It's finally happened (or very nearly so...)

[CitroJim]

It's all set to happen on Wednesday...

What time will you be going north or South on the M1?

Why? are you intending to call the Radio2 Travel Line to warn of a hazard up ahead?

I pick up the rig at 8AM, then visit Cosco for a box of Yorkie bars so I reckon I should hit the M1 about 8:30 to go North.. Reckon I should get to the A1M at around 11

Then return the same way deviating via Doncaster to see a friend...

On the return leg I'm sure I'll be recognisable. Look for the XM on the back - dead give-away really. I guess it'll the the only M1 on the back of a transporter that day... If you see me, make the appropriate gestures...

[Duke]

a box of Yorkie bars

...gotta have Yorkie Bars in a truck. It's the law you know...

[Dieselman]

I pick up the rig at 8AM, then visit Cosco for a box of Yorkie bars so I reckon I should hit the M1 about 8:30 to go North.. Reckon I should get to the A1M at around 11

Then return the same way deviating via Doncaster to see a friend...

On the return leg I'm sure I'll be recognisable. Look for the XM on the back - dead give-away really. I guess it'll the the only M1 on the back of a transporter that day... If you see me, make the appropriate gestures...

Will do...

Depending on which way you go for the A1m You could be very local and I still need to get a package delivered to CXM...

I won't know whether I can make CXM for a day or two.

[robert_e_smart]

Good to hear that you are getting your car soon Jim.

[CitroJim]

You could be very local and I still need to get a package delivered to CXM...

If I can be of any help Will, please don't hesitate.. If it helps any further I'll be at the A1M Wetherby Services (the newish ones near the racecourse) at around midday'ish.

Again, I'm sure I won't take a lot of recognising....

Hope you can make CXM though...

[CitroJim]

She's home safe and sound

Excellent day, went without a hitch in every way Massive thanks to David Hallworth and his dad for making the day a full and utter success

Franklin, The lorry (for that's what it was) was up to the task, plated to carry a 2.5 ton payload so your fears were groundless I'm happy to say,

Here is the rig with the XM loaded up ready to come south at Wetherby...



It was exceedingly good to have a chat with you at Leicester Services Will, by the time we set off again all the queues south of the services had cleared nicely

The project now begins. I've had a bit of a look around the car this evening, rain permitting, and I have a terrible confession to make.

You seasoned XM owners are now going to laugh like a drain. I took me ten minutes to work out how to release the bonnet. What silly Frenchman put a release lever there?

Once the bonnet was open I was shocked to find there is less room under there than there is in the Xantia.

On a positive note, all the electrical bits work, including both displays The electric armrest goes up and down, the sunroof works and the car is bone-dry inside...

Stand by for LOTS of questions in the coming weeks. I thought an XM was just a big Xantia. It's not, it's almost entirely different and this evening I found myself staring at a very unfamiliar car indeed.

I'll be starting a new thread in due course detailing the rebuild.

[citroenxm]

Congrats Jim, on your safe return..

The XM rides and drives NOTHING like a Xantia... I beleve when correctly setup they ride nicer and smoother then a Xantia, and no, they arent really "Just" a big Xantia, though the S2 dash lookalike tried harder to be like a Xantia...

Paul

[CitroJim]

Thanks Paul

The seats are like the finest armchairs...

the S2 dash lookalike tried harder to be like a Xantia...

Yes, indeed, I see it has inherited the very small glove box from the last S1 Xantia Apart from that I reckon the dash and console is a work of art. Absolutely lovely...

The whole car just exudes class. Even how the doors close with a soft thud and the nearly inaudible locking... Normally I'm not a fan of S2 cars but for this one I'm happy to make an exception...

No way it's a Xantia. It looks like it was designed and built by an entirely different company. The same one that produced the DS and CX maybe. Perhaps the XM was the last real Citroen after all...

I'm looking forward to really getting stuck into it

[citroenxm]

And This comes from a Die Hard Xantia Man!

The XM doors have always had a Fantastic Solid Thud when they close - BUT only when the windows are closed... do it again when the window on the open door is open and thats a different matter completely!!!

S2 cars Do have a much better noise insulation on them, which is what spoils the S1 cars... they are quieter..

Nice to hear your happy so far Jim!

Paul

[Dieselman]

No way it's a Xantia. It looks like it was designed and built by an entirely different company. The same one that produced the DS and CX maybe. Perhaps the XM was the last real Citroen after all...

The Xantia must have been designed by the team that designed the BX..reliable and easy to work on.

The XM was designed by the team that made everything a bugger to work on.

How could it take you so long to find the bonnet release, you even saw me release it...

I'm sure you will get stuck as well as in, many times coming up...

Thanks for meeting up. Hopefully see you at CXM.