Citroën Spods: tell me about XMs

[barrett]

Right. Anyone got any first hand experience of a turbocharged 2.0l petrol phase one XM? Circa 1994. I know there were various permutations of this engine but I think it's the 8 valve jobby. I can't decide if it sounds utterly gutless and thirsty, or like a nice relaxed sensible cruiser... all thoughts/received opinion/pub experts welcome

[Lacquer Peel]

I think the PSA 2.0 turbo petrol is tuned for torque, not power, which is good in a heavy car like the XM. [/man in pub]

[wuvvum]

Aye, they're only about 160 brake or thereabouts IIRC.  My first XM was a 2-litre 8-valve non turbo, and that was gutless and rather thirsty, but would imagine a turbo would be an altogether more pleasant drive without using much more fuel (in fact quite possibly less, as it wouldn't be getting caned as much).

[beko1987]

I had a phase 2 with that engine. Got up to speed very nicely, cruised at 110 as easily as it cruised at 60.

 

Drank fuel, 28mpg average driving Really carefully as I couldnt afford to run it really (auto too).

 

Its a hot engine, mine always had slightly oily coolant but never caused an issue. The turbo valve or something went, which citro jim from the fcf changed, and it changed up mich better afrer that and kept the eml off.

 

If you can afford the fuel, their ace! I ised to love just planting my foot on the m40 (on payday) and only stopping when I was nearing bannable territory...

[Bear]

2.0cT is actually a nice engine when it's in good health. I've had bad luck with exhaust manifold gaskets, and the autoboxes do need regular fluid changes (more like oil than ATF changes). Manual ones - well, I used to get 34mpg on a run, and they are a good balance of torque, a decent shove, and not too unrefined. They're thirsty if you're a leadfoot though.

 

Having had a 2.0i 16V one, I'd probably choose that with a manual box for reliability over the 2.0cT, but a well sorted turbo is worth it.

[Bear]

IME the 2.0i 8V is the worst XM engine - I had a 2.0 carb one, and peak torque was at 2250rpm on that - I also got 45mpg average on long runs (Scotland to London, regularly, with the M6 north of Forton tackled at high speed). Found the 2.0i a bit weedy by comparison. Having now driven a 24v V6 Xantia and 406, I think I would seek out a 24V V6 XM and accept that the purchase price may be low but the maintenance will be expensive.

 

(Phase 2, obviously. Phase 1 24V XM I would theoretically kill for in LHD, DIRAVI-equipped form but even I am not that crazy to force myself into ownership).

[barrett]

I'm not 100 per cent sure but I think this one's a manual. 30-odd mpg doesn't sound too bad tbh. Anything to look for on an XM that would make you walk away instantly?

[Captain Slow]

Right. Anyone got any first hand experience of a turbocharged 2.0l petrol phase one XM? Circa 1994. I know there were various permutations of this engine but I think it's the 8 valve jobby. I can't decide if it sounds utterly gutless and thirsty, or like a nice relaxed sensible cruiser... all thoughts/received opinion/pub experts welcome

 

I own one, an automatic - 1993L reg SEi. From rest it's as leisurely as a glacier that's high on dope, and I've never had more than 27mpg. But when you're moving the way it gains and maintains momentum is eerie. I'd still rather have a V6. But a V6 S1 is no longer cheap, and this was - especially for a car with as much history as it has.

 

Make sure it all works.

[ruffgeezer]

I've a brochure for the Mk1 XM here if that helps?

[raggerminder]

Had a few XMs but not this version. Currently running a later V6 which is without doubt the car I have loved the most - evah.

 

General oncensus seems to be that the turbos offer no real advantages over the V6s. If you want economy and power the 2,5 manuals are brilliant but can be awkward when something breaks. The 2.1s are very good on fuel and go reasonably well, but I preferred the 2.0 petrol 16 valve motor that was my first XM although I didn't realise how good it was at the time.

[spartacus]

A mate had one years ago, it was a fine thing to be a passenger in and even back in the late nineties it was an unusual sight. One day the clutch packed up, with no warning at at, no slipping, no stiffness, just gave up and disintegrated. I worked at a garage at the time, I gave it to a competent apprentice to do... It took a long time. There was one small bolt left that we never could work out where it went.

[dollywobbler]

I'm not 100 per cent sure but I think this one's a manual. 30-odd mpg doesn't sound too bad tbh. Anything to look for on an XM that would make you walk away instantly?

Rot in the sills, front floors and around the rear subframe. Though mine had all bar the latter and it didn't put me off. Front strut tops can rot and spectacularly fail, but not very easy to check. If the spheres are touching the scuttle, they're on their way. You should be able to get your finger between the two.

Oh and rear arm bearings are pricey to change. OMG negative camber yo is not good.

[beko1987]

thinking about it, I dont know if mine was 8 or 16v. Went like fuck compared to the 1.4 zx I had before it though!

[Lankytim]

Rust is the big killer on these, plus electrical issues.

