Utterly Confused About C5 Suspension!

[Citroelific]

Hi all,

 

Apologies for my first post to be so full of questions!

 

I currently drive a Rover 75 and I'm looking to purchase a C5 on the grounds of ride comfort. The 75 is pretty good, but I'm looking for something that will just smooth things out that little bit better - so I'm looking for a hydractive car. My budget will only allow me into a MK1 or possibly a MK1.5 (MK2?) car. I contacted a local respected used dealer who had an '03 plate HDi on his forecourt but unfortunately it had been sold earlier on in the day. I got talking to him and recommended I came down to have a drive of an '09 registered C5 VTR+ to get a feel for the suspension. He assured me it did have the hydractive system (despite the web telling me not!).

 

I got there and had a look in the front wheel arch - no visible springs at all - but I wasn't convinced based on the ride of the thing. It was an awful lot harsher than the ride on the 75 and just didn't feel how I expected the hydractive system to feel at all. The 1.6 diesel was also unreasonably gutless! Was this actually a steel sprung model? The web tells me it should be.

 

How can I identify a hydractive Mk1/1.5 car? Did it come with certain engine sizes? Is the Mk1 available with a petrol V6?

 

Many thanks, and sorry for all the questions!

[citrophile]

Welcome to the forum.

 

Mk1 (2001-2005) and Mk2 (2005-2008), also known as facelift model, all came with hydractive suspension, not steel springs. Latest C5, known as X7 version has steel spring suspension, except for the top spec Exclusive models, which are hydractive suspension. So the VTR+ you saw would have had steel spring suspension so no wonder you thought ride was a bit harsh compared to what you were expecting.

 

The hydractive system does give a great ride and is well suited to long motorway journeys and just wafts along.......I do over 120 miles a day on motorway and always happy with ride quality.

 

I would certainly recommend a hydractive C5 and you should be able to get a very good spec exclusive Mk2 for less than £3k. In my view, unless you're strapped for cash, I would avoid the Mk1 as the facelift Mk2 is an improved car.

 

Yes, you can get a V6 petrol but they are relatively rare. The 1.6 HDI diesel is underpowered in my view, especially the Mk1, but the Mk2 HDI engines do have more power. The 2.0 HDI diesel is definitely the most popular engine choice. I can't remember but I think the same engine is used in some of the diesel Rover 75's too.

 

Hope that helps.

 

Rob

[seefive]

Just to add abit more confusion...

 

Early X7's (2008-2009 ish) had hydractive suspension on the 2.2 litre versions, and also all automatics, for some reason.

I can confirm having seen a 2.2 VTR manual with Hydractive ( buttons on the centre console)

[Citroelific]

Thanks for the speedy responses! There were no suspension buttons on the centre console, so it looks very likely it was a sprung suspension on the car I drove.

 

The diesel used in the Rover 75 was the BMW M47R unit - so I don't think there's any connection!

 

I tend to shy away from 4pot petrols (only ever owned one), and have never owned a diesel so would much prefer a nice petrol V6 to go with the suspension!

 

I'll get trawling eBay and see what I can turn up!

 

Thanks again for the pointers :)

[seefive]

Just be aware the 3.0 V6 costs £500 to tax! :blink:

 

Good hunting..

[Citroelific]

Good grief! That's a lot of money.

 

Any pitfalls with the 2.0 petrol?

 

What about the diesels? I don't want one with any DMF type thingies! Is that an option?

 

My budget looks like I'll be able to bag a MK1 car, rather than MK2. I've heard good things about the 2.0 HDI? What is the likely fuel eco from the various engines?

[paul.h]

The latest version of the C5 is not listed in early or recent brochures as having the hydractive suspension with the 1.6 hdi engine so the one you tried could not have had it. Maybe the dealer was hoping you would try the car and like it enough to buy it or he does not know much about the cars being sold or you can not trust him.

 

The petrol 3.0 V6 was only made up to about 2006 and they are all automatic gearboxes, hence the high fuel consumption of about 28 mpg combined cycle and CO2 of about 240 g/km. If you need to use it to tow then this engine has a low limit of 1300 kg.

 

I think all the diesels have a dmf but if you want a mark 1 (to mid 2004) then the 2.2 hdi also has an exhaust FAP (particulate filter) as do all the mark 2 diesels. The mark 1 2.0 diesel has 2 power options - 110 hp and 90 hp but best to stick with the 110 hp.

 

Fuel economy for the mark 1 C5 estate from a 2003 brochure gives urban/extra urban/combined mpg/CO2 g/km. The hatchback is slightly better.

- 1.8 petrol 26.2/45.6/35.8/187

- 2.0 petrol 23.7/44.1/33.6/200

- 2.0 petrol auto 20/45.6/31/217

- 3.0 petrol auto 19.1/36.7/27.4/245

- 2.0 diesel 90 hp 36.7/58.9/47.9/155

- 2.0 diesel 110 hp 37.2/61.4/49.6/149

- 2.0 diesel 110 hp auto 30.4/54.3/42.4/178

- 2.2 diesel 32.5/56.5/44.1/169

- 2.2 diesel auto 28.5/52.3/39.8/187

 

I think there was also a high pressure 2.0 petrol but I do not have any info on it.

[Citroelific]

Ok, so the 2.0 hdi does have the DMF, but no particulate filter?

 

Are the DMFs known to cause issues? How hardy are the clutches? And turbos for that matter...

[paul.h]

The only engine that regularly seems to have turbo problems is the 1.6 diesel and this also applies in other makes of car using the same engine. If you are buying a 10+ year old car then you will need to check it over well - look for smoke on starting and when accelerating to see if the turbo is worn. Also the clutch will need checking for slipping/vibrations on tickover/shaking when starting or stopping the engine/unusual noises which may indicate dmf problems.

 

If you look in the C5 Technical section there is a pinned post with common problems to check for when buying a car.