XK 4.2L V8 Engines
from £3,895 to £5,500
Rebuilt units from £3,895 · Common codes: AJ34, 5G, AJ-V8 Gen II
Get specialist quotes from UK Jaguar XK engine experts. Compare reconditioned & rebuilt V8 engines for XK 4.2 V8 to XKR-S 5.0 V8 SC - AJ133/AJV8 covered. Get specialist quotes for your XK.
XK 4.2L V8 Engines
from £3,895 to £5,500
Rebuilt units from £3,895 · Common codes: AJ34, 5G, AJ-V8 Gen II
XK 5.0L V8 Engines
from £4,500 to £6,200
Rebuilt units from £4,500 · Common codes: 508PN, AJ-V8 Gen III, 5.0L AJ
XKR & XKR-S Supercharged Engines
from £5,900 to £8,500
Rebuilt units from £5,900 · Common codes: AJ34S, AJ133, AJ133S

Most replacements completed within 3-5 days.
The table below shows typical UK rebuilt engine replacement costs across different Jaguar XK variants, covering documented failure causes, engine codes, fuel types, and engine sizes based on current market data.


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Not sure which variant your Jaguar XK is- Enter your registration number above - we’ll identify the exact sub-model, engine code and compatible replacement options instantly.

Every engine code fitted to the Jaguar XK across all generations (X100 1996-2005 and X150 2006-2014), with technical specs, compatible variants and trims, known failure points, and average rebuilt prices from UK specialists. Select any engine code to compare quotes.
Extracted from detailed petrol and performance engine families across Jaguar XK variants.

AJ26 - 4.0L Petrol
Main replacement demand comes from timing-chain, cooling-system and performance thermal-management faults.
Compatible variants
Avg. rebuilt price
£3,500 - £5,200
Supply only
Technical specifications
Common failures
Not sure which engine code?
Can't find your engine code- Enter your registration number above - we'll instantly identify the exact unit, its technical specifications, and live replacement prices from UK Jaguar XK engine specialists. Every rebuilt engine comes with a minimum 12-month unlimited mileage warranty.

Jaguar XK Timing Chain Tensioner Failure
Most affected vehicles
Jaguar XK 4.2 (2006-2009, AJ34 & 5G), XKR 4.2 (2006-2009, AJ34S), XK 5.0 (2010-2014, 508PN), XKR 5.0 (2010-2014, AJ133)
Failure mileage range
50,000 - 85,000 miles
Typical failure window
Root cause
Plastic timing chain tensioner shoes become brittle with heat cycles and oil contamination, then crack or shatter. Chain slack follows, skipping teeth on cam sprockets, leading to valve-to-piston contact. The 4.2L engines use a single primary chain with two secondary chains; 5.0L Gen III engines use a revised layout with similar tensioner vulnerability.
Repair options & estimated costs (UK ranges)
| Repair tier | Dealer price | Specialist price | What it involves | Longevity / suitability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preventative Timing Chain Replacement - Replace tensioners & chains before failure | £3,200 - £4,500 | £1,800 - £2,800 | Full timing chain set replacement with upgraded steel-caged tensioners, new guides, cam sprockets, and crankshaft bolt | 80k-100k miles. Only viable if engine has NO rattling or fault codes. Prevents catastrophic failure. |
| Post-Failure Repair - After chain slip but before piston contact | £5,000 - £7,500 | £3,000 - £4,500 | Timing components + cylinder head removal, valve inspection, camshaft replacement if damaged | Unknown - hidden bottom end damage may surface later. Often a gamble vs full replacement. |
| Full Replacement - Rebuilt / reconditioned engine | £8,500 - £12,000 | £4,500 - £7,500 | Supply & fit of rebuilt engine with upgraded timing components, new gaskets, oil pump, bench tested before dispatch | 100k+ miles expected. Includes 12-month unlimited mileage warranty. All known weak points addressed. |
Our recommendation
If you catch the rattle early and have no fault codes, preventative replacement at a specialist (£1,800-£2,800) is excellent value. Once the chain has slipped and you're looking at post-failure repair (£3,000-£4,500), we recommend going straight to a rebuilt engine. The labour overlap is significant, and the repaired engine still carries risk of hidden bottom end damage. On an XK worth £8,000-£15,000, a specialist rebuilt engine with warranty is the financially sound decision.
Compare rebuilt AJ-V8 engine prices for your Jaguar XK
Reconditioned, rebuilt, used, remanufactured, refurbished and supply & fit engines are all available through our UK network, with typical price ranges varying by engine code, variant and budget.
Compare Jaguar XK engine prices with vetted UK suppliers
All engine types include a minimum 12-month unlimited mileage warranty when sourced through EngineMarket. Prices are typical UK market ranges based on historical quote data from our network and depend on exact engine code, variant, mileage and supplier. Use our free comparison tool above - enter your registration to get tailored quotes for your specific Jaguar XK within hours.

Every displacement fitted to the Jaguar XK across both X100 and X150 generations is listed below, with compatible engine codes, years and common failure notes.
The 4.0L AJ-V8 launched the XK8 generation (X100, 1996-2005) and remained the sole engine option until the 4.2L arrived in 2003. Early Nikasil-lined AJ26 units suffered bore scoring issues on high-sulphur UK fuel, while later AJ27 engines switched to steel liners. These engines defined Jaguar's return to V8 grand touring.
Engine Code(s)
AJ26 (1996-1998), AJ27 (1998-2005), AJ16 (straight-six, 1996-1997)
Compatible Models (UK)
XK8 Coupe (X100, 1996-2005), XK8 Convertible
Power output
Verified by registration
Common Failure Points
Nikasil bore scoring (AJ26), timing chain tensioner failure (all AJ-V8), valve stem seal degradation
Production Years: X100, 1996-2005
Compare Jaguar XK 4.0L petrol engine prices
Choose your Jaguar XK engine by fuel type to compare realistic replacement prices, known issues, and compatible UK supply options - from the early XK8 4.0L V8 to the final XKR-S 5.0L supercharged grand tourer.
The Jaguar XK was powered exclusively by petrol V8 and straight-six engines across both X100 (1996-2005) and X150 (2006-2014) generations, with naturally aspirated and supercharged options dominating replacement demand.
Common Jaguar XK Petrol Engine Families
Found In
Known For
The Jaguar XK was powered exclusively by petrol V8 and straight-six engines across both X100 (1996-2005) and X150 (2006-2014) generations, with naturally aspirated and supercharged options dominating replacement demand.
Common Jaguar XK Petrol Engine Families
Found In
Known For
Not sure which fuel type your Jaguar XK has- Enter your registration number above to instantly identify your engine code, fuel system and compatible replacement options - all backed by a minimum 12-month unlimited mileage warranty from UK Jaguar XK specialists.

The Jaguar XK spanned two generations (X100 1996-2005 and X150 2006-2014) with three distinct V8 displacements - below is a complete year-by-year technical timeline to help owners identify their exact engine and compare rebuilt prices from UK specialists.
⚙Key Changes
▣Main Engines
AJ16- 4.0L petrol straight-six (XK8)
AJ26- 4.0L petrol V8 (XK8)
▰Popular Models
🔧Known For
Engine Codes Covered:
AJ16AJ26