French Car Forum

Hi Everyone,

I thought it was appropriate to start a brand new blog for the arrival of the new Xantia V6, and not tag it onto the existing 130+ page behemoth of a thread... :lol: I'm hoping this blog will be a lot shorter, happier, and more of a documentation of the fettling and upkeep of the car rather than the diagnostic nightmare thread...

Hi guys. Ive been around here for a while now, good some good advice when I had a C5 a few years ago. Had a Pug 107 for last 2 years, so was thinking I was a bit of an imposter, cos it's not really French, well the badge on the bonnet maybe is! I've made a deal to swap it for a C4vts, coming over from Belfast on Saturday. I'm saying deal, I mean...

So this will document the chaos, madness, tears and general day to day antics of my fleet. Generally focusing on the Xantia and 107, but probably with the odd appearance from my Saab and Skoda.

So today I finally got around to changing my fuel filter...got fed up of the new one rolling around the boot every time I went round a corner!

Bolts out...

...never thought i would be typing that with all my body parts still attached but so far she's been ok ish with it :lol:

Driven it 3 minutes home and although it has no go at all, its smooth as silk and handles like a go cart, all be it a big go-cart.
Anyway this will be a bit quiet for a good while ive got two weeks off to do the kitchen and i...

Hello

Since I've used this forum a few times to seek help, the least I could do is show you my precious Citroens :mrgreen: 8-)
One is 2011 c4 1.4 VTi who(sorry, I really love my cars :oops: ) I'm first owner to and the second one is 2006 C4 VTS who I'm second owner to.
I'll call them c4 and VTS from now on.
C4 is faultless. It's got 109000...

before getting stuck into a blog proper, a bit of history might be in order :)

My entry into the world of Xantia ownership happened somewhat by accident. Until I acquired a Xantia, I had been a confirmed Peugeot owner, having run 405 diesels for a good few years and branching out into the ownership and restoration of a Peugeot 205GTi for fun....

In danger of being kicked off the forum for lack of (an available) French car to write about, we bought a 2011 (pre-facelift) 308 CC THP 156 HP automatic.

The car is still a bit dirty, as it was not cleaned properly by the previous owner, and not groomed by the dealer, but here you go:

So I though it was about time I had my own blog , so I don't have to keep hijacking everyone else's! =D>

So first off car number plates:

I find I need a new rear number plate - those Halfrauds ones are totally useless.

So now I'm looking through all the in-line suppliers, but of course the legit ones require you to send off things like driving...

I already have a Citroen (ish - there hasn't been much Citroen activity recently!) blog on the BX Forum:

RichardW's Blog

I'll try and put a post on here when I update it.

Just thought I'd start a big of a blog thingie.

In 2007 we purchased this Xantia V6 with 27,000 miles on the clock from the daughter of an elderly gentleman who had died.

Since we've had it we've given it a full set of spheres, set of new Michelin tyres and plugs and leads as it started to miss quite badly.

There's a scuff on the front bumper...

Well, obviously I wasn't going to stay Citroen-free for long.
Today I bit the bullet and went and gave a nice man some money and my 207 for the 08 plate Picasso GP that I saw on Thursday that had a knackered clutch.

Clutch has been replaced. Invoices and warranty for 40k. Drives nicely now and it all works so far. It's a 1.8 Petrol engine, 5...

Edit: This blog started out as a question about a fuel pump leak, but I realised I was taking my own post off topic by updating it with how I was getting on. So I asked myglaren to move it here so I don't keep bumping it to the top of the Citroen section. I do actually like my car but I can understand, after having previously owned a BX (14E...

Today I took posession of a 2005 C5 1.6 Estate with under 70K on the clock. It wasn't in the red I wished for (it's just a grey like every other car out there which I'm sure will provide much merryment in large car parks) but it does have towbar. electrics, roof bars and a dog guard.

It also comes with it's acquired faults, like the tailgate loom...

It's a good job I love my C5, but it, in turn, loves being at the local garage - who I must say do a very god job.
Interestingly it's the only X7 that they look after.

So it passed it's MOT with only a front drop link that had to replaced which they did while it was there.
It got a fast pass on emissions too, which was very gratifying.

Then two...

I wasn't sure I was going to keep this rescue car, it started as a personal challenge/educational project due to the initial problem(s) as documented;

It's been parked up (SORN) with a view to putting it through the MOT to see how it would fair then maybe sell it on.

However, my already poor health had taken a further nose-dive last month...

Ay up!

I am a part time mechanic and tutor at a training centre mainly for kids with learning difficulties. We also have a couple of groups of NACRO kids doing a Modern Apprenticeship. Fifi is being maintained in the perfect place. Its the old Sunbeam Factory.

Fifi is my daily transport and about to begin a major tidy-up. A deal for leather...

