Sam Skelton's Citroen XM 2.0TCT SEi auto

The place to show off and tell us all about your XMs (or even other cars). Should it be a big project, or just some general pics, start your thread in here.
Sam Skelton
Knows how to use the parking brake
Posts: 70
Joined: Sun Jul 12, 2015 2:52 am
Location: Huntingdonshire
Contact:

Re: Sam Skelton's Citroen XM 2.0TCT SEi auto

Post by Sam Skelton » Fri Aug 07, 2015 2:56 pm

White Exec wrote:Don't forget the centre spheres (front and back) which is where the softness really comes from.
Neglect those, and it'll always be knobbly.
Am I right in thinking "comfort" centre spheres will have no effect on sports mode or cornering prowess given that the computer locks them out, but will improve the ride in a straight line or sweeping bends? Can you replace JUST the centres with comforts, and leave the rest as standard? Or is there no benefit to doing so?
Sam Skelton

Frenchies on my fleet
88F Citroën CX Croisette (RP4138)
93L Citroën XM 2.0ct SEi auto (RP6045)
93L Citroën Xantia 1.9D LX (RP6066)
94L Citroën XM 2.1D auto (RP6251)
99V Citroën Xantia HDi110 Exclusive (RP8358)

dollywobbler
Has changed a sphere or two
Posts: 387
Joined: Sat Feb 15, 2014 12:18 pm
Location: Mid-Wales
Contact:

Re: Sam Skelton's Citroen XM 2.0TCT SEi auto

Post by dollywobbler » Fri Aug 07, 2015 3:23 pm

I wondered that myself. Sport mode seems to make little or no difference on my Series 2 so perhaps just refreshing the centres will do the trick. I certainly wouldn't fit comfort spheres to the four corners.
1986 2CV6 Dolly, 1980 Dyane
1995 XM S2 2.1TD SX Manual - RP6464
http://www.hubnut.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sam Skelton
Knows how to use the parking brake
Posts: 70
Joined: Sun Jul 12, 2015 2:52 am
Location: Huntingdonshire
Contact:

Re: Sam Skelton's Citroen XM 2.0TCT SEi auto

Post by Sam Skelton » Fri Aug 07, 2015 4:13 pm

Nor would I, because my understanding of how the system works is that it relies upon the corners to be firm and the centres to introduce necessary squidge.
Sam Skelton

Frenchies on my fleet
88F Citroën CX Croisette (RP4138)
93L Citroën XM 2.0ct SEi auto (RP6045)
93L Citroën Xantia 1.9D LX (RP6066)
94L Citroën XM 2.1D auto (RP6251)
99V Citroën Xantia HDi110 Exclusive (RP8358)

User avatar
russ92xmsed
Global Moderator
Posts: 5733
Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2012 5:23 pm
Location: Cheltenham
Contact:

Re: Sam Skelton's Citroen XM 2.0TCT SEi auto

Post by russ92xmsed » Fri Aug 07, 2015 4:28 pm

Sam Skelton wrote:
russ92xmsed wrote:We will need you RP number... Stamped in the passenger door jamb. Then I can add that for you.

No worries chap - I'll get that for you tonight. Am I right in thinking I can trace the build date using this?
Great. :) Yes you can. You can find an orga calculator.. Google it!... And you will find it's birthday.


When in normal mode, all six spheres are operational. When in sport the system locks out the middle spheres. So H1 cars are in sport mode and therefore harder ride. In series two cars, the system doesn't lock the centre spheres out permanently. It changes the perimeters of the system and puts it into sport mode more often when you drive harder.

All I now about comfort spheres on the XM, is they make the car quite wollowy.


There is something about the Montego that seems to be maturing like a fine cheese!... It doesn't look too old.... Infact quite a neat design for it's era.
Colour is everything with them though. Brown and beige are not their friends!
Russ

1992 K reg XM 2.1 Auto SED RP 5712
1992 K reg XM 2.1 Auto SED RP 5705 (D)
Also
2003 C5 2.2 HDI Exclusive

I sell Engine bay, 1990 COTY, Total & Club XM Sticker Decals
http://www.rjwcreativedesign.co.uk

Sam Skelton
Knows how to use the parking brake
Posts: 70
Joined: Sun Jul 12, 2015 2:52 am
Location: Huntingdonshire
Contact:

Re: Sam Skelton's Citroen XM 2.0TCT SEi auto

Post by Sam Skelton » Fri Aug 07, 2015 4:44 pm

I want wallowy spongy Citroeny suspension in a straight line, given the state of Fenland roads. The back's pretty much perfect but there's a little harshness through the nose. Wallowy in the corners CX style could be fun but I like the dynamics of the XM. Would it be ill-advised to fit a comfort centre to the front only?


The pet is blue, though the pic doesn't make it that clear. The diesel auto prototype is burgundy, though for comic effect I tell people it's a brown Montego diesel automatic estate. After all, it's social death at 24 ;) Montego's a conservative shape, which means it never looked cutting edge but equally it didn't date as sharply as things like the Sierra. It's not thrilling to look at, but it's handsome!
Sam Skelton

Frenchies on my fleet
88F Citroën CX Croisette (RP4138)
93L Citroën XM 2.0ct SEi auto (RP6045)
93L Citroën Xantia 1.9D LX (RP6066)
94L Citroën XM 2.1D auto (RP6251)
99V Citroën Xantia HDi110 Exclusive (RP8358)

User avatar
White Exec
Citroen God!
Posts: 6642
Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2011 7:38 pm
Orga / RP numbers: RP7165
1996 2.5TD saloon, Exclusive, Polar White
1992 BX19D Millesime, Sable Phenicien
Location: ex-Ealing, Cheshire, W.Sussex & Surrey. Now living in Sayalonga (Malaga, Spain)

Re: Sam Skelton's Citroen XM 2.0TCT SEi auto

Post by White Exec » Fri Aug 07, 2015 5:00 pm

H1 - quickly identified by the slider switch reading Auto and Sport
H2 - slider switch reads Normal and Sport

H2 was introduced across all Hydractive-equipped models Feb.1993, from RP5929.

