My 1990 V6 Sei is finally back on the road

[dcz1643]

Some may have already seen a Facebook post announcing that after about 4 years, my 1990 V6 Sei passed its test this week, with the only advisories being the underside has wax oil and he was restricted because of engine covers etc. I class that as No Advisories! I am sorry I haven’t been on here for ages but I actually though the XM wasn’t ever going to make it back on the road. However thanks to the help of my mate Peter, down in Wisbech and Barry in Lincolnshire, the XM did make it. I would also like to thank the late Paul Breeze-Roberts, who helped me with advice and some parts, as he did many others, bless him and RIP.
Just to remind people, I have owned the car since about 1998 and it was our family car, which we drove all over the U.K. and France. It was laid up in 2001 because the starter motor had gone faulty and it wouldn’t start. (Note during the recommissioning, even though Paul had supplied a replacement starter motor, it was discovered that it was a faulty relay!) The car then sat in my garage for over 20 years, until Peter collected it and took it to his garage in Wisbech to start the work on it. Eventually it went for an MOT but failed on a few bit and pieces but mainly, it needed a new steering rack. Sourcing and fitting one was then an issue but through this forum I was put in touch with Barry and he agreed to take the car on. Those who know Barry will also know that life has not been treating him very well but despite some massive problems and many other projects, he and his son Peter came through and I can’t thank them enough. After the MOT Barry & Peter thought the front suspension was a bit slow, so on inspection they decided the front spheres and the accumulator needed attention, so they are changing those spheres and sorting the accumulator. It wasn’t urgent work but I thought while they have the car, why not get it sorted? I will be going down and driving the car home in a few weeks and I can’t wait for that. I can then start on the cosmetics. It’s worth saying that this is an original car. It has had 3 owners including me. The first was a solicitor in Newcastle (3 years), my mate Graeme, who I bought it from (5 years) and me (1998 until now). The paintwork is good but will need a machine polish. The leather interior is excellent but needs a deep clean and the passenger side rear window goes down but needs help to go back up (I think there is something wrong with the track). The AC will also need re gassing but it may not hold gas after all this time, as the seals have probably perished but I can but try? This has become a rare XM over the years and How Many Are Left is only showing one on the road and 14 SORN. That will be two on the road now and 13 SORN Some of the other owners have been in touch on Facebook and hopefully more will be coming out of the darkness in the not too distant future. I intend to be active again in the XM community and I will be bringing my XM to future meets (when I get it back). Again thank you for all of the help and advice I have received from this group.

[dcz1643]

Thanks for editing this Dieselman, it is much appreciated.

[Dieselman]

It's great to see this one finally making it back onto the road. I particularly like the interior of early Xm: rotary lights switch and heater controls and no wood on the door-cards.

I was aware Peter had been struggling to find time to deal with it, unfortunately, he's not alone.
The spheres will definitely need checking after such a long lay-up, but if the front is struggling to raise at all, I would look for air being sucked into the joints of the reservoir to Lhm pump suction pipe, before going further. If the pipe can be twisted on the pump, or reservoir spigots, it's too loose and the clamps need tightening.
Spheres will make the ride hard, but not have any effect on the hydraulics raising the car: the front highlights this issue as it weighs more.

The rear window issue is likely to be the plastic clip that holds the glass in position on the upright slider, has broken, allowing the glass to tilt and jam. p# 922292

Perhaps the first outing might be the CCC Chevrons rally, 12-13 Sept. This is the last rally of the year and used to be called the CXM rally, so tends to attract Xm.
You might want to clear out the sweet wrappers if you want to win a prize.

[dcz1643]

Yes it needs a blooming good clean up, I can’t wait to get it home and get going on it. Thanks for the advice, I haven’t heard from Barry yet, so I don’t know exactly what they have done/are doing with the suspension. I will keep posting things on this thread, as they come up. Cheers…