Another XM in Australia

[White Exec]

Have just had a look at some of that road on Google Earth. To be honest, the car should lap that up without wallow or roll, with movement of the steering wheel, in particular, putting the car into Firm, unless you take the corners very slowly (where it could stay Soft). Also, using the accelerator to pull in a sprightly way out of the curves should also shift it temporarily to Firm.

What does show up the action of the suspension system well is the fitting of a couple of LEDs, to show when the front and rear electrovalves are on (Soft) or off (Firm). I think you said you have an e-crofting kit already installed. This will have three connections: Gnd, and two others. If you connect an LED (with 120R resistor) from each of the "other" connections, and then to Gnd, they will show what the suspension is doing.
.

XM EV Protection Diodes and LEDs v3.pdf

correction.JPG

The LEDs can be dash mounted, or maybe temporarily tucked under the scuttle panel...

DSCF3276r.jpg

DSCF3255_1_r.jpg

[DownUnderXM]

Thanks - I've seen references to diodes, but never knew what to get or where to fit them.

[White Exec]

Gabor's full Circuit Diagram here
viewtopic.php?f=13&t=7592&start=70#p115087
see p.84 (pdf page 87) for the protection diodes, and the LEDs.

[Dieselman]

I got onto Sphere Shop (very sorry to see they've closed up) and ordered a full set of 8 IFHS spheres for the Series II XM. So definitely no comfort spheres! Checked the dates, and all spheres were very fresh, so should have been fully gassed.

So the car is fitted with 7 new spheres (I baulked at dropping the subframe to replace the anti-sink sphere - it's still in it's box), and the ride was back to how it should be.

Spheres vary depending on vehicle weight and engine power, there is no one size fits all for either Series 1, or Series 2.
It would be worth checking you have the correct spheres for the car variant. Ones for a lighter car will have greater pressure and softer dampers.
AEP Direct in Glasgow list all IFHS spheres. IMHO, they are a better (and cheaper) supplier, than Sphere Shop were.

Lowering the subframe a little is easy.
Car raised and propped, loosen the subframe bolts on the right side one or two turns, put a jack under the left side and undo the bolts, then lower the subframe enough to gain access.
You probably don't need to undo the left bolts fully.

[White Exec]

Correct sphere specs for V6 Saloon as follows:
(Volume cc / Pressure bars / Damper orifice mm)

Main Accumulator 400/62/--
Front wheel 450/40/0.7
Rear wheel 400/30/0.6
Front Hydractive (centre) 450/70/--
Rear Hydractive (centre) 400/50/--
Anti-sink 400/50/-- (threaded special)

-- = no damper fitted (just a 5mm hole)
The higher the pressure, the softer the ride
The larger the Damper figure, the less damping (more wallowy)

You may have this Citroen booklet already.
Contains lots of useful data.
Suspension spheres on printed p.266-->.

Private Car Data - XANTIA_XM_EVASION_2001.pdf

_______

'Tis possible to remove/refit the A/S sphere without dropping the subframe side, but you need smallish hands, and its very fiddly. I did it this way, and just replaced 2 of the 3 support bracket bolts, to make it easier "next time".

[DownUnderXM]

I got onto Sphere Shop (very sorry to see they've closed up) and ordered a full set of 8 IFHS spheres for the Series II XM. So definitely no comfort spheres! Checked the dates, and all spheres were very fresh, so should have been fully gassed.

So the car is fitted with 7 new spheres (I baulked at dropping the subframe to replace the anti-sink sphere - it's still in it's box), and the ride was back to how it should be.

Spheres vary depending on vehicle weight and engine power, there is no one size fits all for either Series 1, or Series 2.
It would be worth checking you have the correct spheres for the car variant. Ones for a lighter car will have greater pressure and softer dampers.
AEP Direct in Glasgow list all IFHS spheres. IMHO, they are a better (and cheaper) supplier, than Sphere Shop were.

Lowering the subframe a little is easy.
Car raised and propped, loosen the subframe bolts on the right side one or two turns, put a jack under the left side and undo the bolts, then lower the subframe enough to gain access.
You probably don't need to undo the left bolts fully.

Thanks for the tip about AEP - I won't need spheres for a while, so hopefully they are still selling them in 3 or 4 years!

You certainly make subframe lowering sound easy - are you sure there are no electrical or hydraulic connections that need disconnecting?

