c16rkc's mad house

Tell us your ongoing tales and experiences with your French car here. Post pictures of your car here as well.
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c16rkc
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Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by c16rkc »

Phone bracket

I usually fit a Brodit phone bracket to my cars, as I love that they are made from plastic and fit into the car with no screws, and no modifications; usually taking just a few minutes to install. I then hide a Samsung fastcharger under the dash, and run a cable out where the bracket is too.

However Brodit have two on offer for the Citroen C5 III, and I don't like either of them...

I don't really want my phone stuffed in the corner of the window pillar.

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I don't want it crammed in the corner of the speedo pod either... this is where my oversized 10" Android screen might go one day :lol:

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Then I was pleased to find this, a version to the side of the centre console, right where I'd like it to be.

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But they appear to have withdrawn this version, and only sell it in left hand drive form... Grrrrr.... :evil:

I have found this alternative from Dashmount, but the install is a pain, requiring the radio to come out and trim to be removed.

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I'm also not keen on it being made of steel, and I don't know why really; I just feel like it might damage the dash trim in a way plastic would not.

I may just have to go for this... we'll see.
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c16rkc
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Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by c16rkc »

It's finally in use!

I started using the C5 properly this week, and I have done two trips to work (40 miles each way) and a long journey to Southampton too.

After the trip to Southampton I decided to re-fill the tank and see what economy I am getting, I was relatively pleased with what I got. My my.... isn't fuel getting expensive again! :o

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So first of all, this is what my trip computer said:

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A respectable 55.3mpg is no-where near the 70mpg+ I am getting from the C3, but it's slightly better than the 2.0 litre Audi A6 used to get. But the real proof is when you brim the tank and do the maths...

The result, a still respectable actual 51.2mpg and this means the trip computer appears to be over reading by 8%, we'll see how accurate it really is as time goes on.

I like to track the difference between "indicated" and "actual" mpg and tend to find there is quite a difference. These are the graphs I made for the Citroen C3, and my Audi A6 for comparison.

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I'll be doing a graph of the C5 over time, which will be interesting to see (for me, not necessarily you lot :lol:).

Naughty wiper blades

My wiper blades played up again... the drivers side would do a little dance, but the passenger side did not budge.

I inspected the connectors and cables both sides, and while the cables both look fine, the connector on the passenger side looked a bid dirty.

I sprayed it with WD40 and tried to clean it up, and then I put it all back together again.

They are back to working again now... time will tell :roll:

Brake light bulb

I have a brake light bulb out, and was pleasantly surprised to see how easy they are to change.

But what a mess I found with the cable loom. I think this might be a "hack" for the rear Dashcam, and I have not checked yet but I wonder if it also functions as a reverse camera?

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I need to give all this a clean one day..

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What do I think of the C5?


Obviously the C5 is a much, much more comfortable car to drive than the C3. But the surprise is that I prefer it to my Mercedes S class too. The seats are certainly more comfortable, with the Mercedes seats being very dissapointing. I think Mercedes make their seats for the "larger" Ahem... gentleman, and as a result someone tiny like me struggles to get comfy.

The cabin of the C5 feels modern, the ride quality is supple and smooth, and it does not feel too large to park either. The aux in for the audio system has proved useful for plugging in my phone, and the sound quality is not that bad; perhaps a little "boomy" and requiring a little clarity. I'll perhaps look into new mid-range speakers and tweeters long term.

I am not completely bowled over by the Hydro-airmax the third suspensions thing at present, it's nice and smooth but not noticeably better than the luxury car's I have driven (i.e. Jags XJ's, Merc S's and BMW 7's). It is MUCH better than the Jaguar X350 and X358, but then again they are know for being a bit firm. So I'd say the suspension is very nice, but it seems to me other manufacturers have got the same effect without all that Hydraulic fluid, so I am not sure I completely understand the hype at present. But it is very nice just the same!

By far the best riding quality cars I have owner have both been BMW 7 series, better than any of my Mercedes S classes which are usually the ones that get all the hype in the media. But it could be that the suspension on mine is a little tired with all those miles, and the replacement of the knuckle bush the garage mentioned might change things.

But as a start, and for the little money I paid, I am really pleased with it! :mrgreen:
Last edited by c16rkc on 23 Sep 2023, 22:05, edited 2 times in total.
Hell Razor5543
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Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by Hell Razor5543 »

WD40 may not help that much, as it is a water dispersant, not a contact cleaner. IPA is a good contact cleaner, as is Servisol. I would use either, and then plug/unplug the connectors several times, to hale clean off any tarnish/dirt.

