I'm interested in buying another XJ. I was wondering which year is better to buy. The two I'm looking at is a 99 with 69,000 or a 01 with 33,000. I currently have n 01 with 150,000 miles that I bought new, so I know all about the maintenance I've done to it. Yes, my 01 was one of the ones that had a crack cylinder head. Any suggestions & reasons would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Jeff

 

Except for replacing the clyinder head at 96,000 miles, I have no complaints on my 01, and it's still running strong @ 150,000 miles. I plan on keeping my 01. If both of the jeeps are in good shape and price is reasonable, I'm just curious what you guys think is the better jeep. I don't plan on doing any suspension lift to it.

 

I have an 01' cherokee with 123,000 miles on it and the only thing I have had to fix was the AC compressor. My sister has a 99' cherokee with 115,000 and has had a cracked fan, new AC compressor and a sensor that shut the car down while driving go out twice.

 

I believe the 99 has the high pinion front Dana 30, whereas the 01 has the low pinion and the high pinion, I've heard, is a stronger axle.

 

The HP D30 is much better for lifting purposes, too.

 

I've never had an 01, but my 99 has been great. I have also read that the 01's have the low pinion and it is a less desirable axle. The only things I have had to fix on my 99 are the driver's side window motor and the blower for the climate controls. It has 120,000 miles. Try to find one with the 8.25 rear axle.

 

If you don't plan on lifting or going off road with the jeep, does it matter which axel you have? Of the 150,000 miles on my 01 xj, I said say 120,000 miles was on the highway doing 65mph.

I've had good luck with mine. I did have to replace the water pump & fuel pump recently. It sounds you can't go wrong with either year.

 

99 has a distributor and the 01 has a lil coil for each cylinder. Would think the 01 would run a lil smoother and cost more to fix due to this.

 

I think ChryCo's DIS blows. But, go with which ever one you like better. But as said already 99 will have a HP30 vs the 01's LP30.

 

what i wanna know is where did you find these xjs with extremely low miles?

 

99!!!!!

because thats what mine is

but seriously, if you plan on lifting it the 99's HP d30 is much stronger and would have better drive line angles. If its just going to stay a stock grocery getter, it probably doesn't matter.

 

99, Better Cyl Head. Better front axle. Better trannsmission.
Simple as that. And avoid buying one with the D35 in those years. It will be a C-Clip axle and considering 80% have the 8.25 its worth avoiding the d35.