Citroenmads Citroen blog.

[andmcit]

I realise that the later s1.5 Xm's got glammed up a bit but a J reg 2.0i Prestige I have in
dark green has the standard basic black mirrors and scuttle.

2.0i must'nt have been as high in the range as a 2.1TD! Not that I'm complaining as I prefer
the capping and scuttle's contrast with the paintwork and it has the lovely wobbly web alloys.
I reckon Citroen was just making it all up as they went along.

[ragger]

Nice pics Chris.

Pleased your observed drive went well. I really enjoyed the runs out I had with my oberver who rather drip fed me points to think about. I also had a second observer who confirmed my readiness to be tested. I am not the least critical of passengers, but I was quite happy with your drive out in the Saab the other day.

Rob

[vince]

Will everybody stop showing me pictures of XM's....i have to wait a couple of weeks to get my hands on one...its killing me

Chris the XM looks great.....i definately want to play a part in getting the best from the finish on her....it will look outstanding once its where you want it to be...Ill race you to it

Im hearing nothing but praise for XM's recently.....i cant wait

[bxzx16v]

Great selection of pics as ever Chris

Mark

[Deanxm]

Will everybody stop showing me pictures of XM's....i have to wait a couple of weeks to get my hands on one...its killing me

Chris the XM looks great.....i definately want to play a part in getting the best from the finish on her....it will look outstanding once its where you want it to be...Ill race you to it

Im hearing nothing but praise for XM's recently.....i cant wait

It will com round quick enough besides, the thrill is in the chase

D

[andmcit]

the thrill is in the chase

Tell me about it - probably why I've got 100+ cars!!

[Deanxm]

your running too fast Andrew!

D

[andmcit]

I've been doing something wrong...

[Citroenmad]

I realise that the later s1.5 Xm's got glammed up a bit but a J reg 2.0i Prestige I have in
dark green has the standard basic black mirrors and scuttle.

2.0i must'nt have been as high in the range as a 2.1TD! Not that I'm complaining as I prefer
the capping and scuttle's contrast with the paintwork and it has the lovely wobbly web alloys.
I reckon Citroën was just making it all up as they went along.

The wobbly webs are the best XM wheels in my opinion

Still, the painted bumpers are easier to repair than the grey and grainy ones, if its scuffed there is not a lot you can do about it.

Nice pics Chris.

Pleased your observed drive went well. I really enjoyed the runs out I had with my oberver who rather drip fed me points to think about. I also had a second observer who confirmed my readiness to be tested. I am not the least critical of passengers, but I was quite happy with your drive out in the Saab the other day.

Rob

I hope to get out a few times a week and hopefully get to my test fairly sharpish. Thanks, hopefully ill get through ok, quite interested in volunteering as an observer, once I get there.

Will everybody stop showing me pictures of XM's....i have to wait a couple of weeks to get my hands on one...its killing me

Chris the XM looks great.....i definately want to play a part in getting the best from the finish on her....it will look outstanding once its where you want it to be...Ill race you to it

Im hearing nothing but praise for XM's recently.....i cant wait

It'll soon come round and you will be enjoying your very own XM

Thanks Vince, I would appreciate your help with its paintwork and very much looking forward to getting a chance to use your rotary polisher on it. I think it will come up really well.

XMs are very good Vince, I really enjoy driving them and actually im finding the S1s that bit more unique too. Today I was driving through a small city road with the sunroof open, I heard some people walking down the road say "look at that" and they turned and smiled! They do get a few looks now, Ive noticed it a few times, they are starting to look very different from other things on the road.

Great selection of pics as ever Chris

Mark

Thanks Mark

the thrill is in the chase

Tell me about it - probably why I've got 100+ cars!!

I would struggle to sleep at night That must be quite something though, what a collection, certainly a very interesting thing to see. Ive said it before, but when are you opening a museum?

[andmcit]

Who said I manage to sleep at night?

[Citroenmad]

Im still in thought about what to do with the 3 cars, I've almost came around to the idea that the C5 will go but what replaces it is the problem. I have established that something will replace it, as I don't want to use the XM daily and the Activa would get quite noticeable with its fuel consumption and annual my mileage. However, I've been back in the C5 the last few days and its very nice. I have been wanting a smaller car for myself for a good while now, so im pretty certain in what im doing with the C5.

Ive added another car to my possible C5 replacement list, a C2. Either in sensible 1.4HDi SX spec, with hardly any road tax and 60mpg, its not to be sniffed at. However its a bit dull and im leaning towards a more sporty spec. I like the VTR spec but all are sensodrives, so possibly a GT or even VTS would be excellent. Id prefer a GT as they are lower insurance and a bit better on fuel than the VTS and I also like the white rims! My list is growing, though I think I know what I'll end up with.

The XM has seen a few more improvements this week, I got hold of a set of 20 chromed plastic wheel bolt covers to cover up the rust bolt heads - usually unsightly on XMs. They fit great and are the right size, I got some previous which were too long and so stuck out beyond the face of the alloy - they suit the Xantia very well though.
Bolt covers:

Need to get some tar remover to get that old wheel weight sticky pad off.

Today I set about changing the silver side door strips to the Stainless Steel ones. What a fiddly job! Some of the silver trims just pealed off, as they were so unstuck. Others took real effort to get off and some I just left on. It is possible to leave the old trims fitted and put the new stainless ones on over the top, so long as there is room between the door rub strip and the existing silver trim to allow the new stainless items to be slid in either ends. If the old trims are pealing they will need to be removed first, I only left the best ones in place.
It did take me a while, I got a very slight kink in the first one I did but after that it went well. My hands are cut to ribbons from screwdrivers and the sharp ends on the stinless trims, but it was worth it. The bright silver trims set the black off a real treat and it looks so much better for not having dirty trims whcih were hanging off. I used something called "stixall" to glue them in place, seems to have done the job well.

I didn't get finished until this evening, so the pictures are poor, but once the rest of the car is spruced up and its paintwork finish has improved then more will appear.
Before:




After:




I have managed to talk a very kind XM owner into selling me one of his tidy front bumper trims, I just need to collect it and source a rear one now

[bxzx16v]

That Xm is coming along nicely Chris , you've even managed to get some nice reflrction shots too This Xm is going to look great when it's done

Mark

[Citroenmad]

That Xm is coming along nicely Chris , you've even managed to get some nice reflrction shots too This Xm is going to look great when it's done

Mark

Thanks Mark

Its still got a way to go but its on track to becoming a decent example.

[vince]

Chris those bolt covers look the business dont they They really lift the wheels up a notch.

[Citroenmad]

Chris those bolt covers look the business dont they They really lift the wheels up a notch.

I think they do, I have just ordered a set for the XM estate too

These are the exact ones I've
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/140765599465? ... 1423.l2649" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
They fit perfectly and come with two removal tools. Makes more of a difference to the overall look of the car than I first thought.