BTW - here's a photo from underneath the rear of my car - as you'll see, rust is not an issue I'm expecting to find

DSC03354.JPG

Cheers

Alec

[DownUnderXM]

Correct sphere specs for V6 Saloon as follows:
(Volume cc / Pressure bars / Damper orifice mm)

Main Accumulator 400/62/--
Front wheel 450/40/0.7
Rear wheel 400/30/0.6
Front Hydractive (centre) 450/70/--
Rear Hydractive (centre) 400/50/--
Anti-sink 400/50/-- (threaded special)

-- = no damper fitted (just a 5mm hole)
The higher the pressure, the softer the ride
The larger the Damper figure, the less damping (more wallowy)

You may have this Citroen booklet already.
Contains lots of useful data.
Suspension spheres on printed p.266-->.
Private Car Data - XANTIA_XM_EVASION_2001.pdf
_______

'Tis possible to remove/refit the A/S sphere without dropping the subframe side, but you need smallish hands, and its very fiddly. I did it this way, and just replaced 2 of the 3 support bracket bolts, to make it easier "next time".

Here's my invoice from Sphere Shop - I believe I was pretty careful with the order.

Sphere shop invoice 2019.pdf

Thanks for the link - feel sure I had seen the document, but didn't have a copy.

Cheers

Alec

[xantia_v6]

Alec, just in case you don't know, (and it is of any interest to you), your car appears to have an exhaust system intended for a different engine type. The original ES9 exhaust has a much bigger silencers. That is of only academic interest, as the original ES9 exhausts are unobtainable, and were always very expensive.

You also seem to be missing the the heat shield that sits above the centre silencer and protects the hydractive valve from the heat.

[White Exec]

Well, the usual chaos with the aftermarket sphere suppliers.
Just checked your invoice alongside the AEP (IFHS spheres) catalogue.
Sphere Shop was selling the same ones.

Main Accumulator 400/62/--
Your invoice and AEP listing is RP62DP
so OK
Should be without damper.

Front wheel 450/40/0.7
Your invoice XM40FC
AEP 3.0i 24v XM50FN or XM50FC
AEP seem to think this pressure should be 50bar, which would make the Firm ride softer.
Uncertain what FC and FN signify in terms of damper size - presumably they're different.
Latest Citroen parts confirm this one as 450/40.

Rear wheel 400/30/0.6
Your invoice XM30RN
AEP 3.0i 24v XM30RN
Agreed on this one. RN ?
Latest Citroen parts confirm this one as 400/30.

Front Hydractive (centre) 450/70/--
Your invoice XM70FQ
AEP 3.0i 24v XM75FQ
AEP again going for higher gas pressure, which will mean a softer ride when in Soft.
FQ hopefully signifies "no damper".
Latest Citroen parts confirm this one as 450/70.

Rear Hydractive (centre) 400/50/--
Your invoice XM50AR
AEP 3.0i 24v XM50AR
All agree on this one.
Again, should be without damper.
Latest Citroen parts confirm this one as 400/50.


Infuriating that the aftermarket suppliers insist on their own codes, but do not list the very important damper figure, which you have to take on trust.

[DownUnderXM]

Alec, just in case you don't know, (and it is of any interest to you), your car appears to have an exhaust system intended for a different engine type. The original ES9 exhaust has a much bigger silencers. That is of only academic interest, as the original ES9 exhausts are unobtainable, and were always very expensive.

You also seem to be missing the the heat shield that sits above the centre silencer and protects the hydractive valve from the heat.

Well that didn't take long - thought someone would notice. From the just behind the front muffler, it is an Australian-made copy of the PRV exhaust system - I have a Pug 605 (PRV V6) with a similar weird design, and I know it is original. I say weird because the pipe splits into 2 between middle and rear muffler - and has the sideways muffler on just one of those pipes.

Looking through invoices bequeathed to me by Mike, both he and the owner before him spent a lot on mufflers & cats. An invoice from 2008 includes an "Inter muffler" for $750 , so I presume this is when the 8-year old pipe work was junked, and an exhaust designed for the PRV V6 was fitted.

Despite all the money previously spent, I felt the exhaust system was a bit loud. Also noticed that the cat was buzzing on deceleration. My local muffler guy agreed that the cat was on the way out. He also agreed to replace the centre muffler, which was little bigger than a hot-dog resonator, and get rid of the muffler bandage, which had been there for 5 years!! Well it breathes freely, but if anything, after spending the money it now seems louder!

I think I need an experienced mechanic to give an opinion (the muffler guy didn't think it sounded loud), but I'm starting to think that the rear muffler (which appears to be 12 years old, and cost $446 fitted) might be the chief suspect. I'm also interested to know if the transverse middle one has much effect, being on only one pipe.

Here's another view

DSC03358.JPG

Don't worry about the heat shield - you might have noticed that the spare wheel and carrier are also missing . Now I've got that far, I might even have another go at replacing the anti-sink sphere.

Cheers from down under

Alec