My Funny Green/grey 1992 2.1td

No pictures yet, it's turned into a stinker of a day here!

The car I bought is great. I was expecting something a lot clunkier and less refined than my S2, but it actually feels almost as well screwed together. The colour was a shock - I'd always seen it as being a variant of primer but in sunlight it's a actually a very appealing warm grey/green. I'd have the same colour again on a new car in an instant - it really suits it.

Things about the S1 that are nicer than their later S2 equivalent:

• The fact it's much more 'CX-like', from the steering boss design to the way the car sinks after you get out and rises again the instant you start it
• The 2.1TD. It's surprised me already, and I've only driven it about 10 miles. Noisy and agricultural but strong once on the move and with an incredible punch for overtaking - I can see the appeal
• I prefer the rear spoiler
• I prefer the S1 dash appearance and as we all know the flat wheel trims set the car off nicely

Things they made an effort to improve on the S2:

• The wipers. They are tragically, dangerously slow on the S1
• Wind noise around the mirrors and general fluffing about the A-pillar above 50mph just isn't there on the S2
• The S2 dash, while more drab and modern, is a paragon of clarity next to the S1
• Heating and ventilation. My S2 is one of the best-sorted cars I've ever driven in terms of heat and ventilation and the S1, well, isn't
• Seats. The S1 velour seats shocked me - they're really quite poor. The seats in the S2 are actually more old school in that they're plusher and comfier and you sink into them like a friendly old sofa. I feel like I'm perched on top of the S1

And of course things I need to sort, so if any existing S1 TD owners (Peter!!) can help...

• Tacho needle goes completely bananas above 2,500 rpm
• Random alert on the dash telling me the brake lights aren't working when they are
• Suspension height adjuster on the centre console needs two hands to lift and move
• The TD's heater symbol illuminates on the dash for six or seven seconds, before which time the car simply won't start - is that right?
• Car doesn't reach more than 55-65 degrees where my petrol sits between 80 and 90

All that aside the car seems to drive just beautifully. Perhaps a little stiff and a new set of spheres will sort that, but the way it dismisses imperfections and holes without pitching or wallowing at any stage of the journey makes me wish I'd not gone for the comfort spheres on the S2 - quite clearly a properly sorted XM doesn't need monkeying with like that.

Pics to follow!

This post has been edited by ThwartedEfforts on February 19, 2009 11:33 am

Aha..ha...hahahaha you own an S1 hahaha....ha

Sorry

Won't start as in won't even turn over? Or turns over but just fails to fire?
The latter is quite normal on the 2.1, especially if some of the glowplugs are on the way out.

Yep.

It may sound like a tractor (though the turbo whistle is nice when you get off idle) but don't let that fool you. The torque it produces when it gets going is phenomenal. Mine (admittedly tweaked a little) is a rocketship, and embarrasses a lot of newer 'hot hatches' all the time.

Totally agree, it really completes the back of the car, don't know why they ever dumped it for the puny S2 one.

You may have an issue there, I've never noticed any difference in wiper speed between the two, in fact I believe the mechanism and motors are the same...

If you want 'normal' 'clear' 'from this planet', buy a C5

This may have a lot to do with the fact your engines not getting above 50/60 degrees. Stuck open thermostat I suspect.

Really? Given that the seat frame is the same across the models, and that most people report the S1 velour seats as some of the most comfortable, that surprises me
My S1 leather is more comfortable than that in the S2...

Glad you're enjoying it this far, looking forward to seeing the pics

Ciarán


This post has been edited by Ciaran on February 19, 2009 11:37 am

The stiff suspension lever MAY very well be the exhaust CENTRE support plate under the car as the rods attached to the lever runs through the plate!

I had this problem on my first 1990 model 2.oi car, when I removed the plate (2x 12mm nuts) it was as free as could be!!

I also think S2 dashes look VERY pastic and cheap, CERTAINLY were the rear wiper buttons are! Very poor!

The fast wiper motor could be down to better earthings

Ive never found my S1.5 V6 wipers slow. And she has bolted earths....

Rgds
Paul

Glad to hear you like it TE, i think the heater is no better or worse in either MK1 or 2, would follow Ciarans suggestions there and seats should be the same too, wipers have a deffinate issue as they are the same in both models.
Good luck, its about time you got a proper XM

D

Ah now I know about this one. The gear box on the end of the wiper motor dries out and starts to seize. It's not too bad a job to get at under the scuttle and it's easy to dismantle. Give it all a good clean and re grease but do it before it finally packs in because by then the plastic gear teeth will al be knackered.

I prefer the S1 in so many ways, the spoiler, firmer seats, steering wheel and dash to name a few.

As already said you do need to wait for the glowplugs but try a shot of Millers diesel additive it may clean things up and will help with cold starting and reduce noise.
That engien shouldn't be noisy really, probably the engine mounts are past their best, diesels do give them a hammering and they transmit more noise then.

The wipers being slow is definately a fault. As said try lube.

ThwartedEfforts, I take it this is your first diesel.....it's unlikely to be your last..

This post has been edited by Dieselman on February 19, 2009 08:18 pm

Probably will be in S1 range! Not many S1 DERVs left now!

Paul

The tach is driven directly from the crank sensor iirc.
Start with the connectors in the lead as they can suffer bad contacts, had that on Fathers Xantia.
Next up would be remove and clean the hall effect sensor element and ring gear.

If you meter the sensor output you should get a steadily rising voltage with respect to engine revs, probably about 5v max.

Thanks for all the comments folks. The car is certainly not my first diesel - my C5, C6 and both S-Class were oilburners - though it is the first pre-common rail engine and the first I really can't drive like a petrol

Found out this evening that the entire centre dash doesn't illuminate at night. That has to be a loose connection or fuse, right?

One other thing that I find noticeable is a strange friction to the wheels when you come to a halt. Once moving it keeps happily rolling but once you're at a stop you can feel the car resisting getting going again. Makes it easier to deal with the god-damned annoying foot pedal brake - why anyone sane would want this car as a manual I don't know.

My brakes used to bind on after i had released them when there was lots of air in the system, worth a check, or if its been sat a while they could just be binding.....
What do you mean by centre dash, the heater controls? or the clocks and guages?

D

Centre dash, heater controls, the lot - only the gauges light up!

check fuses 4,5 and 10, fuse 23 does the rheostat for all dash lights, it could of course be just blown bulbs........

D

That rheostat is a pain in the hole, though I believe if it was gone then even the instruments wouldn't be lighting.

Bulbs as Dean suggested, are a definite possibility on an S1 car. Quite a few of mine out now, keep meaning to replace the lot.

Ciarán

Thanks guys. Am looking forward to grazed knuckles and swearing at bits of plastic this coming weekend

Sorry - I've only just caught up with this thread. Most of your questions have been answered but the tachometer problem is probably being caused be the small two pin plug/socket on the gearbox end of the cylinder head, not very easy to get at, just follow the wires. Its the lead from the TDC sensor, the pins have probably corroded. If you can pull it apart and push together a few times to clean it and then apply a little grease to the pins.

Your thermostat would seem to need replacing, not the easiest of jobs as it is located at the l/h rear of the engine, you can feel it fairly easily though and get spanners on it, a mirror would probably help. I have to replace it in the white one when I get it on the road.

On the panel light problem, don't rule out the possibility of all the lamps having failed, its not unknown. First check for voltage on the dimmer rheostat, I think it will just pull out of the panel.

Peter.N.

This post has been edited by Peter.N. on February 20, 2009 12:42 pm