bencowell

M&M in Holmfirth. It's a bit of a drive but they are decent and honest. They also have all the current electronic diagnosis equipment too. I've used them for my C5 and it is as good as new now. http://citroenpartsuk.co.uk/files/main.html

Check the tyre pressures. The facelifted C5's have lighter steering than the earlier ones.

The diesel Jag has a Citroen engine.

I believe the problem is the dual mass flywheel. There is a Valeo replacement kit (about £200 if i remember) This includes a replacement solid flywheel. The feel of the clutch changes with this kit and makes driving smoother. You also get a better gearchange. My clutch was slipping at 60k and now having done 25k since replacement, the clutch on my car feels better than most new cars.

My C5 has clear antifreeze, it feels oily when you put your finger in it. Citroen only sell coloured antifreeze over the counter (well that's all my garage has!), but Peugeot have colourless long life antifreeze they use for 2002 HDI's onwards. Choose whichever you wish, but give the system a good flush with a hoze to remove traces of old antifreeze that could contaminate the new stuff. Ben

The boot lock is easy to replace. Costs £20 at the dealers. Fold down rear seats, crawl in. You can see a small hole in the boot lock, insert screwdriver and wiggle. The boot is now open. Remove the carpet trim from the bootlid (lots of little clips), carefully cut the plastic sheet covering the bootlock mechanism. Unscrew bootlock from outside, disconnect wiring and replace. Allow an 1/2 hour to complete the job. Hope this helps Ben

Sorry, but you don't have a trip computer. Only the LX automatics and SX and above have computers.

Thats interesting, because the C5 guage is rock steady no matter what angle you park at. My Saxo and Xsara were sensitive to angles, the Saxo even changed the fuel level when driving round long flat corners. I understand the C5 dashboard readout works on a combination of the computer showing what it thinks there should be in the tank, and the levels reported by the tank sensor.

I want everybody to think that the C5 is the best thing in the world, sure there may end up being a few more, but think about what the residuals will be like for your C5 when it is in big demand and the C6 has been around for a year or so and getting to the sort of price we can afford when our HDI C5's are part exchanged. mmm V6 HDI C6, sounds good to me! Graeme, you are right about the riff raff thing, have you seen who drives and how they drive Golf diesels with their inferior engines. If the world knew that my C5 gave great comfort and economy and handled like a hot hatch.... Ben

Surely if your head hits the wheel, it depends on the dimensions of your body, your preferred seating position etc I'm 6'3 and like to sit a long way from the wheel. I have very long arms and set the seat and wheel so that I can hold the wheel at the top with my arms streched while pushing my shoulders back into the seat. As I am tall I guess that in the event of an impact, my legs would be in more danger than my head hitting the wheel. Ben

Graeme, Sorry, but if you think your car is good, then you'll have to see mine. Apparantly it uses some new technology from NASA to turn diesel into uranium. This allows the engine to produce sufficient power and torque at little more than tickover speed, this allows you to drive up the steepest of hills without going far over 2000 rpm. Alternatively, it could just be a really good engine design, I'll have a check later. By the way, have you seen anything about the new V6 HDI engine? 3 litres, 200+ bhp and 300 odd lb/ft torque per todays Daily Telegraph, will be used in the 607 and C6 when it comes out. That and some Jaguar thingie. Ben

Graeme I spend most of my time driving round town, Bradford and Leeds commuting etc, things like 9 mile start-stop in 40 minutes and half an hour in traffic jam to do a 10 minute walk don't do the economy much good, but it seems to have levelled out at around 45mpg. I drove a 2.2 auto, it encourages foot flat to the floor driving as the acceration is like a drug, although the computer showed an average of low 30's mpg. Saying that, I used to drive a 1.6 carb Pug 405 that could drop to 26mpg in winter! More normally 30mpg though. Ben

I drive a 2002 2.0 HDI SX and wondered if it is possible to add cruise control to my car. Any ideas? Ben

I 've had a C5 2.0 HDI SX for 6 weeks now, it is a lovely motor. Mine is a 2002 model, so doesn't appear to be plagued with problems that affect older C5's, although there are fixes for most problems now. The ride of a C5 is amazing, and the car feels large and secure when hurried on country roads. Economy is too early to be accurate about as I have only filled up 3 times, and have been subject to wildly changing driving conditions, but 45mpg seems to be my average. Not bad considering most of my driving is in start-stop traffic in Yorkshire, i.e. start stop driving mostly up hills. Not the ideal recipe for economy. Mine is an ex-demo car, a couple of minor paint damage areas on non corroding materials; mirror housing and stone chips on bumper and bonnet. Ben

As for the combined figure being harder to achieve in a petrol, nonsense. My Xsara 1.4 routinely did 40mpg+, combined of 41. My Saxo before that did 44 mpg, combined being 43. The C5 110 SX does mid to low 40's, combined 50. That being said, the C5 is a much larger car, and takes more force to start and stop it. I'm not complaining, would just like it to be closer to 50mpg. Ben

My oil has been in the C5 110 for about 1000 miles now(Changed at 7000 miles when I bought the car), it is gaining a tinge of colour, and the colour is very similar to my last Xsara 1.4 petrol at about 4000 miles after changing. Dads Picasso oil is pitch black at 6000 miles. Ben

Bought a 7000 mile 52 plate HDI 110 SX hatch, only had it for a week, done 300 miles, computer indicates around 44mpg. Has had several short journeys and been driven (hardish) on country roads with 3 people inside. Lovely motor, although some knocking from the rear suspension. Ben

My 1999 Xsara (deadlocks, but different ones) lets you use the central locking to lock the key in, when you are defrosting in winter. I use the crooklok on the wheel and the spare key which doesnt have a crooklok key on it. You can also unlock the passenger door and the drivers door using the key if you disconnect the battery when the doors are deadlocked. Ben

Wouldn't it be better to carry on saving the cash and get the car when you are 17? You can then mod it til your heart is content. Plus a little birdy tells me that the Saxo will be replaced by the C2, so you should find some bargains towards the end of the Saxo's life. Ben

Apparantly they all do it, it is true. The C5-L yahoo group has several mentions of flickering headlamps. Ben

Are you in Leeds Kevin? I ask because the link you posted for VES has a Leeds phone no. Did they chip the car when on a rolling road? How much? Ben

Sssshh, you have spent too much time looking at the blue oval; we call it HDI. Good choice, welcome to the fellowship. Ben

Is the car chipped on a rolling road or using a laptop on the real road? Did you get a printout of the power and torque curves? Diesel Car Magazine have many different outfits offering chipping for diesels. Ben

NO NO NO Don't get the oil changed just anywhere, make sure you get an original Citroen filter put on or else the dealer will notice and may invalidate your warranty. Eurocarparts will sell you a cheaper identical filter (might be in a Peugeot box though!) Make sure the oil is to the spec mentioned in the handbook, both the 10w40 bit and the ACEA A3/B3 or whatever. Ben