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New XM to the South of France
Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2026 1:46 pm
by Jack103
Hello all, new to this today. We've recently bought a '91 XM V6 24V and will for sure be needing advice here and there.
Re: New XM to the South of France
Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2026 11:05 pm
by Julianw
Welcome! You've certainly come to the right place.
What sort of condition is your car in? Is it a UK or European model? Please post up some pics and add the details to the member's cars thread
Re: New XM to the South of France
Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2026 6:41 am
by Dieselman
Being a 1991 car, you need to check if it has the modified cam followers and possibly the tappet upgrade.
The original followers were steel and the tappets stainless steel, later ones have golden coloured, aluminium rockers and tappets with ceramic inserts.
From February 1992 all engines were modified ones and a great number of early engine were either replaced, or modified under warranty.
I'd be surprised if the engine was either original, or unmodified, as the original arrangement caused these engines to chew themselves to bits rapidly.
My observation is that due to the valve-train being upside down it has no reserve of oil after being left standing, so at cold start the cam lobe would make contact with the stainless steel tappet causing galling and fine metal particles. I believe this is why there was a switch to ceramic pads and alloy rockers. The ceramic could withstand the short exposure to contact, before oil was circulating.
See post for the bulletins relating to the valve train upgrades.
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