2009 Jaguar XJ X358

First things first – this car is a Japanese import.

That tells you two very important things.

Firstly, that this car will have experienced the pampered and fastidiously curated existence enjoyed by nearly all prestigious, luxury Japanese imports.

It may be something of a cliché to talk about the roll of ‘honour’ in Japanese society and culture. But it’s no exaggeration to say that this tradition is alive and well in the Japanese motor trade.

This is a world in which mechanics are assiduously diligent in their work, dealers are scrupulously honest in their valuations, and owners take obsessive levels of pride in the care and attention they lavish upon their expensive European cars.

Secondly, it tells you that the car has spent its life in a country where salt is thrown over the shoulders of sumo wrestlers, not chucked all over the roads with reckless abandon like it is in the UK.

Ergo, Japanese cars are nearly always free of the sort or corrosion issues that routinely affect cars in the UK and elsewhere.

This stunning 3.0-litre X358 was exported new to Japan in 2009.

We believe it had just one Japanese owner before it was imported to the UK by the vendor in October 2024.

The vendor is very well known to us and specialises in importing really, really good examples of prestige European vehicles from Japan.

He only imports the best and he does everything necessary to ready the cars for UK roads and use.

He has just spent £2,165 getting this car prepared for UK regulations and requirements (radio, sat nav, etc), and has also had the headlining replaced, the wheels refurbished, and has given the car a full machine polish and ceramic coating.

This car, which has just 54,654 miles on the odometer, is quite exceptional in every way.

Viewed from any angle you choose, this is a good-looking car and one whose XJ design lineage is patently obvious in every panel and line.

The aluminium bodywork is reassuring free of any dinks, dents, dimples, creases, ripples or folds.

The panel gaps and shut-lines are crisp and consistent and the doors close with plenty of heft and certainty.

The big 19” wheels, having been refurbished recently, are very good and the matching Yokohama Advan Sport tyres look to have plenty of life left in them.

There are a couple of tiny nicks to the rim on the n/s/r wheel, but you have to look quite closely to spot them.

The paintwork has held up very well, too, and although there are a few light swirly scratches on the bonnet, boot lid and roof, it’s fair to say that, in general, blemishes, scratches and stone chips are rather more notable for their absence than their presence.

The lights, lenses, leaper, badging, trim and all other exterior fixtures and fittings are entirely beyond reproach.

The interior, wholly unsurprisingly, is every bit as good as the rest of it.

In fact, the condition of everything in the cabin is very impressive even for the car’s low mileage, let alone its age.

The heated and cooled front seats are comfortable, supportive and functional, and the beige perforated leather upholstery is in pretty much as-new condition front and back.

The headlining is new and looks it.

The door cards, carpets and mats are also fighting the passage of time with impressive resilience and there are no real signs of wear anywhere that we can see.

The same applies to the capacious boot.

Jaguar’s signature wood veneers are looking good and have retained plenty of rich and glossy shine.

They’ve also resisted the temptation to crack or fade, save for a tiny bit of fading that’s creeping into the edges of the veneers on the rear door cappings.

The wood and leather steering wheel is in excellent order, as are the handbrake, gear selector and other controls.

The ‘Sport’ and ‘Traction Control’ buttons to the right of the gear selector have degraded a little and become sticky.

All dials, knobs, instruments, levers, switches and controls look good to us and, as far as we’re aware, everything does what it’s supposed to do.

The rubber seal above the driver’s door kick plate is split.

Everything in the clean, dry, tidy engine bay looks orderly and in its right and proper place.

The car was given a mechanical inspection by Jag West London prior to coming to us.

As ever with the vendor’s Japanese imports, the undersides look solid and possessed of plenty of structural integrity.

We’ve seen nothing at all to make us tut or frown.

This car comes with very little history or documentation covering its time in Japan, but we think it’s safe to make two assumptions.

Firstly, it’s evidently been well looked-after and diligently maintained by its Japanese owner.

Secondly, we know that the vendor only imports very good examples.

The car comes with one or two Japanese documents (your grasp of the language may be better than ours) and a couple of bills for work carried out when it reached these shores.

The mileage is verified and has the original action report with indicated mileage and condition report as well as the mileage verification certificate from the Japanese authorities.

It also comes with a recent, clear HPI report, a V5C, and an MoT certificate - with no advisories whatsoever - that’s valid until 19.9.25.

We like these X350 cars, and particularly the late X358 facelift models.

Despite being highly competent, capable and accomplished cars, they have somehow slipped under the radar of the motoring public’s consciousness and now occupy a space where only those in the know really understand and appreciate just how good they are.

And this one, having been pampered and spoilt in the Land of The Rising Sun throughout its stress-free, low-mileage existence, is better than most by some considerable margin.

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £10,000 - £13,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.