C5 "exclusive" - How Do I Tell? & Xenon Lights...

[Guest THK]

Looking to buy a C5 HDI Estate - really liked my Dad's hatch he had, loved my Xantia from a couple of years back. Recently bought a Citroën Relay van with the HDI engine in, and it has made me want a car with the same superb diesel engine!!

 

Is there any way I can tell for sure (from photos) that a C5 is definitely an "Exclusive"?

 

One of the reasons I want the Exclusive is because it has the Xenon lights, that I know you don't have to bother to change/mask when driving abroad - do all the Exclusive C5's (from launch) have the Xenon lights? or did they come in at a particular year. Can you tell by looking at a photo of the headlights if they are Xenon's or not? Just that I've seen an 'Exclusive' on eBay, but the headlights just look like the regular Halogen ones. I had the idea that the Xenons has those weird globe looking things behind the plastic.

 

Many thanks,

 

Matt

[Randombloke]

Is there any way I can tell for sure (from photos) that a C5 is definitely an "Exclusive"?

 

There is Exclusive and Exclusive SE. I'm moderately sure (but will bow to superior knowledge of KFK or iannez) that Exclusives have colour screen and sat nav, which you should be able to see in interior photos, and also cruise control as standard.

 

IIRC they'll also have leather seats, and reporting valves. All Exclusives should be H3+.

 

IIRC the SE simply has everything.

 

It's worth finding out what the equipment list for an Exclusive was, and if it hasn't got all that stuff, it isn't an Exclusive, and if it has, even if it's not being sold as an Exclusive, it's as good as.

 

I'm lucky enough to have an Exclusive SE. Being 2002, it only has a 5 speed box.

 

It's very hard (IMV) to find an Exclusive 2.0l, but that is the one to go for if you want the better fuel economy, by quite a margin. Early 2.0l have no FAP (particulate filter) which is a saving at 50 or 75k services. Most Exclusives or SEs are 2.2l.

 

Re Xenon v Halogen - if you have Xenons the main and dipped beam will very different colours. Mine are by a very long way. Surely you aren't buying a car via eBay uninspected?

 

If you are, here is a tip. No one ever takes photos of that very large puddle of oil in the engine bay next to the intercooler input hose. When I inspected the car, the only conclusion I could come to was to walk away. An independent Citroen specialist had no idea what it was over the phone, but could assure me it was likely to be expensive.

[dobby123]

Looking to buy a C5 HDI Estate - really liked my Dad's hatch he had, loved my Xantia from a couple of years back. Recently bought a Citroën Relay van with the HDI engine in, and it has made me want a car with the same superb diesel engine!!

 

Is there any way I can tell for sure (from photos) that a C5 is definitely an "Exclusive"?

 

One of the reasons I want the Exclusive is because it has the Xenon lights, that I know you don't have to bother to change/mask when driving abroad - do all the Exclusive C5's (from launch) have the Xenon lights? or did they come in at a particular year. Can you tell by looking at a photo of the headlights if they are Xenon's or not? Just that I've seen an 'Exclusive' on eBay, but the headlights just look like the regular Halogen ones. I had the idea that the Xenons has those weird globe looking things behind the plastic.

 

Many thanks,

 

Matt

[dobby123]

the c5 exclusive should have a badge on the side door pillar and inside it will have wood effect trim around door panels and in the center of dash i have the 2.2 estate it is awsome drive hope this helps

[Johndouglas]

From reading the previous posts, clearly ‘exclusive’ features are not carried over from year to year. My exclusive for instance doesn’t have satnav. Neither does it have leather seats or any wood panelling on the doors.

It does have Xenon lights and you can tell from the appearance of the front. Also, lift the bonnet and the headlamp cases are marked Xenon X3.

As dobby123 says, there’s an ‘exclusive’ label on the rear door pillar. Mine also has a Citroen labelled steel door tread on the front doors.

In 2005 Exclusives also had front and rear mats fitted. A reversible boot mat. Tyre pressure sensors. Front and rear parking bleepers. 6 CD autochanger. Directional headlights and Suzuka alloys.

[proinnsias]

It does have Xenon lights and you can tell from the appearance of the front. Also, lift the bonnet and the headlamp cases are marked Xenon X3.

 

Whatever about "exclusive" badging - remember, the vast majority of the extras were at-cost options anyways.

