viewing a C5III tomorrow....

[old'uns]

...anything i need to look out for apart from the obvious checking electrics etc?
it's an '09 138 auto exclusive, 80k on the clock up for 7k, dual elec. towbar so saves me £200-300+ for fitting one
already looked at an '08 138 auto exclusive with 100k+ on it for 6k, must say mightily impressed at condition for the mileage, not a mark on it. SatNav, panoramic roof & massage seat as well, more things to go wrong i suppose.
that one threw a spanner in the works as i was sooooo close to viewing the 3.0 V6 mentioned in another thread but the thought of another 5k+ for not a lot more goodies apart from the engine means it's now on the back burner.
looks like the old series 1 won't quite make 250k now, just rolled 241k but now the little things are starting to add up as a possible large amount;

still on original clutch
power steering pump now sounds as little rough
gas struts on tailgate are getting weaker & dropping slowly
and probably a few more little things that you don't take any notice of until you sit down & ponder

[mooseshaver]

Collapsed seat backs. If you sit in one of my rear seats get a wobble noise and you can see the back flexing if you watch from boot.
Mine is getting repaired under warranty tomorrow.
I think clutch wear on the 138 bhp may be an issue or dual mass.

[SaabC5]

Check the dual towbar electrics work, if a towbar is fitted to a car now its an MOT requirement the electrics work on it, garages now carry a circuit tester for just this purpose.

[Richard_C]

Just to the right of the steering wheel, on the dashboard, is a check button. Press is whilst engine is on and it scrolls though any messages. Absence of messages does not guaranteed all is well, but a message is a giveaway.

If its a myway satnav there will be an sd card, navdrive I am not familiar with but I think it has a DVD, in either case pop it out and check it is a proper real citroen one.

[bobins]

Might be a little tricky with the current climate (!) but check the aircon works as the condensors seem a little vulnerable, a holed condensor = no aircon.

[old'uns]

Cheers guys, forgot to put link on original post so here we go..
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[qprdude]

Navi-drive isn't a DVD, it's all on the cars hard disc along with the Juke box facility.
Extras are either impossible to add later, or prohibitively expensive so get the best spec for your money. Check what can be enabled via the menu, Perameters (I think),lighting and comfort settings, some cars have more available. It's difficult to know what the car has as extras so check where there are buttons blanked,so you know the "extra" is not there. I would take a camera and get a few closeups of the dash, then check the online manual to see what each button is for. Check for cracks in the light lenses, they ain't cheap.
Check to see if the belts have been done because the 08 car is getting close if you do a fair mileage.
120,000 I think but someone will put you right.
It's a great car though, in all it's guises.

[Will]

From my experience (58-plate VTR+ HDi 138) check for clutch slipping and assume DMF wear too, Front electric window winder failure, stereo failure, Aircon failure (holed condensor), heavy front tyre wear. All these have happened on mine in the space of a year and the car is just coming up to 75K miles. I've also cracked the rear bumper skin - by inadvertantly bracing my knee against it when loading something into the boot . It seems really thin and brittle - Just mine or a common problem?

Apart from that, still a striking car to look at and very comfortable & refined to ride in, even on steel springs that the VTR has.

Will

[qprdude]

From my experience (58-plate VTR+ HDi 138) check for clutch slipping and assume DMF wear too, Front electric window winder failure, stereo failure, Aircon failure (holed condensor), heavy front tyre wear. All these have happened on mine in the space of a year and the car is just coming up to 75K miles. I've also cracked the rear bumper skin - by inadvertantly bracing my knee against it when loading something into the boot . It seems really thin and brittle - Just mine or a common problem?

Apart from that, still a striking car to look at and very comfortable & refined to ride in, even on steel springs that the VTR has.

Will

Just yours I hope!
I have a 2008 Exclusive. No problems so far. 28,000 miles.
Clutch/DMF failure would depend a lot on how the car is loaded and driven as with most big diesels nowadays. Some last for 150,000 plus with no problems and some seem to go very early.
Sounds like you are very unlucky, or have picked up a poor example.

[mooseshaver]

I have a friend who gets 24000 miles from a set of Michelins in his 2010. Don't think I ever got that from my older c5s.

[old'uns]

thanks guys, just returned from viewing.
as it's an Auto, DMF doesn't come in to it.
everything electrical seems to work, made a point of pressing every button on the seats, check button only showed tyre pressures OK message, nothing else?
tyres ok, small crack in front lower bumper but nothing major and the odd little scratch in door shut panels.
drove nice, kickdown worked and lovely and quiet.
due for service very soon according to dash but mine was due anyway so no problem, belt i may have done anyway, OH looked at CSH in glove box but i got distracted.
deposit paid & subject to HPI OK should pick up either tomorrow if funds arrive or Thursday.
got it for £6750 so with the £250 for tax not too bad

[qprdude]

Result!
Hope all goes well. You're gonna love it. Photos when you get it please.

[old'uns]

well the HPI check appears OK apart from i added an extra number in..oops
just waiting for updated result, so it appears it will be mine, just need the funds to do a quick-step & i could get it tomorrow ready for a trip to London Mon/Tue as a test run for Xmas in France

[qprdude]

Nice, where are you off to in France?

[old'uns]

Nr Le Lude, half-hour South of Le Mans, on the le Loir river, not the big one though.
had it 5yrs March coming, nothing fancy, 1 bedroom kitchen & living room & the usual derelict outhouses,.
out on the 19th & no return booked yet, phone doesn't ring , I don't come home

hence why the C5 won over contenders, nice to get out after a 5hr drive the other side & still be able to walk!