Citroen XM Forum

190 cosworth's are beautiful cars.
Have you ever accidently put it into reverse instead of 1st?

No - you have to lift the gear lever up and then push it into the dogleg with your left hand to get reverse. It's virtually impossible for me without using the right hand as well.

Possibly easier on a left hand drive car, but still you need to pull it up.

Putting it in second instead of first though - virtually all the time! In essence the gear positions are reversed and it takes some time getting used to it. Now the cylinder head has been de-coked and sorted (plus far too much other stuff) I've just finished running it in again, and it is a glorious engine, all revs and 200bhp in a one metric tonne car. Bushes and shocks next and then the car is absolutely done.

Charles M wrote:Thanks Vince -my neighbours think I'm mad enough without standing outside warming the bumpers with a hairdryer! Today I am going to finish off the speakers and clean the SM, as it's off to Holland on Thursday, and I want it looking glam for the ferry.

Lol, my neighbours think im mad also.....

Whats the SM going to Holland for? That is a mighty fine steed indeed...to say im jealous is an understatement

Hopefully the final piece in the jigsaw of getting this car to be extremely usable and economical on a long tour rather than simply a short haul petrol addict. The car has very old fuel injection that overfuels horribly and keeping it in tune is a horror, which will only get more difficult as time goes by, and expensive. Renard in Holland specialise in fitting up to date injection and engine management systems - (a you tube below of the first one done) which should make it significantly more economical (mid to high 20s rather than 15) as well as upping torque and power. The Maserati V6 sounds spectacular, at the same time performing in a lovely large Citroen with cruise liner ride!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXgamY5Lfkw

As i said Charles...simply beautiful machines....a full package to me....style and substance. Design in its entirety

Are they taking the heads off and installing hard valve seats as well as that is an engine from the leaded era so it could be worth doing, and then looking at a nice MPI LPG setup as well with some hotter running plugs would have a lovely, lovely long mile muncher for pennies

Valve seats have already been done Will. The problem with LPG is there really is nowhere to put it - the boot is tiny enough to start with, and for the mileage it would never really justify itself (plus it would devalue the car if I ever sold it).

A quick run up to fill up and the SM works its magic - a nice chap in a Peugeot 405 estate (he runs an 80s 911) has a long chat about it - it is the one car in my experience that I will have friendly chats about each time I take it out. I just adore driving it - frankly (awaits incoming missile fire from all quarters) its ride is even better than the XM.

It has wishbones doesn't it Charles...might be why. XM is McPherson strut and can have a more choppy ride. Wishbones are a little more fluid.
SM is from an era when Citroens were truly comfy, eccentric and bloody minded. Love it!

The glamour puss with windows and lights cleaned, if nothing else.

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