Dollywobbler's 1995 S2 2.1 TD SX Manual

[dollywobbler]

Yes, now sorted for tunes. Sounds great.

As for the lock/light issues, it did it again last night, but I immediately locked and relocked with the key again and it opened properly. I wonder if the sensor in the driver's door lock is just a bit iffy. The car had been standing for a few months, so I'm expecting a few niggles like this.

[Dieselman]

Hi Ian,

That looks a sound car for the money and not only is it a 2.1TD manual, it's in white too, a definite bonus.

The central locking receiver is in the overhead console by the lighting switches.

For the delaminating strut top rubber, buy some strong mastic, jack the car up so the wheel is hanging and pulling the rubber down, scrape the inside of the metal and the outside of the rubber, degrease, then bung in some mastic and set the car back on the ground for a day while the mastic sets.

[xmexclusive]

Not on a Series 2 XM.
RF receiver is under the glove box.

John

[Dieselman]

Thanks.

[dollywobbler]

Well, the remote central locking seems to have cured itself, so not only are the locks behaving, but I can actually use the fob too!

In fact, I'm just back from a 450 mile trek around England and the car has been absolutely superb. Managed to get a new strut top from a friend too, so that should put my mind at ease.

I seem to have cured the sunroof leak too - the seal on the glass itself was the issue. Captain Tolley's Creeping Crack Cure to the rescue. Today, the ABS light has behaved impeccably too (the same cannot be said of yesterday when sometimes it went out, and sometimes it didn't).

In fact, the only downers on the trip are that the back end especially feels like it's sitting on tired spheres - quite bouncy at times, other times smooth - and the heaviness of the clutch. It also creaks, seemingly from the pedal. Maybe worth trying a new cable?

It's feeling like outrageous value though. I hope I'm not saying that too soon...

[White Exec]

Getting it tamed, sounds like.

Small point, with the electrical hiccups - I presume you've cleaned up all the earthing points in the engine bay (inner wings) and foot-wells? Just a thought.

[dollywobbler]

Nope. Not touched any earthing points. I thought the Series 2s were better in this regard?

Anyway, here's a picture of the XM in Derbyshire during this week's 450-mile trip.

[White Exec]

Like the pic - just the right sort of Constable - All it needs is a blue light, and it would cause a few others to hit the brakes !

With regard to the earthing points, yes, later cars (incl all S2) have improved bodywork earth terminals - bolt-type and terminal eye, as opposed to the early push-on connectors.

However, even the later type can give problems with age. Easy to remedy. Start with the seven or so in the engine compartment (easily visible on inner wings, near the front, on both LH and RH sides). Unbolt (10mm) one at a time, and clean up all mating faces back to bare metal. The eyes will have oxidised over time, and the welded-on anchor nut will actually have been painted (!) by factory, relying solely on thread-contact for good grounding. Clean off the paint on the nut top and bolt up securely.

There are also a couple of similiar grounding points in the footwells. Remove the frontmost plastic sill trim, and lift the carpet immediately above it. One earthing point on each side, IIRC.

XM electronics rely on good earthing for reliable operation, and all sorts of erratic faults can occur if a bit of resistance creeps in at ground. Well worth swatting this, even if everything is currently working.

[Dieselman]

For the hard soft nature of the rear suspension, try fitting diodes into the ECU or cabling to the electrovalves.

I think you are right about the outragous value, the car looks great in white.

[dollywobbler]

Thanks. I'll try and have a more detailed look at the suspension at some point. The ride isn't at all bad, just not entirely wafty.

I'm amazed at how good it looks in white. I'd never really choose a white car, and I'd never even considered it for an XM. It does work though.