H1
Engaging Sport puts the suspension into Firm mode, locking out the two centre (Hydractive) spheres. All suspension springing is down to the four corner spheres. Ride remains Firm while switch is in Sport position.

H2
Engaging Sport works differently. Parameters for automatically putting the system into Firm (accelerator position, body movement, speed, etc) are shifted to a different set of figures, with different thresholds.
So, for example, in Sport mode, the car will more readily automatically switch to Firm as you take a bend at speed, or boot the accelerator.....but when that condition is over, the system automatically reverts to a Soft ride, even with the switch in the Sport position.

To be accurate, the system was originally dubbed Hydractive. When Hydractive II appeared (RP5929), many folk simply referred to the versions as Hydractive I and Hydractive II.

Properly set up, with the right spheres at the right pressures, both systems offer a really comfortable ride. You are right in avoiding Comfort spheres for the corners, as these would not control body movement sufficiently. If the centre spheres are properly gassed, there is plenty of comfort available.

It would be possible to fit an alternative spec sphere to the front centre (possibly of larger volume and different pressure) to modify the degree of softness there, but I would advise that you get the spheres into good standard spec and pressure first, and then decide whether you need to pursue this.

Spheres and gas pressures should be checked at least every three years. Plenty of advice on the site for checking whether things have gone wrongly firm, Sam. You're about to have a lot of fun!
Chris
1996 XM 2.5TD Exclusive RP7165 Polar White
1992 BX19D Millesime RP5800 Sable
1989 BX19RD Delage Red Deceased; 1998 ZX 1.9D Avantage auto Triton Green Company car 1998..2001; 2001 Xantia 1.8i auto Wicked Red Company car 2001..2003

Sam Skelton
Knows how to use the parking brake
Posts: 70
Joined: Sun Jul 12, 2015 2:52 am
Location: Huntingdonshire
Contact:

Re: Sam Skelton's Citroen XM 2.0TCT SEi auto

Post by Sam Skelton » Fri Aug 07, 2015 6:25 pm

RP6045 - meaning mine was built on 28/5/93.
Sam Skelton

Frenchies on my fleet
88F Citroën CX Croisette (RP4138)
93L Citroën XM 2.0ct SEi auto (RP6045)
93L Citroën Xantia 1.9D LX (RP6066)
94L Citroën XM 2.1D auto (RP6251)
99V Citroën Xantia HDi110 Exclusive (RP8358)

User avatar
White Exec
Citroen God!
Posts: 6642
Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2011 7:38 pm
Orga / RP numbers: RP7165
1996 2.5TD saloon, Exclusive, Polar White
1992 BX19D Millesime, Sable Phenicien
Location: ex-Ealing, Cheshire, W.Sussex & Surrey. Now living in Sayalonga (Malaga, Spain)

Re: Sam Skelton's Citroen XM 2.0TCT SEi auto

Post by White Exec » Fri Aug 07, 2015 7:10 pm

Another birthday, then!
Do add that RP number to your signature/profile....helps later.
So, now you know you have Hydractive II.
Will e-mail you a couple of useful bits to read.
Last edited by White Exec on Fri Aug 07, 2015 7:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Chris
1996 XM 2.5TD Exclusive RP7165 Polar White
1992 BX19D Millesime RP5800 Sable
1989 BX19RD Delage Red Deceased; 1998 ZX 1.9D Avantage auto Triton Green Company car 1998..2001; 2001 Xantia 1.8i auto Wicked Red Company car 2001..2003

captainhaddock
XM Guru
Posts: 1854
Joined: Sun May 13, 2012 9:43 pm

Re: Sam Skelton's Citroen XM 2.0TCT SEi auto

Post by captainhaddock » Fri Aug 07, 2015 7:21 pm

I bought my first XM with comfort spheres.
It was fine on French roads or good main roads. I left them on for about a year? if remember correctly and changed the front ones. The rear ones are still on the XM and have been regassed. That's fine but no good to you since your rear is fine already. It's OK now but not better than the second diesel xm. I don't notice any difference with the second XM. I did try briefly to have the front comforts on the dieselt XM. It again was good on good roads but not on bad ones and it did get the tendency to wallow, like it did on the other car as well. I wouldn't opt for comfort spheres though I had them on my xantia which was fine on that car. they were only slightly altered at the time by drilling the centre holes a tiny bit.

Dieselman
Global Moderator
Posts: 13734
Joined: Thu Jun 18, 2009 6:44 pm

Re: Sam Skelton's Citroen XM 2.0TCT SEi auto

Post by Dieselman » Sat Aug 08, 2015 1:41 pm

The brand of spheres can make a significant difference to ride quality.
As your car had H2, it would be worth checking the front electrovalve is actually functioning and fitting diodes to the harness or circuit board. Fitting the larger, 500cc, centre sphere would make it softer, but it may bottom out.

Your car should have 450cc corner spheres.
92 2.1SED M.RP5740 ECZ Sable Phenicien
92 3.0 V6-24.Rp 5713 EXY Black
92 2.1SD M.RP 5685 ENT Blue Sideral
Prev
90 2.1SD M.RP 5049 EJV Mandarin
92 2.1SD A.RP 5698 EJV Mandarin
94 2.1SD A.RP 6218 ERT Triton Green
91 2.0SI M.RP 5187 EWT White

Post Reply