2000 Citroen XM Exclusive from UK and Ireland - Comments

Car is brand new and nothing is wrong with it.

Very smooth and almost silent.

Tremendous performance and road holding.

Air suspension with computer control gives a wonderful ride.

Every possible extra you could wish for.

Adaptive gearbox give remarkably smooth changes.

Economy at 30 mpg good for a big V6.

Luxury leather armchair type seats.

Completely agreed.

I have the same model which I bought 2 years old with 50+ thousand and it now has 92 thousand 18 months later. Utterly reliable, spacious, smooth, fast, quiet and loads of standard features.

Have just bought an Xm Exclusive; my fifth XM. (early 2.0 carb, early 3.0v6, later 2.016v estate, late vsx turbo.) Absolutely delighted with this. Probably the finest of them all. I will admit, I loved the growl of the V6 but it was a pain, being an early model. Now I have a 2.5TD and I can honestly say that it is the most luxurious beast I have been in. Asside from all the toys, the engine is so quiet I keep forgetting that it's a diesel. My labrador fell asleep soundly in the back, even more quickly than in my turbo vsx petrol model. It's a fine car and let's face it, Jeremy Clarkson is the first of a breed of modern and sensible souls who may just now appreciate what most of us have been realising after all for all these years; and thank you very much; luxury for a pittance.

Further to above comment, I have now added a 95 XM Exclusive V6 to my family. Peculiarly, compared to the 2.5 TD It feels really tank like, although utterly superb and taut. I can't choose between them. The chap I have bought my V6 from has just bought a very late V6 and is very please although he is not sure the auto adaptive gearbox is as perfectly mated to the engine. I have asked for first refusal on that one!

Don't all xms have so many problems esp. electrical? I thought they were known and feard for this..?

My XM V6 Exclusive of year 2000 has now completed 33,000 miles of reliable luxury motoring. The vehicle has now been shipped to magnificent Malaysia where I intend to spend all of my last years. The daily heat and humidity seems to have no ill effects on the car despite the fact that the air con is in use on every trip throughout the year. Still using the original battery, tyres, brake pads and exhaust after almost six years.

Series 2 XM models (from 1994-2000) had significantly better electrical reliability. The model change coincided with the stylised 'XM' font on the tailgate and the replacement of the single spoke steering wheel with a conventional four spoke item like the Xantia's.

I have just passed on my 1997 2.1TD VSX Auto estate. (Now C5 2.0 HDI auto est.

Bought in 2002 with 70,000 miles. Now 160,000 miles.

If you want the Autobox to last, you MUST change the auto gearbox oil regularly. If from new, every 10,000m, If like me, bought at 70K, I changed it with Eng oil every 5,500miles.

WHY? Because there is 7.8 litres in the box and you can only change 3.2 litres at a time. Do the math 5 changes for 98%

And you have to drive it around between each change.

It is now sweet as a nut.

I think Citroen are to blame for failing autoboxes. A change (of 3.2litres) each 60,000miles is crazy. ZF should be upset.

Dipped Lights - Beam spread good, Light level - terrible.

Fit a Xenon 4300K HID conversion to Dipped lights - Now Brilliant.

Terry Toye, Dorset, UK.

I have a 1992 Citroen XM SEI, and I've been to town over the last 2 years making it better and better.

My first move was to replace all the little bulbs inside the car that were out with new ones, and it's all lights at night now.

I then took all the plastic chrome trims off and sprayed over the dull black that was a nightmare to keep smart, silver grey to match the car.

I got hold of chrome spray to go over the milky gone of chrome trims, and they are like new now. Get it from B&Q, but make sure you undercoat first, and also I did the mirrors and rear panel behind the bonnet.

I then got hold of a series 2 grille, and got that sprayed, which gave the front a newer look.

Now I've got rid of those awful dated scouped patterned alloys, and fitted some bight silver spoked alloys from a 97 VSX Exclusive, and polished the what was dull silver grey into a shiny example, and all together it looks a lot younger.

I have next to fit series 2 door mirrors. Why don't I get a series 2 you may say, well if I do I may have troubles that my one doesn't. As everything works; windows, sunroof, plip central locking that I fixed to work, and I soaked all the electrical connectors with wd40, which I swear by for this car, as I'm sure that's saved me from electric problems.

Also LED dash bulbs give it that modern lite up dash look at night, including number plate lights, and side lights are brighter. I'm getting rid of those boring orange repeater lights for white lens also.

Email me on steviebrighton@easy.com for answers to problems with your XM. I may have the answer as I find if you're a practical person, you can sure get along with these cars.

Ooh I forgot to mention I've fitted soft spheres all round, to give it that DS ride, and I really would recommend them.

Bye for now.

I understand your way of thinking, but please leave the XM as completely original as possible because they are becoming classic! No offence intended, purely my own opinion.

Hi Stevie.

I like your enthusiasm - just keep the car going and enjoy it. I have had a DS23 EFI Pallas (sold it before I knew what it would later be worth) then a 92 SEI with full black leather interior, then a '94 auto (local garage ruined the gearbox) followed by a '96SX, which I still have.

Bought a '98 Scorpio Ultima Auto in 2005, which I have just sold and lost only £800 between bought and sold price (due to keeping the car in perfect condition).

Now back with a late '99 VSX 2.1 diesel auto with very low mileage, but it still requires work to make it perfect. Give me an email supremehealth@btinternet.com. Robin.

Hi, Robin

What happened to the gearbox of your '94 XM?

The gear shift never went fully into park all the time I had it, and during an MOT test, the MOT tester thought he would get it fully into park by using his foot - result was he snapped the gear shift cable. They supplied a new cable and fitted it, but it was found after the gearbox failed (lost drive in 3thrd and 4th) that the cable setting was out. They refused to accept the blame and reluctantly I broke the car for parts.

Now back with a '99 2.1 VSX diesel Auto, but if I can find a good 2.4 diesel might buy that because they are a dream to drive.

Never test drive one - because you will always remember how smooth that engine is. Robin

Robin.