My Fourth Xm............, How long will this one last?...........

I just bought another XM - my other one isn't playing ball at the moment, and I think a spare car is always useful if you own an XM.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...:MEWN:IT&ih=001

It's the first diesel car I've ever had, in fact it's the first diesel car I've ever driven.

I am pleasantly surprised .

Apart from when it's idling I can't tell the difference between this and my petrol turbo..............why has it taken so long for me to see the light? ...........

I'm a bit puzzled though, It seems to be part s1 and part s2 (could it be a s1.5?).

The spec is slightly lower than my other XM too, even though they're both exclusives. This one is also three months older than the other.

Of course it has it's faults - two windows not working, mirrors not working, radio needs decoding, remote doesn't work and the sunroof has been seeled up because it leaks.

But mechanically it seems ok - starts and runs ok, no leaks, no rattles etc, and service history up to Aug 05, and MOT certificates since then, so I think the mileage is genuine.

So I'll keep my fingers crossed........hope it beats my personal XM record and lasts longer than three months.......but I'll be keeping an eye out for a cheap replacement just in case............

My rule for buying an XM is 'always buy cheap, that way it doesn't hurt so much when it breaks down'.

I saw this and thought it looked quite good and it appears to be a good price too.

I didn't fancy another autobox car though and asked specifically about the sunroof, I
do like having one that works so would need to take the headlining and or the whole
sunroof tray apart to get a controllable hole in the lid!

Another one running on 24v alloys too. Does that mean another dead 24v'er?

Andrew

I didn't know they were 24v alloys, I thought these were the basic exclusive alloys (both my cars have them) and the 24v's got the 'wobly' alloys..........

Maybe I'll get round to fixing the sunroof sometime, I believe the drain holes get blocked........but it's not that important to me really (being 6'6" I think I'd prefer the extra head room and not have a sun roof at all).

Hi Minijet

this is an S2, S1.5 have the S1 original dash. I also see it has the rare alcadara interior trim, nice.

cheers
George

You must be one of the few Xm'ers I've ever heard of that would prefer not to have
a sunroof, and actually have one that works (albeit with a leak that needs sorting!!)

Andrew

It's not very rare around here.....I have two cars with the same trim

If this is an S2 then the front ends been changed at some time, as it has an S1 radiator grill on it............

In fact it's a series 1.75 as it doesn't have chevrons on the middle or the side of the nosecone!?

Andrew

Yes, I noticed that, I wonder if that gives it extra rarity value ..........I suppose I could always put a Mercedes or BMW badge on the front and double the value ..................

Yes, I noticed that, I wonder if that gives it extra rarity value ..........I suppose I could always put a Mercedes or BMW badge on the front and double the value ..................

Just make sure you remove the indicators and mirrors to make it a proper job

Nice XM minijet, but get that driver's side strut top looked at

Looks pretty sound overall. Very rare colour

I think you'll be pleasently surprsied by how good the TD is. It might sound like a tractor at idle, but its deceptively quick, and a fantastic all-rounder engine.

Ciarán

This post has been edited by Ciaran on March 09, 2008 01:49 am

Don't 'get' the reference to the indicators?
You mean change the s2 bumper and the scuttle trim/door mirrors to look like a s1? I'm confused.

Think I'd get that door looked at first!

Andrew

Andrew,

I think the reference to mirrors & indicators was aimed at BMW drivers..........they don't use them

Ciaran,

I think the rust around that strut top is superficial, caused by the water from the header tank, I'll get some rust treatment on it though.

I don't know why the water spilled out (it doesn't over heat), maybe somebody over filled it.

I wonder what brand of antifreeze they were using?........I've never seen brown before.........

Too late in the day for that level of subtle quips, sorry Ciarán!!

I generally take as said that anyone that drives a German car is a total ****** and best
avoided at all costs. If I see ''driving lamps'' illuminated that's a good clear mile off indication
of a total and utter idiot approaching and I NEVER trust anyone who thinks it's a good idea
to wear headwear inside a centrally heated space with infinite ventilation adjustment...

Andrew

This post has been edited by Andmcit on March 09, 2008 01:57 am

the stuff in my V6 at the moment is orange, not a great choice of colour as you can't tell if there's any sign of rust, though I suppost it'd eventually go that nice sh**ty brown instead.

Had me worried when I'd disturbed one of the hoses and caused the pug/cit crimp-on hsoe clip to give a little - nice rusty looking water appeared, only it was just orange coolant.

Previous stuff was blue (or green, can't recall now) and I'll go back to that on the next change.

regards
Dave