C5 Questions.

[Quackers]

I'm toying with idea of getting a 3.0 V6 C5 Exclusive to complement my Citroen Xantia 2.0i Turbo Activa (no i am not mad!)

My questions are

1.) How often are the cam belt changes? I have seen some bargins with 44,000 miles on a clock, i do not want to spash out on an expencive cam belt change as soon as i buy one.

2.) Sphere's? How often do they need changing? is it the same as Xantia or better?

3.) Are there any common faults i should be aware of on this model?

4.) How come they go so dam cheap! £2300 for a 51 Plate 3.0 V6 Exclusive with 44,000 miles on the clock and all that kit seems so unbelievable! There are many going for the £2000 - £3000 price bracket.

[Peter.N.]

Cant help you with the first three, but the fourth is 'because they are petrol'

[mooseshaver]

1.) Will check my service book when I get my car back tonight, although its diesel it covers all the C5s Spark plugs are every 24000 I think.

2.)Mine (Estate) is 5 years old and recently had its suspension serviced, no spheres were replaced, just a fluid change. If later Xanitia spheres last 10 years then C5s should be just as long. But I don't think the ride is quite as good as a xantia.

3.)
Airbags, as with all citroens. Rear Talegate on estate models, the window does not always open. Headlights flicker if on and suspension pump does something (you don't always notice it and its not really a problem).

4.) I know! If I had only had the money to buy one adn the money to pay someone to fix it. I don't know what bracket tax the car is in. If its in the top one is that £400 a year tax? That would make them cheap.

[mooseshaver]

1.) How often are the cam belt changes? I have seen some bargins with 44,000 miles on a clock, i do not want to spash out on an expencive cam belt change as soon as i buy one.

Hello this is what my book says about timing belt change "To be carried out on: All vehicles and Relay HDi every 75,000/80,000 miles except other HDi engines, every 100,000 miles (Xsara Coupe VTS 2.0i 16v 167 HP, every 50,000miles)

Soy you might be ok for another 25,000 mile sor so.
I think i was wrong on sparking plugs, they need changed at the same time as cambelt. Thats all the V6 I can see in this very generic book.

Had a breief look under the rear of mine while it was up on a lift. Saw some rusty bits but have no idea if thats a bad thing. I couldn't tell you what they were. The welds on my tail pipes don't look wonderful, but its past MOT. I have read a few things on internet where people have replaced the rear section of the exahaust on a C5

[den169]

My rear box on my c5 rusted on the weld where the pipe joins it the system looked like new but the welds nowadays are terrible for rusting, i took it off and welded it up with some extra angle shaped supports as used in my rallying days.It'll be a long time before it needs redoing if the cat ever goes its coming off and a peice of pipe putting in.

[C5IAM]

Mine's a 2.2 HDI and I changed my spheres at 70k, and they needed it. Gone for 'comfort' now and it's a big improvement. I seem to remember in Cit's blurb the spheres should last 5 years or 125000 miles!! Incidentally, I do tow a caravan for about 3000 miles a year and that might have helped knock out the back ones, they were the worst.