Just bought a C5 HDI EXCLUSIVE 160 tourer - am I mad!!

[MickyB]

Hi to everyone on the forum.
I have been looking for another car since getting rid of my Audi A4. I always buy used cars and I had set my cash limit to roughly £7000 & I was looking for an Audi Avant (estate) car. But having looked at various places on the internet there were quite a few for sale but with really high mileage & assorted prices.
I was also told by my local mechanic to steer clear of the S line versions as they had low profile tyres & if I got one with these sort of tyres I would feel every bump in the road, I don't know if this is true or not!!
After many months of looking I came across a Citroen C5 HDI EXCLUSIVE 160 tourer for sale. So I went & had a look at it, fell in love with it & bought it!!
I'm just waiting for it to be delivered as it needs a new door window lifter mechanism fitting & the tailgate sorting out, as it doesn't work electrically.
So that's where I am at the moment, waiting like a small kid for Christmas to arrive.
I have read some reviews of this model on line, some good, some bad & it has left me wondering whether I have bought a lemon or not!!
Cheers,
Mick

[wurlycorner]

Hello and welcome.
You're not mad, no! They are nice cars. But not problem free - however you'll generally find parts prices are cheaper than for the Audi and the X7 does have a couple of known problem items to check over quickly when you get it - such as the steering rack, for leaks.
Does it come with much service history? From which garage?

[MickyB]

Hi wurlycorner,

Thanks for the reply & welcome.

It comes with a full service history & the garage is as shown below.

www.theaa.com/used-cars/cardetails/73-1042692

Cheers,
Mick

[wurlycorner]

Oh that's lovely low mileage and great if it has a full service history. Don't know them, but SGG Dunsfold Garage (stamped up in the book) say they're Pug/Citroen specialists, so that's looking like another plus point!
You might have bought a real star there and it does look pretty well loaded on the options front (pano roof, 18" Atlantique alloys and the NG4/Hi-Fi stereo were all options). Difficult to tell from the pics but doesn't look like it has the directional Xenon headlights though.

[Stickyfinger]

A full "service" history is good, but a service history is NOT a preventative history.

For example, the steering rack, there are a number of very good solutions to the "problem" with these racks (a problem which WILL cause failure at some point) ....NONE of which happen/are applied under a garage service history.

The cars are great, but to reduce the chances of trouble you will need to carry out some procedures to prevent known problems. None of them are expensive. Most are DIY, applying a "boot" to the steering pinion shaft, applying a coating of "wax protective coating such a Dinatrol/Bilt&Hamber to the suspension high pressure pipes and valve blocks for the rear suspension etc for example...

[MickyB]

Hi Stickyfinger,

Thanks for the reply and advice, much appreciated.

I will let the mechanic that I use know what you suggest that I look out for and should do.

Cheers,
Mick

[Stickyfinger]

NP, does you Mech know about these cars ?

For example does he know how they should be lifted on a 4 post lift/suspension setting when doing so, LDS tank cover removed etc.....I ask because these questions are a good BASIC guide to judge the knowledge of the mechanic assigned to look after it.
Note: the car can be damaged, the struts/LDS tank) if the procedures are not followed correctly, they are easy but different to "normal" procedures... I would add they cost nothing in time/money to follow.

[MickyB]

Hi Alasdair,

Too be honest I don't know if my mechanic knows about these cars.

It's one of the reasons I have joined this forum, so I can learn about things re my C5.

So far all of the replies have been exactly what I wanted.

Now I need to know/find out everything that should be done when you put the car on a four post lift.

While I'm here, if someone reads this and has knowledge and can recommend some place or web site for Citroen parts I would be grateful.

Cheers,
Mick

[Stickyfinger]

Hi, sorry to sound a bit brusque.....but a LOT of people do not have the open (I know bugger all) attitude you do about these cars, their peculiarities and are often very dismissive of advice etc, you do not seem that way at all....

Jacking for inspection/work on any other part EXCEPT the suspension (to work on the suspension it will need to be depressurized correctly NOT just lowered)

Citroen ONLY recommend using the cars jacking points, they do not recommend the sub-frame mounts etc (most commonly used by many garages/tyre shops etc).... this is because some cars use a lighter alloy sub-frame.
Before lifting, raise the suspension to the high position.
Once raised, turn off ignition.
Open bonnet and remove the LDS tank cap, cover neck with a clean rag.

Note: failure to follow the lifting procedures can cause the LDS tank split (over pressure) and/or damage suspension struts (not cheap !)

There is a page (common problems with the Cxx7) on this site, viewtopic.php?t=59630 my advice would be to search the most common subjects on this forum and get acquainted with the items/reasons/solutions/preventatives
It is a Warts & ALL list, every car/make/model has such a list, we are just more honest here than most

[MickyB]

Hi Alasdair,

One of the reasons I joined this forum yesterday was to gain as much info as I could re my purchase of the C5 & to ask for advice & help.

The response so far has been brilliant and I'm here to stay!!

Thank you again for even more advice, I have copied and pasted all the advice/info that has been given to me so far and created a word document and saved it to my hard drive, to be added to as I gain more info!!

I shall make a copy for my mechanic.

I'm also looking at stuff on YouTube re the C5 and listening to what they have to say re the pro's and con's.

Too be honest I cannot wait for it to be delivered to me, looks like early next week for that to happen.

Thanks again for your help and advice.

Cheers,
Mick

[MickyB]

Hi,
I went to see my mechanic at his garage this afternoon to order some new number plates for the C5 as I have a personal number plate on retention.

Anyway I mentioned that I was in the process of buying a Citroen C5 & I could see it was hard for him not to laugh. He said that he wished that I had spoken to him before I went & bought this car. He said that I'd bought myself a LEMON & that when they went wrong they went wrong 'big time'.

I could expect huge bills in the future!!

So I came away feeling a bit confused.

I await delivery of the C5 sometime this week.

Mick

[wurlycorner]

That's not a very helpful response from your mechanic.
Citroen parts not normally expensive.
Expense normally happens if they aren't looked after - or if they're worked on by people who don't understand them and therefore throw parts at them etc.
It might be worth you seeing if there's a Citroen specialist near you and use them for servicing this car, rather than the place you used to use before.

nb: this shouldn't be dismissed as 'we're biased in favour of Citroen's and therefore will sing their praises through rose tinted glasses'. Believe me, there are plenty of us on here who are more than honest about their failings, where that's relevant!

[Stickyfinger]

Par for the course with most "normal" mechanics sadly.........he will not listen, they never do.....then they do something "normal" and you end up paying for their "normal".
Seen it so many times.....

Have a word with Graham Morton's Holmbridge, Holmfirth.... I am told they are quite a good Citroen specialist.

A combo of this Forum and a specialist who will listen is the way ....