Hi All
A month back I paid £80 off ebay for a very early 1991 Series 1 XM with over 153K miles, model unknown (but carburettor). Bodywork totally immaculate but with lower steering column linkage u/s. Car is in local garage at moment. Their verdict was £230 for the linkage but better to do an MoT to find out if anything else has gone before spending money. You can see pics of it at www.domf9.plus.com/Citroen_XM.html
Tonight, thanks to the Citroen XM-L site, I was given (FREE!) a 1993 late Series 1 2.0 litre Turbo Auto with 113K on the clock in a not bad, but not brilliant condition. It has an assortment of dents and dings around the rear end but the mechanicals are 100%, only needs new tyres and the handbrake cable re-attaching to pass an MoT. It has electric everything, even the seats, and everything electrical and mechanical works perfectly.
My worry is this - I keep reading that the auto boxes are fragile and cost £1500-£2000 to replace. I can't afford to run two XMs but clearly the latest XM should be kept. Should I strip the older one for spares, or have them both repaired/maintained to MoT level in case the auto one goes kaput. Or just keep the older one to one side and use it to convert the Turbo to manual if/when the gearbox goes?
Or am I just worrying over nothing? I have no idea of the typical life of an auto box but this is worrying me. In an ideal world I'd like to keep both on the road.
Thanks
Dom
XM 2.0 SI Turbo Auto - Worries
Moderator: RichardW
Since the auto hasn't cost you anything yet and the repairs necessary to get it MOT'd are marginal (you've got a complet set of tyres on the '91 from the photos) I don't think you have anything to worry about. At only 113K, if teh autobox performs as it should, its just a case of keeping up the maintenance.
I'd keep the '91 manual for a rainy day - and/or almost all the parts fit directly onto the '93.
The bodywork really looks good - definitely worth keeping.
//NiSk
I'd keep the '91 manual for a rainy day - and/or almost all the parts fit directly onto the '93.
The bodywork really looks good - definitely worth keeping.
//NiSk
Thanks NiSk
You've just confirmed my initial thought - so I'm going to MoT the new one and use it daily, and also spend money doing the old one up to get it through an MoT. It only failed on the steering column joint, a few lightbulbs and the exhaust leaking somewhere. £300 should see it fixed and then I'll give it a run once a month and keep it as a spare. I think it's sacrilege to strip these cars for bits when there are so few of them on the road.
Cheers for the advice.
Dom
You've just confirmed my initial thought - so I'm going to MoT the new one and use it daily, and also spend money doing the old one up to get it through an MoT. It only failed on the steering column joint, a few lightbulbs and the exhaust leaking somewhere. £300 should see it fixed and then I'll give it a run once a month and keep it as a spare. I think it's sacrilege to strip these cars for bits when there are so few of them on the road.
Cheers for the advice.
Dom
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stephen burch
- Posts: 58
- Joined: 20 Mar 2002, 03:02
- Location: United Kingdom
- My Cars:
Hi Dom. Not long ago In acquired a 1994 sd turbo with an auto box. The car has 172000 miles on the clock and I believe it still has the original box. It squeals a little from second to third and is slightly lumpy on changes but apart from that it is fine so I reckon it depends on regular servicing more than anything. I agree with you about the parts situation, but it's just as well that some are still being scrapped as it keeps the others going and i'm not too keen on paying Citroen prices for low turnover items, although it is a shame to see them go this way.
The usual preventable problem that autoboxes suffer from is wear in the brake bands. Some have adjustment provided and it it is done the box feels like new with quick changes etc. neglect it, the bands wear and eventaully slip then burn out with the loss of one or more gears.
I have no idea if your ZF box is adjustable - if it is its probably simple to do, although some of the instructions make heavy weather of things.
Many years ago I bought an XJ6 with a BW 66 box on it. The car was fine apart from a slow second gear. I read all the instructions which mentioned tightening the band to 12 lb ft or something and then backing off 2/3rd of a turn. When I came to do it without the torque wrench of course I screwed a bolt in about 10 turns or something (a long way) and then there was a dead stop. So no need for the torque wrench and I undid it just a touch more on the basis that there was sure to be a clearance. Result - at 30 MPH I could get it to change down and back up again in the length of a car. I'm sure the delay had been the time it took the operating cylinder to fill with oil.
I would therefore recommend that autoboxes are regularily adjusted and suggest you consult a specialist if you can't find out how to do it.
jeremy
I have no idea if your ZF box is adjustable - if it is its probably simple to do, although some of the instructions make heavy weather of things.
Many years ago I bought an XJ6 with a BW 66 box on it. The car was fine apart from a slow second gear. I read all the instructions which mentioned tightening the band to 12 lb ft or something and then backing off 2/3rd of a turn. When I came to do it without the torque wrench of course I screwed a bolt in about 10 turns or something (a long way) and then there was a dead stop. So no need for the torque wrench and I undid it just a touch more on the basis that there was sure to be a clearance. Result - at 30 MPH I could get it to change down and back up again in the length of a car. I'm sure the delay had been the time it took the operating cylinder to fill with oil.
I would therefore recommend that autoboxes are regularily adjusted and suggest you consult a specialist if you can't find out how to do it.
jeremy
Thanks Jeremy
I ran your comments past my well-trusted Indy, but he was honest and said he was totally unfamiliar with this type of car and box - reading between the lines, he really isn't too keen on doing anything too involved on the XM.
However, in other ways he is excellent - the car failed its MoT yesterday on handbrake cable unattached, headlight misaligned and various holes in the exhaust, which he duly welded closed and got it thru the MoT same day.
My only other hope was CarPrep in Redhill, alleged Citroen specialists but they were sooo rude when I asked them for an opinion on the steering problem on the '91 car that I really don't want to use them.
Can anyone recommend a good Citroen/XM specialist in the South East or Gatwick area for autoboxes?
I ran your comments past my well-trusted Indy, but he was honest and said he was totally unfamiliar with this type of car and box - reading between the lines, he really isn't too keen on doing anything too involved on the XM.
However, in other ways he is excellent - the car failed its MoT yesterday on handbrake cable unattached, headlight misaligned and various holes in the exhaust, which he duly welded closed and got it thru the MoT same day.
My only other hope was CarPrep in Redhill, alleged Citroen specialists but they were sooo rude when I asked them for an opinion on the steering problem on the '91 car that I really don't want to use them.
Can anyone recommend a good Citroen/XM specialist in the South East or Gatwick area for autoboxes?
I'm pretty sure that the same autobox was used in the Saab 9000 of the same era, and that the Saab maintenance schedule actually recommends checking and tightening the brake bands at regular intervals (which the Citroën doesn't). There is also a rumor that it was fitted to the Alfa 160 (which was built on the same platform as the Saab and the Fiat Chroma - so there are a few more ways to go.
//NiSk
//NiSk