could never figure out fixed itself. Oh, and I discovered that my auxiliary fan works! I thought it was broken as it never turned on before despite going through all connections.
I would not mind the 2.88 or a fourth gear, or at least a lock-up converter.
The bad.
- I missed @Jochen_Glockner by two minutes, I was told. News you get when you have friends who are law students (I received many pictures of your XJ pretty much since I have mine!) Would have been a nice surprise. Next time then, when my car is closer to his in terms of looks. I’ll write a PM before I hit the road.
- No AC. I might be used to the draft from the E, but the tunnel got so hot my phone shut down three times. Also, I drank as much water as the cooling system lost due to the dribble.
- My tires were a little soft. But they are all-seasons, and all in all they were a good choice to get the car running and MOT’d.
- Idle stayed shaky but what does one expect. Car died once for no reason, but started immediately.
- Both fuel senders started to fail again. I really should get new ones instead of fixing them over and over.
So all in all, I guess I have to take more long trips in the future. It was really pleasantly surprising, and the constantly repeated mantra (drive your Jags…) is absolutely true.
Next up are AC and the small exhaust leak that finally got large enough to feel. Just an olive seal question.
Scary at first, but never more than that. This was in the traffic jam after going fast.
So thank you all, and keep driving!
David