Review 1989 Jaguar XJ12 Sovereign My three years of ownership!

[@PhilipShand]

Here in Australia 14/1/25 I have an '88 V12 identical to this.I've had her for 19 years & I'm still in love.Sometimes I just sit & sometimes but then I'll turn the key & can't resist going for a run.For me a simple pleasure that never disappoints.

[@tjmthejagmandownunder]

I know exactly what you mean. Thank you, Philip!

[@paulgeraghty1448]

Jaguar have made more beautiful saloons than any other manufacturer.

[@AJ-dx6wn]

Every time I see one of your video's gets me closer to buying one. Thanks mate.

[@tjmthejagmandownunder]

I know what you mean. They are addictive!

[@PaulRando-f9g]

Happy new year. Great to see some driving and hear the V12 sing. Loved the bloopers.

[@tjmthejagmandownunder]

Happy New Year to you too! Glad you enjoyed the bloopers.

[@caeserromerosorangewedges]

A great summary of my favourite car on your channel. The lesson is, There are no cheap V12s.

[@tjmthejagmandownunder]

You said it!

[@freman007]

As my father used to say, "There are good Jaguars, and there are cheap Jaguars, but there are no good, cheap, Jaguars."

[@johnmoruzzi7236]

You did a noble thing investing in the future of this special car ! You forgot to mention the squared-off rear roofline that came in with the Series III… along with the new bumpers, front grille, rear lights and simplified front windows that really modernised and sharpened up the styling…. even the chrome trims on the steel wheels looked fabulous. I think the overall improvements of the 4.2 with fuel injection etc. plus the increased appeal of the revamped XJ-S helped to reduce the number of XJ12s built apart from the top spec models.

[@peterj5751]

It’s a beautiful car and I love the colour. I had to chuckle about the upgraded V12 being badged HE for high efficiency. It proves that all things are relative. Perhaps it should have been badged LI for less inefficient. 😂

[@paulgeraghty1448]

I always laughed at the HE moniker too.

[@paulgeraghty1448]

Worth saving as it is beautiful.

[@zannaduresident4934]

Thanks for the update, it is a timeless classic and has a nice color and class look

[@phillipchapman169]

Glad to see how pleased you are with the car. They really are graceful and imo not many cars can beat the elegance. In the past I had both the 4.2 ( 1986, lovely Dorchester grey, but was a tad temperamental) and a few years later, the 5.3 (1989 metallic blue a colour I also liked, which was very reliable and I did a few long trips in. In the three years I had it really only needed annual service, brakes and air on doing. Between ownership of the 4.2 and the 5.3 I drove a Cinquecento! Tiny little thing compared to series three. Yet I could reverse park the series threes far easier than the Cinquecento - go figure! Like the colour of yours and I think you are doing wonders keeping it going. I’d love to return to 5.3 ownership the Daimler series three was my next vehicle I aspired to. However it’s hard to find and while they may look nice all painted up. In six months the bubbles will be showing the ought because they weren’t done properly. Added to this, living in England we have salt on the roads in the winter and in particular our roads are in very poor condition with many and often deep pot holes which are near impossible to avoid in some sections of the road. England really has suffered under both the Tories and now labour back again 😢. Anyway, I don’t tend to drive anywhere much nowadays. So I’ll content myself watching others like you enjoying and looking after the old girls a while longer. Keep up the good work.

[@tjmthejagmandownunder]

Nice to hear from you. Phillip, enjoy!

[@trevlet1984]

Hi Brett, such an amazing effort getting this beautiful car back on the road. I’ve enjoyed watching the whole process so much it inspired me to go out and purchase my very own 1990 series 3 XJ12 recently, and it was in much the same condition as yours was. I’ve managed to fix a lot of things just by watching your channel, so thank you. You wouldn’t happen to know of anyone in the central coast / Sydney area selling some pepper pots? 2 of mine are a bit average and wouldn’t mind getting another set to refurbish.

[@tjmthejagmandownunder]

I have a set Email me@ [e-mail]

[@marinman3551]

I own a beautiful X300 4.0 Sovereign.....I'd swap it in a heart beat for a series 3 Sovereign....V12 or 4.2....this particular car looks stunning in this gold you've done a fantastic job in resurrecting this motor good on ya mate!

[@GregCrellin]

It's a great looking car. It would be easier just to buy yours now you have done a lot of work to it Brett.🤣 Love the t shirt with the Peoples Republic of Hardys Bay.🤣

[@damienkelly9376]

Brett, what a transformation. Looks absolutely beautiful, are you keeping this one? It really must put a smile on your face. All that hard work has really paid off. I’m sure offers would come flooding in, if wanting to sell.

