Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs

[MattBLancs]

Hi all,

I've decided to stop contributing to "X7 only runs for fraction of a second" (viewtopic.php?t=71261 ) as it runs fine at present!

So here's a more appropriate blog to cover what happens next. Plus other stuff I get up to with the others too.

Thread title comes from the last few photos that have been on the above thread, and perhaps unsurprisingly from what it looked like this morning:

Slightly squished rear end

Because

A tad full

Once engine on, Economy Mode Active cancelled and suspension pump heaved it back up to normal running height. It does make me think that a normal car, sprung as softly as the C5 would have to creep along carefully on its bump stops to the tip, whereas the C5 hides the load beautifully.

[myglaren]

Always found that mine, estate and saloon, felt better when loaded to the gills, and for a few days after too.

[MattBLancs]

Spec of the C5:

2.2 HDi, 6 speed manual. Exclusive, so the hydropneumatic suspension. About 143,000 miles covered at the time of writing. Lovely big glass roof. Smaller 17" Baltique wheels rather than the sexy 19". Poverty spec small MFD and standard RD4 radio. Does have the input box thing in the glovebox used with USB stick a little, but nut really got to grips with it.

[MattBLancs]

Always found that mine, estate and saloon, felt better when loaded to the gills, and for a few days after too.

Interesting, not just my imagination then! (Thought the same, thought was wishful thinking!) I'm currently wondering if I have spheres that are down on pressure as it's not quite the magic carpet at present.

[MattBLancs]

Current C5 faults and jobs lined up:

• towbar wiring. Bolted the towbar into place about a year ago, still need to get wiring done.

• MFD is perfect so long as the cabin stays below about 5°C - after that it disappears into fog of black. Common fault but no less annoying all the same.

• rear parking sensors / parking ECU fault. Doesn't work, like that when bought it seller said "£200 off?" And then it was my problem instead!

• need to turn the TPMS system off, bought an alloy spare and rotate tyres to even out the wear.

• steering rack. It doesn't need one now but it's an X7, so a question only of "when"

[CitroJim]

Excellent! I have now subscribed so I don't miss anything Matt

[MattBLancs]

Excellent! I have now subscribed so I don't miss anything Matt

Thanks Jim


Ok, next, brief description of the Coupe:

Earning it's keep

2000 "W" Peugeot 406 Coupe SE. Base 2.0 16 valve EW10J4 petrol. Was AL4 - 4 ** (3 speed in my ownership!) speed automatic when bought, now with 5 speed BE4 cable change manual gearbox.

Was daily driver for about 3 years, off the road now as think engine is getting rather tired (169,000 miles covered)

Black leather interior, Ariane blue paint. Body bit tired, leading edge of bonnet bubbling (and worse viewed from underneath) and the common Coupe failure point: bottom of the rear quarter panels both heavy surface rust.

Engine has ok compression values if you allow each to level out, but it takes a good few revolutions to do so (about a dozen before gauge stops moving) either valves or piston rings or both aren't sealing very well.

Bought a newer EW10A from a 307 and intend to fit that. £80! So not a hard decision!

[CitroJim]

I'll always say Matt, the 406 Coupe is one of the best looking cars Peugeot have ever made... It was once slated to be the Citroen Activa but that never happened...

Just imagine it as a manual V6 with the full Xantia Activa suspension... It would have been absolutely magical... A real and proper GT... PSA missed a trick...

Does yours have the 4 pot Brembo front brakes as per the V6 models?

I've always had a bit of a soft spot for the 406 Coupe and actually own one... A 1/18 scale model in Cherry Red

[Hell Razor5543]

Just imagine it as a manual V6 with the full Xantia Activa suspension... It would have been absolutely magical... A real and proper GT... PSA missed a trick...

More than that, it also had four wheel steering.

[MattBLancs]

I'll always say Matt, the 406 Coupe is one of the best looking cars Peugeot have ever made... It was once slated to be the Citroen Activa but that never happened...

Just imagine it as a manual V6 with the full Xantia Activa suspension... It would have been absolutely magical... A real and proper GT... PSA missed a trick...

Yes, does sound like opportunity missed!

Does yours have the 4 pot Brembo front brakes as per the V6 models?

I've always had a bit of a soft spot for the 406 Coupe and actually own one... A 1/18 scale model in Cherry Red

No squealing Brembos here, the 2.0 did without them (as did the end of the line V6 models)
Folks say these are a bit under braked, but never had a problem (I mustn't be going fast enough )

Cherry red is lovely, as is the metallic Diablo Red too. But if I could click my fingers I'd make mine the deep, rich Polaris Blue over slightly wishy-washy Ariane. I had a Polaris years ago but sadly wrote it off.

[CitroJim]

Yes, agree about Polaris Blue Matt I do like blue cars, as you know! The other blue I really like is Miami Blue as used on the 205GTi

[MattBLancs]

Yes, agree about Polaris Blue Matt I do like blue cars, as you know! The other blue I really like is Miami Blue as used on the 205GTi

Oh yes, that's another lovely blue.

There's a C5 blue that looks lovely in the brochure too - was discussed recently
viewtopic.php?t=73204

If I could have found an Abyss Blue one I'd have jumped at it (not a fan of the monochrome car colours generally black, white, grey, silver, not my choice) but does not seem like anyone bought one! (Google images brought up an X7 tourer in a scrapyard, in Australia in that shade!! Looked very much like my opening image here but in a preferable colour!)

[MattBLancs]

[MattBLancs]

Not very exciting, so no pictures. Driver's side dipped beam bulb changed. Easy peasy! Nice big access hatch, arrow telling which way to open, connector easy to align and pull off. No stuff bent wire thing holding the H7 in place. Quite a surprise!

Is there a way of triggering the side firing lamps? Think they come on when turning the wheel, but not sure I've actually noticed them contributing anything?

Look like they might be H7 too, filaments look visually ok (but so did my dead one, tested as open circuit with meter) but not taken them out as yet as but less accessible.

Or are these fitted but inoperable - like the daytime running lights?

[MattBLancs]

Interestingly, (to me at least / to me alone!!) This is some diesel I drained off during my C5 issues. It's sat in a jar in the garage for a few months (lid on the jar, kept closed)

There's a significant layer of something settled out of it!

That ain't pasta sauce