Citroen XM Forum

Can confirm that the button clips recommended by paul.s above do fit aok on Mk2. Same dimenions as originals.
Noted John's comment above about design change.

When fitting the new clip, slide the clip into the button, and position the small 'lock tab' half way between the two square holes in the button.
This leaves the toothed grips at the top separated.
Locate over the toothed rod, and push down.
This nips in the gripping teeth, and pushes the clip up to the second hole, thus locking it in position.

SFAIcan discover, removal of the knob is a bit of brute force, often breaking the clip. Hence need for spares, presumably.

Thanks, Paul, for flagging these up. No more interior "pings" now!

When fitting you should locate the clip tab int he lower hole in the button and push the complete assembly down onto the rod. The height os the button should then set itself.

To remove, press the tab in gently but firmly, while lifting the button. The tab should stay intact.

Dieselman wrote:When fitting you should locate the clip tab into the lower hole in the button and push the complete assembly down onto the rod. The height of the button should then set itself.

Did just that first time round, and no matter how hard I pushed the button down, the clip would not jump to the second hole and grip the rod, even though the clip-top was sitting in the knob taper. To get it to work, I had to park the clip tab just above the lower hole, then it worked. Might try again.

The problems come because these are not quite identical to the original part.
Each variation of the insert has the gripping teeth at slightly different heights.
The button bodies have an internal reducing taper at the top of the clip slide.
This taper is designed to match the position of the 4 pairs of teeth on the slide that grip the rod.
Use the wrong length clip slide and the grip will vary from original design.
Taper position is 2mm higher in Mk 2 XM door buttons so I doubt these inserts will work correctly in Mk 1 door buttons.
I would expect them to lock onto the rod with the pip in the bottom hole not the top one.
That will make it difficult to release them if ever needed.
It is normal to have the problems Chris describes with Mk2 buttons and inserts.
That is because the inset teeth and the taper match as designed.
As an aside the insert seller has Peugeot 1285 inserts available.
These appear to be identical in design to the Citroen 1284 ones but are a little cheaper for a pack of 8.

John

Just to confirm that the seller's 1284 inserts are identical to the Mk2 (RP7165) originals.

I stand by my original check.
I kept the 3 different sizes of insert for future reference.
With them is a sample lock button from later PSA cars for which the 1284/1285 insert is designed.

So 3 different inserts, and 2 types of button?

Hi Chris

For the XM yes.
That leaves the Mk 1 XM button without a replacement source at present.
I need to find a spare button to try inserts in as the Renault 1366 looks a possible fit.

John

As John says, there is no insert part number of XM Series 1 buttons.
It would be nice if an alternate was found.

The Mk 1 part number was 95 654 096 and they were available in bags of 10 to Citroen dealers only.
I have a sealed bag of 10 here and a few loose ones.

John