Service Bay
It’s as fast as a Ferrari, but is the supercharged Jaguar XKR just as expensive and complex to service? Rob Hawkins visits independent Jaguar specialist Tasker & Lacy to find out.
2012 JAGUAR XKR 5.0
It boasts over 500bhp at the flywheel, more than 600Nm of torque and a 0-60mph time of less than five seconds, qualifying it to rub shoulders with the supercars of the world, most of which cost a lot more to buy and run. So, is owning a Jaguar XKR a dream come true or a potential nightmare of problems and costs? It’s certainly not going to be as cheap as running a Ford Fiesta, but when it comes to servicing, most of the jobs are not that complicated, although some are time-consuming, such as the air filters.
We asked independent Jaguar specialist Tasker & Lacy of Leeds to run through some of the general servicing jobs on the XKR, and also highlight some of the common problems that can be discovered. Corrosion, worn suspension and seized or sheared fastenings are some of the typical disasters that can spring up, but otherwise, a well-maintained XKR is a supercar dream come true and with numerous independent specialists and stockists of parts, some repairs and serviceable items are not that costly.
Equipment required
› jack › axle stands (or ramp) › oil suction pump › oil filter cap (90mm wide, 15 flats) › 10mm socket › Torx T20-30 › Allen/Hex 10mm › screwdrivers › pry bar › battery tester › antifreeze hydrometer › spray grease › red rubber grease › penetrating fluid › tyre pump/gauge › torch › torque wrench › clean measuring jug › brake pad thickness gauge › Vernier calipers
UNDERBONNET CHECKS
1 CHECK PAS
The power steering fluid reservoir is located Release the pressure cap for the coolant in the nearside front of the engine bay. header tank (providing the engine and its Clean its plastic cap before releasing it. Wipe coolant are cold). Mix the coolant inside the dipstick on the base, then reinsert and before testing its freezing capacity. Top-up remove it to check the level. If necessary, with WSS-M978B44 (orange-coloured) or top-up with Dexron III.
2 TEST COOLANT
3 TOP-UP SCREENWASH
Release the pressure cap for the coolant header tank (providing the engine and its coolant are cold). Mix the coolant inside before testing its freezing capacity. Top-up with WSS-M978B44 (orange-coloured) or whatever has been used before.
4 CHECK BRAKE FLUID
