2004 Jaguar XJ 3.0L Petrol · WP04 XSJ

The vehicle remains technically roadworthy but the maintenance history reveals a pattern of accelerating structural and mechanical degradation. While it passed the most recent test in November 2025 at 199,557 miles, the record shows a failure to address recurring advisories across multiple years. The trend is stable in terms of passing, but the underlying issues with corrosion and suspension wear persist without resolution, suggesting that the owner is performing only the minimum repairs necessary to pass the MOT rather than proactive preventative maintenance. At 199,557 miles, this 22-year-old XJ has averaged approximately 9,000 miles per year, which aligns with typical usage for a luxury saloon of this age. The data shows consistent use between test intervals, with 6,460 miles covered between November 2023 and November 2024, and another 4,183 miles leading into the 2025 test. This mileage indicates the vehicle is driven regularly, which explains the progressive wear of the rubber components and the oxidation of metal surfaces noted in the report. A buyer must prioritise a thorough structural inspection of the front and rear sub-frames, as well as the fuel tank straps, all of which have been flagged as corroded since at least 2023. Although the tester currently classifies these as not seriously weakened, the persistence of these faults indicates an active corrosion process. The suspension system also shows significant fatigue, specifically the offside front track rod end ball joint and worn bushes in the nearside front lower shock absorbers, which have appeared as advisories in the last three consecutive tests. The braking system requires close attention due to a previous failure in November 2024 caused by a leaking and corroded nearside rear brake pipe. This follows reports of a damaged brake hose and corroded pipes in 2023. The new advisory for an incorrectly located offside rear wheel bearing circlip in the 2025 test suggests potential poor quality in recent mechanical work. Any prospective buyer should verify the integrity of the air suspension/shock absorber mounting points, as the corrosion there has been a documented concern for several years.