Looking at replacements...

[vince]

The casting vote?

All the Citroens i have owned up to my current Hydractive Xantia TD have been petrols....the problems i had were numerous. They seemed to like blowing head gaskets....

Touch wood, my current Xantia is performing almost faultlessly. It does have a couple of niggles but thats down to its history of patchy repairs, nothing else. The Diesel is absolutely king 8)

Fuel economy is great, the noise intrusion is very low, it has plenty of poke in comparison to the petrol Xantias i have owned (1.8 and 1.6).

Ive also had a 2.1TD 406. But like Jim said "once you've had a hydraulic Citroen there is no comparison" Never a truer word has been said.

What garage has the V6? I know a few places up near Blackburn, one in particular i know sells alot of Xantias but are known to be a bit dodgy I know a guy who was in business with them.

[KP]

I cant recall but its on autotrader. They have 2 one with 286k on the clock and the other with 150ish(CT estate)

I've also spotted a HDi LX, odds on this is going to be the 90bhp model but is there a way to tell from the reg plate at all??

[handyman]

Hello KP, I suppose you could try the DVLA website with the reg. number, although I cannot remember how much detail it gives out.

Alternatively, if you are friendly with a Motor Factors, you could get them to run the reg. number through their parts database. That should tell you.

Failing that, why not ask the person selling it?

If you are stuck for a car and fancy a cheap 110 HDi estate, PM me. It is in your neck of the woods.

Handyman

[RichardW]

That's a nice looking Hdi on e-bay - a 110 to boot as well!

You can't tell a 110 by the number, but underbonnet photos give it away (the second air hose next to the filter box). If there is an interior shot you can tell by the gear lever - on 110's it's sort of canted over to the LH side of the car - this is a bit subtle though, and you probably need to have seen / driven both to realise. 110s have bigger tyres too I think - 205/60/R15.

I'd avoid the HDi 90 if you can - the HDi 110 is a outstanding. Until it goes wrong

[KP]

Thats the one i have my eye on really

My dad has the 90 C5 and i dont really want one to be honest but they ofer a much improved MPG which could make the difference between SVo and cheap Bio where i am....

[KP]

Well looks like i may well be the owner of a V reg LX HDi 110 estate next weekend!!

Now pending further info it looks like i can get belt kits and water pumps cheap off ebay but is it worth the risk?
Am i better getting a kit from GSF and getting it fitted by a pug specialist?
Also anything else i should check? IIRC the xantias did not have the DMF's fitted only the C5's which is one less thing to worry about.

[RichardW]

I'd spend out for a known quantity belt kit from GSF - I suspect the injection pump has to work quite hard on an HDi to make the 1600 bar injection pressure!

No DMF, but changing the clutch is not much fun - book time is 8 hours. Just make sure it feels right - the 110 should be effortless.

[steelcityuk]

Easiest way to check if the Hydractive works would be to pull fuse(s) and take it around the block. Or if you think that's a bit much you could turn the engine off, get out the car close the door and press down on the bonnet/boot a few times until 30 seconds has elapsed then you should hear a click and the suspension will become very firm. However just because you can bounce it around doesn't necessarily mean the suspension works as it should when driving. There's absolutely loads of threads on the ride quality issues of hydractive Citroen's, both Xantia's and XM's. Out of 3 I had only 1 worked as it should despite countless hours spent flushing, replacing parts, etc.

Nice car the HDi Exclusive but no cruise or fuel computer and the armrest gets in the way if used on a RHD car.

Steve.

[KP]

Ah no exclusive for me, the one i liked went for about £1300

Mines just an LX and as long as the drivers window is electric and it has working good AC im not bother about the other bits until a cheap leather estate trim comes up for sale