Elmas Xantia V6 and Musical Stuff

[elma]

No, I'm cleaning the bathroom watching for the UPS van.
I'm off Ice skating at 17.00 so he has to come by now really so I can give the dog a decent walk and fit them.

[elma]

Spheres finally arrived and are fitted. Not going to make Ice skating though if I take the dog for a proper walk. Car driving much better, NSF wheel is still wobbly but compared to before its so much better. I'm prity happy with the state of the car now, beginning to warm to it now it's not so full of problems.



Next set of days off I have 13 so will be making a huge effort to get the last 2 spheres, strut tops, front control arm bushes, track rod ends, tyres and tracking all done. That will just leave the Cambelt kit and turbo pipes for January then it's all cosmetic and finishing touches from there. Mileage when the spheres went on was 104,465. I need to add up all the receipts again to see how much its cost so far. I reckon it's probably around £900

[bxzx16v]

Good progress, nice looking car btw.

Mark

[CitroJim]

Excellent Elma I'm pleased it's all coming together now.. Doing those few jobs is making all the difference...

[elma]

Nothing really to report about the Xantia today. It has been a good little car for the last 4 days and not really troubled me at all. I'm definitely growing fond of it now and I can't wait to get the last 2 spheres done. I was honestly thinking for the last few weeks that once I get the cambelt and front suspension finished I would sell it and buy another van, not my intention when I bought it but the drive has been disappointing. However now it feels like a Xantia, I look forward to driving it and will certainly be keeping it.

There was one thing that happened in the first or second week that I forgot to mention. I went to McDonalds on my break to get the team some food, nothing for me but I fancied a drive. On the way back I stopped at a roundabout and a Nurse drove straight into the back of me. The Xantia was fine, she hit the tow bar. Her Megane Scenic needs a new bumper. I was so impressed I decided to keep the ugly tow bar and giant plate that is attached to it even though as soon as I saw it I had decided it had to go.

I'm not planning any work to the car today, maybe a wipe down and hoover if I get bored later. I'm totally exhausted so after a nice dog walk will probably just chill out. It's day 1 of 13 off so no rush really.

There is actually one issue from this week, the boot light occasionally does not work. Tapping the plastic cover above the sensor will turn it on. I think the wire that goes to the sensor is failing. Tomorrow I will be swapping it for the Peugeots one. Hopefully that will be the cause anyway, when I fitted the replacement sensor it didn't work brilliantly unless the wire was taped down in the right place, I guess I should have just changed it last week. I'm only talking about the last 4 inches or so that attach to the sensor, hopefully no trained rats for me.


The Ugly but brilliant tow bar

I've been thinking about a few cosmetic touches for when I've finished the mechanical side of things. I'd like to put an early, badgeless, front grill on it and debadge the rear leaving only the VSX rear and the Turbodiesel side badges. I will also be tinting the rear windows with the lightest smokey tint I can find. I have 2 Winter tyres fitted to the standard alloys and will get 2 more next month. For Summer tyres I'd rather have different wheels than be ever changing tyres. I'm not sure what yet but some of the C5 and OZ wheels look alright. I'll be trying on a few different wheels in Photoshop for a while now. I'll also be making sure the wheels are a few shades darker than standard. I'm not that keen on silver or black wheels, I like somewhere in the middle.

[CitroJim]

Have you thought about a set of Activa or SII Exclusive alloys Elma? They look quite pleasant on any Xantia, Activa ones especially...

[elma]

Thats not a bad idea, I like the Activa wheels. Not so keen on the S2 exclusives though. I did consider another set of VSX wheels but I like the idea of 2 looks.

I did do a little job on the car before my walk. The postman brought me my new fuel filter, I know I already changed it but I prefer the old Lucas type which I believe seals better. Fitted at 104,832miles



A few more niggles,

I will replace the LHM tank seal when I get the strut tops, the pump may be ok, I will see after I clean it.

Finally, couldn't resist, co-driver in rally harness and a pic from todays walk.

[CitroJim]

There was once a duff set of those green filters doing the rounds... They were counterfeits and melted when immersed in diesel... I had one do that trick on me and since that always avoided them...

There's a thread on here somewhere going back perhaps 7 years all about it...

[elma]

Oh dear, thanks for the heads up. I will keep an eye.

[CitroJim]

Oh dear, thanks for the heads up. I will keep an eye.

You're OK Elma, the ones in question were branded 'Hengst'...

As I say, it was nigh-on 7 years ago now and I got my money back... I'm sure all the duff ones are well gone now...

[elma]

I should be ok then. Mines NOS Lucas with a date stamp of 27/6/03. It was the Lucas one I always used to buy, I'm convinced that they reduce leak back significantly. Mine now starts on the first turnover rather than about the 5th, I suppose it means nothing until the morning though as the cars been driven today.

Unfortunately this sort of thing does seem to happen more and more in the motor industry. A friend of mine bought front discs and pads from a local factor about a year ago for an Audi A3 that was 2 years old. The discs warped in under 500miles and could be felt significantly when braking. When he took them back the factor didn't flinch and explained that some Indian reproductions had entered their stock. They did not know which stock was affected though and offered exchange or refund. My friend took the refund as the factor was unable to guarantee the replacements would be genuine.

[elma]

After some faffing the C5 alloys or the Activas are the favourite at the moment.
Here it is on the C5's

I reckon you all know what a red Xantia looks like on Activa wheels. But theres a picture for comparison, it's an Activa not my car. Be funny if it's one of yours. Then finally on it's original wheels.
The wheels aren't dissimilar, I'll either change my mind or have whichever I find first I guess.

[CitroJim]

C5 wheels look quite good Elma...

[elma]

They're alright aren't they. You keep stranger hours than me Jim. I tried a few others like Ford Monza, Xsara Picasso, 406 standard even a few OZs. I like the OZ and the C5s best. Already not buying the OZ though as someone will nick them. Theres a couple of sets of the C5s on ebay for about £200 with part worn tyres. I reckon come summer that'll be what I get, no sign of Activa wheels from a quick search. No sign of any Activas actually, shame I wouldn't mind one in the future.

[CitroJim]

. You keep stranger hours than me Jim.

I'm a Lark Elma, up at 4 every morning. I have no choice in the matter.... Means my day is time-shifted but it works well for me

Only problem is that 9pm is a very late night for me