Citroen XM Forum

H2 is much less reliable, the electro valves can fail in many different ways and often do but the changes in the ECU thresholds and the fact the EV's act directly at each axle gives better response times and a more rounded system.

Having tinkered in depth with the mk2 setup I'm undecided if its better or not.

D

IMHO. The biggest difference is the ball bearing valves to stop cross flow, which allows larger and less damped corner spheres to be used.

This gives a gliding ride, still coupled to good handling.

I have found H2 to be very floaty and comfy. Jaaps 2.1 has an excellent ride. Mine is a little more harsh in comparison.

In my experience every XM has a slightly different ride, having owned around a dozen cars, whether H1 or H2, with the many variable factors ie. sphere and lhm condition and electrics etc. After just re-sphering my gold V6 the ride is wonderfully floaty and as good as any H2 I would wager!! Regards, Matthew T.

In my experience, all H1 cars pass more road vibration through than H2 cars. I noticed this even on my new ones.

MTXM wrote:In my experience every XM has a slightly different ride, having owned around a dozen cars, whether H1 or H2, with the many variable factors ie. sphere and lhm condition and electrics etc. After just re-sphering my gold V6 the ride is wonderfully floaty and as good as any H2 I would wager!! Regards, Matthew T.

I think Matthew's bang on with this. We're now, in the main, experiencing XMs around 20 years old, and with very varying maintenance and usage histories, running on a variety of rubber.

The only valid comparisons could be between cars in either ex-factory condition, or maintained up to "as new" standards. Both of these are pretty rare these days, although a good few of us are making something of a stab at the latter!

White Exec wrote: I think Matthew's bang on with this. We're now, in the main, experiencing XMs around 20 years old, and with very varying maintenance and usage histories, running on a variety of rubber.

The only valid comparisons could be between cars in either ex-factory condition, or maintained up to "as new" standards. Both of these are pretty rare these days, although a good few of us are making something of a stab at the latter!

I thought the two I had from new were in as new condition...maybe not.

There are genuine technical reasons why later cars ride better, greater volume corner spheres with softer damping, allied to taller tyres and greater vehicle mass are the main ones.

That car was at the XM25 last year with it's owner Mark, as Russ has said. It is indeed a truly wonderful example and is probably one of the best PRV 12v XM's that you'll be able to buy. If you want one, don't hang around!

David.

While it has been a while since I drove my Series 2 (and it had approximately half the mileage of my current car) I do recollect it has a better ride than my Series !. That said she is running three different brands of tyres and probably needs two new inner spheres.

I will give a more definitive reply when I have fully fettled the Series 1.

Rob

Tyres are an important factor. My XM on Bridgestones versus Michelins made quite some difference. Happy to report I do not want to change anything of the ride of my diesel car but the petrol, even though very nice, just doesn't quite match it (yet)