front grill styling

stevieb5796 · Post by **stevieb5796** » 15 Dec 2004, 05:23

Hey,
I'm a little confused looking at some pictures of xantias about... There seem to be two different styles at the front, one where the chevrons are part of the grill, and one where the chevrons are part of the bonnet and the grill is plain. I thought at first that it was an age thing, but then I saw an L reg (93/94) one with them in the grill and an M reg (94/95) one with them on the bonnet.
Not a huge thing I know but a little odd no? Anyone care to shed any light? lol

pwatson · Post by **pwatson** » 15 Dec 2004, 05:52

For what it's worth, and I may well be wrong! Up to L reg they were on the bonnet, M reg same size chevs were on the grill then facelift (R reg?) the grill became as one with the bonnet and got bigger chevrons. Perhaps the M reg you saw was a late registered L reg model? Can't explain your L reg with chevs on grill - not noticed one but will keep my eyes open!

stevieb5796 · Post by **stevieb5796** » 15 Dec 2004, 06:01

I only ask as I have just bought one, well I am picking it up tomorrow from the garage, they put a new MOT on it and found they had to do a little work then I got a call from the garage today saying it would take an extra day as they had to get new spheres from citroen. So looks like I did pretty well there at least.
Anyhow mines M reg but it's got the chevrons on the bonnet and not on the grill. Not a problem obviously, it was registered in Aug 1994. Just wondered. I came to the same conclusion as you, it was just the L one with the different grill that confused me lol
There weren't any additions in 1994 that I may have missed out on if it turns out mine was a slightly late registration is there?

Homer · Post by **Homer** » 15 Dec 2004, 11:29

The very early models had the chevrons on the bonnet.
I believe the chevrons moved at the same time as anti-sink was introduced.
You do see the odd M reg in the earlier style.
The grille became part of the bonnet on late '98 facelift versions.

NiSk · Post by **NiSk** » 15 Dec 2004, 11:41

An accident damaged - repaired early model could well have the later style fitted.
//NiSk

Kowalski · Post by **Kowalski** » 15 Dec 2004, 16:51

My 95 has its chevrons on the grill and anti-sink.

Post by **RichardW** » 15 Dec 2004, 17:06

AFAIK the main changes when the chevrons moved off the bonnet were anti-sink, driver's airbag slightly (they're still 'kin awful) headlights. There might have been others, eg 95 TD cars tend to have 15" wheels rather than 14", electronic speedos possibly?

Kowalski · Post by **Kowalski** » 15 Dec 2004, 17:19

My 95 TD has 14" steel wheels as standard. Its also got the electronic speedo.
The Xantia got seat belt pre-tensioners as standard at some point (my 95 has them), I think that was when the chevrons moved.

bikeboyz · Post by **bikeboyz** » 15 Dec 2004, 18:16

I recall something about the cooling system being uprated with the change of front end too?

Kowalski · Post by **Kowalski** » 15 Dec 2004, 18:50

You could probably check part numbers on the radiator to see if that were true or not.

h3rjp · Post by **h3rjp** » 15 Dec 2004, 21:07

Isn't it a basic rule of thumb if the car has an airbag, then the chevrons should be on the grill (they were introduced in the same update). If you've got grill ceverons and no airbag, then the front may have been changed, and it may be worth some checking to find out why?
Rob

nick · Post by **nick** » 15 Dec 2004, 23:12

In theory the changeover point was June 1994 (late L reg), but in practice the older models with the bonnet chevrons continued to be sold well after August '94 (dealers old stock perhaps) so there are quite a few around with M plates on.

nick · Post by **nick** » 15 Dec 2004, 23:21

....One thing I've noticed too, is Xantias apparently built before the later 1997/98 facelift, but with much later reg plates on - eg T, V or W reg.
I even saw a "pre-facelift" on a W plate, supposedly with an HDi 90 engine! Does anyone know the story behind this? I've seen too many of them for it to be a 'one off', or bodged accident damage repairs.

davek-uk · Post by **davek-uk** » 16 Dec 2004, 13:59

Similarly I have seen the pre-facelift bonnet and grill on cars with facelift bumpers and side trim. This indicates that the parts are interchangeable. It also points towards Citroen putting cars together with whatever parts were available at the time; this seems to be a sign of pretty shoddy working practices and I hope they weren't disorganised enough to produce crap cars at that time.

ACTIVE8 · Post by **ACTIVE8** » 16 Dec 2004, 15:29

Well they certainly didn't take too much time to design the chrome effect trim on the side panels on the Xantia.
It seems to be a lottery as to how long they last, before they deteriorate, and start to look poor.
If a car is made to last a while, then a manufacturer will get a good reputation. This even applies to small items like trim, because people notice these things. Durability and quality control do matter!
Citroen and other manufacturers should take note!