A sign of the times?

[markysimon]

Citroen XM and ZX build quality was streets ahead of the competition at the time,

I'd agree about the ZX... up to a point. Bought as a three owner, 85k mile car in 2004, I sold my '94 TD Estate with 168k miles in '09 and during that time it needed nothing but brake pads, two discs, a cambelt, tyres, filters, fluids and patch-welded sills and wheelarches. Bought as an 94k replacement that year, my 2001 Xsara TD Estate needed all of those plus a new clutch, wheel bearings, various suspension and steering items before I sold it last summer at 138k to be replaced by the XM. Engineering-wise then, the Xsara was not as robust or durable as the ZX. (And my neighbour, who has a 150k mile non-turbo 2000 example, would agree).

Although I've undersealed my XM I am worried about the sills which due to the mangling of the front jacking points – how did Citroen let that into the design equation ?!?! - spewed oil onto the garage floor when I filled them as an anti-corrosion precaution. And we all know about the low calibre electrical components and the fragility of some of the hydraulics (and strut tops). So I can't really agree with the "streets ahead" claim in the XM's case! Tell that to Mercedes, BMW, Mazda, Honda, Volvo etc.

Cheers - Mark

[Dieselman]

Tell that to Mercedes, BMW, Mazda, Honda, Volvo etc.

Cheers - Mark

The car I had for 7 months before my first XM was a Honda Accord, the one before that was a Volvo 440GLT. The Honda was a very bland car with very bad ride quality and the ABS failed within the the first two weeks.
The Volvo was just a joke, it broke down twice in the first two weeks, by six weeks it had had new wiring, new gearbox, new electric window lifters, new electric heated mirrors, the pain continued for another 15 months, including more window lifters, exhaust, drivers door..., then I got shot of it.

The first Xm did have some faults, the front suspension heights control seized and a hydraulic pipe from the FDV got a pinhole due to a badly fitted bracket, but overall for the 50,000 miles it was OK, especially as it was a very early car that had been sitting around. The second one was just great, the only fault I had was a diesel leak as a result of the garage adjusting the pump timing slightly.

These cars were a revelation as were the fleet of ZX and BX we ran for staff. The ZX were generally very good indeed and both were found very strong in crashes.

[markysimon]

Tell that to Mercedes, BMW, Mazda, Honda, Volvo etc.

Cheers - Mark

The car I had for 7 months before my first XM was a Honda Accord, the one before that was a Volvo 440GLT. The Honda was a very bland car with very bad ride quality and the ABS failed within the the first two weeks.
The Volvo was just a joke, it broke down twice in the first two weeks, by six weeks it had had new wiring, new gearbox, new electric window lifters, new electric heated mirrors.
The first Xm did have some faults, the front suspension heights control seized and a hydraulic pipe from the FDV got a pinhole due to a badly fitted bracket, but overall for the 50,000 miles it was OK, especially as it was a very early car that had been sitting around. The second one was just great, the only fault I had was a diesel leak as a result of the garage adjusting the pump timing slightly.

Well the Volvo 440 was well known as a turkey and built, I seem to recall, at the old DAF plant in Holland. And returning to my theme of being a non-engineer trying to keep an XM on the road, I must exhibit my ignorance by not knowing what an FDV valve is. This is especially pertinent because as you describe in your comment, as my car doesn't "drop" down anymore after you turn off the engine.

Mark

[robert_e_smart]

FDV is flow divider valve. Your car doesn't have one Mark. On earlier cars with the V belt driven single output hydraulic pump, the FDV was used to divert flow to the Power Steering. Your later car has the twin output pump that does away with the FDV.

[markysimon]

FDV is flow divider valve. Your car doesn't have one Mark. On earlier cars with the V belt driven single output hydraulic pump, the FDV was used to divert flow to the Power Steering. Your later car has the twin output pump that does away with the FDV.

Phew, that's a relief! But the car's refusal to settle down after work remains a mystery!

Cheers - Mark

[robert_e_smart]

When you say settle down, do you mean that it doesn't sink flat to the ground over night? These later pumped cars have a delightful extra feature of an anti-sink valve which stops the car from sinking. On most of the cars I have ever had with this feature, it actually doesn't work properly. On the 2.5 I am running now, the car doesn't sink overnight, but the back end will fall to the bump stops on starting the car! Every time almost!

[markysimon]

Ah, then I should be grateful for small mercies... as the French might say!

[Dieselman]

SO, it seems your Xm is actually pretty reliable then...

[markysimon]

SO, it seems your Xm is actually pretty reliable then...

Well it was until it got vandalised, but now the electrics are playing up and I'm waiting for a lighting switch assembly which will hopefully remedy this.

Mark