2003 Citroen C5 estate.....the end

[maxxo]

39 minutes ago, mercedade said:

Was the fluid change with the correct fluid? I know nothing about Citroen autos (absolutely nothing), but from Rover-land, I know using incorrect fluid in the 827 autos is pretty much terminal. Lots of fluids claim to be compatible with Honda Z1, but actually aren't.

as far as i know it's the correct fluid, i'd presume it would have killed it earlier if it's the wrong fluid

[maxxo]

80 odd mile round trip today including getting very lost and driving round for half an hour

no issues, drove absolutely lovely

i really, really love this car

especially the way it drives, it's so nice to drive

[maxxo]

drove it up sutton bank today, which is extremely steep

didn't even use manual mode

left it in drive

fucking fantastic it was, kicked down at the times i'd want, no slipping and always in the right gear

the AL4 transmission is very good, it just has a very unfair reputation for no reason in my eyes due to some reliability issues

at almost 180k, bearing in mind it had never had a fluid change until 154k i think it's done well

so, therefore i will get the box rebuilt

 

had a proper look online for potential replacements, pretty much everything under £3k is neglected, scrap, no history or battered

this is an excellent example that drives great

the only replacement i'd do is with something brand new as that's seemingly the only way to easily get a good car these days

 

in fact, i dare say, i prefer driving this to my XM......it's actually more comfortable and refined!

[jamescarruthers]

My sister is going to be a student later this year and the C5 2.2 is a bit thirsty for her, plus she doesn’t need an estate so much that her baby is older. I’m hoping to get it a good home on here. If it all goes wrong with your gear box, would you consider it? It is a manual though and suspect automatics are your thing?

[maxxo]

2 hours ago, jamescarruthers said:

My sister is going to be a student later this year and the C5 2.2 is a bit thirsty for her, plus she doesn’t need an estate so much that her baby is older. I’m hoping to get it a good home on here. If it all goes wrong with your gear box, would you consider it? It is a manual though and suspect automatics are your thing?

automatics are more my thing

but yes, yes i would certainly be interested

in decent conditon?

hopefully won't need to, but worst comes to worst i'd do it

[jamescarruthers]

1 hour ago, maxxo said:

automatics are more my thing

but yes, yes i would certainly be interested

in decent conditon?

hopefully won't need to, but worst comes to worst i'd do it

I’d say very good condition apart from a bit of rust on the tailgate (look like stone chips that have been left) and some just starting on one rear arch lip.  It has also had been mega spent on late in life like yours.
 

The only major upcoming expense I can see is that it hasn’t had the rear arm bearings done but there is a slight “click” which Pleiades tell me means means it will need done at some point.  She does such low miles and you wouldn’t know unless you knew to listen for the click. 
 

https://frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6629 (not so up to date but you get the jist—- has just had clutch and DMF done plus lower mileage gearbox while we were in there as didn’t realise the clutch has shat itself, not the gearbox at first. It had a horrible single mass flywheel conversion when we bought it but that is binned and the DMF reinstated and the ‘box is perfect now with the addition of a new slave cylinder. 

[maxxo]

2 hours ago, jamescarruthers said:

I’d say very good condition apart from a bit of rust on the tailgate (look like stone chips that have been left) and some just starting on one rear arch lip.  It has also had been mega spent on late in life like yours.
 

The only major upcoming expense I can see is that it hasn’t had the rear arm bearings done but there is a slight “click” which Pleiades tell me means means it will need done at some point.  She does such low miles and you wouldn’t know unless you knew to listen for the click. 
 

https://frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6629 (not so up to date but you get the jist—- has just had clutch and DMF done plus lower mileage gearbox while we were in there as didn’t realise the clutch has shat itself, not the gearbox at first. It had a horrible single mass flywheel conversion when we bought it but that is binned and the DMF reinstated and the ‘box is perfect now with the addition of a new slave cylinder. 

oh yes worst comes to worst i'd certainly be interested

where is this fine automobile located?

[jamescarruthers]

1 hour ago, maxxo said:

oh yes worst comes to worst i'd certainly be interested

where is this fine automobile located?

Gateshead but comes down south to visit me now and again. 

[ruffgeezer]

11 hours ago, jamescarruthers said:

My sister is going to be a student later this year and the C5 2.2 is a bit thirsty for her, plus she doesn’t need an estate so much that her baby is older. I’m hoping to get it a good home on here. If it all goes wrong with your gear box, would you consider it? It is a manual though and suspect automatics are your thing?

If not for Maxxo, could you please let me know as and when the time is right?

 

Ta

[jamescarruthers]

7 hours ago, ruffgeezer said:

If not for Maxxo, could you please let me know as and when the time is right?

 

Ta

Sure!

[maxxo]

I’m glad to see others are interested! 
 

im still unsure as what to do yet, 99% of the time it behaves perfectly fine, but when it misbehaves boy does it misbehave 

[maxxo]

oh yes, big moneyz spent today

new wiper blades

bosch ones

they're very good, silent and clean instantly

much better than the Valeo ones ever were

4 sets of wiper blades now

[maxxo]

Just bought this

worth a try I suppose, I’ve heard good reviews about it

[maxxo]

so, the additive arrived today

perfect time to stick it in and see what happens!

easy peasy i thought, i'll just lean through to get to the transmission filler

nope

access was nigh on impossible

so then this happened

airbox out

intercooler pipe out

intercooler had pretty much no oil in it which was nice

finally managed to get at the filler and of course spilled some additive

then came the test drive, started off feeling the same as always, then became really notchy for a mile or so.......

after that, my god

it's so much smoother, slight bit of notchyness rom 2nd to 3rd which it's always had sometimes

i've been trying to get it to act up to no avail

surely, it can't have done anything that quickly? if it has i'm really impressed

[yes oui si]

On 30/06/2022 at 00:48, ruffgeezer said:

If not for Maxxo, could you please let me know as and when the time is right?

