Faults:

The fuel heater was faulty causing air to get into the fuel lines and difficult starting. This was not a big problem as it is a fault that I have had in the past and I knew what to do to fix it. In the wrong garage hands this could be a different story!

All spheres have been changed and there are 9 of them, but not expensive at an indepenant specialist.

General Comments:

Viewed by many people as an "odd ball" it is actually very hard to find anything that will equal it as a mile eating economical load swallowing cruiser. It is not a car to expect that after one hour you will be at one with, yes it is too different to be like any other, make a snap judgment and you will miss the point. The 2.5 T/D is quick enough, but if you try driving to the redline in each gear you will have missed out on the superb torque delivered so strongly in the higher gears. In fact on hilly A roads it will leave so-called higher performance large cars behind as the handling and power delivery really come into their own (as you will drive permanently in fith gear).

Faults:

Other than normal wear and tear only the crankshaft pulley which disintegrated at about 260,000 miles.

General Comments:

I have previously owned 2 of the earlier Mk1 versions of this car, both of which proved unreliable and were only tolerated because of their superb ride comfort and general refinement.

It is a pity that the earlier model gained such a bad reputation because the Mk2 version is a whole new ball game as far as reliability is concerned, but very few were sold because of the Mk1's bad press.

For a combination of space, comfort, ride, fuel economy and general refinement, there is no other used car in it's class for the price.

Faults:

Small metal cable for the passenger window snapped. Pence to replace.

General Comments:

This is my fourth XM. Why? Primarily, as I happen to think they are the most avante garde, beautifully designed, unusual, fast and smooth second hand executive car available to sensible people who don't like seeing many thousands of pounds disappearing in depreciation after three years. And I DO mean BMWs and Mercedes. (Come on, who are they kidding? I used to wish for an early 1990s 750s: a few hundred quid now; that's no more than a V^ XM from the same period!)

An excellent car. Please don't buy one; there's more for us, then.

Faults:

External temp gauge doesn't work - they never do!

A.B.S. warning light comes on - bleeding system & cleaning all electrical connectors cures this.

Alarm sounds for no reason - caused by worn out batteries in alarm unit.

Sunroof won't open - lubricate drive belt with wd40 (through open roof, undo cover)

General Comments:

For a diesel car of this size it performs and handles to beat any other.

The fuel economy is unbeatable at 40 m.p.g. plus.

There is more room & comfort inside than any other car.