117k on the clock. Sills (back end) will need tickling with a welding stick but it generally seems very sound and fairly (by hydraulic Citroen standards) dry underneath. Has MOT to January and set me back just £375. Downsides are that it stinks of cigarette smoke inside and needs a thorough valet and there's no history to suggest a timing belt change (just a regular annual service regardless of miles - usually 4000pa). Also, there's an infuriating rattle somewhere near my right ear, which is either the door trim catching somewhere or the seatbelt mount - it seems a little loose. The regulator doesn't seem to close on tickover too. Raise the revs and the pump shuts off and accumulator tick time seems very healthy. Mind you, the car has been standing for a few months.
Really looking forward to seeing how this pans out.
A few thank yous. Dieselman - the story begins when he let me borrow his lovely Mandarin 2.1 for a Practical Classics photoshoot. First XM I'd ever driven. Matt Smith (not sure if he's on here!) for letting me drive his and Charlotte's 2-litre petrol XM. David Hallworth for letting me drive his V6 at Cosford.
After several years of BX ownership (on and off), it's nice to have made the jump up to XM while I still could.
