Citroen XM Forum

Have you got one ?? or do you know where there is one ?? AS late as possible (2000 !!), Moving to France soon so the extra carrying would be an advantage. At present have a 2.1 TD (lowish milage) Year 2000 (one of the last produced ) Could exchange with cash either way. LHD would be an advantage.

Can be contacted on my home Email on :- dhj1sas@aol.com

Here's hoping !!!

I think you will find that all 2.5s are all series 2 and there don't seem to be many very late ones about. I know I am probably going to upset 2.5 owners but if I were you I would stick to your 2.1, late ones are very rare. The 2.5 is undoubtedly nicer to drive but it is also more difficult and expensive to repair should it go wrong and some parts are difficult to get. The 2.1 engine is virtually bomb proof.

Peter

Hi Peter, Nice to speak again, I take your point. The thing is my car is an Auto and a saloon so as you say may have to downgrade to a 2.1 estate but I would like a manual if possible. looked at buying one in France FORGET IT !!! cars that we would scrap are going for €2000.00 still will see.
As you are a mine of information (know from the past ) the ABS sensors at the rear, how long is the wire ?? and can a set for the front be fitted.

Look forward to your reply

All the best

David

Hi David,

I would hold off for a nice 2.5! The driving rewards far outweigh the little pain of repairs and spares!

As for ABS sensors. I can't advise on the difference in cable length. However one other thing that I have only thought about is if the sensors themselves are compatible between front and back forgetting about lead length; ie is the coil in the sensor in the same place on both sensors. Perhaps John will be able to advise us on this?

On another note David, how would a nice 2.5 TD Exclusive Hatch in left hand drive fit the bill? A friend of mine from France is storing his 2.5 in my yard until its repatriated to France after buying a RHD C5 Tourer. He might be keen to sell, no idea what would for it. But the car is a 1996 Exclusive hatch in Bronze, UK registered, with RHD headlamps and MPH Clocks, with circa 90K miles on it (not Km). Taxed to May and with a good bit of MOT on it. Located in Northern Ireland also.

robert_e_smart wrote:Hi David,

I would hold off for a nice 2.5! The driving rewards far outweigh the little pain of repairs and spares!

As for ABS sensors. I can't advise on the difference in cable length. However one other thing that I have only thought about is if the sensors themselves are compatible between front and back forgetting about lead length; ie is the coil in the sensor in the same place on both sensors. Perhaps John will be able to advise us on this?

On another note David, how would a nice 2.5 TD Exclusive Hatch in left hand drive fit the bill? A friend of mine from France is storing his 2.5 in my yard until its repatriated to France after buying a RHD C5 Tourer. He might be keen to sell, no idea what would for it. But the car is a 1996 Exclusive hatch in Bronze, UK registered, with RHD headlamps and MPH Clocks, with circa 90K miles on it (not Km). Taxed to May and with a good bit of MOT on it. Located in Northern Ireland also.

As Robert has stated "The one for winners" !

The ABS leads from the front will fit the rear, however are longer between the sensor and the plug also be aware the positions of the additional protection sleeves holding grommet etc. are in different locations but will work (As I've fitted one in the past) !

You just need to coil up the extra length of the lead wire inside the Disc back-plate and cable tie up so as its out the way of the brake disc and silicone up the exit point of the lead wire as it goes thro' the backplate to prevent the ingress of moisture !

Also note all 2.5 TD's are only available with a manual box

Good luck with the search for one, If I spot one I'll post it up or send a PM to you !



.

Thanks both Robert and John for both your valuable help.
As for a 2.5 TD, would have been fine BUT the main reason for changing my car is that it is a saloon and for carrying things around in France, an estate would have been helpfull.
It looks like I will be keeping my present car UNLESS something comes along that I cannot refuse !!

Changing the headlamps to LHD is not too bad, available on Ebay/France for about €50/60 a pair and will refit my Zenons to the new headlamp (although, will be tempted to also fit them to main beam as well as I am moving to the countryside in Brittany and the extra light would be helpfull going round the country lanes ).

Also concidering taking the rear upper brake light out and fitting an array of red 5050 smd LED across the back window (newer cars have it, why can't WE !!)

Anyway, into the workshop tomorrow to do battle with the sensors (will only change two this time but as they are now 'cheap' will do the other two next time )

Thanks again

David

Get later LHD headlamp lenses and you won't need xenons at all.

Nah, you still need Xenons. I had LHD lamps in my XM whilst in France a few years back, they were a lot better than RHD cars but still crap!

Sorry, should have said Xenons and I know what you mean. I could not drive my car now with standard bulbs in. The light using French headlamps would be better than our RHD headlamps because French headlamps do not have that stupid plastic deflector in them. All the light goes out the front instead of losing it via the plastic deflector.
I wonder if the plastic deflector was removed , the light would become LHD ??, Might try it in workshop, remove the plastic and check it on a beamsetter.

No it wouldn't. The Fresnel is built into the glass on later LHD lights.