Citroen XM Forum

There are a few peculiarities to a 2.5 XM that could make them a little more difficult to keep going than some other XM's.
Aircon version is more of a problem.
Body rust, rusted hydraulic pipes and strut heads are general XM problems.
2.5's eat rads and have two, oil coolers leak oil, cylinder heads crack and a few unique engine bits.
Most problems are solvable but not always easily.
I plan that some of mine will be around for a good few years yet.

John

Hi Ricky, and welcome!

We have run our '96 2.5 from new, originally in UK, and for the last ten years here in Andalucia. Now 96k miles on the clock.

If you enjoy keeping a car in good trim, then any hydraulicCitroen is a unique challenge, but brings with it its own special rewards. In the case of the XM, it's extreme comfort and some startlingly good handling. For the 2.5, it's also a well of torque, which can eat up long-distance miles without effort, while returning decent economy (32+mpg, and top 30's with care). The V6 3.0 petrol offers the same, but is nothing like that economic. The 2.1TD offers better economy, just a bit less in the way of performance - but is loved by many, as you'll see here.

John is right in his remarks, of course, and always errs on the side of realistic pessimism (which is why we keep him on!).

If you haven't yet found yourself a 2.5, then take your time and find one with a sound body and underside, and preferably some history.
If you've got one already, then
- rustproof it (in all the usual spots - see this site)
- renew the coolant with a top-grade mix and keep it that way
- be prepared for a new pair of rads at some point (that coolant quality is important here)
- I would advise ditching the oil-water cooler that sits under the oil filter (many leak, esp. if coolant has been...)
- make sure all the belts and tensioners have been/are changed as per schedule
- clean up the engine-bay earthing points, and renew the battery terminals.
That'll do as a kick-off.

The Peugeot-Citroen 2.5TD is a superb lump, refined and powerful (with its twin balancer shafts). The gearbox is great, and the clutch silky. It's a lovely car, and will give you lots of pleasure IF you look after it. Neglect it, of use it as an unserviced hack, and it will surely let you down.

Plenty of expertise on this site!

Do let us know how you get on, what happens - and where you are . . . . go to User Control Panel, and fill in your Profile and vehicle details.

russ92xmsed wrote:Sorry, I contributed to one of those S1 losses. Not my fault though....

That is quite a difference in numbers. Really isn't good.

I just had chance to look at this again.
Q2 - 2014 saw 9 more cars come back onto the road and 15 go off the road, so a net loss of 5 cars.

That is the lowest number of losses in a quarter ever since the end of production and the first time there are more going back onto the road.

The winds of change are among us.

Yippee! Just need to keep the trend going in that direction, or better.

Maybe Paul's new job on Anglesey is putting his collection back on the road! That would account for that number back on the road lol!!

Dieselman wrote:

russ92xmsed wrote:Sorry, I contributed to one of those S1 losses. Not my fault though....

That is quite a difference in numbers. Really isn't good.

That is the lowest number of losses in a quarter ever since the end of production and the first time there are more going back onto the road.

The winds of change are among us.

Id definately agree Will...The recent edition of Octane magazine has a page on the recent Citromobile event at LeMans. The Citroen spokesperson states that the cars to now watch and set to rise in his opinion is the cx and the xm

Bring it on

Q3 - 2014 figures now published on Howmanyleft.

Total XM:
on the road is 447
Sorn is 570.

This quarter sees 18 lost from the road and 5 lost from SORN, so total losses is 23.

Annual attrition is 96 Taxed, 69 additional SORN, total lost is 27. Remarkably low, but I suspect these additional SORN cars are Series 2 now coming daily duties.

I like the double-takes by folk in slow traffic. In a motorway queue, you can often see a younger member of the family give one of the adults a prod and obviously ask "What's that?" - sometimes followed by a some prolonged and mystified stares by the driver.

Although more difficult now with ANPR cameras everywhere, I do enjoy giving the odd tail-gating Audi and BMW driver a run for their money with a brief spell of foot-down.

See almost no others here now. Even Xantias getting thin on the ground. No shortage of ZXs, though.

ANPR cameras don't record speed, just check the database for legality.