1989 V6 Exclusive

[MTXM]

I decided to start a new thread with a brief update on progress now that the car is nearly ready to put back on the road. As a summary of my earlier thread, the acquisition was made last Autumn and, apart from being a V6, much of the appeal is the early date (RP 4572), with only two other very slightly older XM so far located in Germany and Holland.
After stripping off a very tired monopoint gas conversion and eventually resolving a starting issue and completing quite extensive welding to the sills, there have been a number of smaller mainly cosmetic tasks, including replacing most plastic chrome trim and one mirror, and changing both front door catches to allow access from outside! The hydraulics appear to be in a very good state with an incredibly swift reaction on starting up and replacement of the accumulator and centre spheres seems to have restored the suspension sufficiently for the present.
Given the age the condition is generally pretty good, with the leather interior virtually unmarked and amazingly everything electrical works! Despite nearly 170K the engine also now starts well and ticks over smoothly.
I hope to insure and MOT the car during early August and then re-register and if all goes to plan she should make her debut at XM25! The attached photos show the present state and also include my recently restored rhd auto.
Regards, Matthew T.

[CitroJim]

Fantastic Matthew That is an early one!

I'm sure the MOT will be just a formality!

[MTXM]

Thanks Jim and yes she rolled out of the factory just one week before the Monte Carlo launch on 23rd May! Hopefully with the welding done there will not be any major MOT issues, although bound to be something I am sure! I have got to change a handbrake cable on one side as the outer casing is toast and consequentially it does not work well!! With regards, Matthew T.

[russ92xmsed]

They both look great Matthew. Very smart indeed, and considering how it looked when you bought it, it's looking so much better. Having the two side by side shows the difference in the greys too. Look forward to seeing it.
Best of luck with the MOT.

[MTXM]

Many thanks Russ, although I have not done anything to the bodywork apart from stripping paint from the door side strips and front bumper. The main change I guess has been replacing the three spoke wheels with some original alloys I luckily had spare! There is some work that needs be done to smarten things up, which is mainly rectifying a badly re-painted rear wing and door and finishing off the sills. All things considered the bodywork is in reasonable shape. With regards, Matthew T.

[captainhaddock]

Stunning car and colour! A handbrake cable is easy to scource I think ? I asscume they aren' different from any other models?

How, does it drive????

[MTXM]

Very many thanks Jaap and fortunately I have a few spare cables that I am fairly sure will fit, although the task is quite awkward. Sadly the car is not yet registered and on the road and therefore has only been driven along an adjacent unmade lane and of course I am aching to stretch her legs! The good points are that the suspension feels quite nice and supple and the Diravi is to die for, while not so good is quite excessive free movement in the gearchange linkages, which hopefully I will either replace or learn to live with! With regards, Matthew T.

[Dieselman]

The colour is really nice and the roof without a sunroof looks so much better.

[MTXM]

Many thanks Will and the colour is a curious bluey grey that changes according to the light. A slightly brighter version of what Russ has almost. I know what you think about sunroofs!! With regards, Matthew T.

[MTXM]

I have now successfully fitted a replacement handbrake cable and apart from the original outer casing being toast the inner had also completely seized up! As the car was on blocks with wheels removed I am also getting the tyres resealed as the alloy rims leak badly and inevitably I found some other front end jobs. I noticed that the right hand strut hung a bit low and a quick check revealed the strut top rubber had separated, which I experienced on another car and assume is down to running on flat spheres. Fortunately I had some good replacement strut tops of the correct type and changed both to be safe, although the second oddly appears fine. Although the drive shaft and steering rack gaiters and track rod ball joint dust covers seem okay all four droplink joint covers were shredded so the droplinks have also come off for replacement. Regards, Matthew T.