Citroen XM - was JohnK's steed

[HMC]

Superb! Love the plates, a great finishing touch.

[dollywobbler]

Fitting them is proving to be rather a trial. Had to rip the front one off as the screws were so rotten. 

 

Fortunately, the rotten remains came out with some molegrip action.

 

Similar story at the back, but worse. Ugh!

 

I can see why stick-on plates are preferred.

[dollywobbler]

Sanded the rust down, zinc primered them, dolloped paint and Bilt Hamber wax on, then screwed the new plates into place. Didn't really enjoy drilling holes in the lovely new plates, but don't have any sticky stuff and never quite trust it anyway...

 

Very pleasing. Ready for a 200-mile jaunt tomorrow. Well, I should probably check levels and stuff as well...

[vulgalour]

Who are you and what have you done with DW?

[forddeliveryboy]

Velcro works well (especially if you've a few identical cars the same colour). Doesn't the car look good without the big front plate? I go to Italy and marvel at the elegance of the front of many cars.

[Eddie Honda]

and never quite trust it anyway...

Nowt untrustworthy about tape, this didn't fall off after being twatted:

 

IMG_20150610_151522_018 by E Honda, on Flickr

 

Being taped on is what saved it. It would of been on the tarmac in bits if I just used a screw either end. 5 x 2" wide strips (one either end, the middle and the last two in between the ends and middle). Perfectly clean surfaces. Job jobbed.

 

...Might be a different story using a couple of Halfords skinny strips though.

[Noel Tidybeard]

AMY has new name tags

[phil_lihp]

Those plates look good, I need to get a new set for the 214 so might try DMB as the originals are still on it.

[dollywobbler]

Those plates look good, I need to get a new set for the 214 so might try DMB as the originals are still on it.

 

Well worth a try. He made those just from photos of my originals. £27.50 the pair.

[DSdriver]

Sticky tape is good as long as you use the right stuff and make sure the surfaces are clean. Trying to remove the plates later, it can be a real chore though trying to remove the remnants of old tape which has stuck like shit to a blanket.

[dollywobbler]

Am in Bracknell. The XM has started making some worrying noises. It might be a ball joint. Which was fine for the MOT only last week. Have to drive home in it tomorrow. Should be fun.

[Lacquer Peel]

£27.50 a pair is good value, you could spend that much on generic modern font ones from a motor factor.

[Matt]

A trick I learnt for quickly easily removing plate screws with utterly shagged heads is to hack the cover apart (they're usually rotten & brittle by this point) then tighten the chuck of an electric drill tight over the screw and back it out. Just be careful not to slip when hacking the screw covers off if you're reusing the plate otherwise you'll gauge the hell out of it.

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

Those plates look good, I need to get a new set for the 214 so might try DMB as the originals are still on it.

Well worth a try. He made those just from photos of my originals. £27.50 the pair.

 

Is DMB the company who made them up? - Is this the company? http://www.dmb.uk.com/

 

They look pretty good. My own car has its original plates, but the front one is vulnerable so it is worth having a spare one - particularly now the style has changed. How did you go about getting old style font plates with them?

[dollywobbler]

That's the one. I just emailed my requirements and then sent over photos of the old plates. Did take a day or two to respond to emails but I guess he's a busy boy.

[dollywobbler]

In ballpoint news, still sounds horrific and we only made it to Cirencester last night before exhaustion kicked in. I'd already driven 160 miles in a Honda NSX before we started home. Gosh. The XM felt properly like lovely, comfy slippers after that!

[dollywobbler]

Phew. Made it home!

 

Over 500 miles covered since Saturday morning, and over 400 since filling up in Stamford. It still has over half a tank of fuel left too (cost to fill up from fuel-light-on, £75). I've now driven this car back-to-back with a Tesla Model S and a Honda NSX and I'm still glad to get back in it. 

 

On the downside, I really need to get that balljoint replaced before it goes anywhere else, and it needs a full set of wiper blades. Fronts are smeary and the rear has just fallen apart (A 14-month old Valeo).

[Six-cylinder]

Phew. Made it home!

 

On the downside, I really need to get that balljoint replaced before it goes anywhere else, and it needs a full set of wiper blades. Fronts are smeary and the rear has just fallen apart (A 14-month old Valeo).

While your at it, saw that post off it is ruining your photo.

[dollywobbler]

Talking of ruining, I drove through Princes Risborough twice yesterday in the NSX. This has entirely ruined my spine (Bedfordshire was little better - potholes galore!)

[Six-cylinder]

Talking of ruining, I drove through Princes Risborough twice yesterday in the NSX. This has entirely ruined my spine (Bedfordshire was little better - potholes galore!)

 

My Father in law complained about the pot holes in the roads around Brechfa last weekend, I pointed out they were worse in Buckinghamshire!

[dugong]

Phew. Made it home!

 

Over 500 miles covered since Saturday morning, and over 400 since filling up in Stamford. It still has over half a tank of fuel left too (cost to fill up from fuel-light-on, £75). I've now driven this car back-to-back with a Tesla Model S and a Honda NSX and I'm still glad to get back in it.

 

On the downside, I really need to get that balljoint replaced before it goes anywhere else, and it needs a full set of wiper blades. Fronts are smeary and the rear has just fallen apart (A 14-month old Valeo).

MOAR MOOD PICZ OUTSIDE HAFOD HOTEL PLS.

