Buyers Guide Citroen XM

This is the Forum for all your Citroen Technical Questions, Problems or Advice.
Amazon Activa
Posts: 23
Joined: 01 Jun 2006, 16:48
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Buyers Guide Citroen XM

Unread post by Amazon Activa »

A friend of mine is looking into getting an XM 2.1TD as his daily driver.

I was wondering if people could offer some good advise when looking at a car.
Garlic bread, I've tasted it, it's the future - Peter Kay in Phoenix Nights

Nissan 300zx TT (94k)
Citroen BX Estate 19RD (197k)

Citroen Xantia Activa (Gone, but never forgotten)
Amazon Activa
Posts: 23
Joined: 01 Jun 2006, 16:48
x 1

Unread post by Amazon Activa »

Have given him the Citroenian guide, but anything else would be good!
Garlic bread, I've tasted it, it's the future - Peter Kay in Phoenix Nights

Nissan 300zx TT (94k)
Citroen BX Estate 19RD (197k)

Citroen Xantia Activa (Gone, but never forgotten)
jeremy
Posts: 3959
Joined: 20 Oct 2002, 16:00
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Unread post by jeremy »

This'll keep you out of the pub for a few days!

http://www.tramontana.co.hu/citroen/

For a textbook on Citroens follow link to Technical Guide at top left.
jeremy
andmcit
Posts: 4299
Joined: 03 Mar 2005, 17:59
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Unread post by andmcit »

First off - don't bother AT ALL with an automatic box! It will end expensively or in tears [or both!]

The main weaknesses of the Xm in no particular order are:

- Strut tops - real minefield this one - fatigue of rubber donut and rusting shoulder mounting
- Duff cabling in sunroof - motor works but no tilty slidey
- Leaky heater matrices - <1hour job if you undo steering column
- radiator failure
- timing belt failure - nothing new for any car...
- ABS - nothing new for any Citroen...
- head gasket falure - nothing new for any diesel
- ineffective dip beam
- droplinks rattling
- lower wishbone bushes flopping about

At a minor level:
- dot matrix display on instruments going AWOL
- innevitable snapped handle on glovebox - chaep flimsy placky
- totally flat strut on glovebox lid
- lecky window plastic runners disintegrating so window doesn't have guide to go up again
- plipper reciever in roof filling with water

Then there's the cracked nosecone as some idiot nudges it as it's low down in a car park... and did I mention the heater matrix...!?

Nice cars, and I've got a few but I've actually found a good Xantia to be MORE comfortable!!

Andrew
Peter.N.
Moderating Team
Posts: 11761
Joined: 02 Apr 2005, 16:11
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Unread post by Peter.N. »

I have been running XM 2.1 td estates for the last 10 years or so and still think they are the best thing since sliced bread, very comfortable, very roomy and very economical, 50 + mpg driven reasonably, nothing new to match them. But...Like Xantias they are pigs to work on, fitted a head gasket to mine last year, took about 20 hours! but since then about 25k trouble free miles.

The best place for info is : http://club-xm.com this site is dedicated to XM technical info, if you buy one join.