Having seen that everyone else with a black C4 Coupe (Citroening, Captain Slower & Davie) all have a thread on their cars, thought I'd better do one myself!
Bought the car last year after writing off the last one(don't ask!)
Love the look of them from all angles, so different from usual Golf/Focus/Auris etc. Inside the speedo pod is digital and...

Close enough for the first 3 letters of my reg BCS to be an acronym for the blog title :)

Might as well start off with some history:

After being a mostly Nissan family for many years, I did want to stick to what I knew for many years - a P12 Primera... but rarity of them around and being really expensive made that a non-starter. And we really...

just on the off-chance really.
Anyone got any 'improvement' on my plan to fabricate a new one of these, circled

Best I can think at the mo is....
replicate the curve in plasticine
cut a piece of wood to shape
cut metal with one slit near the bottom
Use that as a 'former' to batter a flat piece of 0.8mm sheet into a replacement.

Sounds and no...

...walked away once...

A week later, I went back #-o :oops: :rofl2:

Lacquer peel all over

But not a smidge of rust;

How's this for shagged brakes?;

At least this side still has the backing plate;

Minor weep, nothing too serious, all spheres look recent.

Full leather, small hole in the driver's side, rest of it is in great...

As some of you will already know I recently swapped my running/driving & MoT'd 406 2.1DT for another member's Xantia, a '95 N plate 1.9D automatic with cambelt & camshaft failure.

This morning the swap was completed and I had a quick shufty round under the bonnet to see where we stand... It appears it's going to be more involved than just a new...

I think I'll have a go at documenting my Xantia tales :D
I suppose a bit of history is in order to start us off.

My first car was the most basic 3cyl 1ltr W reg Corsa B which I purchased from my boss at the time, the day before my 17th birthday. That was the car I learnt to drive in when not with the instructor. The insurance was a bit eeek at...

Just got the C15 back up to London (with the benefit of its £30 Devon MoT). Not exactly a fun drive but it gave me time to reflect - & I came up with this idea!

I'll try to do a retrospective to put this into some sort of perspective but, for the moment:-

Last weekend had tyre (one of a pair I had bought earlier) fitted in place of the flat...

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Just a few photo's of the new car, let's hope this one is as good as the old one
If you know anyone looking for a C5 auto dieseL 2.2 HDI point them in my direction

It has started. Gabby getting her freshen up. I’m going to do it all myself. The first stage is rubbing down all the bits that are getting filler. The rear door on the passenger side has a crease the length of it but it is not getting filled. I’m pleased to announce no further welding needed. She is as sound as a pound....

My 1996 Citroen ZX Volcane 2-litre petrol is reluctantly for sale. It is very little used and could do with a kind owner! I’m only the second owner, having had it for 17 years so can vouch for its genuine 86k miles. Body is remarkably rust-free but being red, has gone matt. Engine, gearbox, brakes, suspension are very good and it has an MoT until...

For a change of scenery, we have moved to Malta for a while.

We have been here a couple of weeks, and it is a nice place to live.

The biggest problem from my point of view is that cars are very expensive here and the models that I would like to own are practically non-existent.

As an example, a 2005 Peugeot 406 1.6 with no frills and a bit...

Ok where do i start.

In another post i was asking about reyro fitting electric leather seats in a C5.

Well i found a C5 exclusive 2.0 hdi manual with leather seats today and nagged the guy to open up his lock up for me to see it as i didnt know when i could get to him during working hours due to my job.

Ok he agreed in the end but what i did...

Recently purchased Sl4yer's W/2000 Xantia Activa . Really regret letting my old Activa go back in 2011 and whilst the phase 2 C5's are really nice in there own way and the X7 C5's are just amazing, nothing made up for the zero body roll feeling on the country roads and roundabouts. So with it down to just 24 Xantia Activa's left road legal i...

Well, It's been a while..........

My DS4 got stolen and burnt out almost a fortnight ago, so I decided to get a stop gap car for now. I was looking on eBay and found a 52 plate 2.0HDi Estate with full service history, an A4 envolope full of receipts. The car has had both the timing and cam belts done, The water pump replaced, new Discs, pas and...

First proper appearance on here of this particular CX of mine.
I've owned it for something like 20 years. It's been off the road for about 12 of them. Can't remember what caused me to buy this one (I already had inherited another previous to it :lol:
Short summary of the 'entertainment' that this particular one has given me over the years......

Not sure if this is the correct place to start a project thread but since the AM6 is fitted to Peugeot and Citroen models it didn't make sense to confine the post to one of those sub forums.

So, those of us with the AM6 gearbox are familiar with the requirement to change the oil semi-regularly in order to preserve the bores in the aluminium valve...

A few pics of what I've just bought for £650, MOT'd till Sept.

