C5 2009 excl. suspension - how to check?

[rmunns]

Even though I had 2 Xantias and did a lot of sphere changing, I am still a little unsure as to how you know if things are working properly or not.
I have read a comprehensive posting here and it has raised another couple of questions.

Mine is a late 2009, tourer, Hdi 165hp excl. auto. With sport setting. Bought at 196k km, now 208k km (123k miles, 130k miles). Touch wood, no probs. No faults indicated. Just a bit of a niggle that the display above the rearview mirror is always blank. Just about to do brake pad change all round.

To be truthful, I don't see much - if any - changes in ride between 'sport' setting or normal. Maybe I'm not driving enthusiastically enough?

What ought I to check first? Are there any tests I can do? I do occasionally operate the up and down buttons to raise and lower and that seems ok.

[GiveMeABreak]

With the X7 C5, you should really notice the difference in sport mode when cornering. If you have any country bends for example - it makes a huge difference and mine sticks to the road like glue on the odd occasion when I've been in a real hurry and giving it lots of welly. Even at low speed - you should still notice the effect - again on bendy roads - it stops / severely reduces the pitching from left to right.

[centurus2400]

I agree with GiveMeAbreak - there is a definite and very noticeable difference between Normal and Sport settings.
It does make a real difference if you're pushing on a bit
I love my X7!!!

[Paul-R]

I also haven't noticed any difference between normal and sport in my short period of ownership. But then again I also notice a slight jiggling from left to right whilst driving along the motorway at speeds between 30 - 50 mph. I couldn't replicate that when I took a Citroen technician for a drive and they ay there's no error fault logged so maybe it's just me?

[GiveMeABreak]

30-50 on a Motorway Paul? You know you they could have you for holding up traffic!
But seriously, I doubt you would really notice the effect that much on straight, relatively smooth roads. Is it possible your centre spheres or for that matter your corners spheres need replacing?

I've never been convinced of the push down test for the C5 and less so for the X7 to test the spheres. That method only seemed to work on my older GS and CX models to be honest. The X7 doesn't seem to bounce much at all doing this test, yet mine rides quite well. So I'm not inclined to put a hole through the wing endlessly trying. Ok so Citroen say 5 years or 120k on the system. I've done about 65k in mine in just over 6 years. So about half the mileage, but over the time frame for the 'maintenance free' part of the system warranty.

I suppose once I really start to notice the ride deteriorate, I'll be buying a set of genuine Citroen spheres and getting them fitted somewhere like Pleides. No point in the additional cost in time and moola to get all 7 tested at that point.

[jgra1]

I'm swaying to a sphere change on my.x7 .122k

Agree Marc, a load of hassle to remove them for testing

John

[vborovic]

I don't have spheres on mine ... ... just recently drove one X7 Saloon hydractive, the difference could be instantly recognized while toggling between sport/regular suspension ... but, it's not that big of a difference actually as one wold expect

[GiveMeABreak]

...the difference could be instantly recognized while toggling between sport/regular suspension ... but, it's not that big of a difference actually as one wold expect

Try driving round the Welsh countryside with 90 degree bends every 2 minutes - you'll soon notice the difference then!

[vborovic]

I see you haven't been in Croatia yet ... ... the northern part beats any Welsh rally course you have

[Paul-R]

30-50 on a Motorway Paul? You know you they could have you for holding up traffic!
...Is it possible your centre spheres or for that matter your corners spheres need replacing?

Actually, it's the motorway traffic that holds me up. I join the motorway from the slip road (J1 M53 for those that might know it) on the way home. There's a load of traffic coming from the Mersey Tunnel and then there's the exit for J2 (Moreton Spur) coming up very soon; some of that traffic is trying to move over to the slip road and all I want to do is get out of the inside lane into the middle lane in as smooth a manner as possible.

It's the 30 - 50 segment that I notice this jiggling the most. Beyond that it's less noticeable.

The car's done 34K so I would doubt (hopefully) that a sphere needs replacing.

[The Ace]

It would be a pity to pass the opportunity to jump on the question-wagon set in motion by the OP I too have trouble feeling the differences -if any exist- between Normal and Sport settings on the Hydro3+ of my C5. I've switched back and forth, trying to spot any differences, but in vain. The car dips and squats the same while braking or accelerating, and it doesn't feel more "contained" or controlled while cornering or slaloming at medium or high speeds.

I should note that I have already changed the rear left bottle/damper due to leakage (such that it produced "Suspension Faulty" at some time), and I have already ordered the rear right for the same reason.

I would really appreciate it if someone could point me to which parts I should check, or which is a decent method to check whether it works as it should (no error codes produced ever, except for the "Suspension Faulty" caused by LDS leakage)....

[GiveMeABreak]

Well that's odd - it should be quite noticeable. It almost sounds like your centre spheres are not functioning properly (in other words staying in comfort mode riding on all spheres instead of the 4 corners only in Sport mode) - or the opposite in that your centre spheres are not energising and therefore you are permanently in sport mode.
I guess the only way to tell is to find another X7 owner and see if you can do a comparison.

[jgra1]

It's a minefield, ace
I have mostly given up with my x7 suspension now

It's not ideal but the car is nice on flat roads on long cruises..which is mostly why i got her

John

[Stickyfinger]

I notice only when I "Push On" or on very twisty bits.
I like soft mode for normal A-road speeds and motorways.

Do a run up and down a known twisty road and compare

[RichardW]

Assuming the X7 systems works the same as the previous one....You shouldn't notice any difference just pressing the button - this does not engage hard mode, nor does it make hard mode any stiffer -all it does is lower the thresholds for when it switches to hard mode. So, if you are testing by hammering round corners etc then you won't notice any difference either as it would already have been in hard. You might notice it on gentle flowing corners, or medium acceleration / braking in that it feels a bit flatter / more composed.