Vince's XM...213k and slowing....

vince · Unread post by **vince** » 04 Jun 2008, 23:34

My fascination with Citroens began back when i was 7....1980, we had just moved to Gibraltar (my dad was in the RAF). Where we first lived you walked out of the flats and then down into the town area. I remember and can still picture perfectly to this day, a black Citroen DS parked at the on one of the streets...it seemed to be there most days and i remember the big frog eyes on the front and how smooth and sleek it looked....I guess thats where it started........
From then on, i used to go to Madrid alot....my mum was Spanish and we have family there so we went every year over and over.......i remember one of my uncles having an 1970's gold GS which we used to ride around in with him. I didnt 100% realise what it was at the time but i remember how cool it looked....smooth design and unfussed...its just a pity i was that bit too young to really remember the ride etc...i remember being very interested in it though....

About the same time, still early 80's, there was this old guy in Madrid who used to live near my grans house. He had a yellow 2CV. I dont know why but we kids ended up getting a lift from him somewhere....the houses they lived in at that time were kind of shanty houses on scrub land which was mainly gravel and full of severe pot holes....kind of like off road terrain here...The 2CV ate it up and i remember how spongy it was sat in the back.

So to cut a long story short i have loved Citroens ever since with the DS being the favourite. Ive recently also learnt about the Citroen Ami and Mehari with the Ami ranking also as a favourite of design....

So on to car history.

First to current:
VW Polo classic 1985 Blue
Renault 9 1982 Blue
Citroen ZX 1991 White
Citroen Xantia 1994 Petrol Grey
Audi Coupe 1985 White
Audi Coupe 1986 White
BMW E30 325i Silver
Citroen Xantia 1994 Petrol Black
Volvo 850 T5 1996 Silver
Peugeot 406 2.1TD 1996 Blue
VW Passat 1.9 TD 1995 Blue (Soon to be for sale)
Citroen Xantia 1.9 TD VSX 1996 Blue (Picked up today)

Pics to follow of the Xantia.........along with the toils of owning it and fixing it up.

First tale to tell.....
The last owner must have spilled petrol in the boot somehow cos it stunk...the carpet was otherwise clean but after having a headache all day from the fumes..i took it out tonight and binned it. (i will be shopping for a replacement now). Removed the seatbelt anchor bolts only to strip the threads off one of the bolts when re fitting them

i hope a new bolt will locate easily enough because as it stands the hole in the floor may need to be re tapped.....

Why cant things just be straight forward?

vince · Unread post by **vince** » 05 Jun 2008, 19:10

Well the seatbelt anchor bolt is fixed but it took a trip to the garage to get it back in.
Word of advice. dont cross thread the seat belt anchor bolts as it tends to chew up the bolt hole in the floor and not the bolt which is a tougher metal....you cant replace the chassis if it cant be re tapped..

Anyway, thats fixed and also the rear light has a new seal as it was letting in water, so we are all dry again.

Also got a new transponder for the central locking as it didnt come with one. We do them at work so nice and easy...

Just waiting on a price to me for strut top mounts. once they are in then touch wood thats all the car needs

well that and an alloy wheel refurb and my stereo fitting.

Also had it down to Paris Autos in Stockport today who checked it over and confirmed that it was a very good example 8)

vince · Unread post by **vince** » 21 Jun 2008, 06:38

So how am i getting on?...ive done quite a bit so far

LHM drained, flushed, filters cleaned and refilled with Genuine Citroen LHM.

Front subframe wire brushed and undersealed.
All rusty components underneath the car cleaned up and painted / undersealed.
Rear spare wheel carrier cleaned up and re painted
Jack de rusted and refurbed
Spare wheel replaced and ready for refurbing
Rear carpet replaced with good second hand one
Rear tailgate seal replaced
Aftermarket stereo fitted
Front and rear whel arches cleaned out and undersealed
Front strut tops mounts waterproofed
Newly refurbed OE Citroen Xantia Alloy wheels purchased 8)

So overall that is all the car has needed to bring it up to a very clean level so i am happy for now

Cant wait to pick up the new wheels on sunday and get them on the car....

