your views please on Mk1 C5 2.0 Hdi automatics please?

[Paul-R]

Weather seems to holding out for dry conditions at the moment. Cross fingers.

Not sure what you mean by proper suspension - Mk1 2l HDis have the H3 suspension and not the H3+. So no sport mode I'm afraid. Also no Eolys to worry about either - UK spec 2.0l HDis were never fitted with a FAP.

As you say - an auto so no DMF.

[falling-out-with-my-car]

Thanks Jim & Marc,

Is that right Paul blimey!!! sounds to good to be true....
Never mind the Xantia never had sport mode so I wont miss it...

it has been a long wait, Ive checked the specs of the 2001 to 2004 VTR on Parkers
and it looks like it may well have the four speed auto gearbox, hopefully the serviceable one.

I'll just be grateful if it has a height button in the boot of the estate.

its a bit slower 0-60mph in the Auto but that's life I guess..

cheers Nigel.

[Hell Razor5543]

Well, my 2004 C5 VTR 2.0l HDi has that height button in the boot. What is nice is that, when you close the boot, the car will come back to the correct ride height by itself (assuming it has not gone into economy mode).

[Paul-R]

I think all the estates have that button even including the X7 - providing it's not steel sprung of course. Is that what you meant by proper suspension Nigel?

Personally I've not found much use for it. It's far too slow on the Mk1 and TBH I haven't even bothered to try it on the X7.

[falling-out-with-my-car]

By proper suspension I didn't mean coil sprung suspension. (Proper Citroen suspension) can anyone confirm whether or not the C5 mk1 had springs fitted at the front like my 1998 xantia has to stiffen the suspension please? I hope not. If I remember correctly xantias were being complained about by customers as the front suspension was making them feel sick. I hope they didn't do it to the C5 to. It can make the front end of the xantia seem a little harsh over the bumps compared to say a bx or gsa. Sorry if I've lost anyone at this point a bx and a gsa were once Citroens finest cars.

[RichardW]

Not sure what you think the Xantia has got, but there are no springs....

[elma]

Wheres the springs on your Xantia? I've never heard of any springs on Xantia suspension before.

[Hell Razor5543]

There are no springs on the front of my C5 Mk1 estate.

[myglaren]

There are no springs on the front of my C5 Mk1 estate.

Nor mine.
Do you mean the McPherson struts Nigel - they do rather spoil the ride characteristics compared with DS/CX/GS.

I find the ride in the C5 poor in comparison to earlier Citroen models - I have had GS, BX and Xantia.
Still much better than steel sprung cars.

[GiveMeABreak]

No coil springs on a xantia for sure! Hydractive 3 on a C5 mark 1. This C5 features a MacPherson-type set-up. It comprises a sub-frame attached to the body in four places by flexible mountings, designed to filter vibration from the road, forged steel wishbones, iron pivots and an anti-roll bar linked directly to the strut bodies by rods.

[CitroJim]

There must have been some coil sprung Xantais as one firm once offered replacement shock absorbers for them...

Another firm also offered DOT4 brake fluid for them too...

So one can assumes there must have been some fully non-hydraulic ones knocking around somewhere....

Not that I've ever come across one...

[Paul-R]

Oh dear, I didn't mean to start such a debate. When I said "Is that what you meant by proper suspension Nigel?" I was referring to the button in the back of non-coil sprung C5s. So all Mk1 and Mk2 estates had the button and some (a lot?) of X7 estates have the button.

[CitroJim]

I had tongue firmly wedged in cheek earlier Paul

[GiveMeABreak]

Yes it's quite incredible that I've seen some parts manufacturers offering bog standard conventional components for Citroens that of course are not compatible like shocks! I always avoid these like the plague. It's just like Halfrauds offering standard car bulbs for a Xenon equipped X7. They have the wrong indicator bulbs completely, the wrong side lights and others, despite entering exact model. It infuriates me that they cannot get their database correct.
@Paul: All Hydraulically suspended C5s Estates have the boot mounted suspension control.

[Paul-R]

Oh lordy, I thought that was what I was saying. It seems my attempt to explain merely muddied the waters!