Captain Slow's Series One XM

[messerschmitt owner]

have you upped the turbo boost - being a low pressure turbo it gives a bit of oomph but not a huge amount of oomph! You should be able to push another 30-40bhp out of it with a manual boost controller and pushing the turbo pressure from 0.5 bar to closer to a bar.

I'm thinking I may sort mine in that way - it's plenty quick enough for me, mind, but I know what happened when I remapped my smart roadster and the pressure went up from one to 1.5bar - that knocked an easy one and a half seconds off the 0-60 time and other mods have knocked another second and a bit off. It left the factory with 80bhp and now has 117bhp.

The XM is a motorway mile muncher rather than a hooligan's sports car and should be a little sedate but I know that the odd bit of acceleration can be exhilarating!

[russ92xmsed]

I'm sorry to here that Captain Slow. It must make it quite disappointing after wanting one for so long.

I must admit I had a similar concern with mine, mainly I think because it is so very different to my last car and the C5 we have in the family. I did think for a while if I had made a dreadful mistake.... But spending time behind the wheel and going to rallies I have got used to it's quirks. I really love it now, even if it is a slow diesel auto!
I'm sure someone will snap it up. It does look like a good one.
Big question now....what are you intending to move onto?

[Captain Slow]

I'm sorry too. In a strange way I feel like I'm letting you all down. I really want to like it, but its just not doing it for me. I think part of the problem is that I mostly cycle to work, so only really use the car if its raining or I'm off out somewhere. If I was using it to travel to and from work it might tick a few more boxes, but I'm just not finding it special enough to take out for a "drive"

Its a good question what I plan to get to replace it. I had set my sights on a C6 a while back, but I think I might have to can that idea. Essentially its a newer XM, and if that's not ticking the boxes, why would a C6?

[Duke]

C6 took over the CX IMO...

C6s are great, fantastic cars. They're at home chomping up motorway miles and a 300 Mile jounrey is akin to a pop to the shops and back. Go well too, ours is the 2.7 HDi (Twin Turbo) and doesn't hang about.

C6 has come a long way since the XM days...

[Captain Slow]

I understand technically its a CX replacement, but in theory its a big luxo barge, same as the XM, which just isn't what i need in my lift at this time. I can't afford it either

[russ92xmsed]

I agree with Franklin, the C6 is quite different from the XM. More powerful, more toys, arguably smoother and importantly pillar less windows!
Downsides, seats are German hard and more than likely it would be a auto, which are very good, unless you want to really drive it. Oh and the dash is lifted from a Peugeot (well bits of it are).
I would have one if I could.

[normantilbury]

Jim, have you seen this item for sale on e-bay it looks like it has something to do with the Elite.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360485136107? ... 1423.l2649

Regards.
Norman

[CitroJim]

Thanks Norman

Sadly, that publication looks a lot more useful than it really is and it's only valuable if you have the full ELIT shooting-match of all the adaptor pods, cables, cards and break-out boxes which sadly I don't. I just have the basic ELIT machine and enough leads to read 16, 30 and two pin cars...

[Captain Slow]

Well.....John had kindly agreed to renew a spare suspension ECU for me, and tonight I got a phone call. He had finished it, and mentioned he could bring it over. I too was free, so just as my dinner was due to finish cooking he turned up.

With me filling my face, he kindly set about removing the old ECU and replacing it with the renewed unit. I also gained further XM knowledge...

Incase you don't know, this is the suspension ECU, the next above it is the engine ECU and the other is the ABS ECU



Out came the old ECU and in went the new.



Here is John getting to work whilst I ate



I then took it for a test drive, and it's much improved. The new ECU coupled with the new front spheres has made a huge difference. I think I might do the rears as there is a slight imbalance now, but overall a big improvement, and I'm feeling much happier now too. Thanks John

[russ92xmsed]

Does this mean it's staying?