When I worked for a different company one of the managers had a leased Mercedes, and he HATED it! He said the suspension was rock hard. Later (when it was close to end of lease) he was able to get a replacement vehicle early (he chose an Audi), and another manager (who had expressed a desire to have a Mercedes) got to run the 'old' Mercedes for the last few months of the lease. He also went with an Audi!
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ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
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Rp0thejester
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Re: c16rkc's mad house

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I love watching the mpg, it's permanently on the screen for me as I love it when it says 99.9 mpg. As for filling up, I only fill to half a tank as anything more than that is extra weight which will ruin mpg. I even remove seats so my 7 is now a 4 seater. As for ride comfort, if your not doing 30mph over speed bumps comfortably I would suggest checking the suspension system. It should glide over bumps
Ryan

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'54 Astra Estate 1.7DTI (Artic White)
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Hell Razor5543
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Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by Hell Razor5543 »

When I had a (company car) Xsara Picasso I loved engine braking down long hills, because I then got an instant MPG of 999.9!

The speed humps can (and definitely DO) vary in severity. On one road in Reading I know I used to be able (before the 20MPH limit cam in) take them at 30MPH without a problem. The council resurfaced the road (they had to, it was more cratered than the Moon), and all but one speed hump are nice and even. However, that one speed hump (near a crossroads) that is VICIOUS! If I hit it at over 10MPH it hurts! I wonder if it is legal to have inconsistent speed humps on a road?
James
ex BX 1.9
ex Xantia 2.0HDi SX
ex Xantia 2.0HDi LX
ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
ex C5 2.2HDi VTX+

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mickthemaverick
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Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by mickthemaverick »

There is a road in Hertford which has had the up along and down type speed humps for a fair few years but I hadn't noticed them until I drove my MX3 down there. Prior to that I had only been along in my Xantia and C5's and just looked on them as visible but pointless!! :-D
I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure!
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Rp0thejester
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Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by Rp0thejester »

Speed bumps are there to STOP you from breaking the speed limit. They shouldn't be there to slow you down. In a 30 zone you can go over at 30 not 6mph then speed up and brake again.... that doesn't wind me up at all.....
Ryan

'99 Xsara 1.6 X (Red) with Sunkissed bonnet. T59 SBX
'54 Astra Estate 1.7DTI (Artic White)
'06 C8 2.2Hdi Exclusive (Aster Grey)

Champion of Where's CitroJim :-({|=
Yes I ask the stupid questions, because normally it is that simple.
Hell Razor5543
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Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by Hell Razor5543 »

Around town I do (to the best of my knowledge) adhere to the speed limits, and I accept why speed humps are required (especially near to schools and parks, to protect children), but having a 'violent' speed hump that forces drivers to reduce speed to HALF the speed limits are (to my mind) wrong. I have lost count of the number of times I have heard vehicles scrape when they encounter that speed hump. It has quite deep gouges in it, whereas the other speed humps are virtually pristine.
James
ex BX 1.9
ex Xantia 2.0HDi SX
ex Xantia 2.0HDi LX
ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
ex C5 2.2HDi VTX+

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mickthemaverick
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Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by mickthemaverick »

While I appreciate James' liking for coasting downhill and watching the instantaneous mpg I get far more enthused when my average mpg figure in my 20 year old 2.5 litre petrol Legacy does this: :-D
MTMO
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c16rkc
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Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by c16rkc »

Hell Razor5543 wrote: 21 Sep 2023, 15:31 WD40 may not help that much, as it is a water dispersant, not a contact cleaner. IPA is a good contact cleaner, as is Servisol. I would use either, and then plug/unplug the connectors several times, to hale clean off any tarnish/dirt.

When I worked for a different company one of the managers had a leased Mercedes, and he HATED it! He said the suspension was rock hard. Later (when it was close to end of lease) he was able to get a replacement vehicle early (he chose an Audi), and another manager (who had expressed a desire to have a Mercedes) got to run the 'old' Mercedes for the last few months of the lease. He also went with an Audi!
Thanks for the tip - WD40 was to hand, and seems to have done the trick temporarily - I'll get some contact cleaner and give it another going over.

When it comes to the German models I find it does make a big difference whether you are driving the lower or mid range models (i.e. the 3/5 series, A4/A6 or C/E class) or the big barges (such as the 7 series, A8 and S class) and I find them all pretty similar. But I have personally found the 7 series to have a smoother ride than the S class. I have actually never driven an Audi A8, but I hear they are nice.

One thing I can say with absolute confidence is that the Audi and BMW models I have driven are better put together, and easier to work on than the Mercedes models I have owned... however I usually picked the Mercedes models because they tend to be more attractive designs (to me).
Rp0thejester wrote: 21 Sep 2023, 18:53 I love watching the mpg, it's permanently on the screen for me as I love it when it says 99.9 mpg. As for filling up, I only fill to half a tank as anything more than that is extra weight which will ruin mpg. I even remove seats so my 7 is now a 4 seater. As for ride comfort, if your not doing 30mph over speed bumps comfortably I would suggest checking the suspension system. It should glide over bumps
Yes I am a bit obsessed with watching the trip computer, and it has made me a very slow driver.

I think the suspension in my C5 certainly needs some looking at, as it has done galactic miles. I think I will have to work my way through the different bushes on the car, and get them all replaced over a period of time. I may also look at replacing all of the Spheres as a full set seems to be less than £500.
Hell Razor5543 wrote: 21 Sep 2023, 21:41 When I had a (company car) Xsara Picasso I loved engine braking down long hills, because I then got an instant MPG of 999.9!

