Help And Advice Please, Moving from CX to XM

Hi
Newbie to this forum and new to Xmism. Currently own a solid and mechanically maintained, but tatty 1989 CX25GTi and am considering (for the first time in 7 years ownership) selling in favour of some thing a bit more modern.
Seen this on Ebay and thought it might suit (growing family needs an estate!) but my knowledge of XM's is limited.
Any hints/tips and general advice?
BTW Does the mileage looked clocked? I know it has docs to support but those digits look all over the place.
Thanks, http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

This post has been edited by harryburgundy on February 09, 2006 12:51 am

If I were buying a petrol estate instead of my diesel, I think I would go at least 50% above the reserve of £600 techmanagain

Thanks Techman, but I'm not sure what you mean.
Do you think diesels are a safer choice than petrol models...I'm not bothered about fuel economy bearing in mind my small annual mileage.
The car I mentioned has not reached its reserve....at the moment the bidding has stopped at £600......whats the 'right' price for the model?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

This post has been edited by harryburgundy on February 08, 2006 11:50 pm

Hi Harry

Have been watching it on ebay myself just out of interest.
A few XM's turn up regularly with low mileage at the moment. People keep them as cherished first owners, low mileage, full cit maintenance and history. It does not mean that all the faults get rectified and if there is anything detrimental it may not have been added to the paperwork. They may then get a second owner who knocks up the mileage but does his own maintenance and most of the faults get sorted.
Of the one on ebay I personally thought the mileage was believeable. If I was considering buying it I would want an explanation as to how a Mk2 car has ended up with a Mk1 nose cone. This can be seen in the frontal photo. A Mk2 nose cone has larger chevrons at it centre. Whoever put the Mk1 nosecone on has turned the chevrons upsidedown. I guess the chevrons were remove for the nosecone to be sprayed up the correct colour.
It is common for XM's to suffer broken nose cones in minor bumps and scrapes.

Hope this helps a little.

Regards

XMexc

Thanks XMexc, thats just the kinda info. I like!
Regards, HB

Yes, I wondered about that grill! probably broken as XMexc says, I've broken two of them in hedges. both when I was turning round in a narrow lane Its got a Mk2 instrument panel though, and for its registration date it must be a Mk2.

What its worth is dependant entirely on condition, especially a petrol one, a good diesel with that mileage would be worth at least twice that, for a petrol, its probably about the right price, but I wouldn't buy it without seeing it, in fact I wouldn't buy a petrol one at all, but thats just my personal preference.

Peter.N.

Diesel is just my preference, mostly for the mpg, but also for the technical superiority - in my opinon - of this 2.5 diesel. I do a lot of miles, otherwise I could finish up buying a petrol for its other attribute (quietness). The estate is my choice too because of the boot space - which I need. My opinion is that there are far worse cars on the road than this and if you can get it at a price you can afford, do so. You'll have plenty of tech. bachground on this site if needed. There won't be many other bids (IMHO) at slightly over the original £600. You are a Citroën Car Club , I presume? techmanagain

I favour the diesel for all those reasons, plus it requires a lot less effort to drive because of all that low down torque, and for the same reason I think the diesels are quieter in normal driving than the small petrol engines, I very rarely exceed 2,000 RPM in mine, except on the motorway then its 2,400. You cant hear the engine at those speeds, that also why I dont like auto's they dont change up untill about 3,000 rpm and its getting noisey by then!. But then, not wishing to upset anyone, that's just my opinion. Having said all that, the car does look quite nice, but I would want to have a good look at and drive in it, before I considered purchasing, at least its manual!

Peter.N.

This post has been edited by Peter.N. on February 09, 2006 08:02 pm

Thanks for all your help and advice.
I have emailed the seller with a question regarding the nose cone...his first response as to wether the car had rec'd any crash damage was that 'to his knowledge the car had never been crashed or repaired', which is fair enough.
I will wait to see if I get a further response before viewing.
Still not really sure that I want to lose my CX...it's kinda in the family now and at least I know it's history and quirks, but it's looking a bit tired and it's a struggle loading two kids worth of stuff into if we go away.

PS I like auto's!

Regards,Carl

If someone could find me a rust free TD CX Safari tommorrow, with a heater that works and a head gasket that lasts longer than 15k miles...I would buy it!

Peter.N.

Re CX Td cylinder head gasket; I always used genuine gasket for this Part No. 209.L6 if I remember right (I can check) and had no trouble after.

Well, no further response from the seller and I guess that says a lot

Techmanagain

Over 165k miles, in addition to all the head gaskets, I had three heads, then eventually took the engine out and had the block machined, 15k later it went again in the same place. I apparently had a pourous block. Apart from that and the near useless heater, I think it was the best car I have ever driven.

Peter.N.

Peter,
Sounds like a guy I bumped into who lives nearby (Penarth/Dinas Powys) who had exactly the same problem with his CX, porous block. I think he his still driving it around so I guess it isn't you!
My CX is an 89 GTi and apart from the big ends going on the original engine, it has been totally reliable!
Carl

Hi Carl

No, I wish it was. I have had three CX Safaris, all diesel, that last one being turbo. I ran that for seven years, covering about 30k miles per year (or two head gaskets) It had covered 266k when I sold it. The only reason I kept repairing it was because it was such a fantastic car to drive, and it was about ten times easier to change a head gasket on then the XM!

Peter.