Wanted - Xantia 1.9TD SX strut tops (and advice)

[Mandrake]

Hi All,

No, there is nothing wrong with the strut tops in the V6 problem child however on speaking to my mum on Skype tonight (back in New Zealand) I've learned that her 1993 Xantia 1.9TD SX manual has just speared its bonnet. Fortunately it did so reversing into her garage, not on the motorway.

Its a fairly high mileage car (it had 140,000 miles on it when she bought it in 2007 and I'd hate to think what it has done now!) but apart from needing new spheres, strut tops and a bonnet its in good running order, especially the engine which has been well maintained, and the body has no rust. The reason she's wanting to hang onto the car if possible is because it gets run on biodiesel and more recently on a high percentage of vegetable oil that most of the later engines wont run on. It was specifically bought for the purpose of biodiesel and vegetable oil use...

I know strut tops are now NFP, and even if they weren't they'd be hideously expensive in NZ, chances of finding second hand strut tops in NZ are also very slim as I believe the main Citroen wrecker in NZ that I used to use has now retired.

So I said I'd ask on here...so does anyone know if its still possible to get a pair of decent condition suitable strut tops for this car ? As said its a 1993 1.9TD (with power steering) SX so NOT Hydractive, and its also a sinker, although I don't think that's relevant.

Assuming someone had a pair, does anyone know how heavy strut tops are so I might have an idea of what shipping costs to NZ might be ? I'd point out as well that strut tops in NZ fail through cracking and shearing of the rubber block, not through rusting of the metal base plate like in the UK so the rubber needs to be in good condition.

She also needs a set of spheres as the fronts were getting very stiff and probably contributed to the strut top failure, and I don't think the rears are far behind. All the spheres are probably still the ones I put on the car in 2007... I guess my best bet would be to get a set from AEP and ship them to her myself as spheres are eye wateringly expensive in NZ.

A bonnet they can hopefully find in NZ - I'm not shipping one of those!! Hopefully this car can still be saved...

[Northern_Mike]

Surely someone must have a pair lying around you can buy for little and send off to KingAs in Lithuania and get reconditioned then send on to her, with a box of AEP spheres?

[addo]

What's wrong with Australia?

How many do you want? They are kind of heavy, do you need them now?

[Mandrake]

What's wrong with Australia?

Where do I begin ?

Seriously though, given that there are far fewer Citroens in Australia than NZ I assumed chances of finding the necessary bits there were slim.

How many do you want? They are kind of heavy, do you need them now?

One has failed but I've advised her that it would be foolish not to replace both given the car is 20 years old, the other one could be weeks or months from failing as well, taking out bonnet number two...

She is borrowing a car in the mean time so its not an urgent hurry, but soon, if we can find a bonnet.

Are you hinting that you might have something ?

[addo]

I could get you some in the post this week, most likely. The mail would be about $100, no idea what old mate would charge for the tops. Think there's a set with 165K city driving on them.

[Mandrake]

If you could make an enquiry regarding price then PM me that would be appreciated

[Old-Guy]

I know strut tops are now NFP, ......its a 1993 1.9TD (with power steering) SX .... and its also a sinker, although I don't think that's relevant

Are you sure strut tops are NFP? Service.citroen is showing them as available for my 1995 SX TD estate - though they are in fact S2 strut tops so you also need to order the later type strut boot (as shown on service.citroen).

If you want me to check service.citroen for you, PM me the VIN or RP No. I changed the O/S/F strut mount in March, Citroen's price was a bit eye-watering (about £170 each with boot) and delivery was a shambles (1 week became 3, then 2 days later I had a call to say it was waiting for me to collect! The alternative would be rebuilt strut tops from Kingas in Lithuania Karolis Galinis Innovative company (http://www.elastomer.eu/en/strut-mounts.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;); they replied promptly to my e-mail in March:

"You should send your old Citroen Xantia strut mounts (tops) to us, we will renovate and send them back to you. Repair costs 75 EUR + VAT(21%) for a unit. Two strut mounts will cost 140 EUR + VAT. Four strut mounts 270 EUR + VAT. Six strut mounts 400 EUR + VAT. Repair will take 5 working days. Shipping with tracking number Kaunas, Lithuania > UK, 2 strut mounts will cost 37 EUR + VAT; 4 strut mounts 47 EUR + VAT; 6 strut mounts 50 EUR + VAT. Shipping will take 5 working days.

We also have strut mounts non-hydractive (small pipe ~4mm diameter) already renovated and ready for sale for 100 EUR + VAT + shipping for a unit."

[Mandrake]

The NFP belief comes from posts on the forum, perhaps only some years are not available now ?

I tried looking up her VIN number on service citroen but it comes back as invalid... I'll have to get her to double check the VIN and RPO for me.

She was quoted $900 NZ each (~ £450) locally for a replacement strut top so even £170 + shipping is a big saving let alone £100 + shipping. Perhaps the latter is the way to go.

[citroenxm]

I think one side is NFP one is still available, but I would NOT like to guess at the price!

I have TWO almost new sets in the shed. however one set has the 8mm unions, the other set though 3.5mm feed pipe looks like a larger 10mm union connection.

However, if Adam can sort you out from down there then thats great!

[Mandrake]

Thanks for the help everyone, especially addo who made a very good offer for a pair of strut tops located a bit closer than the UK, sadly mum has decided that when strut tops, a full set of spheres, and a bonnet are taken into account its going to cost more to repair than the car is worth.

So unfortunately another Xantia bites the dust. Chances are that it won't get scrapped however, but will be snapped up for a song by the same local Citroen enthusiast who bought her GSA for next to nothing when it snapped a timing belt and bent some valves a number of years ago! So it might live to fight another day, just not under her ownership...