The speed humps can (and definitely DO) vary in severity. On one road in Reading I know I used to be able (before the 20MPH limit cam in) take them at 30MPH without a problem. The council resurfaced the road (they had to, it was more cratered than the Moon), and all but one speed hump are nice and even. However, that one speed hump (near a crossroads) that is VICIOUS! If I hit it at over 10MPH it hurts! I wonder if it is legal to have inconsistent speed humps on a road?
My least favourite are those high and slippery plastic speed humps; the type that seem to be bolted to the road. You have to literally crawl over them at 1mph and it gives your car one awful bump if you take them too quickly.
mickthemaverick wrote: 21 Sep 2023, 21:49 There is a road in Hertford which has had the up along and down type speed humps for a fair few years but I hadn't noticed them until I drove my MX3 down there. Prior to that I had only been along in my Xantia and C5's and just looked on them as visible but pointless!! :-D
I'll be pleased if I eventually have those experiences in my C5, for the time being a lot of the pot holes are still pretty awful to drive over.
Rp0thejester wrote: 21 Sep 2023, 21:51 Speed bumps are there to STOP you from breaking the speed limit. They shouldn't be there to slow you down. In a 30 zone you can go over at 30 not 6mph then speed up and brake again.... that doesn't wind me up at all.....
Some speed bumps are actually easier to go over at high speeds - I learnt that as a teenager in my first car in the college car pack. We used to put our foot down approaching the speed humps as the suspension would react less at speed...
Hell Razor5543 wrote: 21 Sep 2023, 21:58 Around town I do (to the best of my knowledge) adhere to the speed limits, and I accept why speed humps are required (especially near to schools and parks, to protect children), but having a 'violent' speed hump that forces drivers to reduce speed to HALF the speed limits are (to my mind) wrong. I have lost count of the number of times I have heard vehicles scrape when they encounter that speed hump. It has quite deep gouges in it, whereas the other speed humps are virtually pristine.
I hate speed bumps no matter why or where they are - awful things. I'd rather they had snipers that took out drivers going over 30mph near schools.

Sadly speed bumps are generally a likely sign that you are in a poor area; they are peppered all over low end housing estates, you rarely seen them in posh villages or the nicer estates in towns...
mickthemaverick wrote: 21 Sep 2023, 22:13 While I appreciate James' liking for coasting downhill and watching the instantaneous mpg I get far more enthused when my average mpg figure in my 20 year old 2.5 litre petrol Legacy does this: :-D

Image
That seems very high... were you being towed :lol:
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MattBLancs
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Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by MattBLancs »



I'm sure the engineers were consulted to get a "hump" exactly on the right side of the Evoque's max approach/ descent angles but a bit if fun even if faked. Feel sorry for the poor Mégane!
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MattBLancs
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Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by MattBLancs »


My least favourite are those high and slippery plastic speed humps; the type that seem to be bolted to the road. You have to literally crawl over them at 1mph and it gives your car one awful bump if you take them too quickly.
- I learnt that as a teenager in my first car in the college car pack. We used to put our foot down approaching the speed humps as the suspension would react less at speed..
From Lancashire Evening Post article linked below
From Lancashire Evening Post article linked below
A different "sport" has been discovered for the juvenile mind round these parts!

https://www.lep.co.uk/news/crime/car-se ... nt-2892550

:-D

I hate the "square" type plastic ones, unpleasant at any speed
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c16rkc
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Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by c16rkc »

Wow that's a new way to protest against speed bumps!
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bobins
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Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by bobins »

All you never wanted to know and more (!) about speed hump height specifications in the UK.
Here's the Gov. specs on their dimensions. :-D

4.—(1) Subject to regulation 7, no road hump shall be constructed or maintained in a highway unless–

(a)each face of it across the carriageway of the highway in which it is constructed is at right angles to an imaginary line along the centre of that carriageway;

(b)it has a minimum length of 900 millimetres measured parallel to an imaginary line along the centre of that carriageway from the point where one face meets the surface of that carriageway to the point where the other face meets the surface of that carriageway;

(c)the highest point on it is not less than 25 millimetres nor more than 100 millimetres higher than an imaginary line parallel to the centre line of that carriageway connecting the surface of that carriageway on one side of the road hump to the surface of that carriageway on the other side of the road hump and passing vertically below that point; and,

(d)no vertical face of any material forming part of that road hump exceeds 6 millimetres measured vertically from top to bottom of that face.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/199 ... ion/4/made


So........ out with those Verineer calipers and measure those speed humps to make sure they're not too tall :lol:
Armidillo
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Re: c16rkc's mad house

Unread post by Armidillo »

Ok, so a maximum height of 100mm (4"), and no vertical step to be more than 6mm (or 15/64" if you haven't gone metric). No mention of the angle of the sloping faces, nor of a maximum width for the flat top (surely you wouldn't want the two sides coming to a point in the middle?). No wonder they vary in intensity (it's the same in Australia)!

PS they're Vernier calipers :)