Going to look at an XM tomorrow - any advice

[messerschmitt owner]

Is this seen as an addition to your expanding eclectic fleet or a spares donor M-O?

Andrew

I like the colour - there's a 2.5 estate on the Wells Road in Brisle that colour - if it is cheap, an addition, it sounds like it may be too good to break!

Will let you all know tomorrow, I guess. Problem is if it is nice, one car has to go (not the current XM, though)

[andmcit]

x2 s2 manual 2.1 Td's is starting to sound like someone else around here...

Would it be possible to keep some of your smaller cars in the boot of one of the Xm's
or at least on a roofrack!? They are called microcars are they not?

Andrew

[messerschmitt owner]

It's all go at my end already!

I'm about to sell two of the Z600s - three of the current UK complement of 30 or so is a bit greedy. And I can't do anything to the messerschmitt till I clear the carport of orange cars. The smart needs an alternator and I have decided to pull it off the road for a couple of months so I can properly sort it - which involves some painting - and it is also going into the carport. I'm also beginning to realise that I need a spares car.

[Ciaran]

The Americans have the right idea there with towing cars on their RVs...

[robertmnorton]

Hi,no point going into much more "check this,check that",it's pretty well covered - and you already run xm's.Being a '97 it will no doubt be an EPIC,all those of us who run this configuration are well impressed with the instant start,-20 or +40,smoke free under all conditions,the improved driveability and that sharp response.I've had rotodiesel and bosch fuelled 2.1's,this epic is way better.Apart from a faulty instrument injector at 160k it has performed brilliantly.The bad press is probably down to extended maintenance, possibly ULSD prior to 2000, or supermarket fuel, and it's inherent dislike for high viscosity(veg) or high alcohol fuels.Do though have a good look for leakage or whiffs of diesel.It is difficult sourcing parts - pug 406 seems to be the most available.If you haven't driven an epic before,prepare to be impressed.Good luck.
robertm

[Peter.N.]

They do show a marginal improvement in fuel consumption according to the figures in the handbook, I've never had one though, except on a spare engine I bought, because probably at least 99% of them are autos, and did I mention that I don't like them

Mind you my BMW has an electronically assisted fuel pump, as far as I know they are only prone to one fault and there is a simple electronic to bodge to fix that. Famous concluding words ...

Peter

[messerschmitt owner]

went to look at the XM - it is indeed a 1997 R plate 2.1TD VSX manual - 186,000 miles on the clock and a full service history until 2005, which was the last time it was used. It does look immaculate bodily and was last started in 2005 when it was driven into the garage and switched off, never to be started again. It is sitting on steel wheels, and at least one tyre is flat (not surprisingly). Supposedly with a brand new alternator when it went off the road.

Interior is cloth and it has the standard Citroen tape deck/radio. Has climate control rather than a/c, the sunroof has stopped working (well, it wasn't when it went off the road - goes up but doesn't slide - until a battery is connected, I may use past tense for things like that). Tidy interior - tidy body, tidy engine bay, but non-starting at the moment - will need a proper recommission - for which read battery, timing belt, fluids, filter, five tyres, plus I would assume brake pads and discs all round and anything else it may need for an MoT, plus spheres (probably).

What is it worth? It is an unknown quantity just now until it gets started - there's £500 in tyres, battery, pads, discs, fluids, filters before you even find anything else.

[Dieselman]

It's worth scrap value until recommissioned.

[messerschmitt owner]

It's worth scrap value until recommissioned.

that's what I think - he mentioned £600, I showed him my £600 XM!!! Mine has 80,000 less miles and a full MoT!

want to see a pic or two?

[messerschmitt owner]

Pics