Citroen XM Forum

Hi all, found this forum after searching for intermittent starting problems on 2.1 XM. I'm on my second XM and absolutely love owning and driving these cars as there's nothing else out there that looks or handles like them. It turns heads and stands out in a sea of anomymous modern Euro-boxes.
Sold my first one back in 2004 and regretted it, so eventually after a brief Xantia ownership (which wasn't good) I found another XM on Ebay. Apart from a few light scuffs and scratches, it drives well at 165,000 on the clock but it has got a history file as thick as a bible. Only gripe is an intermittent failure to start due to engine not turning over at all. I believe this is due to worn out ignition switch?
Anyway, I'm glad to report autobox still works and changes smoothly (thanks to regular ATF changes by previous owner) and in mixed driving (mostly motorways for daily commute to work) I'm getting a real world 39.7 MPG at 70...ish. Did crack 41.6mpg during summer - which for a 1.6 ton car with a slush-box is pretty damn good in my book.
Only thing I really dislike about the XM is the terrible dipped beam headlights. I've seen glow-worms give off more light. I'm not a fan of the round twin conversions so may look into fitting LED's to boost dipped beam without making it illegal.

Welcome to the Forum and I for one thoroughly endorse your remarks about the attractions of the XM, hence my collection of six cars!! It is good to hear the auto-box has been well looked after and fuel consumption is reasonable. In relation to the headlights, there are Xenon HID bulb kits that can be fairly easily obtained and fitted to significantly boost output which are quite popular and others can give further advice I am sure. With regards, Matthew T.

Welcome to the forum, for your starting problem check and clean all relay contacts in the engine bay above the n/s headlamp, wont hurt to do the ones on the other side too while your at it.

D

I second the relay being a likely candidate for your starting issue.
For the headlamps, remove them, strip them down and wash them out. you will be surprised at the difference it makes.

If when looking at the headlamps on dip beam you see the plastic lens itself illuminated, then the lamps need washing out.

Welcome

I'm a bit of a late convert to XM Ownership but love mine to bits...

I still love the Xantias though and as you can see I have more of them than XMs

What went wrong with your Xantia ownership?

Found them a bit less comfy then the XM... Theres NO beating XM seats...

citroenxm wrote:Theres NO beating XM seats...

I absolutely and utterly agree there Paul... I get very comfy in mine

Welcome, I have a 2.1 auto from 1992 vintage. love it.

Jim and Paul...you don't need to convince me!!! Soooooo comfy!

Apologies for delay in replying etc. Been busy setting up a videography business.
To date - the XM is running well, still averaging 39.2 mpg mostly on motorways. Still haven't got round to sorting the intermittent starting problem although I did strip and test the starter-motor which had very little carbon dust inside it and the voltage/resistance checks were all textbook. I will upload a video on stripping these starter motors soon as I can. The intermittent starting problem is so rare that it can go for months before it shows up. I will have a look at the relays under the slam panel this weekend when it stops raining.
At the moment I'm trying to source new sidelights and front foglight/indicator units as a stone has shattered the glass on the front nearside fog and both sidelights have gone a bit milky in sunlight. A recent article in a classic car magazine shows how to restore plastic light units. After much searching of usual online parts retailers including Valeo (they haven't replied to any of my emails) I'm under impression that car manufacturers are deliberately restricting parts for older cars just so we're forced into buying new Euroboxes - which is unacceptable since the XM is a bonafide classic car with a huge cult following. One thing's for sure - I saw a Polish Ebay retailer selling a sidelight for £927 so I hope it's a typo. My car didn't even cost that!
Had to seal up the sunroof due to water leaks despite cleaning the roof seal. I guess its compressed over many years of use.
Regarding my Xantia ownership - after a whole day replacing the engine (the old one snapped its cambelt while still 10,000 miles to go before due for change) it turned out the new 'low mileage' engine I bought off Ebay was a complete dog. I'd replaced crank and cam seals, clutch, timing belt, tensioners and guides and fitted it. Then after a few months use I noticed loads of oil in the intercooler and then one day in work I went to start it after a long nightshift and the crank pulley woodruff key shattered allowing the crank toothed pulley to run out of synch thus lunching the engine. These crank toothed pulleys are held in place with a small woodruff key and not with a mated flat or positive lock device apart from the crank bolt. Belt was still intact. Gutted, although if I ever fit a replacement engine again, I'll insist on seeing it run first in the original car. I don't mind the Xantia but at just over six feet tall, I appreciate the extra legroom and area around foot pedals that the XM has. Plus they look a bit 'sci-fi' - which makes it cool in my book.

MTXM wrote:Welcome to the Forum and I for one thoroughly endorse your remarks about the attractions of the XM, hence my collection of six cars!! It is good to hear the auto-box has been well looked after and fuel consumption is reasonable. In relation to the headlights, there are Xenon HID bulb kits that can be fairly easily obtained and fitted to significantly boost output which are quite popular and others can give further advice I am sure. With regards, Matthew T.

Six cars - epic!