Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1989 Jaguar Xj S Auto?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1989 Jaguar Xj S Auto?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1989 Jaguar Xj S Auto?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1989 Jaguar Xj S Auto?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Jaguar Xj S Auto (1989)

528 real MOT outcomes analysed • 0.6% first-time pass rate

1989 Jaguar Xj S Auto

CarHunch analysed 528 real MOT records for the 1989 Jaguar Xj S Auto. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

The 1989 Jaguar XJ-S Auto has a first-time MOT pass rate of just 60%, significantly below the UK average of 80%, which signals reliability concerns for a nearly 35-year-old classic. The good news is that none of the 528 vehicles analysed have recorded dangerous defects, so safety isn't the primary issue here.

These cars are averaging around 73,500 miles on the clock, which is relatively modest for their age and suggests many are cherished weekend drivers rather than daily workhorses. However, the zero average failures and advisories per vehicle is misleading—it likely reflects that only the best-kept examples are still being tested; if you're buying one, expect to budget for significant restoration work and have a pre-purchase inspection by a specialist Jaguar mechanic.

Below average reliability 79.4% below UK average

0.6%

pass MOT first time

UK average: ~80%

ever had a dangerous defect

recorded at any MOT

avg MOT failures per car

over 1 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1989 Jaguar Xj S Auto

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Jaguar Xj S Auto

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

Inspection

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate
Petrol (98%)	520	0%
Other (1%)	3	100%
LPG (0%)	2	0%
Diesel (0%)	2	0%
Gas (0%)	1	0%

MOT History Averages

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Found a specific Jaguar Xj S Auto?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

Other model years — Jaguar Xj S Auto:

1987 1988 1990