Citroen XM Forum

Yeah Russ, I'm expecting some popped seams - in fact it would make getting it back into shape easier, and as I can weld repairing popped seams shouldn't be too much of a problem. If the C post or sub frame had moved I'd have had to seriously consider scrapping it, but it would be a shame as it drives really well.

Maybe I shouldn't be saying this here, but it could have been worse as if I'd managed to finish Visal Diesel it woul dhave been parked there, and that would have been soul destroying after the hundred's of hours that have been put into welding that car!

Very sorry to hear about the damage to your car Mike but I am sure you will get it sorted! With regards, Matthew T.

I wouldn't go buying any special body tools. Remove the bumper, bolt a strong chain to the rear panel and attach it to a strong fixed object, then drive forwards to pull the damage out opposite to the direction it went in.

If kinks need flattening with a hammer, do it with tension on the chain.

The tow bar is what causes the damage to move forwards and into the inner wing.

Bastards! Sorry to here about your misfortune, someone ran into mine while parked the other month too but the damage was more superficial.

I'm sure you'll do a grand job fettling it; don't forget to take lots of photos!

It wasn't the same guy who ran into you on the roundabout was it? How did you get on with repairing the accident damage?
I stumbled across this whilst looking for info on repairing a broken spoiler mount...

Right, it's been a busy year this year, with work getting more and more stressful until our temporary manager (covering my boss while he recovers from a quadruple bypass) decided that our shift patterns were illegal, while at the same time one of the Production managers, who likes dropping huge amounts of work on people in the late afternoon and expecting it done for the following morning went off on stress (couldn't happen to a more deserving bloke!)

Out of work, it's been buying and preparing another XM for the Challenge this summer, then struggling to keep both running while helping restore a mate's 1969 Dyane.

Oh, and I've ended up naming them both! Gandalf (the grey XM) has given little trouble, the main reason for not using him being that I ran out of mileage on the insurance! The MOT in February showed up some welding by the towbar on the side that got hit, and a worn CV joint that I knew about. The Westons ended up digging out a good 2nd hand joint in the end as the local motor factor couldn't get one with the right number of splines for my driveshaft. The Driver's lock barrel is worn out and sometimes decides to jam, and when I went over to visit family in Ireland I took a load of tools and parts and spent the week spraying the roof, straightening the back end a bit, replacing damaged lenses and changing the window mechanism in the driver's rear door (the motor on the original was siezed solid).

He then let me down in July when a coolant hose split on the way to a funeral in Northumberland. Mr RAC man managed a temporary repair on the side of the road and I managed to get home OK, although the speedo failed about 10 miles from home. The bottom engine mount is also soggy, so I have to change that too.

Now for the new one - a 1996 (registered in '98) 2.5TD VSX estate in white with factory leather interior, called Saruman (see what I did there?), which managed the Challenge thanks to Leo's K seal when oil started getting in the water when we hit the mountains. The following week it also got to Ireland for the All Ireland Rally, where it won best XM (and it wasn't the only one there!). I think the scrubbed interior, well polished exterior and the red Challenge and Citroen stickers are what swung it!

Since then when not working I've been helping restore a 1969 UK market Dyane 6, it's needed a little bit of welding, and now sports either new or 2nd hand a complete bulkhead including A pillars from the bottom of the windscreen down, floors, inner and outer sills, C posts, rear inner wings, boot floor and rear panel, with pretty much every other panel needing work.

That's drawing to a close, so I can concentrate on my own cars now, with Saruman coming off the road for a head gasket plus work on a variety of other more minor jobs, with the winter work being (hopefully) shared by Gandalf and Mitch, my BX 4X4 estate, once Gandalf gets his new engine mount, plus a bit more welding round the back, and Mitch gets recommissioned from a 12 year slumber.

Pics to follow, as I'm short on time now.

I don't know how you find the time Mike. I visited your 'stash' over the summer when buying my Dyane! Crikey is all I can say.

Was that down in Warminster? If so that's just the long term storage! The 2CV and DKW are by my brother's, there's a Land Rover by Thornbury and the XM's, BX's, Dyane, GS and HY are at or close to home.

Mike, we really ought to meet up sometime. I am just down the road in overcast Calne.

My XM is feeling a little neglected at the moment following a rather busy period at work and now being off for minor surgery on my knee.

That said she is still running a charm (not likely to win any prizes mind you) and far more reliable than my wife's 15 plate Audi which has been in the garage for the last three weeks!!!!

Rob

My v6 24v s1 manual was written off cat d with just a smashed off drivers mirror and small dent on top of the drivers door.. so little damage..

got loads of lamps etc here if needed...