Help needed! Should I buy this Citroen C5 X7?

[chromecruiser]

Hello everyone, I hope you can help me!

Unfortunately I know very little about cars.
I would like to buy a Citroen C5 (CITROËN C5 III Break (RW_) 2.0 HDi 165 (163 hp/120 kW, 1997 cc, 2010, 190.000 km). I have been to the local garage and they have found some deficits. I am hoping for your experience to be able to better assess the situation. The biggest problem is that the front shock absorbers are leaking and are wet with oil. When the mechanic lowered the car from the lift, it sank and it took some time to come back up (he had to start the engine and accelerate). The car also sinks when it stands still for a while. It also “floats” a little when driving (the mechanic says much more than it should for this model). In addition, the pressure accumulator of the hydraulic system is rusted, the rear shock absorbers are rusted, the rear suspension travel limiters are missing, the support bearings of the front shock absorbers are crumbled, and the engine is oily. The brakes also need to be replaced soon. And the “radio display” at the front is also broken.
I would like to know how you estimate the need for repair and the costs. (I don't mean in euros/dollars but high costs/low costs or simple repair/complex repair). The mechanic advised me not to buy the car. Apart from the things mentioned, the car is in good condition. I also have some photos that could help with the assessment.
VIN is VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff]

Thanks to you in advance!
Sally

[GiveMeABreak]

Hi and welcome.

Some things to be aware of on the X7.

1) Parts are now becoming an issue - especially for suspension / power steering pipes and steering racks.
2) Struts are available, but the pipes can be an issue in getting hold of if they break / rust.
3) Steering racks are a major problem on the X7 (see multiple owner posts on the Forum), as they tend to rust at the pinion and cause the seals to fail, resulting in fluid loss. Some of us are on our third rack.
4) The Display screen seems to have failed, but these can be easily replaced.
5) From the looks of it you may already have a strut leak - which will require a new strut - these are not repairable - but your mechanic should be able to determine if this is a pipe or the strut itself. Struts can be about £220 upwards each excluding fitting.

Remember that the C5 X7 ceased production nearly 10 years ago, so specific parts as I mentioned may be difficult to source as many are bespoke parts.

Personally, I would walk away from it, as with this mileage and age you are going to have to pay out - the Diesel Particulate Filter is going to need replacement soon as it's near end of service life, then there's the additive top up. A rack is going to be expensive - if you can actually get one now when that goes (and most will at some point). So it really depends on how much you want one and availability of parts where you are and how deep your wallet is.

[wurlycorner]

Hi
It all depends on how cheap the car is, the general condition of the rest of it and what other similar ones are for sale near you instead.
You will need to get the leaking suspension cylinder, collapsed bush/suspension bearing and the interior screen (buy a used one for that from a breakers yard/ebay) replaced, of course.
If the car is cheap enough that you can replace those within what it would cost to buy an alternative without those problems, then it could be worth it.
Personally I wouldn't worry about the corrosion on the bottom of the rear wheel cylinder, or the rear accumulator sphere.

Do get the steering rack (where the steering shaft pinion enters the rack) checked as others have mentioned.

[chromecruiser]

Thank you for the quick feedback!
Unfortunately, I couldn't find any comparable cars on the used car market in my area, so it's difficult for me to make a comparison. The price of the car is 4500 € (3800 GBP).
I really like the Citroen and would love to drive one, but I need a reliable car that isn't too expensive to repair and maintain. As it sounds, the rare parts could become a problem along with the cost.

[GiveMeABreak]

Also we did have a poll for X7 owners to indicate the specific problems, so have a look here:

viewtopic.php?t=59630