Citroen XM - was JohnK's steed

[Inspector Morose]

I think the 2.1 feel that bit more 'grown up' than a normal Xantia. The common or garden Xants just feel like a BX that's gone to finishing school.

[vulgalour]

That's the best description of a Xantia I've so far read.

[dollywobbler]

So, in other words, the Xantia is the BX that Peugeot wanted them to make in the first place?

[chaseracer]

Yep!

[dollywobbler]

Today has been a bit mixed. Tried to fit the replacement strut top, but it's the wrong one. The internal bore is much larger. Arse. We removed the old one before we realised, which allowed us to see just how rotten it is. ARSE! Then I had a look at the passenger side one in the same sort of area as the offside one. AAAAAARSSSSSE! So, I think I need to seek replacements.

 

Then I removed the rear pads, to find them within acceptable limits after all. Greased them up and reassembled. At least I know the pistons are nice and free. 

 

Things then got a bit better and we got on with the main purpose of the visit. Painting the sills. NEWSPAPERBOMBYO!

 

There were upsides to this (the great thing about newspapers is I can't hear that awful nasel drone of her voice).

 

I'm hoping the paint had cured (stonechip then black gloss) sufficiently because I then drove home through the most rain I've ever seen in my life. Pleasingly, the sunroof leaking seems to have been cured by taping the sodding thing up.

[Timewaster]

Could there be cracks starting to appear in the DW/XM love?

[dollywobbler]

Actually, there were a few cracks on the way home. Mainly around steering. The weather was spectacularly grim, and I hate driving in the dark, especially when it's raining. The lack of feedback is annoying. The steering seems just a touch too light for my tastes - though it's like a 1950s truck compared to the Sirion's silly steering. However, it does seem to have dried out after a day windows-open in a very warm garage (oil-burning heater. Astonishing!). That meant that it wasn't steaming up constantly on the way home.

 

The ride comfort is definitely getting poorer too. I really am going to have to invest in a set of spheres I think. Strut tops more urgent at the moment though!

[forddeliveryboy]

I think the 2.1 feel that bit more 'grown up' than a normal Xantia. The common or garden Xants just feel like a BX that's gone to finishing school.

 

Some finishing school, just eating pork pies...

 

2.1 is a loverly engine, for a four pot dizzle.

[twosmoke300]

DW , if you are like me in anyway then all cars feel terrible when you are tired and / or conditions are bad . you will love it again tomorrow.

[dollywobbler]

And verily he arose, clambered into his XM and declared it not bad at all.

[twosmoke300]

I hate my Saab when im tired and grumpy but love it most times.

[forddeliveryboy]

DW , if you are like me in anyway then all cars feel terrible when you are tired and / or conditions are bad . you will love it again tomorrow.

 

Isn't that the test to weed out the cars which pretend to be high class, from those which are? I hate cars which are nasty when I'm tired and hungover. Those which soothe when you are, are the ones which are truly good.

[vulgalour]

I have only driven two cars that soothed when I was dying from lurg and both are so far removed from high class, or even pretensions thereof that I wonder if they were perhaps the exceptions that prove your rule.

[dugong]

Isn't that the test to weed out the cars which pretend to be high class, from those which are? I hate cars which are nasty when I'm tired and hungover. Those which soothe when you are, are the ones which are truly good.

Don't drive hungover?

[twosmoke300]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1996-CITROEN-XM-VSX-TURBO-DIESEL-GREEN-/121516959270?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item1c4af9a626

 

Cough

 

Will just leave this here

[Lankytim]

Sounds like you may have a 2.5 strut top there, talking of 2.5s do you want a go in mine next time you pass? Provided I can sample your 2.1 of course!

[Honey Badger]

Cheapo spears XM in sunny Cambridge, sounds like it's drivable as well.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Citroen-XM-2-1-TD-SX-Auto-hatchback-Spares-or-repair-/161522239942?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item259b79c9c6

[dollywobbler]

Sounds good Tim. My mate has a 2.5 as well, but we didn't have time to compare notes last time I visited. 

 

Thanks Mr Badger. That one has been on the horizon for a while, but getting it home would be interesting. No MOT or fourth gear.

[320touring]

Sounds good Tim. My mate has a 2.5 as well, but we didn't have time to compare notes last time I visited.

 

Thanks Mr Badger. That one has been on the horizon for a while, but getting it home would be interesting. No MOT or fourth gear.

*books mot*

 

*wedges fgearbox into 3rd*

 

*slips clutch*

 

*WINS*

[Richard]

 

*slips clutch*

 

 

Good luck with that.

[320touring]

Good luck with that.

Where is your sense of adventure?

[dollywobbler]

It's an automatic...

[320touring]

It's an automatic...

Listing says 5sp manual?pics dont load on phone..

 

Anyway a torque converter is a kinda slipping clutch (ish)

[dollywobbler]

There are two Ebay links.

 

It would almost be tempting if I actually had any money. 

[Lankytim]

I've spied that, it's deffo an auto. Theres a for sale thread on the XM forum.

[mouseflakes]

Today has been a bit mixed. Tried to fit the replacement strut top, but it's the wrong one. The internal bore is much larger. Arse. We removed the old one before we realised, which allowed us to see just how rotten it is. ARSE! Then I had a look at the passenger side one in the same sort of area as the offside one. AAAAAARSSSSSE!

 

Every time I'm tempted to get another XM I just have to remind myself of those horrible strut top issues and I go right off the idea.

[dollywobbler]

Easily solved though. For a spend of about £300 a pair, some guy in Latvia refurbs them, replaces the knackered metal and even builds in a collar to stop them punching through the bonnet even if they fail. Something Citroen 'wisely' failed to do. It's pretty easy to look at them and decide whether they're knackered or not. Mine are definitely iffy. I'm now taking it very easy over crests and speed humps...

[Lankytim]

Only takes about an hour or so to swap them too.

[forddeliveryboy]

Mouseflakes, collapsing strut tops with an XM is on a similar level of danger to coils breaking - parents in law's 406 knackered the driveshaft gaiter and chopped through the brake hose. Somehow these things all seem to happen at low speed, any reason I wonder?

 

 

I have only driven two cars that soothed when I was dying from lurg and both are so far removed from high class, or even pretensions thereof that I wonder if they were perhaps the exceptions that prove your rule.

 

What are they?

 

Don't drive hungover?

 

Or when tired?

[dollywobbler]

Not the best of days. Got in the XM, passenger footwell is like a swimming pool. We've had some pretty devastating rain over the past few days, but I don't know how it's getting it now the sunroof is entirely sealed up. The headlining is soaked, though not immediately around the sunroof aperture. That's something at least. 

 

Went for a drive, the clutch went all floppy at one point, but seemed to self-heal. The self-adjusters are a known weak point and the cables are utter arse to change. Hmmm.

 

A few miles later, the low coolant light flashed on. It went out again. Then came back on and stayed on. Having eyeballed the level only a few days ago, I decided to ignore it. Got home, rag over the expansion bottle and I opened it. Just a quick hiss as you'd expect. Level very slightly below maximum. But, the rad fans were running yet the top pipe was cool. Gauge was reading just above normal - ie not when you'd expect the fans to run. Heater was functioning correctly. I must admit, I'm somewhat baffled. Is it just one of those days that XM owners expect to have?