S1 Vs. S2, .. mainly V6, but the whole range really

[Ciaran]

That's a shame Mike, however after coming back to reality today, I really can't afford to run a V6 AND keep my 2.1TD.

I'm most definately in the market for a 2.0SEI with full leather and wood though!

As for the overheating starter issue, as a supplement to Derek's ducting idea, if you were fancy with pipework, I guess it would be possible to make some kind of coolant jacket that fits over the starter pehaps? Or even shielding it with some kind of insulating / heat reflective material?

[Zaphod]

J137VMO is a series 1.5 20.SEi, had the full wood and digital climate.. whats this about brake light failures? as my S1 seems determined there is something worng with them when I indicate

Stewart

This post has been edited by Zaphod on January 30, 2007 03:55 pm

[Peter.N.]

Hi All

I dont know how I came to miss this one and I know I am a bit late but my opinion for what its worth.

My experience as many of you will know is only with 2.1 td manuals, but I have run them for over 10 years. The first one I had, a Mk1, was only about three years old and was an absolute pain, with numerous electrical and hydraulic failures, the second Mk 1 was not a lot better, had engine problems with that as well! But since having Mk2s I would say that they are an altogether different car as far as reliability is concerned. The only thing I dont like is the curved instrument binnacle - you cant stand a cup of tea on it!

Peter.N.

[onthecut]

Hi all.

I'd like to second, in full, Peter's comments. To be fair, I didn't have any serious grief with the S1s I've had, but I think the S2 is a much better put together piece of kit. I'd have a high mile S2 over a modest mile S1 all day long.

Mike.

[demag]

Peter, do you mean stand a cup of tea on it while driving?!!

[Zaphod]

Time to be contraversial!, there is at this time probbly no differance between S1 and S2 cars. Simlpy the surviving S1s will have had the electricvals and hydraulics put right, the original quality conreol issues simply will no longer be there. The big differance in age of most cars is rust anyway, but as we know rust has never really been an XM issue right from th start. The S1 is all round cooler, (better inteiror and spoiler) Although it has a crappy speedo cable... less said about that the better, will let you know how I get on fitting the S2 speedo!

Stewart

This post has been edited by Zaphod on February 06, 2007 04:35 pm

[aengus-xmv6]

I'd agree re the S1's, I've had 3 now, current is a V6 SEi manual, manuf date 24-nov-89 and it's been pretty good over the 4 years I've had it, and is my daily drive since I no longer have any others. Done 46K miles in it now, just had the clutch done and a few niggles to sort, but it's a very nice car.

First one was a j-reg 2.0SEi manual, which I bought at 6-months/6000k miles old, ran it to 139K and found it to be very reliable, even with the multi-block earths. My indy packed them with grease and they never caused me a problem.

Second was a 2.0SEi auto, h-reg, bought at 134K miles, and sold a few months later at 138K. Reason for sale - no, not the gearbox, other than I didn't like the auto much, but I bought the V6 and couldn't justify 3 XM's.

Never liked the S2 dash, and much prefer the single-spoke wheel.

regards
Dave

[citroenxm]

Hi All

RE: My S1 V6 24v..

The oil leak that killed the altinator was NOT infact the timing chains, but was the rocker cover!!! :-)

So, I fitted a mitsubishi altinator from a 12v V6, and put a starter from a 2.0i with the V6 mounting nose and we are all ready for the road again NEXT WEEK <BIG SMILES> I cannot wait to get out of this S1 Xantia I am using..

UP FOR S 1.5 XM's... THE BEST!!!

Regards
citroenxm

[beachcomber]

Ah Derek W me old sparring partner,

Sorry I've been away [ close family health issues followed by a bereavement], still having a snipe I see.

What "pedantic views" [ re: AUTOS - NOT wildly exagerated top speed claims ] would those be?

I've had autos all my life, starting with Daimlers, Jaguar Mk1, and just about any car you care to name since 1961. Yes, I've had Spanish cars [ manuel ] including Light 15, and a CX Estate [ only 1 - all the others were auto ] but I do drive auto for preference.

My current cars are all auto - XM VSX Estate, Volvo 850 Estate, Renault V6 Espace, Suzuki Vitara, and my Wife's Celica GT is also auto.

What do you refer to then as "pedantic" views? Is that in the dictionary interpretation DerekW - re: SPELLING, grammar, etc., or the "showing off of knowledge"? If it's the former, just put it down to my upbringing when the Queen's English was the norm - rather than phrases like "Whatever", "Talk to the hand", etc.,etc. If it's the latter definition then I suggest that you rearrange the following well know phrase - the Kettle, the Pot, black, calling. I've checked back through all my previous posts and can't see one mention of my negativity regarding autos or bad spelling / grammar, or actually a showing off of my knowledge on the subject. Unless you consider my preventative maintenance practice of draining and refilling autos when I buy them, and more recently also adding a can of Lucas trans oil.

Beachcomber.

[DerekW]

Beachcomber,

Welcome back and sorry to hear of your loss.

