Dear Forum,
I'm just off to look at a 2.5 diesel xm estate. It has suspected head gasket problems - uses tons of water and no apparent leak - so it sounds like it's going down the exhaust!!!!
150k miles.
It has the 2.5 engine.
One local chap told me that it is a VM engine - as used by Ford (Granada), and Range Rover years ago.
Is this correct - or is it a something else???
Is the 2.5 an improvement over the 2.1??
I'm not worried about any fuel consumption differences - but more power and torque is always a benefit!!!
He was also quoted 22 hours to do the head gasket on a 2.5 - is this true??
As i'll be carrying books in my car once a week - fully loaded - how do I know if the spheres are working correctly?
I want to have all the mechanical work to the car done at the beginning - so i'll put everything correct at the first service - then enjoy driving her working correctly.
Any recommendations on the correct spheres to buy??
I've heard of different makes - with different ride qualities (previous post on the list).
What size alloys are available for XMs???
I would prefer the widest possible - as this sits the rubber as flat as possible on the tarmac.
Perhaps I need some from a V6 petrol.
I might also be interested in a decent leather or sports interior - if it's sensible money.
All help gratefully appreciated.
This will be my first Citroen - and i'm looking forward to the amazing ride quality.
Any decent XM Turbo Diesel estates out there - for sensible money - drop me a line. I haven't bought this one yet.
Any recomendations for a GOOD Citroen specialist around the Bath/Bristol area would be appreciated. I have a great local chap - buy diagnosing the hydraulics system to get the car spot on - well, that might be best left to somebody with years of experience.
Is the XM srs 2 substantially better than the XM srs 1??
What are the change over chassis numbers and dates please.
Looking forward to hearing from anybody.
JOnathan
XM 2.5 - TD estate wanted & various questions
Moderator: RichardW
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whitehartbookss
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Peter.N.
- Moderating Team
- Posts: 11578
- Joined: 02 Apr 2005, 16:11
- Location: Charmouth,Dorset
- My Cars: Currently:
C5 X7 VTR + Satnav Hdi estate Silver
C5 X7 VTR + Hdi Estate 2008 Red
In the past: 3, CX td Safaris and about 7, XM td estates. Lovely cars. - x 1207
I am on my fourth XM td estate now and think that they are unrivaled for comfort space and economy. I personally favour the 2.1 engine as they are very reliable once running well, but they also suffer from head gasket problems, usually at around 120-150k miles, although the 2.5 has more power I find the 2.1 adequate.
As far as changing the gasket is concerned, the 2.5 is actually easier to get the head off than the 2.1 but in most other respects, more difficult to work on and some spares are more difficult to obtain to obtain.
As far as the cost of gasket change is concerned, I was quoted nearly £1000 to change mine, so I did it myself and it took me two weeks at an hour or two a day, not a job for the faint hearted!
The engine is not a VM engine, or at least not one I have ever seen but they are fairly rare, only being used in the Citroen van other than the XM, hence the spares problem.
They will carry almost any ammount of weight, I have had 1/2 ton in mine and its handling is very little affected due to the surperb hydropnumatic suspension.
Spheres are obtainable from GSF at about £20.00 each, I have always used them and have never had a problem.
I would leave the tyres alone if I were you or you can spoil the beautiful XM ride, and that is the way to check the spheres, by the ride quality. With the engine running you should have about six inches of up and down movememnt on the suspension front and rear only the rear will feel softer.
Yes, the Mk2 is a definite improvement over the Mk1 for reliability although you will only find Mk2, 2.5s as I dont believe they made a Mk 1. The most desireable model as far as I am concerned is the Mk2, 2.1td manual estate, but they are like hens teeth, I have been looking for a late one for more tha a year now, plenty of automatics but I dont like automatics.
Hope this answers some of your questions.
Peter.N.
As far as changing the gasket is concerned, the 2.5 is actually easier to get the head off than the 2.1 but in most other respects, more difficult to work on and some spares are more difficult to obtain to obtain.
As far as the cost of gasket change is concerned, I was quoted nearly £1000 to change mine, so I did it myself and it took me two weeks at an hour or two a day, not a job for the faint hearted!
The engine is not a VM engine, or at least not one I have ever seen but they are fairly rare, only being used in the Citroen van other than the XM, hence the spares problem.
They will carry almost any ammount of weight, I have had 1/2 ton in mine and its handling is very little affected due to the surperb hydropnumatic suspension.
Spheres are obtainable from GSF at about £20.00 each, I have always used them and have never had a problem.
I would leave the tyres alone if I were you or you can spoil the beautiful XM ride, and that is the way to check the spheres, by the ride quality. With the engine running you should have about six inches of up and down movememnt on the suspension front and rear only the rear will feel softer.
Yes, the Mk2 is a definite improvement over the Mk1 for reliability although you will only find Mk2, 2.5s as I dont believe they made a Mk 1. The most desireable model as far as I am concerned is the Mk2, 2.1td manual estate, but they are like hens teeth, I have been looking for a late one for more tha a year now, plenty of automatics but I dont like automatics.
Hope this answers some of your questions.
Peter.N.
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Peter.N.
- Moderating Team
- Posts: 11578
- Joined: 02 Apr 2005, 16:11
- Location: Charmouth,Dorset
- My Cars: Currently:
C5 X7 VTR + Satnav Hdi estate Silver
C5 X7 VTR + Hdi Estate 2008 Red
In the past: 3, CX td Safaris and about 7, XM td estates. Lovely cars. - x 1207
Just a PS to my last post.
The Mk2 models came out in late '94 but there are a few later registered ones ones that are actually Mk1s. You can identify them from the following: The Mk2 has the chevrons at the centre of the front grill, the instrument housing is curved on the top, which means, unlike the Mk1 you cant stand a cup of tea on it! It also has a script writing type XM motiff on the rear.
The Mk2 models came out in late '94 but there are a few later registered ones ones that are actually Mk1s. You can identify them from the following: The Mk2 has the chevrons at the centre of the front grill, the instrument housing is curved on the top, which means, unlike the Mk1 you cant stand a cup of tea on it! It also has a script writing type XM motiff on the rear.