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Hopefully returning to XM ownership again

Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2019 8:57 pm
by Ferdinand
Hello everyone!

Where to begin... in about 3 weeks.... I’m going to look at a ‘98 2.5 Exclusive hatchback with manual gearbox witb 320K km on the odometer.

Had a ‘90 2.0i Prestige from 1997 to 2001... and missed an XM ever since. And always wanted a diesel (tried a 2.5 in ‘00 and it was absolutely wonderfull, but due to taxes here in DK I had to pay double the price in tax + the cost on buying the car, so I simply gave up...
Carhistory: Bought a P38 Range Rover 4.6 In 2000, then a brand new Xsara 2.0 110 HDI in 2001, followed by a BMW Z3 Roadster, a Volvo 144S from ‘67, 2 x Volvo V70 D5 and another Xsara... and 3 months ago a Citroën C3, so already have 8 cars but no XM.

It’s going to be a summerride... on good dry days.
It has a relatively good service history... been parked in a dry barn for a few years but was MOT’ed and ran daily before the current owner SORN’ed it... He has several XM’s but want to sell his diesel. Most os my current cars are diesels and I like the way they drive - and the better fueloconomy as well.

Should I stay away from a 2.5 and go for a late 3.0 V6 instead (manual gearbox is a must in my book when it comes to XM. Have tried several automatics, but they seem to slow and I don’t like the way they shift gears..

I’m used to fixing cars myself with most kinds of servicelabour / fixing whatever goes south in everyday life.

Am I totally bonkers (I already know I am :D ) or does it seems like a brilliant idea (what could possibly go wrong on a hi-milage 21 year old french car :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: )

Best regards
Ferdinand

Re: Hopefully returning to XM ownership again

Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2019 9:21 pm
by White Exec
If fuel cost is an issue, then it has to be the 2.5.
Ours averages 34mpg (will let you do the conversion) and 43-44mpg on long motorway treks, at brisk speed.
Massive torque is the 2.5's piece de resistance, and all available at 2000-2500rpm, with a long-legged 5th gear.
Engine smoothness belies its four cylinders, thanks to the balancer shafts.
Shares the same slick and tough box (MG5T) with the V6, at dedicated ratios.
The pull-clutch is a delight, as is the ECU-operated cruise.
No shortage of documentation on XM.
Invest in a Sealey SG18 waxing gun, though...

Do post some photos.

Re: Hopefully returning to XM ownership again

Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2019 8:00 pm
by Ferdinand
Hi Chris

Fuelcost isn’t really an issue, but I know if I like the car, I’ll use it as much as possible on dry sunny days, and the the annual milage will be increased by 15.000 km... and though the roadtax is completely stupid here (about 50% more than a V6) the consumption is also about 30% less and diesel is 15% cheaper compared to petrol. All thoese numbers make it a better deal in the long run to choose a diesel - my only concern is whether I’ll be able to find spares for the engine in the future since many parts are hard to find (tensioner etc.)

Anyway... Just spoke to the seller today.. he’s been driving the car for some days and tells me it runs as it should.... Can’t wait to try it in week 32. Will post pistures!

Re: Hopefully returning to XM ownership again

Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2019 10:06 pm
by xmexclusive
I think the situation has got better in recent years
The few unique 2.5 spare parts can either be found at present or have work around solutions.
My concerns about long term life for 2.5's is mainly rust and the political death for diesel cars.
I know of one 2.5 in the UK that had achieved over 350,000 miles the last time the owner wanted spares.

John

Re: Hopefully returning to XM ownership again

Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2019 4:44 pm
by Ferdinand
The waiting is almost unbearable. Though I already have many great cars that many people dream of all their lives... I almost count the minutes before I get to see it - and hopefully it’s not too bad. The current owner wrote me yesterday, telling me that he had taken it out of the barn where it has been parked for a couple of years. He has driven it for the last few days, and it runs as intented.

The geek in me my prefers the prefacelift mirrors and guess what... I have a set of NOS left and right mirrors. Looking for a tailgate with the old spoiler and also the prefacelift headlight surround and either a set of 24V alloys or even better a set of Peugeot 605 SV 24 16” alloys and to make it just perfect a set of beige leatherseats and doorcards.

Keeping my fingers crossed that it’s worth buying

Re: Hopefully returning to XM ownership again

Posted: Tue Aug 06, 2019 4:53 am
by Ferdinand
... yesterday, the waiting was finally over and I went to see the beauty... well, at least I thought so, but what he showed me was’nt anything near the description.

It was scratched and has dents ALL over it. The socalled rustfree doors was anything but rustfree, even on the outside, they had “red spots”. The sills were also clearly “invaded by the “red troops”, yet the seller tried to convince me the the car was rustfree and had been rustproofed twice. It wreaked of diesel in the engine compartment. He had run the car before I came, and that always makes me suspicious... I want to hear the car “cold”. Front doors windows were open and it smelled mouldy inside... I was ready to leave but wanted to give both the car and seller a proper chance to show its glory. It turned on immediately, but already after a few meters the “very slight imbalance in the left driveshaft” made the car wobble and shake like a mid-nineties breakdance artist... seller turned on the radio and opened the sunroof... I closed the roof and turned off the radio.... and was met by the distinct smeel of coolant.... Don’t worry about the seller said... the heating element and all the blend motors are brand new... All four tyres were completely shot and far beyond any chance of “ Relays were clicking constantly and the carpets damp. And to top it all up, the ABS-light came on just as I drove back into his driveway...

I told the seller I was’nt interested as the car was in no way as he had described... He has spent a fortune on it 3 years ago but unfortunatery he also kept in a garage/ barn with an immense

Anyway... It has’nt made me runany - only from this example...

La chasse commence deja au jour d’hui :D

Re: Hopefully returning to XM ownership again

Posted: Tue Aug 06, 2019 6:22 am
by White Exec
What an insult! Gruesome.
Persistence will pay off.

Re: Hopefully returning to XM ownership again

Posted: Tue Aug 06, 2019 7:15 am
by Dieselman
In your situation I would buy one from a Southern European country, notably France, as they rarely have any rust at all...and go for a V6 petrol, as you said you don't intend to cover many miles.

Go there, buy it, drive it home.

There must be an age limit on import duties which should make it attractive.

Re: Hopefully returning to XM ownership again

Posted: Tue Aug 06, 2019 7:28 am
by White Exec
If looking as far south as Spain, this site usually has a number of XM...
https://www.milanuncios.com/motor/
Nothing rusts here either, centre and south.
Sun can take a toll on lacquer though; a reason to go for one of the flat colours.

Re: Hopefully returning to XM ownership again

Posted: Sat Aug 17, 2019 12:58 am
by Ferdinand
Update.. I’ve seen one very nice 98 V6 and 2 V6 that was in desperate need of help... and also a 97 2.5 Exclusive that unfortunately had’nt been starte for at least 5-7 years, so it would’nt run - could only idle for 15 seconds, then it died and would’nt start again..... sellar was very keen on making a deal and having me agree on a price. I refused, telling him that I did’nt want to talk privce before the car colud prove itself able to drive..... though the car was absolutely rustfree and has great potential of becoming a nice car... I kept searching and today I’ve made an appointment next week with a guy who has a silver 10/99 2,5 Exclusive with only 100K km on it. It has only been used for 6 years in total. After that it was sold to the current owner who gave it a new cylinder head. He also gave it rust proofing and he has since kept i in his garage - turning the key every now and then...
He owns a Citroën workshop and has several cars... He planned to use the XM, but never got around to pay tax etc... and now he want to sell it....
Need It say I’m very excited :D