[Lankytim]

Also miles better than a Pug 605

[Andrew353w]

Right. Anyone got any first hand experience of a turbocharged 2.0l petrol phase one XM? Circa 1994. I know there were various permutations of this engine but I think it's the 8 valve jobby. I can't decide if it sounds utterly gutless and thirsty, or like a nice relaxed sensible cruiser... all thoughts/received opinion/pub experts welcome

 

My Xantia has a 2 litre 8 valve petrol engine, coupled to an auto box, which I think is the same lump. Gutless it aint! A relaxed cruiser it can be, but it also has plenty of "get up & go" when it's required to get up and go... Cruises effortlessly at 80+MPH and is only doing 2,500 RPM at 60 in top (4 speed autobox.) Changes up at about 2,750RPM if not pushed but hangs onto the lower cog to over 3,000RPM if you push it hard. Mine's done 180,000 miles and tows regularly. I change the oil every 5,000 & as much A.T.F. as I can drop at the same time, together with filters & plugs as necessary. LHM changed every two years and spheres checked at that time.  Averages 37/38 MPG on a run, 32/33 if in town, 27/29 if towing (was once down to 22, but that was pulling a Rover SD1)

 

Only one major engine problem in my ownership: headgasket failed at about 150,000. Not total failure & was able to drive it home slowly. The failure wasn't caused by overheating, but the compression was lost between 2 & 3 cylinders. Did the job myself & changed the coil pack while there. Had the head minimally skimmed & the valve guides changed, which solved the oil loss problem.

 

Heating is good, but not up to Lada standards. Electrics are all O.K., although that's not normal for a French car. Handling is excellent and faultless-limpets are envious!

 

Summary: WIN!!!

[beko1987]

If mine had a manual box I would have persevered, and could possibly have made it liveable. But with the auto (and the roads around here) I found I was either lumbering around keeping the revs down, or booting it up into a higher gear, then easing off just enough to reduce speed but not let it change down.

[costadelglosta]

If mine had a manual box I would have persevered, and could possibly have made it liveable. But with the auto (and the roads around here) I found I was either lumbering around keeping the revs down, or booting it up into a higher gear, then easing off just enough to reduce speed but not let it change down.

 

Beko your old XM is sorned in my back yard with a replacement skimmed head on it after it blew a spark plug out of cylinder one at Bowdon roundabout after I had been giving the turbo a workout on the A556. It had developed quite a thirst for coolant. The weather is warming up now so I'll get it all back together in a few weeks. Honest.

[beko1987]

It still exists! Brilliant! I have the sunroof motor, spare key, spare speaker grille and a door puddle light here too, pm me your address!

[beko1987]

You must make a thread about her!

[cort1977]

Well, that was heart-warming.

[Bear]

I'm not 100 per cent sure but I think this one's a manual. 30-odd mpg doesn't sound too bad tbh. Anything to look for on an XM that would make you walk away instantly?

 

What to make you walk away = depends on your skill level and tolerance for having an attractive car.

 

Top of the list for me are blowing exhaust manifold/flexi, separating strut tops, rusty front subframe and extensively broken interior.

Electrics can be miserable in all manner of ways. Spheres are cheap. Rear bearings used to be a tolerable "get someone with a big press to sort it" job - they're not particularly clever back there, it's not like the 406's rear end that I took one look, counted the number of bushes, and went to look at the relatively calming project of stripping the XJS engine.

 

The real killer on XM and Xantia - value wise rather than mechanical-wise - is the truly awful paint. The lacquer just falls off and you get a car which looks truly grim, even if it's a nice car.

 

The headlights are shit. There's no getting around it really - either you ditch the complex reflector and have illegal and antisocial headlights, or you put up with feeble yellowed candles on dip. You could seek out a Morette conversion and have a car that looks like a spider.

 

Personally, given that they're still distressingly cheap, I'd take the money for a decent usable XM and seek out a Xantia Activa to enjoy. The 2.0 Turbo is well suited to them and the chassis is truly otherworldly in all regards - rides like a proper HP Citroën (not like this Hyperactive 3+ cars with their stupid non-linked computerised shit) but corners like something indescribable.

 

PSA parts availability is grim. ABS sensor gone? Good luck with that. These cars are destined to be forced off the road by the firm that made them.

[forddeliveryboy]

Right. Anyone got any first hand experience of a turbocharged 2.0l petrol phase one XM? Circa 1994. I know there were various permutations of this engine but I think it's the 8 valve jobby. I can't decide if it sounds utterly gutless and thirsty, or like a nice relaxed sensible cruiser... all thoughts/received opinion/pub experts welcome

 

Mine had that engine, I didn't keep it long because I was needing an estate at the time. The engine was great, fast enough to make good use of the controlled ride but in a relaxed way with reasonably long gearing. Bit of a job to keep it under 85mph. I had the same engine in the Xantia estate years later and it reminded me what an unsung power unit they are.

[Lankytim]

I have to admit, Xantias seem to be better cars than XMs. Better built and more reliable. Slightly boring though.

[Bear]

I have to admit, Xantias seem to be better cars than XMs. Better built and more reliable. Slightly boring though.

 

If it helps, what made me really dislike my C6's handling/ride/seating position/visibility was a very clean, £500 Xantia 1.8i 16v estate...

[Aston Martin]

I knew a guy in 2002 with an XM turbo petrol, back then he had spent thousands on it. Why? "It was the most comfortable car he'd ever owned"

[jonathan_dyane]

I have to admit, Xantias seem to be better cars than XMs. Better built and more reliable. Slightly boring though.

Personally I haven't found xantia's to be better cars particularly although they really let themselves down specifying some particularly poor quality materials in the XM such as wiring, connectors and plastics.

[Lacquer Peel]

The main problem for me is the XM isn't distinctive enough from the largely reliable Xantia to forgive its quirks and idiosyncrasies, I don't think I could get on with that stupid parking brake on a manual car for example, and I hate chasing electrical issues, XMs seem to rot a lot more.

Dollywobbler's XM TD was a cheap car and has proven reliable - are post-facelift cars a lot more reliable?

[jonathan_dyane]

No, more basic models are more reliable. Series 1 cars rust less than the series 2 cars and if a s1 has got this far it's probably a good one

[Lankytim]

My S2 has had welding on the front subframe and for the last MoT had a patch on the sill. I consider this very good going for an XM!