 

Ta

Thirdeded

[maxxo]

Well I am surprised 

done over 100 miles now, flared up between gears once during fast acceleration

otherwise, it’s perfect, seriously 

it feels better than it ever has before 

[Jazoli]

I honestly don't think it will be, I'd give it time and not get your hopes up, snake oil doesn't usually work, I'll be happy to be proved wrong, once they have begun to fail very little other than a rebuild will help. 

[maxxo]

22 minutes ago, Jazoli said:

I honestly don't think it will be, I'd give it time and not get your hopes up, snake oil doesn't usually work, I'll be happy to be proved wrong, once they have begun to fail very little other than a rebuild will help. 

Very true, it’s just strange how much nicer it feels 

if it just extends its life even by a few thousand miles I’ll be happy

[Mrcento]

Nothing wrong with giving it a shot on a gearbox that is wounded. Worst case, you just have a still wounded gearbox. Best case things improve enough that it extends the life of it a little longer before it need fixed.

Fwiw, some of the transmission additives do work fairly well. A lot of Land Rover specialists will add stuff like DR Tranny when they flush the ZF boxes and it does have a positive effect.

Side note, when did these Mk1 C5's get so desirable?, Big Citroens have never sold well, especially hydro suspension ones.

One was up for sale near me, nice enough example, 2.0 HDI facelift estate, Seller was wanting north of 3k for it.

No worries i think, that'll hang around, there's not a massive market for them, there are several Mk2's for sale locally right now for way, way less so folk likely would go there first if they did want a C5 and they are hanging around even at that money, will see where it goes on price and consider that when it is at more tempting money.

It was gone in 24hrs.

And another came up a few days later, similar, close to the same price.

Gone in 6 hours.

Seems like people have clicked how underrated they were.

[maxxo]

3 hours ago, Nyphur said:

Perhaps it is placebo affect.... perhaps it will buy a few thousand extra miles.... worth a shot for the price at least!

fully loaded today, and i mean full of heavy audio equipment helping a friend

had to sit in a fair bit of traffic and then do a steep uphill start

no issues, it has to have worked, it would have been awful beforehand

but yes, for £15 i can't moan

[maxxo]

41 minutes ago, Mrcento said:

Nothing wrong with giving it a shot on a gearbox that is wounded. Worst case, you just have a still wounded gearbox. Best case things improve enough that it extends the life of it a little longer before it need fixed.

Fwiw, some of the transmission additives do work fairly well. A lot of Land Rover specialists will add stuff like DR Tranny when they flush the ZF boxes and it does have a positive effect.

Side note, when did these Mk1 C5's get so desirable?, Big Citroens have never sold well, especially hydro suspension ones.

One was up for sale near me, nice enough example, 2.0 HDI facelift estate, Seller was wanting north of 3k for it.

No worries i think, that'll hang around, there's not a massive market for them, there are several Mk2's for sale locally right now for way, way less so folk likely would go there first if they did want a C5 and they are hanging around even at that money, will see where it goes on price and consider that when it is at more tempting money.

It was gone in 24hrs.

And another came up a few days later, similar, close to the same price.

Gone in 6 hours.

Seems like people have clicked how underrated they were.

for several reasons

tbh, they are probably the best all round hydrualic citroen, superbly reliable, anti sink, long life spheres etc

they're fantastic to drive, look good and are pretty reliable

comfy as hell too

let's just hope they don't fall into the wrong hands

[BeEP]

I have a pre-facelift estate on my ebay watch list (I really don't like the look of the facelift).  Expect it will go for (a lot) more than I would want to pay though.

[High Jetter]

When did the facelift occur? There's an '54 one not far from me for £895 BIN on the bay.

[BeEP]

19 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

When did the facelift occur? There's an '54 one not far from me for £895 BIN on the bay.

I'm no expert but Wiki says Sept 04.  Which means the one you mention must be one of the last pre-facelift.  Actually looks good value.

 

[maxxo]

be a decent car that

they're glorious to drive

[Andy F]

You're making me miss mine. Definitely an underappreciated and very capable bit of kit. If mine had been an estate I'd possibly still have it. Although mine was a very early one and had a lot of niggles, in the end I just didn't gel with it and couldn't forgive the issues like I have xantias so I've been back in those ever since. I get excited when I see either out on the road

[maxxo]

4 minutes ago, Andy F said:

You're making me miss mine. Definitely an underappreciated and very capable bit of kit. If mine had been an estate I'd possibly still have it. Although mine was a very early one and had a lot of niggles, in the end I just didn't gel with it and couldn't forgive the issues like I have xantias so I've been back in those ever since. I get excited when I see either out on the road

from i'd say 52 plates they're pretty well sorted

yes electrically they're absolutely fucking nuts and will do weird stuff

but that makes me love it more

i've got the only estate round where i live, they're so rare these days

[RoverFolkUs]

Any further gearbox woes, Dartford transmission and autocare seem to be quite highly regarded. Granted they're not exactly local to you! Maybe worth bearing in mind though 

[maxxo]

I can’t find anywhere that’ll do the transmission for less than 2k unfortunately, well anywhere that looks half decent 

so, I’m going to run it until it starts to get really bad and then move it on I’m afraid 

[RoverFolkUs]

As alluded to above you might have to make do with 3 pedals for longevity with a C5

Far more people willing to replace a clutch than overhaul a slushbox

Then again a clutch is an ~£800 job on a C5, so make of that what you will 🤷‍♂️