This forum has always been free of the backbiting and point-scoring that afflicts so many others. I value the friendly helpfulness that exists here and long may it remain so.

Please drop it.

Derek

This post has been edited by DerekW on February 25, 2007 06:44 pm

[Andmcit]

Interesting subject this one!

For my sins I've a few S1's and have never found their reliability/earthing etc a real issue
- yes really!! My first ever Xm in actual fact is still around and is a V6 SEi manual with
a 4720 RP number in the original launch SEi Platinum Grey.

It has an unusual sunroof (not like many others I've seen on an Xm) with a different
headlining to match. A good pal had an almost consecutive number V6 in the same colour
and took in to an International Citroen meeting in Belgium and became the star attraction
for the XM folk because his too had the 'rare' Citroen fitted sunroof...

Problems that have regularly manifest themselves with these cars are:

V6 starter motors:
where their mangnetic field linings have dropped off the casing jamming the motor,

strut tops: (obviously )

Hard as in NO movement (duff elecrovalve?) suspension - gave up on the car and
banished it to purgatory

Now, after all this preamble I'll finally get to the point. I've never really been interested
in the S2's for various reasons - on a practical level because they've been fewer and far
between and thus more money, and second as I'm not the biggest fan of airbags and the
S2 dash. I've recently help 'rescue' an M plate VSX 2.1TD saloon for a friend who now says
he doesn't like the dash as it feels too boring and much like his Xantia and would I want it
instead although I very much agree with his feelings here! There isn't any sense of drama
or occasion getting into the S2...

Now, as I have no experience of S2's what are their advanatages/weaknesses over the
S1 (1.5!!) that I know and love. Is the only downside primarily the window cables?
Interestingly, this VSX TD has more rust in it's panelwork than I've got in any of my S1's
including the early 1989 model - work that one out!!

Andrew

[Andmcit]

Forgot to mention: I've been invited to tag along and rescue as much as can be removed
off a perfect decent MOT'd and Taxed 16v 2.0 saloon that's been condemned to death by
someone who wants to make their weeny Peugeot go faster...

Is there anything specifically important off a S2 that's a must have above all else part in
case the time isn't long enough to pick it's carcass clean...?

Andrew

[aengus-xmv6]

Hi Andy,

that V6 we broke a while back, and my own V6 also have the unusual early sunroof, looks like a retro-fit as opposed to factory punched into the roof panel.

Personally I've found this is less troublesome than the later unit. Not had cable or leak issues compared to the later ones, though I found that the rear n/s footwell is wet the other day, so likely the roof drains need attention.

regards
Dave

[Andmcit]

Hi Dave, good to hear from you - saw your first posting here the other day!!

The car in question did exactly the same as you're describing. I traced the fault to a
kink in the drain piping in the headlining in the drivers' side rear roof area. The pipe
had yellowed with age and had actually split where it had a tight kink in it, probably
from where it had been fitted new. I'm not sure actually whether these were fitted by
Citroen UK in Slough as they knew us Brits go mad opening the roof the second the
sun makes it's fleeting appearance. The car came with an operating instructions
pamphlet!! It's never had a moments' glitch and is far larger than the later type - I
especially like the Surfer dude spec anti glare finish which looks golden in certain light.

Sorry to see the hassle you've had with the clutch change. What problems need
sorting with the car now?

Andrew

[DerekW]

Hi Andrew,

With regard to your question about the advantages of S2s over S1s, it seems the basic design of the XM was so good that few improvements could be made once the electrical reliability problems were sorted. I always thought the major one was the introduction of hydractive2, but was that also fitted to late model S1s?

The other changes seem to be relatively minor modifications, for example:

1995:
Antisink and 6+2 hydraulic pump
Airbags and pyrotechnic pretensioners (like them or not).
Deadlocking with HF remote control plus alarm
Dipping passenger side door mirror when selecting reverse
One touch driver's window with anti-pinch (funny, I was sure I had this on my 1989 SEi)
New audio systems with steering wheel controls (previously on SE and Executive only).

1997:
Coded antitheft device with keypad

1998:
High level stop light
Side airbags to some models

In addition there were a number of new engine and gearbox variations plus detail changes to ECUs, electrical systems (including the introduction of multiplexing on some models), etc., etc., etc..

I've ignored the external changes as they are a matter of individual taste. I prefer the old front end and the new rear spoiler. As is well known, the old window cable design is better and my experience is that the "chrome" trim strips are inferior quality on the later models, I never had the white pox spreading along either of my 1989 cars.

Carrying on the comparison between my present car and my old ones, the new climate control is worth having, as is the oil temperature gauge; I love the coat hooks that pop out of the roof lining. The new autobox is an improvement over the old.

So there we are, nothing very major, some of the new fitting are nice to have but none are essential.

Incidentally, both my previous cars were 8-valve 2.0is with autoboxes. I would recommend against that combination as they are seriously underpowered with little advantage in economy.

Derek

This post has been edited by DerekW on February 26, 2007 03:32 pm