Vive La France!

[ash2020]

We recently had a very nice few days in Normandy and one day did the rounds of the out of town shopping centre. I pulled into the car park of a BUT (a bit like Habitat). I managed to get the last parking space and look what was next to me!



I had a rather bizarre conversation with me not speaking much French and him not speaking any English, but both clearly chuffed with our cars! Both 2.5 TD VSX manual!

[andmcit]

Disjointed communication but united in a common admiration of Xm's it seems!
Great pic.

Andrew

[ash2020]

Thank you Andrew. I then moved my car out of the parking space and round the other side of his to get a better pic of the front, much to the puzzlement of a couple of onlookers

[Dieselman]

Looking good there Ash202, but yours looks a bit high at the front.

[ash2020]

Oh dear, that's another can of worms I've just replaced the front spheres. What would you suggest is the problem? Just a height adjustment? I've never really understood how you can measure to within a couple of millimetres. Can you explain?
Cheers
Andrew

[robert_e_smart]

Wow that silver Xm is immaculate for a French owned XM!

[andmcit]

I agree Robert. Most cars I've seen in action in the mother country have christening marks worn proudly
on most leading (an trailing) edges! This fella looks like another one of the regulars here though I'm not
sure the extra reflectors are quite matched here. May give an indication to the kind of fastidious owner.
Mind, that'd still be worth a few bob over there still too...

Andrew

[ash2020]

Wow that silver Xm is immaculate for a French owned XM!

It was absolutely gorgeous. I tried to ask him how many km on the clock but couldn't work out whether he said 16,000 or 160,000. Looked like 16 to me! Nice leather too!

[Dieselman]

Oh dear, that's another can of worms I've just replaced the front spheres. What would you suggest is the problem? Just a height adjustment? I've never really understood how you can measure to within a couple of millimetres. Can you explain?
Cheers
Andrew

It's very easy to measure and adjust.

With the engine running and the ride height set to normal then lift the front as high as you can by the front bumper and hold it until the car sinks, but keep lifting for a few more seconds.
Then let t he car raise back up to the ride height and from just behind/inside the front wheel measure the front subframe to the ground. The measurement should be 140mm +10/-7mm.

Make sure you measure both sides as it may be unlevel. Side to side level can be corrected by using shims/washers on whichever is the high side anti-roll bar drop link.

To adjust the height run the car up ramps then measure the subframe cross member to ground as a reference measurement, loosen the height corrector linkage ARB clamp 11mm bolt, and manipulate the height corrector with a bar to obtain the required height, then tighten the clamp.
You will need to lift the car again and allow it to settle after each adjustment and need to allow a little tolerance for any wear in the linkage and bushing.

It's a bit fiddly but easy.

[robert_e_smart]

It must be one of the very late cars, no headlamp washers. It would probably scare you how much that car is worth in France, and make the WHM 2.5 look like good value!

I noticed the extra reflectors too, it must be a real "voiture de papi".

Make sure you measure both sides as it may be unlevel. Side to side level can be corrected by using shims/washers on whichever is the high side anti-roll bar drop link.

That sounds easier than trying to level an Activa