 

To see if a C5 has Xenons from the front - it should be easy, if they're factory fit, it's a legal requirement to have a high-pressure washer system. If the front bumper has two raised square sections visible, that's where the washers pop-up. The car was specced originally with Xenons. (Still not quite proof it still has 'em ... but it's the best indicator you'll see on a photo.)

 

Hope this helps !

 

P

[Guest THK]

Many thanks for the replies.

 

Haven't been able to find a definitive Exclusive option list - they do seem to vary from year to year, some sites are insistent that the Exclusives has Xenon lights, but in reality, many don't! I saw an Exclusive SE, but that didn't have Xenons either. Very few seem to have leather (which I don't like anyway as it gets too hot here!). I guess my best bet is to just find the exact spec I want and forget about whether it is an Exclusive or not becaue they don't all seem to came with the same spec anyway. It may take a while!

 

I live abroad (hence why I want Xenon lights - I don't have to bother replacing yet another set of expensive headlights!) so buying 'blind' (if buying on eBay) is the only way - if I wanted to inspect every vehicle on eBay it would be very time consuming, not to mention costly! Of course, if I won one on eBay, I'd make a full inspection of the vehicle before parting with any cash. Despite all the threats of legal action etc. against non-paying bidders on various auction listings, if the vehicle is not as described I am well within my rights to walk away. The odd unmentioned scratch isn't going to put me off, but a large pool of oil certainly would!!

 

I've bought loads of cars on eBay and only had one problem with a head gasket failure that the seller 'forgot' to mention - mind you, I got it cheap enough, fixed the problem myself and sold it for a profit!

 

Matt

[podpeeze]

Hi all, new boy here! I bought a 2.0 HDi 'Exclusive' back in june on an 03 plate. The wife got hold of it and now I can't get a look in so I'm off to pick up an 02 2.0 Hdi estate tomorrow.

So far every exclusive I've seen has had a different spec - for instance, mine is different to all those mentioned here. No Xenon, no badge on the pillar, no GPS. But it has got the wood, leather, cd changer, park sensors etc.

Whatever about "exclusive" badging - remember, the vast majority of the extras were at-cost options anyways.

just about right I reckon. That would explain a loaded c5 I've seen with climate control and a sunroof.....:(

My last car was an XM (8 years ago) and I loved that car so I'm glad to be back!

 

Jon

[iannez]

most of the extras are optional so all spec levels vary. its true that the beam pattern from xenon lights are supposed to flat line rather than kick up to the left. this is not the case with citroens. every one i have set up has kicked up to the left like a normal head light so would still blind on coming drivers if your driving on the right hand side of the road. also they are not maintenance free. i have changed xenon bulbs on cars less than a year old at the price of £60 per bulb (main dealer price) so don't be pulled in by brochures claiming they will last for 10 years. its rubbish. follow the advice randombloke gave you about the 2.0hdi 110. plenty power, no particle filter, better economy and much easier and cheaper to fix when it goes wrong. also don't bother with sat nav as its a fortune to fix when it goes wrong. better of just buying a tomtom. 2.0 hdi 110 vtr would be the one i would go for.

[Johndouglas]

every one i have set up has kicked up to the left like a normal head light so would still blind on coming drivers if your driving on the right hand side of the road.

 

I disagree! I frequently drive overnight to the south of France. Previously I used my Xantia 2.1 which, if the headlights weren't properly masked, blinded on-coming drivers. The flashing main beams told me so. For two years I've used the C5 with its Xenons. I don't mask the beams and also, I don't get flashed.

[iannez]

think what you want mate but they still kick up to the left. along with c4's. shine them on a wall or garage door and you will see. can't imagine why someone would think i would make something like this up.

[Randombloke]

I disagree! I frequently drive overnight to the south of France. Previously I used my Xantia 2.1 which, if the headlights weren't properly masked, blinded on-coming drivers. The flashing main beams told me so. For two years I've used the C5 with its Xenons. I don't mask the beams and also, I don't get flashed.

 

Your problems will start when you run into a French Policeman who will insist that all headlights are masked, whether you drive at night or not. It's the law, AFAIK.

 

He'll simply issue an on the spot fine, which most European Police Forces can do. I'm concerned that unless the Xenons are 100% flat, then they will cause other drivers problems. I would rather mask unnecessarily than cause a problem for other drivers on the continent.

