Mikes 1999 V6 Manual Exclusive

[MTXM]

I bet you are enjoying yourself Mike and how nice to be touring Italy! That was also interesting you received an offer to buy the car and shows appreciation for the model. With regards, Matthew T.

[xantia_v6]

Another summer is officially over, both the Xantia and XM have been put away for the winter.

Tally of work required on the XM this year...

• One set of front brake pads (the disks will need replacing next time)
• One engine oil change

The car has just reached a mileage of 105,000 km, so that is 35,000 km in my 5 years of ownership.

The Xantia did hardly any miles this year, but next year it might get a trip back to the UK.

[White Exec]

Now, now, you know these hydropneumatic buses thrive on a bit of regular use!

[xantia_v6]

We have been back in France for a month, but there is not much to report on either car. They just work.

Yesterday I was following an XM for a while, and when it slowed down for a roundabout I noticed that there was a nasty kink in the bodywok above a rear wheel, and corresponding signs of trauma to the rear bumper. A shame because it looked like a cared-for car. Later I realised that it was an ES9 V6 because it had the twin tailpipes. It turned off my route a few km from home.

[xantia_v6]

It has been 3 years since my previous update of this topic... But for 30 months of that I have been on the other side of the planet.

We arrived back in France yesterday and I had pre booked controle technique for today. On opening the garage, the car looked like a barn find.

IMG_20220606_153946.jpg

We had planned to be away for only 4 months, so the only storage preparation done was to remove the battery and put jack's under the front subframe to take the weight off the tyres.

The battery was left connected to a solar trickle charger, but that seems to have blown off the roof in a storm. I charged the battery over night and the engine sprang iilice after about 4 seconds cranking. It was only running on 5 cylinders for a minute or so, I think one of the hydraulic tappets had drained down.

A quick jet wash, a bit more air in the tyres and run around the block then off to the CT test. It passed of course, with only a few minor advisories, most of which have been there as long as I have owned it.

[Dieselman]

I would think the misfire was either a dirty plug, or sticking injector.
Nice, easy motoring, passing the Ct immediately after a 30 month lay-up.

[xantia_v6]

I found this in the back of the car today. It about 6mm diameter.

IMG_20220709_082538.jpg

Can someone remind me where it fits?

[Dieselman]

Parcel shelf sunblind end cap.

[xantia_v6]

Its about 3 years since I wrote anything here...

The XM has had an easy time of it. in 2022 and 2023 we went to the UK and took the Xantia as it is RHD. Last year we were going to take it to Antibes for a holiday, so I did most of the maintenance and prep, but at the last minute we took the Xantia, as the place we were renting was said to have very tight parking, and the Xantia is a bit shorter... Just as well, as it was a 10 point parking manoeuvre to get the Xantia into the underground car park, and the same to get it out.

Last year I changed the rear spheres on the XM, I previously changed them about 10 years ago. The front spheres are NOS multi-layer spheres that I bought a few years ago and seem to be still in good condition. I also changed the drivers door lock with a used spare I had, as the locking motor was intermittent. I did check that it was getting voltage when it wasn't working.

This year the XM will get its outing, in July we will take it to La Rochelle. So I decided to do a bit more maintenance. Today I changed the gearbox oil (at 115,000 km). The correct 1.8 litres came out, and although quite dark, seemed to be in reasonable condition. There was some swarf on the magnetic drain plug, but I suppose that is normal. I filled it with a measured quantity of oil through the reversing light switch hole. Interestingly, the sealed 2 litre container of Total GL4 oil only contained 1.8 litres.

I was also going to change the spark plugs, but after pulling the 3 easy front plugs, found them in perfect condition, so I just put them back without disturbing the intake manifold. I am trusting that the Citroen dealer who serviced the car before my ownership changed all 6 plugs (or none).

[Dieselman]

Was filling via the reverse light switch easy, did it readily accept the oil, or did you have to pour very slowly?
Good to hear you were able to do this, without too much hassle.

You should let Total know about the volume error, not just because you have been charged for 2 litres and received 1.8.
The bottles will be filled by weight and I suspect the bottle filling plant has incorrectly accounted for the oil having a specific gravity of approx 0.9 twice, so the bottles are 10% underfilled.
One would have thought this would be found at the first batch test. Perhaps they don't perform QA testing anymore.

I have to say, You know how to party...La Rochelle and Antibes...