Citroen XM Forum

As title posting spotted on E-BAY ,
It could make a good workhorse for someone if its cheap (As it has a short Tax/MOT 25th Nov. just enough time to drive it home as listing finishes on 21st Nov.) and if your prepared to put right the MOT failures and radiator leak

E-Bay seller wrote:Unfortunately it has now failed its MOT which runs out on 25 November and I no longer have the facilities to repair. This would be a sound project for anyone with the equipment to hand, or failing that, a good donor car.
The failure points are as follows:-

Nearside rear sub-frame mounting
Offside rear sub-frame mounting
Nearside inner rear suspension mounting
Nearside outer rear suspension mounting
Nearside inner seat belt mounting
Accumulator sphere leaking
Intermittent ABS fault - probably the rear near side.
To add to that there is a radiator leak.

The garage reported that all these were easily repairable and was prepared to do the work.

Have we got to start checking the rear SUB-FRAME mountings now similar to the front suspension strut tops

Hi XMX

Seems to be a common problem. Had a few now that needed welding.
The chassis is made up of multiple very thin pressed steel sections that make up very strong but light structural members.
Any small rust hole in a prescribed area is enough to fail the MOT.
Damage to the jacking points will distort the steel sections and start rust going.
Front jacking points are within the prescribed area for the front subframe rear mounts.
Rear jacking points are within the prescribed area for the rear subframe front mounts.
A chassis cross beam that seems very prone to rusting carries the rear subframe rear mounts.
This latter problem particularly affects estates which is strange as the chassis construction at that point is identical to XM cars.
For the seat belt mount prescribed area to be rusted as well It sounds as though the underseal has had a major failure on the ebay car.
That is more unusual for an XM but does happen as I discovered with my last aquired 2.5 exclusive car.
That need seven seperate plates welded in to get it through including the chassis just behind one of the strut heads.

John

Hi,John
Thanks for the overview I shall give my XM a good 'once-over' before the next MOT then

xmexclusive wrote: Seems to be a common problem. Had a few now that needed welding.
That is more unusual for an XM but does happen as I discovered with my last acquired 2.5 exclusive car.
That need seven separate plates welded in to get it through including the chassis just behind one of the strut heads.
John

Was it a green one by any chance

xmexclusive wrote: I was looking at the ad for that silver exclusive on ebay yesterday, not to buy I should hasten to add as I think I got a green one by default yesterday anyway.

The SILVER one my friend bought, has just passed it's MOT last week without any major issues

Regards, XMX

Hi XMX

Yes it was an emerald green one but it was the tan leather interior that caused me to make a less than sensible purchase.

John