Finally found a donor for my black XM aka Fantôme Noir

[Ferdinand]

Got in touch with a guy in april who had a green donorcar for sale, but he had to go abroad foran unknown period, so he made his advert inactive and gone was the car….. Fortunately he came back last week and wrote me and I saw and bought a much needed donor for my Fantôme Noir: a Vert Vega 1998 ES9 BVM

The body is rotten in the rear, but mecanically it’s in really good shape, the exhaust is in really good condition and the interior almost perfect: All black so the headliner and carpets is going in one of my other cars.

[Dieselman]

Nice frilly rear arches, there.
From what I observe, the rear arches on late, Exclusive trim, Xm tend to rot badly. I believe this is a result of reduced rust protection and adding foam sound deadening on top of the rear arch liners.
The foam holds water so keeps the body wet. Due to the extra sound deadening, the cars are so quiet you can hear the tin-worm munching at the steel.

[xantia_v6]

Are you intending to swap the BVM transmission into your car?

If so, I would recommend swapping some cogs from a diesel ML5T to lower the cruising RPM. I am always wanting a higher gear. A C5 or Peugeot with the 2.2 engine should have better ratios.

[Ferdinand]

Are you intending to swap the BVM transmission into your car?

If so, I would recommend swapping some cogs from a diesel ML5T to lower the cruising RPM. I am always wanting a higher gear. A C5 or Peugeot with the 2.2 engine should have better ratios.

My black XM is already a manual V6 ES9. I needed this donorcar because the slave clutch in it is dead, so no need til swap anything.. Looking so forward to getting a functioning ES9 with stick.

[Citjon]

Nice frilly rear arches, there.
From what I observe, the rear arches on late, Exclusive trim, Xm tend to rot badly. I believe this is a result of reduced rust protection and adding foam sound deadening on top of the rear arch liners.
The foam holds water so keeps the body wet. Due to the extra sound deadening, the cars are so quiet you can hear the tin-worm munching at the steel.

I found the remains of this foam when I removed the arch liners on my 98 VSX and wondered where it came from. Strangely enough the arches are pretty solid despite lots of rust elsewhere.

[Citjon]

Are you intending to swap the BVM transmission into your car?

If so, I would recommend swapping some cogs from a diesel ML5T to lower the cruising RPM. I am always wanting a higher gear. A C5 or Peugeot with the 2.2 engine should have better ratios.

I have the parts for a RHD V6 BVM conversion, if I ever get round to it. Interesting to hear about the gearbox ratios, I will look out for one of those.

[Dieselman]

Nice frilly rear arches, there.
From what I observe, the rear arches on late, Exclusive trim, Xm tend to rot badly. I believe this is a result of reduced rust protection and adding foam sound deadening on top of the rear arch liners.
The foam holds water so keeps the body wet. Due to the extra sound deadening, the cars are so quiet you can hear the tin-worm munching at the steel.

I found the remains of this foam when I removed the arch liners on my 98 VSX and wondered where they came from. Strangely enough the arches are pretty solid despite lots of rust elsewhere.

I trust you did the right thing and consigned the foam to the bin.

[Citjon]

Nice frilly rear arches, there.
From what I observe, the rear arches on late, Exclusive trim, Xm tend to rot badly. I believe this is a result of reduced rust protection and adding foam sound deadening on top of the rear arch liners.
The foam holds water so keeps the body wet. Due to the extra sound deadening, the cars are so quiet you can hear the tin-worm munching at the steel.

I found the remains of this foam when I removed the arch liners on my 98 VSX and wondered where they came from. Strangely enough the arches are pretty solid despite lots of rust elsewhere.

I trust you did the right thing and consigned the foam to the bin.

Absolutely, although I did consider replacing it. I'm now worried I won't be able to hear if the tin worms return!