 

YMMV.

[Johndouglas]

Your problems will start when you run into a French Policeman who will insist that all headlights are masked, whether you drive at night or not. It's the law, AFAIK.

 

That's been a nagging worry for a couple of years - so I emailed Citroen UK. Here's their reply which I'll print out and carry with me:-

 

Thank you for your e-mail dated 11 September 2007.

 

I can confirm that there is no legal requirement to mask right-hand drive headlamps for use on the continent. This is due to the Z pattern beam that is created by the xenon headlights, fitted as standard on the Citroën C5 Exclusive models, rather than a standard flat beam on conventional headlights. The only stipulation is that the headlamps do not dazzle oncoming drivers and this applies equally to driving here in the UK as to abroad. In addition, the C5 has Hydractive self-levelling suspension and, therefore, there is not the risk of dazzling usually associated with a heavily laden vehicle.

 

Drivers should have the headlamp adjustment checked before travelling. If still concerned, they could at this time have the height of the headlamp beam set to a lower position. This would reduce the possibility of dazzling even further. It must not be forgotten that any such adjustment would impair the visibility provided by the headlamps at night. Just as with masked headlamps, modifying the headlamp adjustment will reduce the effectiveness and, therefore, driving speeds must always be adapted to take this into account.

[iannez]

This is due to the Z pattern beam that is created by the xenon headlights, fitted as standard on the Citroën C5 Exclusive models, rather than a standard flat beam on conventional headlights.

 

normal head lights do not flat line.

 

Drivers should have the headlamp adjustment checked before traveling. If still concerned, they could at this time have the height of the headlamp beam set to a lower position.

 

so at the end of the day this letter does not cover you in the slightest. if your caught driving abroad and your lights dazzle other drivers it will be your fault for not having the lights checked and adjusted correctly. read between the lines mate. they have covered themselves from every angle. if they are OK to use abroad why do they suggest to have them lowered. might as-well throw that letter in the bin for what good it will do you. \__ \__ they still kick up to the left no matter what anyone says.

[Ricksta]

This is due to the Z pattern beam that is created by the xenon headlights, fitted as standard on the Citroën C5 Exclusive models, rather than a standard flat beam on conventional headlights.

 

Tell me more about this Z pattern of which you speak. Also is there anyway I can adjust the Xenon headlights? I live in an unlit country area but frequently have to dip my lights for on-coming cars and find the low beam setting does not have enough reach.

[iannez]

you should only adjust the beams using a beam setter. even more so if they are xenons.

[PICASSOCONVERT]

.............It does have Xenon lights and you can tell from the appearance of the front. Also, lift the bonnet and the headlamp cases are marked Xenon X3.......................

 

Xenons or not?

 

Having just re-read this thread I am still unsure as to whether my 2003 C5 Exclusive 2.2HDi estate has Xenon headlamp bulbs. I have followed John Douglas's instruction to read the label on the headlamp casings and on my car they say "05/03/2003 X4 LAD 5G GTG". There is a warning "HT25000V" (which I interpret as high tension 25,000 volts) so presumably Xenon bulbs within. However, my car does not have headlamp washers. Ther inner main beam bulbs are definitely a whiter/yellowish light compared with the blueish colour of the dipped beam bulbs.

 

So does my car have Xenons for dipped beam and "ordinary" bulbs for main beam? It looks as if the Halfords £9.99 spare bulb kit only includes a main beam bulb.

 

Presumably in the case of a Xenon bulb failure the best course of action for a coward like me is to drive to the nearest garage? (Especially as I've still got the scars from replacing both "ordinary" headlamp bulbs in my 2001 C5 SX a few years ago).

 

We're off to France at the weekend and I will be fitting headlamp protectors, with supplied blackout, to avoid the risk of dazzling the locals and the gendarmes emptying my wallet.

[Johndouglas]

However, my car does not have headlamp washers.

 

No washers - No Xenon lights. By law, HID lights have to be self-cleaning and self-levelling. With the C5, the hyraulic suspension is sufficient. Here's a piccy of one:-

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i53/Johndug/scan0001.jpg

 

PS. Xenons don't need beam masks, others do.