[@tjmthejagmandownunder]

At this stage, it's a keeper, but you never know!

[@davidmilledge221]

Congratulations its beautiful and you saved it 💯👍its a credit to what you do and beeing persistent realy pays off , yep a beautiful machine 👌🍻 but now I know why they got Holden 5litre 308 V8 engine swaps back in the day to make them more reliable 😀

[@tjmthejagmandownunder]

I can understand why they would have done a swap. Misunderstanding has always been an issue with these. !

[@twentyrothmans7308]

Beautiful car.

[@truthseeker5911]

They are all good points that you make regarding the V12. I have owned my V12 XJS for forty years now and only really had any trouble with the Opus ignition. It is running with a Pertronix ignition system now. I did a swap on the auto and fitted a four speed 4L60 from a Commodore a few years ago and this made a big improvement to its drivability and fuel economy.

[@tjmthejagmandownunder]

Sounds like you have a great set up, well done!. Luv a manual!

[@ChrisEggleton-s7f]

Very interesting modification sir. I had a quick look at the Pertronix website and application chart, and it seems the ignitor 1 is the recommended variant. Could you please elaborate on the modification and advise what is actually replaced and or removed by the modification. I have a Series 1 Daimler VDP V12 which would definitely benefit from removal of the Opus amplifier and ballast resistor system: same engine as the V12 E-Type. My XJ-S V12 is an '88 HE, and I have ordered an Ole Mobek system of coil over, ECU and distributor removal which gets rid of almost everything problematical on the XJ-S however, interested again in what your Pertronix system did for your XJ-S. Many thanks, Chris

[@truthseeker5911]

@@ChrisEggleton-s7f Pertronix do a kit for the V12, it comes with an ignitor 2 and with a new base plate and a new reluctor with twelve magnets on it. i bought mine from a seller on Ebay. A guy on the Jag-lovers website has a good article and with photos of the installation. I have had it on the car now for four or five years without any issues and it runs OK. I could never get the Opus system to run well as the car got older and parts are no longer available anyway.

[@PhilipShand]

Approximate cost of auto swap ? I have been toying with the same idea for a while.

[@truthseeker5911]

@@PhilipShand It's hard to quantify, it depends on how you go about it. Johns Cars in America sell a conversion kit but I didn't use that, I made all my own parts, adaptor plate and crossmember ect and had the torque convertor modified instead of using spacers and had a new driveshaft made locally with parts I bought online. Whether you buy a used auto or a rebuilt one. I bought a worn out one cheap and rebuilt and upgraded it myself with parts from PATC in America. I had to convert the speedo from electronic to cable drive as well and PATC have the parts for that. I probably only spent a few thousand dollars all up this way but it involved a good amount of time.

[@Pithead]

Lovely.

[@AbandonedClassicsOne]

Yeah, one look under the bonnet and a 4.2's looking a lot more appealing! Or we move next door and provide beer on a regular basis :) Great review

[@tjmthejagmandownunder]

The 4.2 is a great engine but the 5.3 has a certain charisma, don't you think?

[@AbandonedClassicsOne]

@@tjmthejagmandownunder It's a beaut but you need to know what you're doing. I don't :)

[@johnglendenning379]

Nice car. I had a series 3 xj6 same colour. I think a perfect colour for the series 3. I am restoring a white s3, would love to do a satin beige. It would be too much trouble to change the colour. O well.

[@tjmthejagmandownunder]

I do like white, enjoy!

[@uhn100]

You have done wonders with this one Brett I remember when you first got it and was so concerned about the rust on the front roof seal but you sorted it al out what a fabulas car it is now did you have it painted it looks so good as always my best regards thanks for sharing this Andy Allen.

[@tjmthejagmandownunder]

Cheers Andy! Yeah, that rust was a nightmare, so glad I got it sorted.

[@andyallen632]

@@tjmthejagmandownunder I always knew you would Brett best regards Andy Allen.

[@alexandrecouture2462]

What a nice car!

[@tjmthejagmandownunder]

Thanks, it’s one of my favorites

[@petem85793]

Another great TJM clip. The correct tyre size for the Series 3 V12 is 215/70-15. Don't be tempted by 65 profile tyres, the car is undergeared as it is with only a direct drive top gear. Good tips on buying, I wish I'd known more when I got mine in 1993, but I've still got it. Don't buy an ex-UK car, mine is ex Middle East and I still had to do the screen surrounds and sunroof as you did. Another oil leak point is the rubber hose to the sump from the oil filter housing, the oil goes straight on the exhaust.

