C5 2009 excl. suspension - how to check?

[white exec]

Of the X7 owners I know, none would be willing to testify that their suspension "works as designed", since all of them had a reference car of the C5 Mk2, and all of them claim that it has a better ride comfort (me included) ... so go figure ... my advice for all the hydractive X7 owners would be to invest a few hours, dig through every possible test and live data from the suspension, and just maybe you'll be able to trace what's wrong . . .

. . . Which could narrow the appeal of the X7 to a very small number of people. Guess they should make the most of it.
You seem to be agreeing with the previous posts: ride had got firmer, and - in general - worse. Have yet to find anyone who will claim their C5 or C6 ride is better than their previous XM.

[vborovic]

Although I never owned a hydractive, I'm surrounded with them, my dad had a Xantia, 2x C5, a friend has a C6, one other friend has a C5 X7, and on the sides access to an entire range of driveable hydro-suspension Citroens ... so I can easily confirm what works and how it works between them ... the C6 suspension quality beats C5 X7, even though it's an older car but with basically the same hydractive revision (AMVAR being one step above even the top 3.0 X7's suspension - the one that Mark talked about) ... the thing that strikes me most is that owners of a hydractive X7 don't notice my car is steel sprung unless I tell them ... that really gets you thinking what went wrong ...

[Xantippa]

I think everyone would notice the difference between steel sprung and hydractive if both cars are fully loaded and driven fast on bendy road. With light load there might not be very big difference.

[Stickyfinger]

the thing that strikes me most is that owners of a hydractive X7 don't notice my car is steel sprung unless I tell them

I knew instantly when I drove one (I did know it was), I cannot think how they did not as the car rides/damped very differently.

[elma]

Lots of people are very disconnected to the mechanics of their car. I think we, who will feel springs, really are the exception or rarity.

[vborovic]

I think everyone would notice the difference between steel sprung and hydractive if both cars are fully loaded and driven fast on bendy road. With light load there might not be very big difference.

True, but who normally drives around with 400 kg in the boot just to test the cars to one another ... ... it's like when you're buying a new/used car, you don't load it, or attach a trailer to it, you test it empty (in the best scenario, you have 3-4 passengers, but without any extra load)

[jgra1]

chaps..merry thingy lol

as some of you know my x7 has never been quite what I expected regarding suspension .. it yaws and rolls and shimmies, and doesn't feel very inspiring through corners in sport mode - even when I push on a bit..
finally today (I pick my moments) on the a303 I was a passenger and plugged laptop in.. even on the smoothest surface at 70 the car was always reporting a poor road surface and the suspension was either soft or closed - mostly soft.. (while in sport setting)

also there is a logged speed sensor communication error.. U2005

am I finally getting to the bottom of the x7 ride issues I wonder .. I know that others have said speed sensor and hydractive are 'in a bit of a relationship ..'
is there a speed sensor in the gearbox I could swap out with a used item maybe ..?
such a nice car otherwise

John

[Stickyfinger]

still watching this....I thought you had given up on it

[jgra1]

been a bit busy

[GiveMeABreak]

chaps..merry thingy lol
as some of you know my x7 has never been quite what I expected regarding suspension .. it yaws and rolls and shimmies, and doesn't feel very inspiring through corners in sport mode - even when I push on a bit..
finally today (I pick my moments) on the a303 I was a passenger and plugged laptop in.. even on the smoothest surface at 70 the car was always reporting a poor road surface and the suspension was either soft or closed - mostly soft.. (while in sport setting)

also there is a logged speed sensor communication error.. U2005

am I finally getting to the bottom of the x7 ride issues I wonder .. I know that others have said speed sensor and hydractive are 'in a bit of a relationship ..'
is there a speed sensor in the gearbox I could swap out with a used item maybe ..?
such a nice car otherwise ;)John

#

John, following on from my post about this error:
https://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/ ... 05#p481107

It seems that if you are also getting U1213 error, this can be generated during the end of a diagnostic due to an invalid data frame generated by the ESP controller, that can be interpreted by other ECUs as a problem. It is a software issue it would seem and extremely common with other X7 owners and some Peugeot owners too.

[Sloppysod]

I too have never noticed any difference when i just push the button, but I do know mine works as it should, as, on my way home there is a roundabout with dual carriageway both sides, without the button pushed the car moves a little side to side, however, with the button pushed you can definitely feel the car is firmer and more responsive and accurate. I forgot to say this test are done at about 50 mph!!.
Unlike my old XM, sport mode only kicks in when it's needed, and yes the bounce test is not a good test, however, I do not know of a good one.

[rmunns]

As the original poster I want to thank all contributors to this topic. Very interesting and informative. I'll just let things stay as they are with my X7 H3+ - I am happy enough with the car.