Citroen XM Forum

I am finding it hard to locate P/N 698852 - the plug for the access port in the front wing liner. These things don't seem especially robust - I have one, but it's just an outer rim, with no centre.

I need 4, as my Pug 406 also needs a pair. Tried to post a picture, but I obviously don't have the knack (msg was "The image file you tried to attach is invalid.").

Eathan checked the XM he was dismantling, but they were in the same state as the one I've got.

peugeotcitroends.com lists them, but they don't actually say whether they're in stock. tomoparts.co.uk lists them, but admits they've got no stock.

Onlinecarparts/Autodoc just gives pollen filters for that P/N. Spareto finds no match. Found one on eBay, but the guy wants £19 (including postage to Australia) for a plastic plug!! A Russian store on AliExpress has 2, but can't/won't ship to Australia.

Actually haven't checked PSA genuine - but assume they're NFP.

Anyone got any ideas?

The OVAL hole in the leading surface ?

I have replaced mine with a rubber "patch" shaped to match the hole but oversized and stuck on with Black PU Adhesive. I have done similar on a Xantia 6 years ago and it is still there.

That is the correct pt.no., "Closer - 37 x 65mm".
It's still shown available from Citroen, and fitted to a dozen Cit vehicles, from XM and Saxo to Space Tourer.
I have some here, bought from Cit 12/2020.

On XM, used on the front inner wing, and two at the rear on the body shell cross member.

Most of these 'rubber' grommets - from Citroen and aftermarket - now have very thin skins across them. Gone are the days of chunky 3mm thick grommets, more like rubber core-plugs.

Stickfinger wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 29, 2021 1:08 pm

The OVAL hole in the leading surface ?

I have replaced mine with a rubber "patch" shaped to match the hole but oversized and stuck on with Black PU Adhesive. I have done similar on a Xantia 6 years ago and it is still there.

Yes, the oval hole. I've noticed that the later Xantias have given up on plugs - there is no hole in the lining, although you can see where it used to be.

If plugs weren't available (for a sensible price) then I'd do the same as you. Luckily we don't have salt on our roads, but still better not to have water (& mud) getting into those front wings.

White Exec wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 29, 2021 1:14 pm

That is the correct pt.no., "Closer - 37 x 65mm".
It's still shown available from Citroen, and fitted to a dozen Cit vehicles, from XM and Saxo to Space Tourer.
I have some here, bought from Cit 12/2020.

On XM, used on the front inner wing, and two at the rear on the body shell cross member.

Most of these 'rubber' grommets - from Citroen and aftermarket - now have very thin skins across them. Gone are the days of chunky 3mm thick grommets, more like rubber core-plugs.

Thank you - I'll have to have a look for those rear ones - no doubt they'll be missing or badly degraded as well! Great to know they're still available - I'll have a word to Gaspare. Believe it or not, the spare parts manager at Continental Cars in Sydney (the only Citroen dealer of any note in NSW) is called Gaspare Bruno!

Cheers

Alec

Beret and striped t-shirt?

White Exec wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 30, 2021 6:26 am

Beret and striped t-shirt?

Yellow vest and a smoke flare ?

Sadly I've never seen Gaspare, so can't comment on his attire, although it is nice to imagine him in a striped shirt with a fresh baguette under his arm.

In fact I have only communicated with him by email, so can't even comment on his accent.

If new ones aren't available, either obtain some from scrap Peugeot/Citroen cars, as they are used in many models to seal the rear panel., or glue some rubber to the grommet ring, to make them blind grommets.

The holes can be sealed off, but it means the arch liner has to be pulled back to access the bumper mounting bolt.

You could cut an oversize piece of liner plastic, drill the original liner and fix the new cover piece using fir tree clips.

For heaven's sake, just get the Citroen parts counter to order the available Citroen part.
Or the local Peugeot dealer, where the pt.no. is the same.
No excuse for this sort of thing.

I never have a problem with parts orders here. If the item is available, my Cit dealer obtains it, which is how it's supposed to work!