Citroen XM Forum

So after some dithering & calling around a few placed I eventually took it to the Citroen dealer (at the suggestion of one of the parts co's I phoned - 'have you tried Citroen?' - uh, actually no I haven't!) who lured me in with a 'we might be able to do something, will cost £1xx just to look at blah blah' only to get the already known 'gearbox needs replacing, parts unavailable'. At least I was able to get a parts number list out of them (though I had to beat it out of them somewhat). Basically needs new gearbox + linkage (all the rods and brackets). I don't have room to store stuff like that on the hopes of getting a full set 'one day' so will probably have to wait for something to appear at the breakers (another manual turbo petrol or a 2.1 turbo diesel... but maybe the linkage from another Xm manual box might fit???) and don't really have the patience for this thing anymore already after a few months of beating my head against numerous walls... am a little surprised, it's actually the 'newest' vehicle I've owned (in the sense that it they were made until 2000) and by no means the rarest but I've never had this kinda difficulty getting... anything at all before. Maybe I was just lucky in the past?

the leaking hydralic pipe is the power steering one - anyone got one of those? (the Citroen garage commented that it had been replaced with a 'garden hose or something', haha). I could probably get the local pirtek to do something at the same time I get a gearbox fitted but am I gonna get to do that...

I need something to do occasional motorway drives, which is what I brought this for at the start of the year, didn't mind if it needed some fixing but giving up and the need is now pressing. Am considering getting a c6 instead (anyone got one?) though if I have it for 10 yrs the idea of facing this situation as all the numerous gadgets fail is a bit offputting. Option 2 would be a big engine Skoda which would leave plenty of money to fix this XM and maybe enough will to run it for a bit but I can't clutter the street indefinitely with dead metal. I dunno how you guys can keep so many of these on the road!! If I can at least find a power steering pipe soonish I might just wack it on ebay sooner, and if I can't even find that will probably do the same later and chalk it down as 'a mistake'...

Sorry to hear that you are still struggling.

They can be a little tricky but people are actively breaking them on this forum.

Personally I am an automatic man so cannot offer much assistance

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Rob

Oh dear the future of my old car 'UAB' does not look that promising! Regards, Matthew T.

What is the colour code of this Matthew?

The car is in Anthracite Ray and not the Silicon Grey that you have unfortunately. Regards, Matthew T.

Thanks Matthew.