C5 Regassing Spheres

ChevronMicky · Unread post by **ChevronMicky** » 02 May 2006, 01:18

Had a test drive in a new shape C5 recently and it seemed to ride better than my own 3 year old, 38k mile version. Does that indicate my spheres could do with recharging?

How often does that job need doing and does it generally improve the ride? What, typically, does it cost at the dealer?

The ride in mine is fair, but the demonstrator felt noticeably better. Ride quality is just about the number one attribute I look for in a car, certainly above performance.

DoubleChevron · Unread post by **DoubleChevron** » 02 May 2006, 01:43

My experiance with the Xantia duel membrane spheres is they hold 100% charge until the day they die, at that point they need replacing as the diaphram is buggered (that's why it lost the gas pressure).

seeya,
Shane L.

mezuk04 · Unread post by **mezuk04** » 02 May 2006, 08:10

Hmm, From your post it reads that the spheres have not been replaced yet and that you have had the car from new???

If they havent been changed from new and the car is now 3 years old and nearing 40k then I would certainly think they need replacing shortly.

406 V6 · Unread post by **406 V6** » 02 May 2006, 08:16

C5 spheres are told to have a 5 year life time due to the multilayer membrane and the interaction between nitrogen and LDS.
Also, in the technical manuals, they say that the spheres *cannot* be regassed.
The differences you may feel are mostly due to either different sphere specs that were introduced in the MKII, or the redisegned front suspension (different anchorage points, and bushes)
Do some citaerobics

mezuk04 · Unread post by **mezuk04** » 02 May 2006, 08:21

Ah, the 'new' spheres do last longer dont they,

I shall remember that for next time

ChevronMicky · Unread post by **ChevronMicky** » 02 May 2006, 19:59

Replies appreciated many thanks. I'd better start saving for the C5 Mk2 model then!

By "citaerobics", Francisco, are you suggesting that lowering and raising the car a couple of times can improve the ride? I'll certainly give it a try, but I'm not too hopeful...

Don't get me wrong, the ride in mine is by no means bad, it's just that I have experienced slightly better from Citroen. 'Tis only marginal.

406 V6 · Unread post by **406 V6** » 02 May 2006, 20:17

Yes, that's what i'm suggesting

Since the C5 doesn't sink (sometimes it does) exercising the suspension a few times is good as it lubes up the rams.
One method that is faultless to regain that magic carpet ride is to recalibrate your brain, ridding for a couple of days in another car, like a Vectra or something like that. Can't beat it

!!!

Mandrake · Unread post by **Mandrake** » 02 May 2006, 20:36

No one seems to have mentioned/noticed that C5 spheres are hermetically sealed, and don't have a filler cap like the older models, therefore you can't regass them even if you wanted to....

If they're like the mutilayer spheres for the Xantia they should last a long time, probably 5 years before you notice any significant loss in ride quality at all.

Of course there are other things that can cause poor ride quality such as bushes and balljoints, which could go before then if you're unlucky...

I agree though that if they're different models or years there could be a difference in the springing/damping set up from the factory.

Regards,
Simon

CitroenNuts · Unread post by **CitroenNuts** » 02 May 2006, 21:04

Your C5 has it got the sports button as my 2001 2.0L SX had a sports or comfort mode which did make a huge difference. Another thing that we did last year was to put 17” wheels on it with low profile tyres made a huge improvement on grip but the car was like any other road car Not a Citroen
One other point we noticed was when we 1st got the car the suspension was like a brick in comparison to the Xantia we had and now we’ve gone back to Xantia the opposite applies
So it could be a combination of factors

bencowell · Unread post by **bencowell** » 02 May 2006, 21:13

My 2002 C5 2.0 HDI (not with sport mode) received new spheres as part of a recall.

Having done around 40k since then they had been making noise and the ride getting harder. I had them changed at an independent and now the ride is a lot quieter and a bit smoother.

The C5 absorbs more small bumps than dads Picasso, but the Pic is quieter on the large bumps and holes. On balance I reckon the C5 wins.

ChevronMicky · Unread post by **ChevronMicky** » 03 May 2006, 09:12

Thanks guys, so they're sealed units in any case!

The point about recalibrating your brain is a good one. Familiarity does breed contempt. I used to own a Vectra -- pretty awful hard ride (plus the worst reliability in more than 20 cars I've owned). I drove my mate's much newer Vectra recently, same thing. Got back in the C5 and what a difference! I was driving an old BMW730i last week and even that didn't ride quite as well as the C5.

Yes, mine does have the sports mode button (and superb it is too on the twisties!) but it defaults to comfort mode when you switch off the ignition, so the car spends 95% of the time in comfort mode, CitroenNuts.