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

[aengus-xmv6]

Hi Andy,

Mr Clutch - never again, esp Southend branch! - each time I do any work in the engine bay I find something else they didn't put back right - no bolts holding the battery box to the inner wing, so the cable connectors under the LHM tank are now floating, the battery retainer bolts were cross threaded, a/c hose also floating, one of the bolts holding the regulator is not present....

Just replaced the front wheel spheres and the control module on the ABS block, will have a look at the other spheres later (in boxes waiting to be done), just preserving the front strut tops as an immediate concern. It's riding well enough at normal speeds, just a bit bouncy at high speed sometimes.

Front knock sensor is reporting quite often, typically when coasting along rather than when gunning it, so will have one off the spare engine and do that and the other steel pipe in the V sometime.

Apart from that, it's going well, at least the clutch does work and is nice and light, and luckily the OS subframe didn't part company with the car onthe trip home from Mr Clutch.

For the others reading this - on the trip home (28 miles) 2 of the 4 subframe bolts dropped out, other 2 were just hanging on by a few threads, as they didn't tighten them up when reassembling the car. They were cheap at £400 compared to Citroen £1205 or my indy's quote at £700+, but the work was not to a standard I'd have expected, and their time estimation was also poor.

regards
Dave

[aengus-xmv6]

Derek,

the V6 always had the coded keypad, my 89 S1 had it, was the 2.0's that didn't, the later S2's I guess inherited the idea from the original cars.

As regards the later radio PLIP, glad I don't have one, the IR is fine, but I've an aftermarket Cobra alarm that controls the doors so never use it much anyways. The Cit alarm seems more trouble than it's worth from what I've read elsewhere!

Only things I'd maybe like to retro-fit are digital climate (mine's the 3-dial semi auto), and headlight washers (so I cold comply with that requirement for HID's), and maybe the high-level brake light (got one to add to the tailgate shelf - one day). Oh, and maybe update from the original H1 ecu to a later (h2/h3) to improve the already good ride? Other than that, much prefer the S1, looks and interior.

Rust, unfortunately, is something we are not truly immune to, and that's what will spoil the car more than anything as they age. Expect the S2 will succumb too eventually. And the silver trim strips, yes they go funny on the S1's as well.

regards
Dave

[onthecut]

Hi Derek, Dave.

Have to say I think the S2 just has a much better feel than the 1s. Particularly think the dash is a big improvement. You also missed a mention of the side impact bars in the doors, which are a worthwhile addition in my opinion.

I'm not at all surprised by your experience at a clutch fitting centre; it's all about speed and turnover and the XM just doesn't lend itself to that approach. I've watched a few of these fast fit operations over time and they are just frightening. Relatively inexperienced staff; bull in a china shop approach to dismantling; best set of pry bars you'll find in any town ! Best avoided.

Mike.

[DerekW]

Hi Dave; ref the keypad, I got the info from the year by year presentations in the Series 2 XM workshop manual. I get the feeling that over time Citroen introduced a number of items to the whole range that were originally only on the top models. As for the plip, tonight I got out of the car, pressed the plip, click-click, the doors were unlocked again; did it again, same result. Locked it with the key, click-click, unlocked again: I'm about to search the site, I think I've seen something about this under "electrics".

Hi Mike; yes, I missed the impact bars (they get in the way when you're repairing the window winders!). I found that one problem in doing a list like that was trying to include only those things that are general throughout the range so I ignored headlamp wash and digital climate control. I like the newer dash but not the fiddly little glovebox. I also miss the softly opening lids.

What the heck; S1 or S2, they're all the apple of someone's eye and rightly so.

Derek

[XM v6 sadist]

Hi Derek

You shouldn't have started this. You missed the side airbags on the late S2's and bum warmers that heat the base plus back of the seat too.

Cheers

Tony

[beachcomber]

Glad to drop it Derek - but I don't think it was me that started it off again - or am I being too pedantic?
Beachcomber

[DerekW]

Beachcomber, since you are determined to keep picking at this particular sore, I'll respond although it's against my better judgement:

1. I was not trying to re-ignite your antagonism. As you had been silent for so long I thought you had abandoned this forum and gone to pastures new.

2. I used the word "pedantic" not in its O.E.D. meaning, but in the modern vernacular form of "thinking that no opinions other than his own are valid". I would never have considered calling you a gerund grinder.

3. In my post I was trying to compare the relative merits of the various V6s. Re-reading the paragraph that offends you, I fail to understand how you could have possibly thought I was referring to your opinion of autoboxes. I suggest you re-read it; I wrote that, despite your unsubstantiated statement that it was wildly exaggerated, the top speed claimed by Citroen was probably as accurate as any other.

4. I note that you repeat that statement, so I challenge you. If you are so sure that the claimed top speed is wildly exaggerated, prove it. If you can't prove it then I suggest you let the matter drop once and for all.

This post has been edited by DerekW on February 27, 2007 12:48 pm