The mark 1 C5 is not a looker from the front IMO...

But is smart from the back

It needs a clean but the interior is in great nick really;

Typical modern engine bay, covered with plastic crap everywhere, but in good nick and I know when the cambelt was last done;

Tiny dent...

Finally got the gf into a bit of french... :wink: :-D

Her prelude is a good way off being on the road and she wanted a small car for a bit of fun/freedom. I've really been starting to like the look of C2's (it was the row of them at the National meet last year that started it off for me :oops: ) and the neighbours have a friend that turns up in...

Howdie guys, been a member on here for over 3 years, but kinda forgot about the site! :oops:

Anyway heres some updated pics of my current fleet.

1989 BX 16TRS 43000 miles from new, FSH.

1990 BX 16v, 140000 miles, aircon, money pit! (now sold and scrapped)

1985 BX 19GT MK1 53000 miles from new, uber rare (famous and a keeper)

1994...

I knew this van for a few years before I bought it as it was owned from new by a local woman. When she retired from driving she gave it to the local garage who had always serviced it. They'd then used it as a courtesy and staff car and while they'd looked after it mechanically, it was rarely washed and was full of rubbish.

A few weeks ago my...

Hate weekends, too much time on my hands and always seem to get into some sort of trouble. It doesn't get better with age, just different.

There just happened to be an auction on about 80 miles from home and not having been to one for several years decided to attend. There was quite an eclectic mix of vehicles plus one that looked quite promising...

My journey with a V6 Activa. :)

My first experience with a Citroen is from 1976 at the wheel of my grandfather's 1975 CX 2200. I was two years old at the time, but I do have a picture to prove it. ;)

After getting my license I drove some Mitsubishis, Nissans, Fords, and even couple of Opel Astras, until I ended up with my late mother-in-law's...

Collected my purchase this morning in the pouring rain. Not in bad condition overall. The body work is quite respectable for a 22 year old car. Does need a really good clean though. The only real problem I can see is the heater mattrix appears to be leaking #-o Ironicly the dash needs to come out of the TD which is partly why I bought this one...

As if getting our Toyota seriously whacked by an unseen Discovery this week wasn't enough (and no, I wasn't driving) . . .

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. . . the XM 2.5TD went for its ITV (MoT) early this morning, and failed! :(
Exhaust opacity figure of 4.62m-1 (max allowed = 3). Very odd, as the previous several years' figures were typically 0.18 ! Fresh...

Okay, this should be fun, never done this before, but, hey ho. Bought the car a month ago, after years of wanting one, a 2.7 V6 Exclusive. There were a couple of issues and debates with the dealer. mainly over the lack of mats, and yes they are expensive £98 a set plus the dreaded VAT. from a different dealer, it does pay to shop about, the...

As I have recently acquired an XM V6 12v Exclusive, I thought it would be rude not to start a new thread, so this is it!

Something I NEVER EVER thought Id have in possesion again mainly due to rareity and prices... but im proud and pleased to present:

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Turbo Diesel......

Does anyone else feel they've developed a sixth sense regards other certain roadusers? No, it wasn't the Out of EU sticker that troubled me, it was his lack of lane discipline I found unnerving.

After a small absence im back. Not full time but enough to report on the current situation..

Ive been handed a Xantia HDi 110 Exclusive to sort out.

Car was bought for 150 quid. On a W plate.. in silver. . With slightly rarer cream leather and suede leather trim door cards. Pictures to follow when ive taken them.

Its NOT mine.

So. What do we...

Back On the 18/10/14 I bought myself a nice old Xantia from a young lad in Liverpool.
He was off to uni and needed to free up the funds.
My vans kingpins, amongst other things, had failed the MOT despite the repairs being simple and cheap I did not have time to do them and get to work.

So having seen these pictures on Gumtree I went over to have...

This is my current fleet:

The C5 is an SX model with optional Leather/Ambiance pack, 2 liter 136hp EW10J4 engine with the manual box. Only one previous owner and Its an ´04, so it has the stainless exhaust and superior :) drive by wire throttle.
About 100k uk miles on it, the interior is in very good condition. The exterior needs some work...

Well I'm now in my 3rd year of Xantia ownership, so I decided to start this thread to keep track of things done and of course to get some help from forum members if a problem occurs. So far I got loads of help so THANK YOU FCF MEMBERS!

My first Citroen that I bought was an Activa TCT MK2 in silver and I didn't know s**** about hydraulic...

As I did a blog on the Synergie I really ought to do one on the C5 to keep things all together and up to date.

I bought it last week in Borrowash near Derby and it's more or less what I wanted, being a 2004 Series 1 2.2 hdi automatic Exclusive estate with leather and satnav.
I actually wanted the 2.0hdi not the 2.2 but it's turned out ok and it...