[@tjmthejagmandownunder]

I always believed that 205 70 was correct tyre size for a 6 inch pepperpot? It has 205's on it at present.

[@petem85793]

@@tjmthejagmandownunder Only for the XJ6.

[@ivanfernyhough3851]

Thats correct,215/70/15 for the v12,205/70/15 for the 6.in the uk anyway.

[@jagvette1]

Series 3 never been my favorite, I love the Series 2 and series 1, but I wouldn't say NO to a series 3 IF it was the right price, I had a V12 XJS and loved it.

[@tjmthejagmandownunder]

😊

[@scottrippon9565]

Thanks Brett. Probably the best looking Jag sedan here.....but I think the takeaway is..... buy a Lexus LS400 haha! Only for the brave these V12 s... Cheers S

[@edmian3567]

Let us know how the 215 /65 tyres go, interested to know....great car and video as always.... more 'Jane' please...... Ed

[@petem85793]

215-70 standard for S3 V12

[@tjmthejagmandownunder]

I’ll report back soon

[@edmian3567]

​@tjmthejagmandownunder and don't forget Jane...

[@tjmthejagmandownunder]

FYI, Jane is now back on the road now registered. Do you want more videos of xj40's

[@edmian3567]

@tjmthejagmandownunder ...getting mine back on the road...no start?...xj40 92 (Odette) model...I believe Jane is Odette's older sister.....

[@bigmacdaddy1234]

Wonderful automobile. Unfortunately, I can't own one because the repair shops over here in New Jersey are awful and do not know how to fix Jags. Even the so-called Jaguar 'specialists' suck.

[@tjmthejagmandownunder]

That's a real shame. They are not as difficult as some people think.

[@tjmthejagmandownunder]

Nice to have viewers from New Jersey

[@peterriggall8409]

I reckon as it was designed by Pininferrari it would go faster than other Jags. particularly if it was red. 😆 That car is a credit to you Brett. She’s looking lovely. Loved the drone shots. You really get another aspect with those.

[@dmcars147]

Awesome review!! Brett, how different is the driving experience from the 6 to the V12? I've had a few series IIIs but always wondered. Is it worth the additional hassle/rarity?

[@tjmthejagmandownunder]

Chalk and cheese, really While there is nothing wrong with the 6 a v12 is a different experience

[@robinkirke1702]

Is the steering wheel standard?. Great channel, thanks.

[@tjmthejagmandownunder]

Yes

[@paulb1034]

Smart looking car Brett, the rads rot inside which compromises the coolant flow rate, do you use a corrosion inhibitor or rely on anti freeze in Australia?

[@tjmthejagmandownunder]

Corrosion inhibitor, which is just ethylene glycol anyway

[@christopherriley1187]

We had a Daimler Sovereign 4.2 I’m intrigued, do you know how big the fuel tanks are?

[@tjmthejagmandownunder]

49 litres each

[@jason5492]

What was the uk company name for the ac and condenser?

[@tjmthejagmandownunder]

Fen Air International Ask for Patrick

[@404040h]

Missing its factory pin stripe.

[@tjmthejagmandownunder]

Yes, except for one panel😅. One job still to be completed

[@davydoo81]

You shouldn’t have hose clamps on the fuel injector hoses, they’re barbed fitting. Hose clamps can cause the hose to split.

[@tjmthejagmandownunder]

Hi Davy. They are all correct clamps now, check the inlet lines, same as with all the injectors. It did have hose clamps on when I bought it but changed all of them.

[@davydoo81]

@@tjmthejagmandownunder it shouldn’t have hose clamps at all though. It should have cups either end of the hose like this. www.jaguarforums.com/forum/attachments/xjs-x27-32/39060-refurbished-v12-fuel-rail-562.jpg

[@davydoo81]

@@tjmthejagmandownunder there shouldn’t be any hose clamps at all, only cups, like this.. www.jaguarforums.com/forum/attachments/xjs-x27-32/39060-refurbished-v12-fuel-rail-562.jpg

[@anthonybaiocchi3028]

Oh Jaguar, how did we get from this beautiful V12, this to🌈 🦄?? 🙄

[@tjmthejagmandownunder]

Sad really!

[@Haffschlappe]

You cant use any HE V12 Jag they gave india Made heads and drop valve seats