Estate(s) of the nation

[DSdriver]

It does look to be a newish battery to be fair. Just looked on the GSF website and it appears to be this one https://www.gsfcarparts.com/971na0370

 

£189! Is that really how much car batteries cost nowadays? I had no idea they had become so expensive. I think I will just keep an eye on it for now and listen to a personal stereo while sleeping in the car rather than using the car stereo.

I can't check until I get back to UK next week but I am pretty sure it is only a year-ish old and probably under guarantee. It cost nowhere near the amount that GFS are charging.

I'll have a look at prices in Auchan while I'm here as I need a new battery for the Saab and I am told they are the cheapest place to buy.

[Heidel_Kakao]

So the the XM is going for its first MOT test in my ownership this morning, I am expecting it to probably fail on the exhaust but hopefully not much more than that if anything.

 

It's booked in for 10:10 so I can get to Maccie D's across the road before 10:30 and have myself a double sausage and egg McMuffin meal as I never normally get chance in the morning to have one.

 

Wish me luck!

[beko1987]

Good luck! The blow didn't sound too bad, so hopefully it scrapes through so you can sort it at leisure, or it's just a clamp or similar!

[Heidel_Kakao]

 

 

Dropped off, now just got to wait. I changed the security code temporarily to something easy to enter for the benefit of the tester. So if you want to steal an XM this may be your opportunity!

[Heidel_Kakao]

Good luck! The blow didn't sound too bad, so hopefully it scrapes through so you can sort it at leisure, or it's just a clamp or similar!

I am going to get the exhaust replaced even if it passes, the rattling under load really annoys me and it impacts upon the otherwise serene driving experience.

[Heidel_Kakao]

It passed!!!! I got two advisories for leakiness of engine oil and LHM, the exhaust was not even mentioned.

 

Now it has a fresh ticket I am going to list the few issues I will now be sorting.

 

1. Exhaust, just booked it in to have the stainless cat back system fitted on Tuesday next week.

 

2. Accumulator sphere. I think this is causing the hydraulic pressure warning at idle so will get it changed.

 

3. Cambelt. No idea when this was last done. Maybe Mr Dsdriver has an idea?

 

4. Aircon issues. I have never had a car with air-conditioning before so was not that bothered about it not working but I may as well have a look at it at some point.

 

Not a bad list of problems really for a 21 year old Citroen.

[beko1987]

Excellent!

[mk2_craig]

Nice one! How was the McBrunch?

[Heidel_Kakao]

Nice one! How was the McBrunch?

Pretty good actually. One shouldn't wait for MOT results on an empty stomach.

[Sigmund Fraud]

2. Accumulator sphere. I think this is causing the hydraulic pressure warning at idle so will get it changed.

 

How often does the HP pump cut in ? If it's more than 15-20s, the accumulator sphere is probably OK.

[beko1987]

It's not that long, standing next to it at mini shitefest it seemed every 6 to 7 seconds, with occasional pauses for 15 seconds. Rose to attention very well after a filter clean though!

[Sigmund Fraud]

If it's 6-7s, it's probably due regassing/replacement. With a new accumulator sphere (in non Hydractive models, admittedly) they can maintain pressure at idle for 30-45s !

[beko1987]

It passed the bounce test well though!

[Heidel_Kakao]

 

I am once again in a field where I will be sleeping in the XM for the third weekend in a row!

[hairnet]

Pervert

[Heidel_Kakao]

 

XM life!

[Sigmund Fraud]

It passed the bounce test well though!

 

That just means that the strut/trailing arm spheres are OK, it says nothing about the accumulator or the roll control spheres :

 

 

 

The accumulator sphere just "stores" LHM under pressure to ensure reserve pressure is available for the brakes and prolong the life of the HP pump.

[beko1987]

I just like making wobbly citroens wobble! Something satisfying about making a massive car wobble violently with light pressure!

[barefoot]

I saw my first 54 plate Primera estate the other day and thought of you.

It looked rather ace in black with darkened windows.

No idea if they're any good tho'.

[DSdriver]

I have no idea about the cam belt, is it mentioned in the service receipts? They replaced the bottom crank pulley, would they have done the belt while they were at it?

I don't think the exhaust is blowing, it is just noisy because there is no stuffing in the back box. That is the only bit of the exhaust system I didn't replace. The cat was the last thing replaced.

My mechanic (who is an XM expert) reckoned that all spheres were OK at last service. 

Aircon may benefit from a recharge but as it only works when it feels like it (mostly in winter), it would be better to concentrate on the electrical switches/sensors side before regassing. 

I think this car has a few more years of wafting in it... providing you don't lose patience with its habit of leaking fluids.

[Lacquer Peel]

You can replace the crank pulley without disturbing the cambelt

[Heidel_Kakao]

Accumulator sphere is now fixed. Staying in a field full of Citroen nuts has its benefits! I took the old sphere off today and had it tested on a home made rig and it was pronounced buggered. Another sphere was located from a random bucket of spheres and then recharged to the correct 40 PSI pressure on another home made rig. Popped it back on the car and the pressure warning has now been cured! Hurrah for a free fix.

 

Also I drove a CX for the first time today courtesy of Mr 6 Cylinder and seriously want a CX estate at some point.

[beko1987]

Ah you've experienced the delights of a home made sphere tester! I'm probably not going to make it up tomorrow, amy mentioned something about taking the children out. My idea of taking them to you was not met well... Shame as there's a fair few people there tomorrow that I know!

 

Top marks for a free fix too! Anyone there got a lexia with them? Buy them a beer and see if they'll plug it in!

[Six-cylinder]

Ah you've experienced the delights of a home made sphere tester! I'm probably not going to make it up tomorrow, amy mentioned something about taking the children out. My idea of taking them to you was not met well... Shame as there's a fair few people there tomorrow that I know!

 

Top marks for a free fix too! Anyone there got a lexia with them? Buy them a beer and see if they'll plug it in!

 

How can your Children grow up to be normal balanced adults without car shows!

[beko1987]

I know, it's killing me inside. Amys fallen asleep now though, Charlie is just going then I'm going to go upstairs and play with ponies with eva

[Heidel_Kakao]

 

 

I have no words! OMG.

[Datsuncog]

I have no words! OMG.

 

The owner has a brilliant build page on this marvellous machine!

 

www.thejoyofcx.co.uk

[Heidel_Kakao]

 

 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Citroen-XM-2-5-VSX-Diesel-Estate-1996-Mot-039-d-in-daily-use-/232480486498

 

What "better" way to wrap up my weekend at my first Citroen event than by purchasing another XM estate. I just had a chat with the seller and he seemed nice and will be collecting it Tuesday night. It may be one of my silliest reasons for buying a car but the wheel trims on this one look to be in much better condition than the ones on mine.

 

Current plan with the new one is to have the experience of the different engine and manual gearbox, swap all the bits off it that are better than the ones on my current car, then try and get it through another MOT and punt it back on Ebay with a fresh MOT ticket and hopefully not lose too much money in the process. I would/will offer it for sale on here but as I am effectively going to make it a worse car than it already is to make mine better I don't think it would be a good idea for a shiter to have it unless that didn't bother them.

 

It's probably a distraction that I don't need really but hey it's the shiters curse lol.

 

It will be the first diesel that I have ever owned, must remember not to put petrol in it.

[bramz7]

Ha! I had that in my watch list and wondered if someone here would get it.

 

I've always fancied an XM so if you do punt it on I might be interested.

[beko1987]

Nice plan! I think selling on here will be much easier, not often a cheaper xm comes along! I got mine cheap because Campbell swapped the leather out and dropped the price... It's a good way to get one!