Once they are on i will d a quick photoshoot and get some pics posted up.

vince · Unread post by **vince** » 22 Jun 2008, 17:21

Got the newwheels this morning but need to get the tyres changed round so they arent on yet...good thing is though they are like new

So i am very chuffed to say the least

So much so i treated the car to a fresh coat of wax even though it was gail force winds outside......thats dedication i guess

vince · Unread post by **vince** » 05 Apr 2009, 23:15

Ok so its been a little while since ive posted on my own blog.

The car is coming along fine, new NSF caliper fitted, handbrake cables renewed, bulbs all round, Valeo wiper blades, service items, new rear silencer, but still alot of little jobs to be done. (they will get done too)

The shame with this car is it is looking quite tidy now but there are small imperfections in the paint which cannot be rectified without getting stuff resprayed. This is not going to happen though due to cost / no return if and when sold. So it will have to join the ranks along with my past few cars which all got almost to perfection but not quite.....never mind, i suppose thats the life of a daily driver

and will help the next owner along their road somewhat.

Until i buy a newer Xantia (HDI probably), this occupies pride of place in the french auto section of my heart...It still holds its own against other more modern (and still wearing fresh paint) cars on the road, thats enough for me

I do love this Xantia and it drives like a dream too

Pictures from earlier today

Nice reflection in the bonnet...incidentally the worst panel on the car...after the passenger door skin i suppose which has had a crap repair in the past

Do it right....

OE Citroen "windshield" for the sunroof....i quite like this addition as i havent seen another like it on another Xantia yet

What was rusty is now undersealed. It does look crap but it stops rot and i didnt have any smooth black hammerite in the shed...wish i had though, it would have turned out better than it did

At least its water tight.

Also can you believe the spheres are still working fine, they look like something beezlebub conjoured up from the fires of hell

I will get them changed at some point soon so they look nicer

Sl4yer · Unread post by **Sl4yer** » 05 Apr 2009, 23:28

Looks fantastic Vince!

James

red_dwarfers · Unread post by **red_dwarfers** » 06 Apr 2009, 07:57

As before vince, spot on with the paintwork from those photos

If I ever add to my fleet of one, it's going to have to be a darker colour

vince · Unread post by **vince** » 06 Apr 2009, 22:20

Thanks guys, i always thought a white one would be nice

Brigsygtt · Unread post by **Brigsygtt** » 07 Apr 2009, 11:41

Looks mint, Panels look very straight 8)

vince · Unread post by **vince** » 09 Apr 2009, 00:47

Just dont look too close

vince · Unread post by **vince** » 25 May 2009, 21:31

Attended the Citroen Car Club Northern Rally in Wetherby last weekend and to my utter amazement won the M&C Lockwood Trophy, presented for the Best Working Concours Car

I was amazed due to the lack of show prep i did (never intended it to be judged for anything) and the long list of jobs that still need doing (see below)

I am setting a goal for the DS/SM rally to have some of these jobs finished and the car show prepped..... the list is more for me to remember what i need to get done

- OSR door check strap, grease or replace
- Replace valve cover gasket
- Acc sphere seal
- Mirror cover caps (find and replace)
- Dashbulbs (some have gone)
- Heater temp stuck on warm......? where to start?
- Crank breather hose, replace
- OSF elec wind switch - solder connections
- OSF door trim, remove and refit
- Re-seal windscreen scuttle trim
- Carry out mini service

Nothing major i suppose if your Jim, or someone who knows more about DIY'ing these cars than i do....Im a bit skint at the moment though so im going to have to learn i guess

Happy motoring people

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 25 May 2009, 22:40

vince wrote:Heater temp stuck on warm......? where to start?

Does your car have air conditioning?

vince · Unread post by **vince** » 26 May 2009, 19:46

No it doesnt Richard,

Ive read up on this before but i dont know where to look for the temperature flap thingy if thats the fault. I do have a centre console heater control unit but came a cropper when i didnt know how to swap the cables over

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 26 May 2009, 20:04

My first port of call would be to take a look at the movement of the control cables from the heater controls, remove the radio to observe them.

vince · Unread post by **vince** » 27 May 2009, 19:58

will do thanks