Vince's xm - 2.1TD daily driver

[Dieselman]

I'm sure the greater frontal projection is for crash protection for the occupants and aerodynamics, not for pedestrians.
In my experience, what happens below the bumper line is of very little relevance to a pedestrian as they get flung upwards and over the bonnet, due to their legs being swiped from under them.

[Vince]

There is clearly alot of thought going into this pointy nose business

Just got my new temporary company car today...a black Alfa Giulietta cloverleaf.
Positives:
Very quick,
Nicely put together,
Looks nice,

Negatives:
Not a citroen
Is tiny compared to the xm

Ive got it for a couple of weeks until a black C4 picasso comes my way

[Rommel]

Negatives:
Not a citroen

Good one!

[russ92xmsed]

Ooo. Nice car Vince. Just wish Alfa would get their act together and get a new and better 159 on the market...not to mention a new 166.

Sorry on to bluff fronts again, I think it is a combination of all three things Will. The idea I believe is the bluff front means if you hit someone, you get thrown up onto the bonnet, where due to better design, the bonnet cushions and protects the pedestrian from hard points. Take the XM, you wouldn't be able to have the bumper and frontal area design like that any more let alone a bonnet being so close to the engine....as there is a greater risk of trapping the ankle and lower leg of the poor person your running over and effectively driving over them. With modern bluff fronts, it elliminates this risk and throws you up and over. And from what I gather, you have first hand at this.

I'll have to do some diagrams of the vertical line I'm on about.

[Vince]

Well, whats been going on?

Im currently enjoying a few days off work (back in Monday) after going in hospital on wednesday for a minor procedure (i dont want ahymore kids, if you know what i mean). As usual i feel guilty for not being at work...always do, but its been nice to spend a bit of time dropping the kids at school and spending some quiet time with Linda for one.

Yesterday although im meant to be taking it easy, i decided to give the xm some love and gave it a good hand wash ready for this weekend. Also i noticed id blown a headlamp bulb the last time i took it out so i whacked a new pair of H1's in it also. Its alot colder today and meant to be raining tomorrow but ive not got much to do, so i might venture out later on and clean the interior and boot out.

Ive been driving the giulietta all week and its very solid and compact for an alfa. Do i like it?.....yes and no, the manual gear change is very smooth compared to the xm, but then if it had as many miles on it then who knows what it would be like It does make me wish the xm was fully restored, solid, tight in all the right places, but then i guess it wouldnt have its character then would it.....

On sunday we are taking a drive up to windermere in the lakes for a family day out to Beatrix Potter world as Jack is doing it at school at the moment. I love driving in the lake district so im quite looking forward to that. It also gives the xm a good run there and back

I have fond memories of windermere for various reasons over the years, but especially as its where i was ferried to in the renault 25 monaco so many years ago ah the mushroom leather rear sofa seats, i remember them well

I always think of that when i drive down into windermere....of all the times ive been there which have been plenty, its often the first thing that pops into my memory...

[Vince]

Well the windermere trip happened and a very nice day out it was too...the only snag was that we didnt end up going in the xm.....because it decided to spring an LHM leak the day before

It seemed to be coming from the nsf area so i suspected the strut return hose.....et voila! on inspection, thats exactly what it was

Luckily for me i have a couple of brand new ones of these so all i need to get hold of is a trolley jack and ill change it for a new one

I would have done it sunday morning but im sure i read somewhere that you cant jack an xm up on the jacking points as they are too weak, so i decided to take the alfa and fix the xm another day.....

A couple of questions.....
1, Is it true about the jacking points? and if so how do you change a flat tyre if out and about?
2, I cant recall whether its best to change the strut return hose with the suspension on high or low?.....

Any advice people?

[Vince]

Also did my neighbours clio on saturday..turned out very nice indeed.......the engine bay ridiculously dirty!....
pics on here:
http://pallasautorefinishing.wordpress. ... ault-clio/

[citroenxm]

Always and always carry a trolly jack.. jack the car on the subframe.. remember the front has a full size O shape subframe and can be lifted at the front. .

Strut return pipe swap makes no difference on high or low.. a tempery fix is join the pipe with a 3mm copper or hydraulic pipe.... its low pressure..

[Dieselman]

It's not true about the jacking points, but if they become damaged they let water between the plates, which causes rot of the sill.

The advantage of a hydro car is that you don't need a jack at all, a block under the subframe once raised will lift the wheel off the ground when lowered again.

[russ92xmsed]

I've just replaced one of my strut pipes. If I can do it, you certainly can Vince! Very easy to do. Worst bit is refitting the clip.

Nice job on the Clio.