Hello! (Citroen C5 2.2hdi 136 2003)

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Jay P
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Hello! (Citroen C5 2.2hdi 136 2003)

Post by Jay P »

Hi folks. I've recently joined the Citroen XM forum and been directed over here by those helpful chaps.

I'm keen to join the ranks of the hydropneumatically cosseted and having initially been keen on an XM I think that might be more of a challenge than my lifestyle can currently support.

So I'm wondering about a diesel C5. The 2003 2.2hdi appeals (6 speed, Hydractive 3+ (I think?), cheap) but I'm very much open to options and would welcome any advice. There are many many more 2.0s so that might become a decider.
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Re: Hello! (Citroen C5 2.2hdi 136 2003)

Post by white exec »

Hello, and welcome. :wink:
Chris
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Re: Hello! (Citroen C5 2.2hdi 136 2003)

Post by Michel »

Jay P wrote: 13 Nov 2018, 10:46 Hi folks. I've recently joined the Citroen XM forum and been directed over here by those helpful chaps.

I'm keen to join the ranks of the hydropneumatically cosseted and having initially been keen on an XM I think that might be more of a challenge than my lifestyle can currently support.

So I'm wondering about a diesel C5. The 2003 2.2hdi appeals (6 speed, Hydractive 3+ (I think?), cheap) but I'm very much open to options and would welcome any advice. There are many many more 2.0s so that might become a decider.


I'd be more concerned about your sanity than anything else, running an XM as your first Citroen :rofl2: I've had three....

C5s - I've also had 3 of those, I'd be tempted more by a 2.0HDi of that age, and the 2.2 *can* be problematic with it's emissions equipment, but you should be ok if you are going to fix it yourself and invest in a Lexia diagnostic kit. I'd rather have a 2.0 as the power difference isn't that much, and the 2.0 is much more economical. If you want more power, have it remapped..

Whichever you go for, check the struts for bad leaks, check all the Heating, aircon and ventilation works properly - the flap motors can fail, which results in you being cooked or frozen, depending on how they've failed. Sit in it, and go through every switch and check it's item functions. Oh, and any creaking or cracking from the rear end over speed bumps or uneven roads - rear suspension arm bearings. FIxable, at a cost. Probably about £300 for a garage to do it.

Nice cars. In fact, I might have talked myself into looking for one.
Jay P
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Re: Hello! (Citroen C5 2.2hdi 136 2003)

Post by Jay P »

Thanks Michel. The reason I'm interested in the 2.2 is that it seems only that one has the hydractive 3+.

I still can't quite figure out, despite lots of reading, whether the hydractive 2 in the XM gives a similar ride to the 3+ in the higher end C5s.

My impression is that the 3 (no +) has significantly more body roll than the 2.

And more than once I've read that 3+ in comfort mode is most comfortable, but that body roll is only reduced in sport mode which eliminates many of the benefits of the hydractive system. Which seems not to be something the XM suffers from - it seems to have the best of both worlds in most driving conditions.

Does that sound right? I guess the system in each case has to be working well for a fair comparison.

As has been mentioned there's reading online is no substitute so I'll try and check a few out.

I guess I'm thinking the XM would be for the future if my circumstances change. And I'm hoping to find the particular C5 that's the best substitute for now.
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Re: Hello! (Citroen C5 2.2hdi 136 2003)

Post by GiveMeABreak »

These really can't be compared like for like as they are mechanically and electronically 2 completely different systems - chalk and cheese.

The XM still uses mechanical pumps and pulleys, different spheres, different fluid and has different suspension geometry.

For the C5 MK I & II:
Hydractive 3
  • Fitted with 2 spheres on each axle.
  • The suspension is linked to vehicle speed and to the condition of the road surface.
With Hydractive 3, there is a standard comfort setting riding on 4 spheres permanently. The car will lower the vehicle height by a small amount at motorway speeds to lower drag and will raise slightly over rougher ground.

Hydractive 3+
  • Fitted with 3 spheres on each axle.
  • The suspension is linked to vehicle speed, to the road surface condition and to the user’s driving style.
So with Hydractive 3+ the car rides on comfort mode on all 6 spheres. There is an automatic switch between comfort and sport mode that is made by the computer switching in and out the centre spheres according to driving conditions to provide a firmer, more sporty ride. The sport mode can be selected manually, which means the computer switches into the sport mode programme more frequently. So when in sport mode the centre spheres are cut out of the circuit, so the car rides on 4 spheres providing the firmer ride.

On the MK III (X7), the Hydractive 3+ system has an additional rear centre sphere, making 2 of these at the rear. The MK III has a firmer ride anyway than previous C5s.

In all C5 cases the sphere pressures and the damping hole diameters are different upon system, suspension type (H3 / H3+) and engine type
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help

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Re: Hello! (Citroen C5 2.2hdi 136 2003)

Post by white exec »

The full glories of Citroen hydraulic suspension systems (including Hydractive, H2, H3, H3+, Activa) are digestibily described here:
http://citroen.tramontana.co.hu/en/the- ... ical-guide
Download the Guide (pdf).
Required bedtime reading (if you haven't already)!
Chris
Jay P
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Re: Hello! (Citroen C5 2.2hdi 136 2003)

Post by Jay P »

That's a great resource! Lots to take in but quickly jumping to the end it seems to answer the question.

So the H3+ is pretty similar in its effects to the H2 (in XMs).

And H3+ is quite different from H3, particularly where body roll is concerned.

So if i can find a decent one with H3+ (probably a 2.2 as I'm after a diesel) then that's the one to go for.

Thanks Chris, you're a mine of great info!
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