I read mixed things about the XM. On one side, far too complex and unreliable, and on the other, huge (especially estate)comfortable and economical, and not as bad as folks make out.
Anyone got any experience to share?
Rob
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Sadly not directly about the XM, other than one was used as a hearse for my former mother-in-law\'s funeral - curiously enough with a GB plate, so did that mean a terrestrial rather than an extra-terrestrial destination!?
V impressed by DBRM\'s instant moderation - I was opening up to read about the AX only to discover it had grown into an XM!
Jack
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Crikey! Even more impressive censorship if one can't type "vehicle used for carrying body" without it kicking in! I feel sorry for my old acquaintance Dick Hea***y - he wouldn't get far here, poor barsteward ....
Jack
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The nearest I've got to an XM is sitting it in and wishing, and making do with a Xantia. The early ones were plagued with electrical problems but later models seem to be better. But very complex - not, I would have thought, an ideal car for a nonDIY owner since it will be horrendously expensive to maintain.
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Rob
I've had 2 XMs from new, one after the other of course - both 2.1 turbodiesel automatics and both absolutely bl00dy wonderful cars. I'm lucky enough to have an independent Citroen specialist garage within striking distance, so servicing and repairs were cheap. Repairs only needed twice: a loose fluid union on the suspension and a parking brake cable parting company with the pedal. Also used them for caravan towing - thousands of miles here and in France with no bother whatsoever. Comfortable magic-carpet ride, loved the US-style parking brake (yes, I did really!) - with the auto you could sit at lights left foot on parking brake (locking lever not depressed) so not blinding the poor s0d behind and still able to make a quick getaway.
Up to 40 mpg solo, dropping to mid-20s towing (at up to 80mph on French motorways). Front boots lasted 20-25k miles, never replaced rears. Rear spheres needed re-gassing once (I blame road humps and caravan towing).
Sadly, I was losing money on the second one faster than I was paying it off so I got shot - but it was an enormous wrench and I still miss them. Current Grand Cherokee is very comfortable for its ilk and an even better towcar but like the advert says - nothing moves you like a Citroen.
Any specific info you need?
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Andy Bairsto (our man formerly in Dresden) used to swear by (rather than at) XM TDs. I once had a real 'screamer' howl about the fact that his TD 2.1 auto would not change into 4th at 30mph (of course it wouldn't, because this would be idling speed). You are well advised to go for a post 1995 facelift XM because the electrical connnections were much improved. 2.1TDs are much more economical than 2.5TDs, but mechanics don't like this 3 valve per cylinder manifestation of the XUTD. For more, see car by car breakdown.
HJ
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Yep, opinions are very polarised.
Thanks, everyone, for your help. I found an XM specialist near Oxford by doing a search on Google under "Citroen XM". Plus a very learned write up from the Citroen Club website.
Thanks to Terry B. BTW did you have problems with rainwater being washed over the rear view mirrors by the wipers?
Does the Cherokee get warm towing? I haul a twin-axle Swift (sorry HJ) with a Vauxhall Monterey which occasionally gets a bit hot.
I doubt if I would find a "loved" XM with FSH at this stage. Or would I?
Censorship - I heard that the town council in "S-thorpe" (Lincs) were once unable to access their own website due to network censor tools.
rg
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Rob
No problem with the wipers washing water over the mirrors - but if I was being lazy on a frosty morning an poured tepid water over the screen they slopped it over me!
Gd Cherokee tows an Eccles Onyx at mtplw 1340 kg (probably a bit over when full payload of wine is on board) as if it wasn't there. It only gets a bit warmer pulling over the alps at 50 - 60 mph, but nothing significant. The mpg however is very significant - I've had it down to 11 mpg at one stage when really pushing it - but I reckon on low-20s towing most of the time. Of course, at French diesel prices this doesn't matter.
That's with a noseweight of 90 - 100 kg which was up to the XM limit except the final year or two production (which I didn't have) where the suspension was "improved" and had an 80kg limit! I recall the XM estate had the 80kg limit all the time.
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I bought the first UK-registered XM24V from Citroen UK in 1991 and ran it until last year.
This version was a serious performance machine in its day and I was sorry in many ways when it had to make way for a newer car.
My electrical problems included an inoperative trip computer and seat heaters that didn't - but I opted to live without them rather than embark on costly repairs. (Newer ones are supposedly much better.)
The pedal parking brake seemed strange at first but soon became so instinctive that I still try to kick-set the parking brake on other cars.
For maintenance you need to find a Citroen specialist who understands the complexities of the car and is capable of maintaining it, but that shouldn't be difficult.
If you are thinking of buying a high-mileage XM make sure the suspension bushes are checked as well as the hydropneumatic bits because these need replacement fairly frequently.
I got around 24 mpg - which wasn't bad for a 3-litre performance car - but I'd probably go for the turbo-diesel if you do a big annual mileage.
Good luck!
David
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Are you there, O Hydraulic Fenmeister?
rg
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Well yes but waiting for the call.
The previous posts sum them up. If you get a decent later TD with a service history (estates are popular) and allow the odd foible to offset the undoubted plus points....then you'll be a happy chap.
On the other hand get a wrong un......
David W [Moderator]
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mailto:david_moderator@honestjohn.co.uk
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Goodness, MM, had been under the false impression that you had given up the Mod job long before I even knew about this site!
Conspiracy theory now - everyone around me is suddenly turning into moderators.
HF
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Well that post is from 9 May last year...
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Goodness, so it is, David!
Didn't notice that and feel *really* stupid now ;)
How on earth has a thread that old suddenly become current again?
HF
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Go to www.iamreallyboring.still to see what ten people say about the car. They seem ok, but potentially expensive.
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Oh yes, I bought one in Nov 02.
A wonderful machine.
So far, so good.
Thanks for the advice, though.
rg
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If you have luck, it is excellent. However, if like me you don\'t, just stick with a good car.
View what people say at www.disney.com, and go for a carina if you are like me.
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..so, what was your car, and what happened?
rg
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danwave@lycos.co.uk
I asked you not to keep mentioning the same website. and I asked you politely, now I\'m telling you.
One single more reference and I will disable your registration.
I don\'t know why you keep mentioning it, I suspect you must have some level of personal involvement, but I do know it is boring and irritating.
You\'ve been warned and now you\'ve been told. You will hear nothing else on this subject, but your registration will just stop working if you persist.
I have deleted every reference to the website I can find on here, So your time has been wasted.
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Mark,
Sorry, have I missed something here?
Who is this warning for?
rg
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Not you Rob, sorry. I've edited my note and hopefully made it clearer now.
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