Citroenmads Citroen blog.

[Citroenmad]

I shall be interested to hear what difference the mods make to your Beachcomber.

Rob

It runs well but over fuels on full throttle, so I plan on doing the above mentioned jobs on the carb and setting it up correctly.

I've also re-sprung the seats on the 2cv today, replacing the rubbers and sorting out the loose covers. The seats are much better but I have just ordered a full set of seat foams to fully sort them.

[Citroenmad]

Shame about the head gasket on the XM. Was you planning on selling it anyway? Those are quite pricey figures you have been quoted there. Is the 2.1 engine the same design as the 1.9 turbo diesel engine in a Xantia - which I believe is the 'xud'? The head gasket on my 1.9 td Xantia failed at around 130k miles, and it was a pig of a job.

It was for sale, so I'm very fortunate that the headgasket failed on us and not its new owner. It was a pricey job as its quite a lengthy job. It was not something we wanted to do ourselves and had we of got it repaired it would only have delayed selling it. So we had the best result. I believe its not an uncommon thing on XUD engines.

[Northern_Mike]

The XM has now sold, it went on Saturday to Savoy Garage who will repair and resell it.

Tried to sell it to me yesterday via my brother!

[Citroenmad]

The XM has now sold, it went on Saturday to Savoy Garage who will repair and resell it.

Tried to sell it to me yesterday via my brother!

Really! It's up for a lot more than I originally had it advertised for. However we are just very pleased it has gone and it no longer a concern, cost or a used parking space.

[Citroenmad]

Well I've not got a lot to report, I've been back in the C5 as my daily driver for the past few weeks. Mainly to keep the Xantia HDi out of the salt while the gritters have been doing their thing in this cold weather. Ive mentoned before that I have been considering selling the C5 and using the Xant HDi as my everyday driver. However, after using it for a while before going back to the C5, there are a lot of things about the C5 I miss. A big part of the C5 I miss is the engine, the 16v 2.0 HDi is a real improvement on the 8v 2.0 HDi. It's quieter, it's smoother, it pulls lower down, it has much more torque and is so much more lively. The longer gearing due to the 6speed box is also a real bonus when cruising. However, the 8v is a more simple unit (doing wout the DPF and DMF) which is very well proven. This is going to be a much harder decision than I first thought. I'll have to keep the C5, again ... This is my third, will I ever find a car which does everything I want and need from a car and I'm this happy with?

Today was a nice day, with no salt on the roads, so I had the Acriva out for a drive ... much to the dissapointment of an Alfa GT coupe V6 driver! Who's car is not as good around roundabouts as he thought The Activa is not a good influence on me I then gave it a clean, removed the battery and put it under cover out of the way of the winter.

The C15 also went to its winter hibernation spot today, nicely tucked up in a local private garage. It's getting much easier to move around here now!

Just finished the 2cvs seats today. They have been re-sprung, have new bases and new foams all round. They are so much more comfortable, padded and even now. Excellent! It's made a big difference to the feel of the car. We then set about fitting the new dashboard plate. Which is not as easy as first thought there are so many wires behind the dashboard, I thought a 2cv would have three wires but no, it has a load! All of which need sorting out and tidying up, if I can remember what does what! Also, I think we have got to the bottom of the intermittent fuel gauge, it seems to be the gauge itself, unfortunately.

[bxzx16v]

Sounds like you had fun in the activa Chris , I can understand what your going through with your C5 dilemma , it had crossed my mind once or twice to sell both the doblo and Zx and get something to take on both jobs of a load lugger with a bit of performance , I was seriously tempted to take over the wifes laguna and persuade her into something else but I don't think she would as it really does cover all the bases with it's allround ability . If I were to get something else it could be a C5 III but I don't think the 2.0 is quick enough and I can't stretch to a 2.2 , it maywell be another laguna III or perhaps an alfa 159 estate . I may even look at getting something pre- dpf as I really hate them and would rather pay more road tax for a vehicle that doesn't have one fitted .

Mark

[Citroenmad]

Sounds like you had fun in the activa Chris

Oh yes!

If I were to get something else it could be a C5 III but I don't think the 2.0 is quick enough and I can't stretch to a 2.2 , it maywell be another laguna III or perhaps an alfa 159 estate . I may even look at getting something pre- dpf as I really hate them and would rather pay more road tax for a vehicle that doesn't have one fitted .

Mark

The C5III is disappointingly heavy, the 2.0HDi 138 in that has the same performance figures as a 1.6HDi 110 in a C5II. I would want the 2.2 173, ideally, but I would settle for a 2.0HDi 138 and go for a remap. It would need to be an Exclusive Tourer - so its hydractive and so it has a boot.

