Citroen XM Forum

James
can u call me on 07831898573
regards Malcolm from savoy

that's horribly familiar.

xantia_v6 wrote:

Eddie nuff wrote:I just don't get the point of spending money turning a S2 into a S1.

The point is that is is his car modify, and that's what he wants to do with it. There are worse things that could happen to it.
The only thing that worries me is the possibility that the complexities of connection an S1 dashboard into an S2 car will cause the project to be abandoned with the car in 500 pieces.

I am sure someone has tried this and failed. Wires to switches are too short ect. But what about the steering wheel. If it's an airbag model, won't it have to be kept for mot time???

russ92xmsed wrote: that's horribly familiar.

it's one way of getting the rear quarterlight out...

russ92xmsed wrote: I am sure someone has tried this and failed. Wires to switches are too short ect. But what about the steering wheel. If it's an airbag model, won't it have to be kept for mot time???

The wiring is different, but with a doner car, anything is possible.

Everyone needs a hobby, but . . .

I do wonder about all the wiring complexities and everything else, and what on earth the eventual vehicle will be registered (and insured) as.
The VIN number will say it's a S2, and so testers will (if not now, then at some point) expect to see airbags.
If you tell the insurers it's S2 (they will assume it is, by VIN and mfg date), then you must also tell them it's heavily modified, and passenger safety systems have been removed.
If you don't tell them . . . Well good luck with that. Invalid insurance is no fun.

Maybe the only legal way forward is to register it as a kit car / constructor's car, and follow the procedures with engineer testing prior to registration, MoT and insurance.

I do remain baffled, though. If you want a S1 that much, why not acquire one, and update it here and there as needs be.

Still, everyone needs a hobby, so the best of luck. Really.

BTW, can someone explain why we have the pictures of the bent car in this thread?

I presume it is because there are available parts from it.

xantia_v6 wrote:

Eddie nuff wrote:I just don't get the point of spending money turning a S2 into a S1.

The point is that is is his car modify, and that's what he wants to do with it. There are worse things that could happen to it.
The only thing that worries me is the possibility that the complexities of connection an S1 dashboard into an S2 car will cause the project to be abandoned with the car in 500 pieces.

No chance of that!. I've had XM s1 and s2 dashboards apart before; the swap is straightforward bar 1 or 2 issues around switch connectors that are fairly easily overcome-able. I fitted S1 instruments to my S2 CX which is far harder than that and also of course replaced my 2litre CX engine with the 2.5GTi Turbo unit including fitting the GTi loom.

The point of doing it is that I prefer the S1 interior and exterior, I've always wanted a 24v and my wife has to drive an auto ruling out the original S1 24v. It makes sense... at least to me

I'd far rather play with electrics than change cambelts!!!!

I think its going to turn out to be a cracking car, have fun playing.

D

Dieselman wrote:I presume it is because there are available parts from it.

Not going to help much with conversion to S1 spec,.. but I might be interested in a few parts...

White Exec wrote:Everyone needs a hobby, but . . .

I do wonder about all the wiring complexities and everything else, and what on earth the eventual vehicle will be registered (and insured) as.
The VIN number will say it's a S2, and so testers will (if not now, then at some point) expect to see airbags.
If you tell the insurers it's S2 (they will assume it is, by VIN and mfg date), then you must also tell them it's heavily modified, and passenger safety systems have been removed.
If you don't tell them . . . Well good luck with that. Invalid insurance is no fun.

Maybe the only legal way forward is to register it as a kit car / constructor's car, and follow the procedures with engineer testing prior to registration, MoT and insurance.

I do remain baffled, though. If you want a S1 that much, why not acquire one, and update it here and there as needs be.

Still, everyone needs a hobby, so the best of luck. Really.

I'm sorry you are so sceptical. The situation is quite straightforward. The passenger safety system will be kept in place. The airbags and detonator will be removed but the small electronic system that does the firing will be kept; its just there will be no airbag to deploy just like when you turn off the very dangerous passenger airbag. This will mean that side airbags (very useful as there is no crumple zone in a side impact) and seat belt pretensioners will remain in place and working.

I worked for Volvo for many years and lost count of the number of passenger airbags we removed for paramedics buying our cars because of the injuries they had seen them cause. A steering wheel bag is a bit more useful but the best system by a country mile is a seat belt pretensioner that stops you hitting the wheel in the first place. Airbags are an SRS (supplementary restraint system) and were originally developed for the US market where there are still many states where it is not a legal requirement to wear a seatbelt. A seatbelt, especially with a pretensioning system, is the primary and best safety system. Providing you wear a seatbelt the airbag will do very little and can actually increase the risk of injury in medium speed impacts. Of course all of this is just my opinion, you are very welcome to hold an alternative view; for example some people still believe seatbelts limit their freedom!

Regarding airbag systems and the MOT. 1 airbags are not a legal requirement. 2 a system is only testable if it is fitted. 3 where a system is fitted, providing the light is not on the car will be issued with a pass. Of course the only way to really test an airbag is to detonate it... but then it would be no good! Also there has been massive debate on the legal and insurance position of any airbag that is passed its use by date (which every XM bag is BTW).

All in all I will press ahead but I will be doing the work in such a way as to make all the modifications reversible. This means that if a future owner wants to convert the car back to S2 spec it will be an easy job.

I will be telling my insurance company that I will be fitting an S1 dash, they have agreed this will not be an issue.