New member - barn find S1 Auto

[citroenxm]

I wouldn't ignore them. If it saves loosing a side trim I'd use them. It beats mastic.. I've tried seperating side trims which had mastic on and broke the backing section.. So I guess it's down to experience..

[White Exec]

A dob or two of silicone will hold small trim pieces in place, but will pull apart if you need to remove the item.
Anything stronger (polyurethane, mastic/adhesive) will be too powerful, and risk breakage.

Our Toyota here relies heavily on siliconed trim bits, as the 1001 different and nasty Totoya trim clips are absolutely b** useless at doing their job. Toyota's engines and transmissions (except DMFs) may be pretty much bulletproof, but body parts are something else .

[Citjon]

I'm pleased to say that the car passed its MOT today with no advisories!

The only thing it needed was a bit of exhaust paste on the front silencer where my welded repair hadn't quite taken. It also spat some coolant out on the ramp which had me worried but it was just the overflow.

I've now done a few local miles (daren't go too far yet!) and it drives really well albeit slowly. Gearbox seems OK other than a slight 'chirp' changing from 2nd to 3rd sometimes. I'll be dropping the oil soon so hopefully that will cure it.

You can really feel the difference when the centre spheres are off, I've only had S2 XMs and a Xantia V6 where the change was less noticeable. Compared to my modern car it is just so smooth though and much more comfortable.

Looking forward to some longer journeys and hoping to make it to the CCC meeting later this month.

[Stickfinger]

Fab result....mine as well soon (I hope)

[White Exec]

[Dieselman]

Great result, the car looks fab.
Another Xm rises from the dead...literally.

Hydractive 1 Xm do indeed have a more noticeable switch from soft to hard modes than later cars.
You could modify that by changing spheres...or just enjoy the super sharp handling.

You see that tree just out of picture...loop a chain or strap round it, clamp it to the bent back flitch panel and snatch the car backwards.
That will soon pull the metal straight.
You could probably just do it with a slide hammer, or heavy bar pulled into a looped chain.

[Dieselman]

I wouldn't ignore them. If it saves loosing a side trim I'd use them.

Citroen didn't use those holes from new, and there are no fastenings shown in parts guides.
What do you use to fasten them?
A plastic rivet would be best.

As long as the bottom clips are intact, the covers can't come off due to wind. They are difficult to remove intentionally.

[Citjon]

Good idea about the tree but I don't think the locals would approve, I only stopped there to take photos! It's near enough to live with for now and if I get it painted I'll sort it out properly then. Might even cut a section off a scrapper if I can find one that isn't rusty.

I didn't use the rear hole (!?!) in the end, just a dab of mastic as 2 clips were broken. The grey bits have cleaned up really well with Autosol chrome polish followed by Autoglym bumper and trim gel (worth using just for the smell!).

[citroenxm]

I wouldn't ignore them. If it saves loosing a side trim I'd use them.

Citroen didn't use those holes from new, and there are no fastenings shown in parts guides.
What do you use to fasten them?
A plastic rivet would be best.

As long as the bottom clips are intact, the covers can't come off due to wind. They are difficult to remove intentionally.

I know there isn't.. I use a screw which a wide enough thread body to screw in tight enough.. Seeing as the end panels are gettibg a bit scarse and they only seem to be broken it's an idea when you can get any.. As I said before experience with mastic on cars where a, previous has been a bit heavy handed it had broken the attaching part of the scuttle trim.

[Citjon]

Clocking the miles up now, even managed a 60 mile round trip the other night! I was going to post a photo of the speedo as it's just gone over 40k but it won't upload at the moment.

No major leaks from anywhere or bits dropping off (yet) but have a couple of niggles. The interior light won't go off when the ignition is off / key removed. This caused a flat battery so I'm having to disconnect it overnight. I've read about the blue control unit playing up so will see if I can find a spare one.

The left side dash display (basic outline type) works when it feels like it, seems to come back on when the car warms up so maybe a bad connection?

I'm gaining confidence in the car and getting used to the gearbox now. It is very sedate unless you use kickdown, but when you do it goes surprisingly well (I'm used to driving a 2.2 litre diesel that rarely needs more than 2000rpm) I've changed the atf once and will be doing another couple of changes, along with a cup of diesel in the LHM to flush the hydraulics out.

I originally fitted a second hand pair of Amtex front spheres, which measured 55 bar and seem to work OK. These were swapped tonight for a pair of NOS Citroën ones (desmopan type) and it will be interesting to see if there is much difference.

The replacement pump to FDV pipe arrived safely from Denmark and has also been fitted. The damaged one was kinked and probably 50% down on cross section so I feel a lot happier now that's been done.

I'm planning a drive over to Lincoln this weekend to see the previous owner, who is in his 90s. He started repairing it back in 2001 or 02 before other projects and ill health stopped him, so it will be nice for him to see it back on the road at last.