Models · Jaguar
Jaguar XJ X350 / X358 buying guide
The aluminium-bodied XJ, built from 2003 to 2009 with V6 and V8 petrol engines, a supercharged V8 in the XJR and Super Eight, and from around 2005 a V6 diesel. The facelifted X358 arrived in 2007.
The versions
- Petrol: 3.0 V6, 3.5 V8 (dropped in the UK at the 2007 facelift) and 4.2 V8
- Supercharged 4.2 V8 in the XJR (400hp) and Daimler Super Eight
- 2.7 TDVi V6 diesel from around 2005
- Aluminium body, air suspension and six-speed ZF automatic
What to check on a X350 XJ
3 model-specific things to look at when you view one. They're a starting point, not the full inspection.
Air suspension
What to look for: Look at the car before it's started: it should sit level, not low at one corner. Once started, it should rise to normal height without a suspension warning on the dashboard.
Why it matters: Air springs leak with age, and height sensors, struts and the air pump can fail. A car that sags after standing or won't rise has a leak or a failing part. A car with renewed air springs and a dry, level stance is a good find.
Aluminium corrosion
What to look for: Look at the bottom edges of the doors, the boot lid, the rear screen frame, the wheelarches and any sharp creases for bubbling or white, powdery patches under the paint. From underneath, look at the steel front and rear subframes for rust.
Why it matters: The aluminium body doesn't rust like steel, but it can react with moisture and corrode under the paint, and a specialist bodyshop can treat it. The subframes are steel and can rust. Aluminium repairs need a specific process, so also look for signs of a major accident repair.
Gearbox take-off and fluid
What to look for: On the drive, notice any jerky take-off from low speed, or surging at 30 to 50mph on a light throttle. Look underneath for oil at the base of the gearbox, and ask when the fluid was last changed.
Why it matters: Specialists recommend changing the fluid and filter every 50,000 to 60,000 miles despite the sealed-for-life claim. Snatchy shifts and the surging can often be cured with a gearbox software update. Leaks often come from the wiring sleeve at the base of the box.
Also in the full guide
- Valley pipe on supercharged cars
- The cold start, test drive and paperwork checks for the exact version you're viewing
The full guide to the X350 XJ
The CrankSight guide walks you round the car on your phone at the viewing, with every check for the exact version you're looking at: what to look for, where to find it, and what anything you find is likely to cost. As you go it builds an assessment of that car, and if you view more than one, it lines them up side by side.
£29 for the model, used on as many cars as you like, delivered within 72 hours or your money back.
Other generations
General points for the model, last checked October 2026. Every car is different, so treat this as a guide to what to look at, not a verdict on any car. CrankSight is independent and has no connection with Jaguar.