Hi Derek,

I have put some thought into this as it happens, but i dont think its going to work.
At the very least i will have to change the inlet ducting, camshaft, pistons, inlet and exhaust manifolds, ecu and associated wiring plus the rads etc etc then i would have to move the dipstick to the front of the block away from the turbo which would involve drilling into it.
All this would leave the car off the road for a while and when together it would still be running with no piston cooling oil jets etc etc.

By rebuilding the turbo lump as a whole unit, i get a nicely painted shiny as new unit to swap straight in which will be quicker, and means i can take my time with the rebuild because the Prestige will be in one peice untill im ready.

D

Hmmm is the TCT manual box different from the 2.0i one?

Seriously thinking about doing what you're doing Dean...

As for S1 vs S2, its an ever burning debate around here.

Owning both, I find it hard to decide between the two sometimes.
For looks, S1 wins hands down, no doubt about that, but the S2 cars, particularly the interiors, do feel better built, and are definitely quieter.

Funny you should mention it Dean, I too have often wondered what makes the S2 so much quieter. I've considered applying extra sound deadening material to the insides of the S1 doors, as I believe that's where the majority of sound comes into the passenger compartment. You can buy rolls of the stuff, its popular with the crazy in boot amp crowd for improved acoustics apparently.

The only thing I really dislike about the S2 is the boot spoiler... its pathetic! I keep meaning to fit an S1 spoiler to mine...

Ciarán

Hi Ciaran

Yes the MK2 spoiler is pathetic, forgot that one.,
I think the ratio's are the same between the two engines, they are on the auto's anyway.

D

I'll chip in here, and add that spoilers are pathetic full stop! But it was in vogue at the time.

Have to disagree there Robert, have you ever seen a picture of an XM with no spoiler? Its as if something is missing, it just looks plain wrong.

The spoiler, especially S1, really adds the finishing touch to the back of an XM hatch IMO, its just odd without it. The puny S2 one is bad enough, none at all just doesn't work.

Ciarán

There seems to be a difference in the door foam sheet used for later XM's. The Mk1's used standard industrial foam sheet which has an open cell structure (it can soak up water). The foam sheets used in Mk2's are an acoustic foam with a closed cell structure. Gets fairly immaterial once the foam is perforated to get at the broken window winders.

John

I have seen a few over here without them, the tailgate looks quite neat, perhaps because it is a bit of a novelty and rareity. It doesn't bother me that my XMs have spoilers, they were standard equipment. But its not a sports car, its a big executive cruiser.

An executive cruiser yes, but a BMW it aint.

It might be a cruiser but its also an aerodynamic, sleek machine, the spoiler just completes the look, as well as having (some) functionality....

Ciarán

Re foam sheet inside doors. Peel back the foam around apertures using SWMBO's hair drier or heat gun. Apply double sided tape around the perimeter. Apply plastic sheet or shrinkwrap and stick foam back on top. Pour a beer and relax

Robert.