1986 Jaguar XJ 4.2L Petrol · C767 UJU

The vehicle is currently roadworthy, but the maintenance trend shows a shift towards developing mechanical and rubber-related wear. While the most recent test in December 2025 at 60,982 miles passed, the tester identified play in both front lower suspension arm ball joints and severely deteriorated dust covers on the nearside. This represents a regression from the clean records of 2023 and 2024, indicating that age-related components are now reaching the end of life despite the low mileage. The recorded mileage of 60,982 is exceptionally low for a forty-year-old vehicle, averaging approximately 1,525 miles per year. The data shows consistent, low-level usage, with only 948 miles covered between the December 2024 and 2025 tests. However, this low usage often correlates with the degradation of seals, hoses, and rubber components due to time exposure rather than mechanical friction, which is evidenced by the perished dust covers and worn bushes noted in the 2022 failure. A buyer must conduct a thorough inspection of the engine bay and cooling system, as the 2022 failure flagged both excessive oil leaks and coolant leaks alongside high carbon monoxide emissions. These issues suggest potential gasket failures or seal degradation that may have been only partially addressed. The structural integrity of the offside front sub-frame and anti-roll bar linkages, which showed signs of wear in 2022, should be verified to ensure corrosion has not progressed beyond surface level. The braking system also requires attention given that the rear service brakes were recorded as binding in 2022. While these passed in subsequent tests, the nature of low-use cars often causes calipers to seize during periods of inactivity. Given the recent findings of play in the front ball joints, a comprehensive check of the entire front suspension geometry is necessary to prevent steering precision issues or component failure.