1994 Citroen XM Exclusive review from UK and Ireland

Hydraulic Pump (Recon unit failed)

Front O/S bearing

Clutch (just worn, but scary cost to replace)

Front Drivers Window regulator (Oh so common fault in the Mk2)

Rust in both front floor panels - although fully galvanized this is a weak point due to the jacking points at the front, and causing the floor to rot out.

Water pump seized.

Despite all of the above faults, this car was superb and supremely comfortable. Until the water pump seized it was extremely reliable, always started in the morning, and still returned an average 41 MPG.

The MPG was mainly due to sitting on the motorways at just under 70mph. Yet if I needed to show the BMW drivers or the reps a clean pair of heels there was still oodles of oomph under the happy pedal. The hydractive sports suspension also gave it a lot more grip than I realised at the time - I'm now driving a TD xantia and the difference is very noticeable.

I must have been lucky as all the dot matrix displays, trip computer etc. all worked perfectly.

My only gripe is that the engine fills the engine bay so completely, that it should come with free knuckle-skin grafts as standard.

I'm very sad to see it go, but as well as getting the water-pump and the welding done it also needs new tyres, disks and pads all round and the turbo is on its way out. Thankfully it's going to be recycled by another Citroen enthusiast.