2.1 Turbo D12 XUD11 BTE engine advice.

[Rufus Baggsby]

I have found a low mileage Xantia Activa that's fairly local to me with the XUD11 BTE engine. Being a diesel virgin I was wondering how good an engine it is in terms of refinement, reliability and maintenance. It seems you can reprogram the ecu to get 135hp and 250Nm of torque, which doesn't seem too bad considering you don't need to brake much when going round corners.

I had managed to talk myself out of an Activa, but this one seems too good to miss. It belonged to a retired couple who only used it once a year when they came over on holiday. It spent the rest of the year wrapped up in a dry garage in southern Spain.

Any advice and experience would be most appreciated.

[Michel]

...only used it once a year when they came over on holiday. It spent the rest of the year wrapped up in a dry garage in southern Spain.

Any advice and experience would be most appreciated.

Activas do NOT like being stood around doing nothing. Bits perish, other parts - ACRS rods can seize and stick, calipers (rear especially) can stick and corrode. All fixable, but don't expect a trouble-free car.

I wasn't aware the 2.1 could be remapped. I suspect it's more a case of old-fashioned diesel tuning, by playing with the fuelling and boost to get that figure.

[Rufus Baggsby]

Never mind, it's been sold. So someone else can fix it and tune it the "old-fashioned" way rather than Doctor Chip's way...

http://www.doctorchip.com/reprogramacio ... oen-Xantia

Many thanks for the friendly advice.

[Michel]

I've written to him to ask him how he tunes the XUD motors. Given they have no ECU I don't see how he can remap them...

[EDC5]

The fueling screw and boost compensation diaphragm are adjusted on the fuel pump. In addition the turbo wastegate arm is shortened to develop more boost usually.

[Michel]

The fueling screw and boost compensation diaphragm are adjusted on the fuel pump. In addition the turbo wastegate arm is shortened to develop more boost usually.

Yes, I've done it myself on two Xantias and a ZX in the past, I'm just curious as to how this guy reckons he's going to do it electronically, when AFAIK it's simply not possible. I'm awkward like that..

[Pug_XUD_KeenAmateur]

why buy a vehicle with insufficient power, thereby requiring modification? Buy one with the amount of power you need in the first place.

[Michel]

why buy a vehicle with insufficient power, thereby requiring modification? Buy one with the amount of power you need in the first place.

There weren't any 2 litre diesel family cars for less than 800 quid with 140bhp or more when I was poor and running Xantia and ZXs...

[moizeau]

If it had the Epic pump, that has an ECU, with it being solenoid operated, so I'd imagine it could be mapped.

[Michel]

If it had the Epic pump, that has an ECU, with it being solenoid operated, so I'd imagine it could be mapped.

No, it has an ESOS valve and solenoid and is an otherwise mechanical pump. It has no ECU as such. It cannot be mapped.

[kenbw2]

I did go to look at a 2000 XUD9 Dispatch once and later discovered it had electronic timing adjustment attached to it. It was probably aa last ditch attempt to get the XUD9 to pass emissions



But I agree, he's probably dressing up a few screw adjustments

[Rufus Baggsby]

Would anyone care to address the OP rather than trying to prove themselves right?

I've found another one for sale with the same engine, fsh and all new spheres... although, of course, I wouldn't dream of expecting it to be trouble free.

[white exec]

Careful, Rufus, some of us have pitched in quite a bit on this one.
You do have to expect, on FCF, some posts to meander a little.
You asked if it was a good engine. It is; a very good one.

[Michel]

I addressed the OP in my first reply... but just to confirm...

If you want this as a daily driver, don't touch it with a bargepole. Engine is fine. Headgasket *will* fail at some point. Pipes will burst. Activa specific spares are very hard to find. Rams will leak. You'll have to repair them yourself which is a sod, or source new ones (made from unobtanium). They are not cheap. The suspension *will* play silly buggers. Resetting the correct height is an act of patience that would test a nun. FSH? Entailing what? Has it had the ARCS properly adjusted and cleaned every so often or just usual every day car servicing?

If you want it as a hobby car that you'll use sometimes and won't rely on in an emergency, fine, go for it. Otherwise steer clear.

[Rufus Baggsby]

I addressed the OP in my first reply...

You didn't. I asked about the engine. I hoped the title of the post would be a big clue. I am very well aware of the Activa's foibles which, as I explained, is why I had already talked myself out of one once before. However, thank you for your prediction regarding the head gasket. Should you require any assistance translating the reply from Doctor Chip just let me know.

I'm all in favour of a bit of meandering btw. So, just to summarise:
It's a very good engine, but the head gasket will fail at some point... sorry, *will* fail.