Citroen XM - was JohnK's steed

[forddeliveryboy]

I have real issues with using a food stuff as fuel, and can't be arsed trying to find a source of used veg. There's nowhere on my doorstep willing to supply me. So, I'll stick with dino.

 

Yes, I would have problems using large amounts of unused food grade oil for ethical reasons, including the destruction caused to poor communities in poor countries with both soya and palm. But this is waste oil, food-wise. Get some bought before someone else snaps it up!

[dollywobbler]

Not quite as easy as that. Need money for a start, then a way to get it home that isn't entirely pointless.

[brickwall]

Are we not poor? Some more than others, of course.

[Lankytim]

It's OK using fresh oil. It will only be used by catering companies to fry chips and chicken nuggets in anyway. You'll be doing some fat bastard somewhere a favour.

[dollywobbler]

Fitted some Continental Winter tyres to the XM today, which also gave me chance to get the wheels off and have a good inspection. Front brakes have plenty of meat on them, but the rears are a bit low.

 

However, the biggest issue was finding some nasty rot in the inner front wheelarch. One spot below the scuttle doesn't worry me too much, but it's gone quite badly beneath the strut top. Fortunately, the strut itself seems mainly held by the upper skin (what you see in the engine bay) but this is definitely going to need some attention pretty darn soon. I'm planning to replace that strut top anyway, so removing it will allow better access for a repair. What should be a fairly quick job clearly isn't going to be so easy though. Darn.

[dollywobbler]

This sort of rot in fact. Sheesh.

[stuboy]

bang on a plate then lots of sticky black stuff

[Bren]

One area where you really dont want any weakness.

 

Not too difficult once the underseal is removed.

[dollywobbler]

Yup, it doesn't look too bad. I'll definitely be getting a quality repair sorted on it given how critical this spot is. I'm pretty sure there's enough strength there for now, but it is now the most urgent job on this car.

[dollywobbler]

Here follows the tale of an 11-hour marathon tinkering session.

 

Taking a flapper wheel to the XM's offside front wheelarch resulted in this.

 

Pete at Sparrow Automotive then got busy patching things up, but while the car was in the air, we'd prodder other bits. I started cleaning them up. Some, like the nearside front inner wheelarch, were all fine and solid.

 

Other bits, not so good.

 

This is Pete sorting out the bit I intended to get sorted in the first place, having poked my finger through the sill when inspecting the car.

 

This is it some time later. The last few inches of sill had pretty much just fallen off.

 

I will concede, I did get a bit bored at one point.

 

After many thrilling hours of watching someone weld, then waiting for primer and underseal to dry, it looked like this.

 

On top of all that, Pete found a leaky pipe on one of the injectors. Hopefully that'll stop it leaking fuel. It certainly starts much better now. Barely cranks over at all before it starts. We also changed the HP belt, as the old one had more cracks than a strip club. 

 

I got back home about 15 hours after leaving it that morning and had a comatose sort of kip. It's a good job that I like this car.

[Inspector Morose]

Now that's what I call nice welding! (Vol. 6)

[dollywobbler]

Sadly, all of his creativity may have been wasted on the exhaust. I think the tailpipe fell off last night. It's certainly not there anymore. Arse.

[dollywobbler]

 

Definitely missing. Quite annoying, as Pete spent quite a long time executing a top patch bodge further along the system. Annoyingly, some previous half-wit has welded the back box to the section that has now been repaired. Found complete systems on Ebay for £95 though. Not that I've got £95 spare at the moment. 

[chaseracer]

Roll some tin into a cylinder, stick with exhaust bandage.  WCPGW?

 

[richardmorris]

Empty tin of beans, jubilee clip and fire gum!

[dollywobbler]

I'm sure something can be arranged. 

 

I have to say though, over a month in and I still love this car. Need to sort out the annoying rattle in the driver's door though. It's driving me mad. 

[Noel Tidybeard]

I'm sure something can be arranged. 

 

I have to say though, over a month in and I still love this car. Need to sort out the annoying rattle in the driver's door though. It's driving me mad. 

maybe its the 20p that should be under the handbrake

[dollywobbler]

Winter is a good test of how much you like a car. We had a pretty serious frost last night - the sort that turns roads into skate rinks. However, I was easily able to get into the XM - which is a bonus compared to a BX as the doors usually freeze shut. Started it up, heater on (full heat but a gentle fan) and I left it for a few minutes while I had breakfast. Job jobbed. A toasty drive then ensued. Helpfully, the wipers sit very nicely right where the heater vents hit the windscreen. Not all cars manage to do this. 

 

Certainly it was a lot easier than using the 2CV yesterday. I had to defrost it three times and it took ages to thaw out. 

[320touring]

 

Poor show.

 

I had to scrape inside the e30 the other day.just adds to the fun:)

[Bren]

My first SD1 leaked into the cabin so much it would freeze on the inside.

 

I am the only person ever to end up on their arse after slipping on ice in a car.

[mouseflakes]

Helpfully, the wipers sit very nicely right where the heater vents hit the windscreen. Not all cars manage to do this.

 

...and we all know that's not an obsession of yours or anything like that Deedubyer.

[mouseflakes]

Winter is a good test of how much you like a car.

 

I had an XM that would open the front windows (and simultaneously disable the 'close window' function) when you switched the ignition on - but only when the temperatures had fallen below zero. Not an endearing trait.

[beko1987]

Does yours have heated washer jets too? Never really ran mine last winter cos we were living around the corner from work so never knew how or at what temp they turned on, and there wasn't a switch for it...

[dollywobbler]

I doubt it. It's pretty povo in terms of spec. 

[Noel Tidybeard]

 

...and we all know that's not an obsession of yours or anything like that Deedubyer.

...no i dont think we've ever read a thread mentioning it at all*

 

 

 

*although i may be lying thru my teeth

[dollywobbler]

I appear to have lost this war. First time I've ever resorted to sealing a sunroof up. Aluminium tape the bodge weapon of choice. It might all peel off again, but for now, it'll stop water getting in. I hope!

 

With the 2CV, I just remove the rubber mat so the floors can dry out again. Not so easy with an XM. Still loving it though. Another round of mild tinkering and paintwork to take place on Thursday.

[Noel Tidybeard]

what it needs is a vinyl roof......over the sunroof

[dollywobbler]

Well, the roof modification has survived a 25-mile run this evening. In hail. Winter tyres seem good and grippy, so that's nice. But I think it's the engine I'm in love with almost more than anything else. Well, maybe the suspension. And the steering. And the looks. But mainly engine. It's the turbo diesel I've dreamt of! I love how well it pulls below 2000rpm. In fact, there's scant reason to go beyond that, which is hugely relaxing and the exact opposite of the 2CV - in other words, the perfect antidote. It's not far off that entirely flat, linear power delivery of a non-turbo XUD, but it can actually do things like accelerate up steep hills. It just doesn't really notice them. 

 

If it had a proper handbrake and a sunroof that actually kept the weather out, I think it'd be the perfect car. And it cost me less than £400! It's bloody ridiculous.

[Inspector Morose]

Sounds like you're describing a Xantia 2.1TD.

[dollywobbler]

That has occurred to me. I do need to scratch the Xantia itch at some point. Problem is, having driven Xantia and XM back to back, I know that only one feels truly special.