Just in case there are any other XM enthusiasts on here who, like me are suffering from diminished responssibility, I thought I'd let them know of my mistake.

A couple of months ago I changed the LHM for Hydraflush, cleaned the filter etc, but made no difference at all. Rear suspension always firm. Having read the interesting stuff on Hydronet 2000 I replaced 3/4 litre of the Hydraflush with petrol and it did make a difference for a day or 2. Anyway, not being gifted with knowledge of the suspension system like many on here I decided to do things by a process of illimination.

First, change the spheres, I have had the car for 4 years, the spheres have never been changed. The car has still only done 68k from new and I love it so I want to keep it and I want the magic carpet ride back. The car is booked in to Westroen Spheres for this Friday to have all the spheres done. It means a 500 mile round trip but hopefully worth it. I have also ordere one of Roy Mc's kits which should be here today.

Anyway, as I'm having the spheres done I thought I'd put LHM back in. So, yeterday I set about removing the resevoir. When I was swishing the petrol around inside the now removed resevoir to clean it I could hear smething rattling inside. It was a small plastic disc about 1" in diameter. When I looked at the part of the unit still in the car I could see that the disc was a bung from the bottom of one of the plastic tubes that sits down into the resevoir. Refitted it, great. So then I checked the bottom of the other larger plastic tube and saw a similar idea but fitted with a bayonet type fitting. I removed it and withdrew this long conical filter which I never knew existed. It was absolutely caked up with crap, so much so that I could pour petrol inside it and it only dripped out. I have now cleaned it thoroughly and replaced it along with the new LHM.

I have looked at the manuals and none of them show this conical filter so I thought I'd point it out in case there are any other idiots like me.

I will update you next week on the outcome of the other work being done, hopefully it will go some way to solving my problems

Did it click when we were all talking about the two filters in the reservoir on the hydronet / hydraflush thread?

The small round disk is just to damp the fluid level sensor, so the light doesn't trigger when the fluid sloshes about.

Strangely, my Haynes manual shows both filters clearly in the pictures under '36000 mile service'.

Yes your right, didn't look there just looked under the changing LHM in the hydraulics section.. No mention there

Typical Haynes then.

I also plan to Hydraflush mine, probably this Saturday. But I'm planning on leaving it in long term as did George with his. Did you leave it in for long Jackyboy?