Yes, part of the reasons I like the HDI Xantia is it does without the DPF and DMF. Neither is a feature we need or want. I beleive Toyota has gone away from DMFs on some of its cars due to the complaints of failure, more manufacturers should do the same.

[CitroJim]

Sounds like you had fun in the activa Chris

Oh yes!

Every drive in an Activa is fun Must dig mine out of hibernation and take it for a spin (not literally! ) soon....

[Northern_Mike]

Sounds like you had fun in the activa Chris

Oh yes!

Every drive in an Activa is fun Must dig mine out of hibernation and take it for a spin (not literally! ) soon....

I can't imagine you going fast enough to make it spin Jim!

You're right though, every drive in one is fun. Wish I had more drive space. Needs must, C5 on the way..

[CitroJim]

I think you're right Mike, about never going fast enough to make it spin... I am a bit of an old grandad behind the wheel now

Be interested to see what you think of the C5...

[Citroenmad]

I've never spun mine, so I guess I don't drive mine fast enough to make it spin either

A C5 Mike, I wondered when you would venture into one. What model are you going for? I'm not sure if you will like a C5, they don't reward spirited driving and do feel and are much bigger than a Xantia. However, they are great at being a very good car and offer many benefits over the, so you might just take to it. I like C5's but it does depend on year/model for me. They do grip very well though, better than a Xantia. Totally dependable in their drive, no tail end accelerator cornering, shame! No programmed self-steering rear either.

I'm looking forward to hearing what you think to the one you get

I'm back in my HDI Xantia this week, done about 200 miles since Monday morning.
All I need to do is blend a Xantia with a C5 and I'll be sorted, I wonder how much speed I'll need for that ...

[CitroJim]

I've never spun mine, so I guess I don't drive mine fast enough to make it spin either

I nearly put my first one in a ditch after discovering the roll correction only worked one way! Scary!

All I need to do is blend a Xantia with a C5 and I'll be sorted, I wonder how much speed I'll need for that ...

All you need is one Indian elephant, a tree and a welder as per that iconic 206 advert from a few years ago

[Citroenmad]

I bet that was an interesting moment Jim

I've had a scare in my Activa, all my own fault for pressing on a little too much. Taught me the limits of the car and my driving I'll just say, there is no mystery as to why I've gotten through tyres so quickly

It's going to be the elephant I'm going to struggle with there, I don't see too many around here. I'll have to think of a substitute

[Citroenmad]

I have given my C5 a much needed service today. I usually do it every 6-7,000 miles which is usually every 4 months. However I've neglected it a little and have been a bit busy, it had done 9,000. The oil is now as clean as a whistle, filters changed and its good to go.

As I headed out this morning to warm up the C5 ready for its oil change, I went down my Activa testing route. It was a bit wet on the roads, however, it quite impressed me. I don’t often drive the C5 in too much anger but it does cope and quite well for such a car. I was actually enjoying myself, maybe a little too much at times!

So, for my imaginary C5 and Xantia mash up, I'll have to retain the C5s wet grip but fit Activa suspension, Xantia Exclusive seats, ditch the DMF and DPF (both are a hindrance rather than a benefit) and, well, I'll keep my list running …

After I finished my C5, I then set about replacing the front brake pads on our 2002 C5 2.0HDi 110 SX. They were starting to get ready for replacement:





Actually, it had been warning of low brake pads for a day or two. As I reversed it out of the garage this morning I noticed a clunk when braking in reverse. So I whipped off the wheel to find the inside pad had become unbonded from the metal backing plate. The loose friction material must have chopped off the low pad level sensor and triggered the light. They were getting right down and needed replacing anyway. It now has a new set of pads.

I might sped a bit more time doing some jobs on the 2cv tomorrow, in between some Uni work no doubt. The dashboard is out at the moment, revealing a ton of wires which once went somewhere and had a use, but now just look like a safety hazard. They need sorting and finding out what does what before I put the speedo back in. There is a replacement fuel gauge on the way, which should hopefully fix the temperamental registering.

A few weeks back we rebuilt the carb, which has solved its tendency to lose power at full throttle and its running like a dream. As quiet as a sewing machine! I had to rev it at a junction the last time I drove it, as I thought it had stopped

[CitroJim]

Nobody can ever accuse you of not getting your full moneys-worth out of a set of pads Chris

Must be that Northern thrift coming out...

Interesting thoughts on a C5-Activa mash-up....