1997 Jaguar XJ 3.2L Petrol · R808 ABM

The Jaguar XJ presents a stable roadworthiness profile. The most recent DVSA test on 24 November 2025 at 96,675 miles returned a pass with no defects recorded. Prior examinations in November 2024, November 2023, November 2021 and December 2020 each achieved passes with zero advisories. The maintenance trend is unequivocally clean and consistent across the five-year span. Recorded mileage sits at 96,675 against a 29-year lifespan, equating to roughly 3,300 miles per annum. The odometer advanced merely 47 miles between the 2024 and 2025 tests, and just 335 miles across the 2023 to 2024 period. A two-year gap separates the November 2021 test at 96,278 miles from the November 2023 test at 96,293 miles, indicating either dormant storage or unrecorded running. The sparse but unblemished history suggests a lightly used vehicle under owners who sought annual compliance, though the 2022 absence warrants confirmation of continuous licensing. No recurring mechanical or structural faults appear in the official record. The tester flagged no worn suspension bushes, binding calipers, corroded subframes or exhaust emissions failures at any interval. Such a spotless sheet on a 1997 saloon implies either meticulous upkeep or tests conducted under favourable conditions. Buyers must examine structural integrity around sills and suspension mounting points where Jaguar bodies of this era suffer hidden rust. Brake discs and flexible hoses may exhibit age hardening despite low wear. Engine ancillaries and coolant system require scrutiny for degradation from prolonged inactivity. The clean MOT trail provides reassurance but does not substitute for physical appraisal of a near-three-decade-old motor car.