We've bonded!

[endorfin]

Well me & my XM have bonded. I was a bit unsure whether I had made a bit of a mistake but I love the car now, its very comfortable & I've ironed out most of the niggles.

Took it to Pleiades Citroen in Sawtry on Wed, the 2 front corner spheres needed changing & I had the accumulator & one other one in the front changed as well. The ride is much better now, doesn't bounce about but its still not giving the 'magic carpet' ride, I've tried the Roy McKay kit but doesnt seem to have made any difference.

Also had the scary stop light coming on & "High Water Pressure, Slow Down" on the dot matrix display even though it wasn't overheating & the coolant wasn't hot but this turned out to be a faulty sensor & all is fine now.

My biggest bugbear is not being able to lock the bloody car! I was hoping to find a lock set with remote keys & transponder but not having much luck. Martin at pleiades said that I could get any plipper from any XM & you can reprogram it yourself to work on you car, as long as you have the ignition key, which I do. But seem to be getting conflicting info on the net about this, some say it can't be done, others say I need a blank plipper. Anyone got any idea?

[Peter.N.]

Pleased you like your car, in my opinion they are the best car in the world, for my needs anyway. Is yours a S1 or 2, pre or after Aug 94? If its a two, you cant programme the plip you will need a matching sender and reciever which you should be able to get from a scrap car. There are some cheap aftermarket kits if you are electronically inclined.

Regarding the ride, have the centre spheres been changed? They are responsible for the soft ride. Check also if the suspension system is actually working, if its a Mk1 switch the suspension between hard aand soft and bounce the rear of the car, you should have at least twice as much up and down movement in soft mode, if its a S2, opening a door should make it go into soft mode.

Peter

[Dieselman]

Endorfin's car is an S2.

[endorfin]

4 spheres were changed. Two front corner spheres, accumulator and one more in the front not sure which this one was, maybe it was the centre sphere.

Yes its a S2 estate. 2.5 TD

[xmexclusive]

Hi endorfin

Sadly Martin's advice would work with an Xantia and similar Citroens but not an XM Mk2.
XM Mk2 plips have a higher level of security protection.
There are still a few options on locks and plips though and a fair bit of information here.
Secondhand bits can prove difficult to source for an XM.
Plips bought secondhand without the receiver never work on an XM Mk2.
Buying bits from Citroen to make up a Plip set can take ages and break the bank.
A full set is around £300 and individual plip or receiver £100 each.
You also need to know that your existing components work otherwise you may end up with a matching but dead set.
On locks there are similar problems. New Citroen lock set will be about £150.
Lots of different ones for different ages and models of XM.
It will fit and have lots of new factory cut keys.
Locks can be serviced and refurbished but the car is unprotected while you do it.
Work is a bit fiddly, details by Noz on the old site.
Before you start on lock servicing there is the issue of keys and their condition.
If you have insufficient keys or they are badly worn then the lock set may be better replaced.
Keys ordered from Citroen by code should be factory cut so will be good (£15 a key).
This may also be the only way to get a plip key cut.
Locksmiths are unlikely to hold plip blanks and standard keys cut as copies seldom work the ignition switch reliably.

All a bit negative so lets try to balance things up a bit.
Lock sets do sometimes appear on ebay as NOS.
Neat (near Heathrow) currently offer for £67 item 330441450745 which is an early Mk1 XM set.
Note that there are no plip keys with this and the ignition lock wiring only fits 1989-1990 cars.
The photo though may not be of the actual kit, always a problem with ebay.
WHM (Diss) are offering a secondhand lock and plip set for £100 plus p&p. Item 180445761867.
Someone has already commented that this is expensive but I am not so sure if it is a full working Mk2 car set of locks and plips.
Then there is the far eastern plips but they need a bit of electrical fiddling to make work in an XM.
Ebay item 370442522276 is typical and these currently often sell for the bare £10 inc p&p.
While we are on ebay items someone asked about HID kits. Item 220678717838 is typical at £30. H1 type need for an XM.

Hope that is useful. If you organise any lock and plip bits from Ash in Mere then I may well be able to bring them as far as Winchester.

John

[Peter.N.]

Andrew, ash 2020, is breaking a 2.5, he may have a plip and reciever. You don't need to change the the lock just fit his electronics in your key fob.

Peter

[endorfin]

John

Thanks for the comprehensive info. I have seen the lock set from Wolsley House & contemplated buying it since its pretty complete but it does seem on the dear side but I suppose if I take into account its pretty complete with 2 plips & it can be posted it may be the way to go.

I have asked Ash2020 about the lock set but I don't think he's keen on taking it all off himself and I can't really get over to Mere. I'm still waiting for a definite answer from him but if if we did come to an arrangement I could quite easily come over to Winchester, always fancied a day out there as I don't think I've ever actually been there & if I have its just been a drive past.

Will let you know if I hear anything from ash2020.

Cheers
Nige