1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee Orvis

R54VLB Deep Slate Pearl (dark grey) 4.0L inline 6 Auto Licensed

Vehicle

Year 1998

Variant Orvis

Engine 4.0L inline 6

Gearbox Auto

Colour Deep Slate Pearl (dark grey)

Interior Agate (black)

Status

Licensed

MOT Dec 2026

Tax Oct 2026

Last miles 170,299

Owner

Ian

On the register

Added Jul 2026
4 photos
1 video
25 MOT records

History of this Jeep

On the road

28 years

first registered March 1998

Recorded mileage

170,299

at MOT, Nov 2025

Miles per year

4,381

average since 2006

Last year

962 mi

Dec 2024 – Nov 2025

MOT record

19 of 25

tests passed since 2006

Time off road

2010–2012

gap in MOT testing

Keepers

8 previous recorded

V5C issued

Oct 2025

current keeper document

Historic status

2038

tax and MOT exempt, 12 years away

1 of 82

1998 Grand Cherokees still licensed in Britain, just 17% of the 479 first registered that year. Fewer than 200 ZJ-generation cars remain licensed at all.

Survival data: AutoCensus · DVLA 2025 census

Ownership

After discovering how rare ZJ's had become, I decided it was time to add one to the fleet. The last ZJ I owned was back in 2010 and in the time the market had changed. They didn't have the following of the XJ, with it's classic boxy style, so the numbers in good condition had gone down while the prices had gone up.

There were people selling ok-not-great condition examples for £5-6k... or trying to at least. I missed out on a stunning example, advertised by Heel to Toe Cars for £8k. Sounds steep but if it was truly in the condition they claimed, I think it was great value.

I ended up with this 1998 Orvis. High milage meant it was well used, consistently. It hadn't been sat, unused for years. The seller seamed honest. You can follow along and see what it takes to restore and run it as my daily.

Gallery

▶

0:06

Work log

5 entries · £4,032.98 recorded

02 Feb 2026 Maintenance £1,399.19

Various bits of maintenance

170,434 miles

06 Dec 2025 £45.00

MOT

170,231 miles

10 Nov 2025 Rust Repair Restoration £400.00

Rust Repair and Respray Boot

170,100 miles

31 Oct 2025 Maintenance MOT Prep £298.79

Check Over, Service & Exhaust Repair

170,032 miles

29 Oct 2025 General £1,890.00

Purchase and Delivery

170,000 miles

MOT history

25 tests · 2006 to 2025

Tests passed 19

Passed with advisories 9

Tests failed 6

Pass rate 76%

Items advised 30

Items failed 19

2006 · 85,431 miles 2025 · 170,299 miles

Date	Result	Miles	Advisories
27 Nov 2025	PASS	170,299	—
06 Dec 2024	PASS	169,337	—
03 Dec 2024	FAIL	169,317	—
Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i)) Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i)) Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))
06 Dec 2023	PASS	167,084	—
24 Oct 2022	PASS	163,821	—
24 Nov 2021	PASS	161,217	—
12 Oct 2020	PASS	154,601	1
Nearside Front Outer Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))
07 Oct 2019	PASS	148,629	1
Nearside Front Outer Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))
01 Oct 2018	PASS	144,645	2
Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c)) Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))
10 Oct 2017	PASS	137,935	2
Nearside Rear Lower Trailing arm corroded but not seriously weakened at rear by bush (2.4.G.1) Offside Rear Lower Trailing arm corroded but not seriously weakened by rear bush (2.4.G.1)
12 Sep 2016	PASS	130,242	—
24 Apr 2015	FAIL	126,110	1
Oil leak
24 Apr 2015	PASS	126,110	1
Oil leak
01 May 2014	PASS	122,369	2
Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2) Oil leak
28 Apr 2014	FAIL	122,367	2
Nearside Front Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b) Nearside Front constant velocity joint gaiter deteriorated to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (2.5.C.1a) Offside Front constant velocity joint gaiter deteriorated to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (2.5.C.1a) Nearside Rear Wheel nut(s) missing (4.2.A.1e)
Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2) Oil leak
01 May 2013	PASS	117,790	7
Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i) Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i) Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g) Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g) Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) nearside front foglight glass broken nearside front tyre is worn on the inner edge
25 Apr 2013	FAIL	117,744	7
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2) Nearside Front constant velocity joint gaiter damaged to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (2.5.C.1a) Offside Front constant velocity joint gaiter damaged to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (2.5.C.1a) Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8) Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)
Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i) Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i) Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g) Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g) Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) nearside front foglight glass broken nearside front tyre is worn on the inner edge
30 Apr 2012	PASS	112,000	2
Nearside Front constant velocity joint gaiter damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.5.C.1a) Offside Front constant velocity joint gaiter damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.5.C.1a)
19 Aug 2010	PASS	110,546	—
06 Aug 2010	FAIL	110,546	—
Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8) Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8) Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4) Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3) Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3) Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)
29 Jul 2009	PASS	104,941	—
23 Jul 2008	PASS	96,196	—
01 Jul 2008	FAIL	95,885	1
Offside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split (2.5.C.1a)
SLIGHT BRAKE JUDDER, BOTH FRONT TRAILING ARM BUSHES DETERIOATED.
25 Jul 2007	PASS	90,089	1
N/S TOP & BOTTOM BALL JOINTS HAVE SLIGHT UPLIFT
15 Jul 2006	PASS	85,431	—

Specification

Factory · 4.0 Orvis Auto

Engine 4.0 AMC inline 6 petrol

Power 174 to 176 bhp

Torque 290 to 301 Nm

Gearbox 4 speed automatic

Transfer case Quadra-Trac NV249

Drive system Permanent or on demand four wheel drive

Front axle Dana 30 low pinion

Rear axle Dana 35 likely

Axle ratio 3.73 observed, verify per car

MPG urban 13

MPG extra urban 23.5

MPG combined 18.2

Braked towing 3,500 kg

Factory data for the UK 4.0 Orvis Auto. Axle ratios and diffs vary per car and should be verified from the axle tag or build sheet.

This car · owner recorded

Drivetrain

Drivetrain Permanent or on demand four wheel drive

Transfer Case Quadra-Trac NV247

Front Axle Dana 30 low pinion

Rear Axle Dana 35

Engine & Transmission

Engine Size 4.0L

Engine Type inline 6

Fuel Type Petrol

Gearbox 4 speed automatic

Exterior

Paint Code PAW/QAW/VAW

Paint Name Deep Slate Pearl (dark grey)

Interior

Interior Trim Black

Provenance

Build Date March 1998

members.jeepzj.co.uk Grand Cherokee ZJ · United Kingdom · 1996–1998 Not affiliated with Stellantis or Jeep