XM thoughts/advice/persuasion/discouragement needed

[ypsilandra]

Have been to look at what appears to be a nice 2 owner XM today. I need a car for the occasional trip to work (50 mile round trip) when I'm not using the van.

 

The car in question is a 97 2.0SX petrol with the autobox. It's done just short of 125k, and appears to have all its sills, wheelarches etc intact. From what I could tell all the electrics work apart from the front passenger window which the garage selling it will attempt  to fix if I buy it. It comes with a suitcase full of receipts and service records and 12 months MOT. It started first time, went up and down smoothly and settled to a nice tickover. It's got a towbar, a few scuffs at the corners but other than that looks like it's been cared for. 

 

Are there any points that I should definitely look out for? Are the tyres an odd size and if so are they ludicrously expensive?

 

This was my first time sitting in an XM and was really impressed. Cheers

[Junkman]

WCPGW?

[dollywobbler]

How often does the hydraulic pump cut in once it's up and level? How green is the LHM fluid? Bright green is good news. Any service history? Cambelt change? Any recent expenditure on the hydraulics? I'm no XM expert so that's just my generic BX checklist. 

 

Make sure the heater controls ALL work. That is XM specific. 

[Partridge]

http://www.club-xm.co.uk/forum/

[chaseracer]

Do it. Tyres are boggo 15-inchers, but Michelins really do make a difference.

 

I've had two, and would have another sharpish. Loads of bits in my lockup if you need them.

[Spiny Norman]

You know you want to. We need pics once the deal's done.

[Wilko220]

I'm not a crazy Citroen expert but, from your description, I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better example for anything like reasonable money.

[Bren]

I would love a diesel estate, prices for these do seem to be on the up - however some seem to be up for around £3k, they are'nt there yet.

 

 

As said earlier, heater controls and other electrics, and check for coolant inside the car.

[mouseflakes]

Check all the threads on the XM forum regarding strut top failure. I love XMs but every time I think of buying another I remind myself of the strut top issue. One gets the feeling it could make them even rarer in future.

 

EDIT: - it might not be so easy to find the threads but this kind of hints at how common the problem is...

 

[beko1987]

Was in your shoes 3 months ago, and took the plunge. My verdict is DO IT!!!!111 with the right car!

 

Check that the suspension is in soft mode, an that the sport light comes on the dash if it's a series 2

If it's an auto you'll be wanting to do a gearbox oil flush and change asap

Check the LHM, it's not tricky to change if it's nackered, which it will be, unless you can be proved that it was changed last month guv'na etc

Check the rear goes up and down properly

Have it running, sit in the boot then get up. It should sink right down when you are sat, and come back up when you get off

Steer quickly at low speeds (pulling out of a parking space etc). If the steering is notchy, change the LHM (it fixed mine). Otherwise, it's the FDV valve (see club-xm for beardy description of that)

 

Oh, when it rains/you wash the screen and you have the drivers window open, water cascades in, and it's easy to catch fags on the door trim by the switches if you hold it in your right hand. Window may be solved by pressing the button repeatedly, it fixed one of my rear windows. Oh, if it's an auto, it will display the signs of a dead battery when you try to fire it up if it's not in park... (and cause your missus to shout at you until you realise...)

[Lankytim]

I've been offered a 2.5 diesel one of these for bridge money. I just can't say no!