[PICASSOCONVERT]

Johndouglas

 

Thank you very much for your reply - most helpful as always.

 

With best wishes.

 

David

[Randombloke]

No washers - No Xenon lights. By law, HID lights have to be self-cleaning and self-levelling. With the C5, the hydraulic suspension is sufficient. Here's a piccy of one:-

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i53/Johndug/scan0001.jpg

 

Hi John,

 

That's a Mk2 C5 whereas I think 2003 should be a Mk1?

 

PS. Xenons don't need beam masks, others do.

 

I agree with you about this but I am not prepared to risk running into a policeman abroad who does not know this.

[Johndouglas]

I am not prepared to risk running into a policeman abroad who does not know this.

 

 

Of my average 10000 miles a year that my C5 does, about 7000 of them are done on EU roads. When I first got the car I asked Citroen UK to put it in writing that the HID headlamps didn't need masks. They wrote me the letter, also giving me a copy in French. I keep it in the car - needless to say, I've never had to hand it over.

[Johndouglas]

Here is the letter - in case anyone wants to carry a copy:-

 

 

CITROEN UK

 

C5 Exclusive 2.0 hdi.

 

I can confirm that there is no legal requirement to mask right-hand drive headlamps for use on the continent. This is due to the Z pattern beam that is created by the Xenon headlights, fitted as standard on the Citroën C5 Exclusive models, rather than a standard flat beam on conventional headlights. The only stipulation is that the headlamps do not dazzle oncoming drivers and this applies equally to driving here in the UK as to abroad.

 

In addition, the C5 has Hydractive self-levelling suspension and, therefore, there is not the risk of dazzling usually associated with a heavily laden vehicle.

 

 

 

cukcustomer_relations@citroen.com

 

C5 Exclusive.2.O hdi.

 

Je peux confirmer qu’il n’y a pas d’obligation légale de masque a conduite a droite projecteurs pour utilisation sur le continent. Cela est dû au modèle Z faisceau qui est créé par les phares au Xénon, monté en série sur la Citroën C5 modèles Exclusifs, plutôt que d’un faisceau plat standard sur les phares classiques. La seule condition est que les projecteurs ne pas éblouir les conducteurs venant en sens inverse et cela s’applique également a la conduite d’ici en Royaume-Uni comme a l’étranger.

 

En outre, la C5 a hydractive auto nivellement suspension et, par conséquent, il n’est pas le risque d’éblouissement généralement de pair avec un véhicule lourdement chargé.

 

Les conducteurs doivent avoir le projecteur ajustement vérifié avant de se rendre. Si encore, ils pourraient a ce moment-là ont la hauteur du projecteur a faisceau ensemble une position inférieure. Cela réduirait la possibilité d’éblouissement encore plus loin. Il ne faut pas oublier que cette modification porterait atteinte à la visibilité fournie par les projecteurs la nuit. Tout comme les projecteurs masques, qui modifie le projecteur ajustement réduira l’efficacité et, par conséquent, de conduire les vitesses doivent toujours être adaptées a en tenir compte.

 

Si je peux être de n’importe queue obtenir de l’aide s’il vous plait n’hésitez pas a me contacter par Citroën sur les relations avec la clientèle 0870 606 9099 0870 606 9099 ou

 

cukcustomer_relations@citroen.

[seefive]

Having just re-read this thread I am still unsure as to whether my 2003 C5 Exclusive 2.2HDi has xenon lights

 

 

Should be easy..

I used to have a Mk1 c5sx with halogen lights and now have an exclusive with Xenons. Thay are hugely superior to halogen, giving a brilliant white light. They start up completely differently too , with a brief flash, followed by a rapid "warm up " to full brightness, a bit like a flourescent light. Mine's a Mk2 and the lights have washers and also turn with the steering . I thought xenons were always standard on exclusives, but I may be wrong

[Johndouglas]

I thought xenons were always standard on exclusives, but I may be wrong

 

Present day Exclusives don't have xenons. If you want them they come as a very expensive extra....... Big mistake Citroen!

[DaveHerns]

Present day Exclusives don't have xenons. If you want them they come as a very expensive extra....... Big mistake Citroen!

They have really down-specced the new C5 to the point I wonder if they sell any . It's no longer a cheap car. The Mk2 C5's sold with a discount of about £3K in 2006 making them a lot of car for the money