 

Also, I have a pair of used-for-a-day 22" Bosch wipers. Any good to you? Very cheap.

[wuvvum]

exhaustion kicked in. I'd already driven 160 miles in a Honda NSX before we started home. Gosh.

Wow, you do lead a hard life...

[dollywobbler]

MOAR MOOD PICZ OUTSIDE HAFOD HOTEL PLS.

 

Also, I have a pair of used-for-a-day 22" Bosch wipers. Any good to you? Very cheap.

 

Yes indeed. I'll be seeing you again in a couple of weeks.

 

 

Wow, you do lead a hard life...

 

The suspension really was very hard. I still reckon the best bit was either seeing the immaculate Bluebird at Santa Pod, or seeing my wife driving an X-Type diesel up the drag strip. (for tracking purposes).

[beko1987]

you wait until we go up chinnor hill at sf, youll want the xm then. the first time I drove the road in the zx after the xm I pulled over to check everything was ok...

[dollywobbler]

It isn't all dreamy in XM land, I must admit. The 'things I don't like' list seems to be growing. Here are the major players.

 

1) Ride. Most of the time, it's wonderful. Like a BX, it's a bit shit over potholes and sharp pumps, though not as bad as an Oriental supercar.

2) Size. It's bloody vast! Mix in a large turning circle and appalling rearward visibility and you have a car that just isn't fun in tight places.

3) Sunroof. If it's not leaking, it's increasingly noisy. I think some of my draught seals have failed. It did actually blow slightly open in gales the other day.

4) French electrics. Remote central locking sometimes works, and often doesn't. Overheat warning still occasionally flashes up and cooling fans kick in. Headlamps were definitely flickering a bit at times last night.

5) Third sunvisor. A clever idea as it flips down above the mirror. Only it's far too small to be of any sodding use to anyone. The Oriental supercar is far better in this regard.

6) Clutch. Still heavy, and the clunky typical-PSA gearchange mean I'm growing increasingly fond of automatics.

7) The speedo is tiny and bloody hard to read.

8 ) The dipped beam is poor, even with Osram Nightbreakers.

9) The windscreen washers seem clogged and don't spray very well. Need to remove the jets for a proper clearout, which means removing bits of bodywork first.

10) The door check straps on the rear doors are very stiff, despite much greasing. I reckon the rollers have seized. Sounds bloody awful.

 

So, there you go. Perfection it isn't! I was actually thinking about what could possibly replace it today and didn't get very far at all.

[dugong]

The suspension really was very hard. I still reckon the best bit was either seeing the immaculate Bluebird at Santa Pod, or seeing my wife driving an X-Type diesel up the drag strip. (for tracking purposes).

Please tell me you weren't expecting an NSX to ride well.

I mean, it's not going to, is it?

[beko1987]

To get to the washer jets, you need to remove the trim pieces below the a pillar. Then you will see 2 screws that hold the ends of the scuttle cover together, with screws under the bonnet I think

 

Then the washer jets will be visible. Mine were always shit though, and I could not find any new ones and could not unblock it, so only ever had one jet working most of the time...

 

The headlights were crap, my zx is much better and the headlight aim is too low apparently

[Lukas]

It isn't all dreamy in XM land, I must admit. The 'things I don't like' list seems to be growing. Here are the major players.

 

1) Ride. Most of the time, it's wonderful. Like a BX, it's a bit shit over potholes and sharp pumps, though not as bad as an Oriental supercar.

2) Size. It's bloody vast! Mix in a large turning circle and appalling rearward visibility and you have a car that just isn't fun in tight places.

3) Sunroof. If it's not leaking, it's increasingly noisy. I think some of my draught seals have failed. It did actually blow slightly open in gales the other day.

4) French electrics. Remote central locking sometimes works, and often doesn't. Overheat warning still occasionally flashes up and cooling fans kick in. Headlamps were definitely flickering a bit at times last night.

5) Third sunvisor. A clever idea as it flips down above the mirror. Only it's far too small to be of any sodding use to anyone. The Oriental supercar is far better in this regard.

6) Clutch. Still heavy, and the clunky typical-PSA gearchange mean I'm growing increasingly fond of automatics.

7) The speedo is tiny and bloody hard to read.

8 ) The dipped beam is poor, even with Osram Nightbreakers.

9) The windscreen washers seem clogged and don't spray very well. Need to remove the jets for a proper clearout, which means removing bits of bodywork first.

10) The door check straps on the rear doors are very stiff, despite much greasing. I reckon the rollers have seized. Sounds bloody awful.

 

So, there you go. Perfection it isn't! I was actually thinking about what could possibly replace it today and didn't get very far at all.

 

 

 

Hahaha, dollywobbler strikes again. After more then 14 month with the XM, he is back on his hunt for the perfect car he will never find. 

 

Jokes beside, it´s understandable that those small faults are getting on your nerves more and more. I´m really looking forward which car will

replace the famous white XM. And if the Prelude is going to be your new favorite car.

[dollywobbler]

Please tell me you weren't expecting an NSX to ride well.

I mean, it's not going to, is it?

Well, no. But it was hideously painful over broken terrain. Turns out there's lots of broken terrain in the south of England.

[Bobthebeard]

Well, no. But it was hideously painful over broken terrain. Turns out there's lots of broken terrain in the south of England.

You need a 3rd gen Honda Prelude I suspect.... A four speed auto...