UK XM for Ireland

[Riley9]

My wife and I have had several Citroens over the years but it was in February this year (2026) that I bought our first XM.
It went straight to Chevronics in Hitchin where the faulty automatic gearbox was pulled and delivered to Herts & Beds Transmissions in nearby Radwell/Baldock. (Chevronics serviced the car under its previous owner.)
I will report the full story later.

For now, I would benefit from a little info/help from any member who lives near Radwell because Herts & Beds is not responding to my current emails/calls/text sent from my home in Ireland.
Although neither its website nor its telephone system has announced "closed for summer hols", can anyone tell me if it is temporarily closed?
I am ready to travel over next week (from Ireland) to see for myself.
To avoid misunderstanding, I am pleased to add that I have been highly impressed by my conversations with Ian Gibbins, owner of Herts & Beds Transmissions. I continue to look forward to meeting him in person.

Some years ago, this car was the subject of a “Flipping Bangers” TV panto.
Here are car details and pictures that are to hand.

1992 2.0 SEi, Automatic, (Prestige?), Hatch, Silver (colour code xxxx), Black Leather interior, sealed-up Sunroof, RPxxxx, Eng. No: HJ372000019, VIN: VF7Y3AH0005AH0331, 110,000 miles approx, Reg. No: K686 KGF, UK (car will be exported to Ireland), new MOT June 2026 (with no advisories).

Brian M
---------------
GS Pallas auto; DS20 (semi-auto); CX 2400 Pallas auto; 2CV x2; Dyane x1; AX van; BX x2; Xantia x2;

[Dieselman]

I can't answer for Herts & Beds transmissions, but surely, as your contact is with Chevronics, shouldn't they, not you, be chasing their supplier.
They are shown on Google as being open at 7:00am today, try giving them a ring...or have Chevronics chase them.
I would be surprised if any UK business closes for Summer holidays.

We know the car well, it's a very nice example of a 2.0 Se, unfortunately with 4th gear slippage.

[Dieselman]

I've just noticed from the images of your car, it is riding high at the front and have copied information I gave to another recently joined member.

Your car appears to be riding a little high at the front, which is common for Xm that have been laid up but the height selection control left at normal ride height.
Over time, the spring rod deforms and makes the height corrector setting incorrect. I always set mine to low before switching off, if leaving for an extended period of time.
The height should be:
Front; 144 +10 / -7mm from the ground to the flat of the subframe.
Rear; 431 +10 / -7mm from the ground to the rear chassis rail just behind the rear subframe mount.

Measure with the engine running and after manually lifting and holding the body up until it sinks down, then allow it to raise itself to height.
The adjustment is by loosening the clamp on the anti-roll bar and operating the height corrector, then tighten the clamp.

A quick visual check is to imagine a line from the chrome trims in the doors and bumpers, which just meets the top of the wheel rim for the standard 15" wheels.

It's worth reviewing the Citroen training material to understand the Xm hydraulics systems.

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=10291

Apologies, you are probably going to be a bit overloaded with technical information initially, but will end up with a perfect running Xm. Just let us know how you are getting on and what we can do to help.
Using only basic hand tools, there is nothing you cannot fix yourself on a Citroen Xm.

[Riley9]

Thanks for this advice. BTW the car passed its MOT last month (June). I spoke with Herts & Beds yesterday and will collect the car (which I have not yet driven) next Wednesday.