Bramz fleet. The ever changing procession of mediocrity. Disaster time....

[HMC]

Massive turning circle? Maybe the assistance to the steering is down- any obvious fluid leaks?

[bramz7]

TADT,S.

 

This XM is a turbo engine, isn't it? My Audi 80 was properly down on power when I took it for a drive on Sunday (wouldn't do more than about 50 on the flat and took ages to get there), and changing up early as well even under full throttle. A fiddle with the vacuum pipes under the bonnet and redlining the engine a few times got it behaving again - not sure which of the two aforementioned was most effective mind.

I'll give that a try. It's just annoying as it's now running awful after being sat for three days. Citroens eh.

[bramz7]

So XM update. Foaming coolant and pressure in the cap within a minute of running. And it's developed a serious misfire, it's essentially running on one or even two less than it should. Fuck.

[bramz7]

And lots of smoke from exhaust. The emissions light came on so I'll go ahead and assume the coolant going down the exhaust has made a sensor go nuts.

 

Or am I overreacting?

[Lacquer Peel]

It doesn't sound good Bramz.

[bramz7]

This is very disheartening. I appreciate the nature of the beast with old cars but for a well maintained XM to kill itself in less than a fortnight is a bit of a shitter.

[D Spares & Tyres]

This is very disheartening. I appreciate the nature of the beast with old cars but for a well maintained XM to kill itself in less than a fortnight is a bit of a shitter.

If it's any consolation I had one twenty years ago (fuck me, where did 20 years go?)

Mine was 8 years old, 60,000 miles full history and perfect condition.

 

But it was an unreliable heap of shite. I wanted to love it but I ended up hating it. Part of me wants another, they are a beautiful car but I can't do it. Not worth the aggro

[bramz7]

Someone in the CCC says it's timing is out...would explain the rough running but not the other stuff surely?

[D Spares & Tyres]

Certainly sounds like head gasket.

 

Sorry.

[bramz7]

Hmmm. How much is this going to cost me? I'll probably not take it to a my local for fear of bankruptcy.

 

Or do I call it quits? It's a £580 car...but it all seems to work ok otherwise.

[bramz7]

And it's now got mayo forming on the coolant cap. And won't start. Oh dammit.

[davehedgehog31]

 

That's a pisser. Certainly sounds like you're at the crossroads with it, could you see yourself hanging onto it long enough to justify the expense?

[bramz7]

It's a difficult quandary. I could spend the money to get it sorted....I could also just get rid of it to someone perhaps better suited to XMs.

I really need to realise I'm better off with simple stuff like AXs and such.

[Exiled_Tat_Gatherer]

Fuxaches..... sorry to hear this Sam, not much to add - but steam from the exhaust is a definite OMGHGF by the sounds of things with the other symptoms. 

On another kick in the nutz type post - the estate is going great guns and hasn't skipped a beat. Loving it........ 

[Datsuncog]

 

Aw dude, so sorry to hear the latest news - and on top of all the Alfa shiz too.

 

All I can suggest by way of support is that you seem to be consolidating a decade's worth of bad luck with shitters into one handy three month period, so after this you should be able to run any heap you want with zero maintenance and 100% reliability for at least ten years*.

 

After my own Alfa meltdown I went for a pov spec Polo Fox, for the sake of simplicity. As a hilarious joke, it expired a mile from the vendor's door with a snapped drive belt and flat battery, stranding me 80 miles from home on a public holiday and, as it turned out, no AA cover either. BUT after that it was absolutely grand for the guts of a year...

 

 

*Please don't actually try this.

[wuvvum]

I have to say I admire the fact you've continued to buy chod despite all the hassle & expense you've had of late.  If I'd had your recent run of luck I'd probably have signed up for a 68-plate Aygo on a lease deal by now...

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I'd best just keep schtum about passing the 14,000 miles mark in the Stilo this morning

[bramz7]

I probably should have kept the Stilo. And the automatic 605.

[Ghosty]

Yep that sounds a lot like what my 416GTi was doing, and it'd blown a water channel.

+1 for HGF, and it sounds like a big one too.

[flat4alfa]

noticed the left hand side pixel screen is going funny. Irritating.

 

TADTS

 

Thread on the XM forum to assist you

[flat4alfa]

OMGHGF

 

Before you throw it way like all the others, chuck some potion in 

 

This worked very well two years ago for me and the car is still going.  Likewise the XJ12 a 'motor trade' mate still runs around in

 

[bramz7]

Suppose it can't make it any worse...I emailed the previous owner asking if he knew if it had had cooling issues or if there had been any system flushes but his response doesn't suggest any foul play, it's just one of those things.

 

I suspect the fans kicking quite often wasn't the fault, just a sign something was/is amiss

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I probably should have kept the 323i

 

 

Yes.

[bramz7]

Ha. You're not wrong.

[drivewaymyway]

What car insurance arrangement do you have ? Did you get a 'Trade' policy ??

[bramz7]

No. I have two normal policies.... and one or two with FJ. I think it's two. Three are all paid up for the year, so changes are fine. One is on a monthly payment. 

 

Trade policies will never work for me. It's been suggested but the ideas are a lot easier than the actual reality. 

[djoptix]

If only you had something else to run around in.

 

 

That's you that is.

[egg]

Hard lines, you're on a tricky run.

 

(autoshite cliché alert)

 

what you need is a Toyota Carina....

[Rocket88]

I have the horrible feeling this is my fault....offered to buy his Alfa estate.......which promptly blew up...........was going to do deal with XM and my Xantia........XM blew up.............

[djoptix]

Colc, would you like to buy my cunt of a neighbour's van?