2003 Jaguar XJ 4.2L Petrol · JB03 JAG

The Jaguar XJ presents a currently roadworthy status following the April 2025 test cycle, with the most recent pass recorded on 29 April 2025 at 73,668 miles showing no defects. The maintenance trend appears stable, as the vehicle cleared its final assessment without advisories. Prior to that pass, the car failed on 23 April 2025 at identical mileage yet the tester logged no defects, a pattern repeated when it failed on 26 April 2023 at 72,870 miles before passing the next day. Such back-to-back fail-and-pass entries with zero recorded faults suggest administrative or presentation issues at the testing station rather than mechanical deterioration. Recorded mileage sits at 73,668 against a 2003 build, averaging roughly 3,200 miles per year. The odometer moved only 339 miles between the April 2024 pass at 73,329 and the April 2025 tests, and just 458 miles across the 2023 to 2024 period. This low annual use over 23 years implies extended standing periods, which commonly accelerates perishable component degradation such as suspension bush hardening, brake caliper seizing, and tyre sidewall cracking even without high wear mileage. A buyer should physically verify the brake calipers for binding after the car's stationary intervals, given the repeated zero-defect failures offer no reassurance on hidden corrosion. Inspect front suspension bushes and coil springs for age-related perishing, and check underside structural members for rust where moisture trapped during storage. Confirm the exhaust emissions remain within limits under load despite the clean record. The absence of advisories across five years of tests is atypical for a low-use elderly Jaguar and warrants a independent inspection of drivetrain seals and coolant hoses. Previous keepers likely conducted minimal routine upkeep beyond statutory testing, leaving latent consumable risks invisible to the MOT dataset.