Vince's xm - 2.1TD daily driver

[russ92xmsed]

Vince that's amazing about the body shop stuff. Very exciting. We'll all be queuing up at your door to get touch ups done if you're not careful!!

So, how bad were the sills then? seems a good price for the whole lot though.

[Dieselman]

Vince that's amazing about the body shop stuff. Very exciting. We'll all be queuing up at your door to get touch ups!

It's not that kind of bodyshop...

[russ92xmsed]

[Vince]

Its the rear jacking points that have gone both sides. The reason for this is the sunroof is broken and it leaks in if parked nose down on the drive as its inclined, so for the last year at least its parked nose up meaning that the water drains into the rear jacking point areas. There are also two larger holes, drain hole im thinking, which are about halfway under the body at each side and a little bit in from the cills. They are both rotten also around the holes.

The rear cills felt ok to me apart from a part where a hole had developed. But when screwdrivered they opened up into a large hole about 12 inches long from the start of the rear arches on both sides....so i guess they were alot more gone that i could tell

I initially toyed around with a couple of places to get the pre MOT work done, but settled on Paris Autos as they are old school Citroen specialists who restore older models aswell as look after newer ones. With Paul the boss also being an xm owner he assures me it will be done absolutely spot on and correctly and ive used them quite a few times over the years and their knowledge and attention to detail is impressive.

It was Paul who cured the mysterious rattle the car had on the front end when i bought it from Paul (citroenxm). That had Paul stumped, turned out to be a worn caliper retaining slide bolt which allowed the caliper to knock on bumps

Far from being gutted, with Linda's support on fixing it up its got me looking at the old bus with renewed vigour and enthusiasm. Its such a wonderful car that it warrants having a bit of money spent on it. One thing is for sure, once its back on the road ill be getting more work done to it to make sure it soldiers on for a good few years and miles yet.

Its got to take us to france next year

[Vince]

Ill stop fixing it up when mine looks like this

[citroenxm]

Ahhh good news Vince. I was trying to rack my brains if Id done any welding on that one, and started to worry my welding had gone bad.

Actually, remembering now welding was done on the rear off side rear arch chassis rail..

Thing with XM rust, is what could be a tiny hole ALWAYS and I mean ALWAYS ends up being much larger.

Ive found a hole behind my wing lower curved section after removing my passenger wing, but im not touching it this time, im gonna fill it with some sealant, put the wing back on as its solid, and will attend to it after the rally..

[russ92xmsed]

Have you got the pale blue suit Vince....

[Vince]

Not yet Russ but ill be looking on ebay

Paul, yes i saw yours on your blog, im pretty sure mine too will be like that behind that section of the wing on the passenger side too,...i have done like you for the momenty ive sealed it up so it doesnt get any more ingress, but once i have the time and the money (or skills), ill take off the front wings and deal with any welding that lies behind them

Im chuffed that yours is being reborn for the rally Paul. You have had time and money up against you for so long that its about time you got to enjoy one of your own xms again

[citroenxm]

Time and money is still against me. I was hoping to have had mot and tax by beginning of this month. But looks like ill be getting tax the week we go!! Even an mot too..

[russ92xmsed]

Fingers crossed Paul.