Considering a V6 - but what about Battlescar?? advice please

[citroenxm]

Nooo its the cacy Dark Green!!!


Paul

[Dean]

oh Paul!!! well in that case, um, er (Dean backtracks madly) ive just remembered i cant buy another car because um.................my dads dog ate my wallet, thats right .

D

[citroenxm]

LOL

Dont worry about it!!!

Its some time away from being done yet...


Paul

[Dean]

na, im only messing around Paul, i mean it, i would like first refusal should you decide you want to part with her, im still sort of sore about passing up on the chance of that 24v a few years ago, i should of bit the bullet and got her trailered home.

D

[citroenxm]

Green wasn't and is NOT my first choice of colour, but with XM's you dont have that choice...

My first V6 Si was a white one... second was the perfect one, a Black SEi, but that had gearbox problems....

Paul

[jorgy]

Hi Geff

A V6 PRV is very pleasant. The engine just purrs, from idle up to the red zone -it's worlds apart from the 2.1td. Although I like my 21td, I still believe that the engine's refinement is below the class of the XM as a car (at least in S1-S1.5 guise, I don't know if S2's are more refined/better insulated). My V6 is a manual 12v, so significantly faster than the automatics you get in the UK -unless u manage to find a 24v manual, which is really really fast.

The only inherent problem of the 12v PRVs I know of is that their exhaust manifolds are sensitive and can develop cracks and become noisy; also, they can break their bolts. The 24v don't suffer from these afaik.

The first 24v (90-91') quickly suffered (a few 10s thousand miles) from cam destruction due to the cam followers becoming too hot -there was only 1 follower for 2 exhaust valves (while the inlet valves had a follower each). There shouldn't be any such engine around now as they have been recalled from Cit to replace some bits with ceramic ones, but do check in case u find some barned low-miles example.

Otherwise, the 12v engine is undestructible. It's the auto gearboxes that are the problem. I have owned mine since 2004 in the UK, and parts have been not a great problem overall, but I'm stocking a few engine-specific stuff anyway e.g. cooling pipes. The PRV is a rare engine in the UK and not the easiest to find parts for but until recently, in the worst case, you could always find the part you wantred in some Cit dealership somewhere in the UK. However, only part I really couldn't find anywhere in the UK was the waterpump, it had to be ordered from Cit France if I wanted one. Finally I found a firm in England that refurbishes pumps, and with £70 my old pump was good again. In late 2010 I decided to take the big step and put new camchains etc on the engine, and with a little bit of search (including at Renault's), all the parts were gathered.

So if petrol is not a problem for you, and are ready to accept the gearbox risk, definitely go for one.

cheers
George

[Geoff Lebowski]

My S1.5 XM V6 12v SEi auto WAS the BEST XM I have had! I loved it! On a K 1993 S1.5 model, she never let me down except with starter motor problems, and wiring harness problem which I both over come never let me down, and I also have her on LPG Gas...!

I now need to put a new Lump in her, the current one on about 200k and not in great order, Ive a better lump in my shed to stick in..

Leather, wood, cruise, air con (up graded to S2 R134a gas) Alloys, ABS, Left hand display that WILL ALWAYS work unlike S2's, false warnings sorted with extra earths and bolted earths in the engine bay....I could go on...

Paul

I knew you couldn't resist an V6 thread Paul! I remember you talking about the 12v vs the 24v engines. When did the 24v replace the 12v? What's the benefits of a 12v vs a 24v or vv? Do you have one for sale?

jorgy - thank you for your info, really helpful, the PRV is the early 12v lump - is that right?? It's not so much speed/accel that I'm after, in fact on the motorway today I pushed the 2.1 and was quite happy (just).

I think the condition of my 2.1 is 60% of the problem, but I've long been longing for a 6 pot and the XM would be the perfect candidate. What is your mpg?

What's the issue with the auto boxes Jorgy?

Thanks George

[citroenxm]

The PRV 24v did NOT replace the 12v PRV, they ran along side each other, the 24v being above the 12v Si or 12v SEi V6's....

It wasn't untill the S2 cars in 1997 P reg, same time as the Xantia, did the PSA 24v AUTO only engine replace both the PRV engines in one go, but with NO manual - in the UK XM's at least..

The PRV V and PSA V6 engines are completely different! Dont get the PRV 24v engine mixed up with the PSA 24v engine.. The PSA engine is more refined, but quieter... if you want a nice GROWWWLLLLL then the 24v in PRV S1 cars is the one to have, BUT Find one CHEAP!!! You wont!

The only next V6 Ill have for same will be a 12v PRV SEi Auto, but not for a while as she needs some work dooing .. I have also a Xantia PSA V6 24v auto to do, but undecided what to do when shes done.

Ill NEVER sell the 24v S1 XM Manual though....

Hope that helps you!

Regards
Paul

[Dean]

There is NO ISSUE with the auto boxes, at this age manuals are causing equal issues to the HP18, and there was never any design issue with the HP18 either, not like the HP22 that goes bang and loses drive when trying to get R after 10k miles (lucky BMW drivers ) or the later HP20 electronic box that has an oil filter you have to strip the box in half to get to and was never spec's for fluid changes.

The trouble is 70-80% of XM's sold were Auto's and this myth that they drop dead all the time springs up and everytime one goes there is a load of people shouting about how bad they are when in fact anything can break, and tbh most Autobox failures are due to poor servicing (all the ones that have died have been running in mud rather than oil) and are almost always quicker and easier to put right than a dead clutch is.

Dont listen to the scare mungering, the boxes are fine.

D

[citroenxm]

I never said anything about the Box's - I KNOW they can live long lives!!!

Paul