Lex Andrews

Well, I've sorted the electrical problems out with the car. New battery and all is well on that account. Tyre issue is no more, by the looks of it, the alloys needed a proper scrub when the tyres were replaced.

My 2008 Exclusive is throwing problems at me, hopefully simple fixes and standard maintaince. Yet it's latest one is now reminding me of a 2003 Renault Laguna 1.9Dci I used to own! I used to own a 2001 406 Executive I did 120,000 miles in 2.5yrs and not a problem with it. last one was a 1998 Saab 9-5 I had it 2yrs put 20,000 miles on it. Even drove it to France and Spain twice and no problems. So I guess it time I had a few.

I've got a 58 plate 2.2HDi C5 Exclusive Tourer. Compared to my '98 Saab 9-5 2.3lpt SE, the rides stiffer. The C5 doesn't like tabletop speed bumps as when it comes off some of them it jolts. Fuel consumption is only slightly better than the Saab, approx 38-40mpg to 35-37mpg. I have noticed though when the car is loaded with 2 HX 02 cylinders and 6 CD cylinders, so a nice amount of weight. The fuel consumption is better! Bluetooth in the car is nice but it would be better if the phone contact details were in the center of the speedo not on the radio display and it had Audio streaming.

I've noticed on I think the DS5? The centre dash Lcd display is black and white, which would look well in my X7 Exclusive as it would bring the console in line with the dials. Anyone know if it's true and would it fit into a X7 Exclusive without Sat Nav?

The car went back to the same garage that did the work last year for a re gas and check. They found 2 leaks on the O rings on the top condensor flange. Cost £81 in total for a re gas and UV check work done and another re gas. Didn't think that was too bad.

I've had the tyre changed on that wheel. RAC checked the valve and he said it doesn't appear to be leaking. He also cleaned the rim so we'll see how it gets on. My latest one is the Tailgate opening randomly even when I lock the car. Doors can be locked as the mirrors stay in yet boot opens or the whole thing unlocks as if I'd pressed the Tailgate button on the key fob. It's not the main battery slowly dying?

While I'm about on here, I'll mention I've noticed the C5 has generated a couple of gremlins over the past 9 mths. Auto lights come on occasionally at random. Usually before 8am taking the other half to work while it's bright sunshine. The suspension doesn't rise to its highest level. Or at least doesn't acknowledge that it's at full height. Yet I can go through the other suspension levels fine with no issue. Roof blind has disconnected itself twice yet every other time it's 100%. I leave the car for a week at work and the front passenger tyre looses .5 bar. Which puts it into flat tyre warning but the tyre and rim look to be fine. Can the sensors be serviced?

The main coolant pipe moved from its mount under the radiator and fell against the timing belt causing the pipe to rupture. This was about 4 /5weeks ago. My local garage replaced the pipe and gave the car a service at the same time. Today I noticed that the A/C isn't kicking in. I've not checked any fuses yet as I've got to find the handbook. The A/C was regassed in August last year. Apart from the compressor may have died or the pipes have leaked causing the compressor to stop working. Is there anywhere else to look first before it goes to diagnostics or regassed? I've not ran it enough to see if the fan kicks in either yet. We go to the South of France in 8 weeks and I don't fancy driving 1100miles with no A/C.

Hopefully it will be. It's got 2 main cars to compare with. 2001 406 Executive Estate which I had for two and a half years put over 100,000 miles on it and it never let me down. The other is 1998 SAAB 9-5 Saloon, paid £500 for it jus over two years ago. 20,000 miles later and holidays to Spain and the South of France.

When I was with AXA I could just change details on the Internet with no charge. I've been with Tesco for 2yrs now £16 a change now! Luckily I've only had the last 4 with them. Not insuring the Ibiza as its not going on the road, its getting refitted then I'm putting it up for sale.

I'll start with the car's I've owned: 1987 Fiat Regata 75 1.6 in Grey. 1989 Rover 213 S in Sandlewood Beige. 1991 Rover Montego Countryman 1.6 in Homebase Gloss Green with MG Alloys. 1988 Ford Escort 1.3L in Burgundy over dark Grey. 1991 Rover 214 SLI in White over Tempest Grey, fitted half Leather interior out of the 420 Estate and Rear Electric Windows (Rare). 1998 Citroen Xantia 1.8 Sensation in Green. 1999 Rover 416 IXL in Antricite Grey with Blue tint. 2001 Peugeot 406 2.0 Executive Estate in China Blue with Sat Nav and Sunroof. 1996 Renault Clio 1.2 Oasis. 2003 Renault Laguna 1.8 Privilege Tourer in Green, someone at Carcraft Leeds hosepiped the engine! 2003 Ford Mondeo 2.0TDCi 115 Graphite Estate. 2003 Renault Laguna Sport Tourer 1.9Dci Privilege, the first major problem car. Turbo blew and killed the engine @ 100,041 miles. 2000 Renault Laguna 2.0 RXE estate. 1999 Citroen Xantia 1.8 Sensation in Green again. 1998 Ford Mondeo 2.5 V6 Ghia X hatch. 1998 Saab 9-5 2.0t SE Saloon. 2000 Vauxhall Omega 2.5 V6 Elite Saloon. 1999 VW Passat 1.8T SE Estate, with Xenons. 1999 Saab 9-5 2.0t SE Estate. 2003 Renault Laguna 1.8 Privilege hatch in Green. 2001 Renault Laguna 1.9Dci Privilege Tourer in Grey (previous accident damaged and I tried to fit a Factory Sat Nav, didn't go well!. 1998 Saab 9-5 2.3t SE Saloon, the one I've just P/X'd against the C5. 2001 Renault Laguna 1.8 Privilege Tourer in Blue. 2001 Ford Mondeo 2.0 Ghia Estate. 2008 Citroen C5 2.2 HDi Exclusive Tourer (Main Car). Fixer up 2001 Seat Ibiza 1.8T Cupra, just waiting to get it from a friends garage to mine. It'll pay towards next years holiday. List is 3 times longer for the cars I've driven! But that's another story.

I know this may seem a little odd. I have a RT4? Stereo in the C5. It has Bluetooth and a RCA port in the glove box. I have my Galaxy S4 connected to the Stereo via the RCA port if I want to play the MP3's from the phone. What I'm asking is: Can the stereo be changed for a upgraded unit? I know I may lose the Bluetooth if I change from the RT4. Can the RCA unit be changed to a USB box? Can the Display run the track data? I have a shark fin type ariel on the roof. I originally thought that the Sat Nav systems ran with this type of ariel setup. Reason I'm asking this is at the moment when playing MP3's I have nowhere to sit the phone, without a cradle or mounting a cradle on the dash. When I had my 9-5 I attached a back case to the centre vent to hold the phone, connected that via a tape player to the stereo. Perfect position If a little crude looking when the phone wasn't attached. I have nowhere to put the phone on the C5 dash in a similar position.

About the elusive Exclusive. I did once see a 2009 C5 Exclusive Tourer on a private plate for sale in Scotland from a dealer. It was a 2.7 V6 HDi auto, with Xenons, Sat Nav, Pan Roof, Front and Rear sensors, Jukebox, 19inch Alloys, even had the under dash lighting. Not sure about Bluetooth. That was up for £5995 in White. Looked really nice, not sure about the 2.7 V6 Auto though.

I've driven a Skoda Superb and Yeti with Xenon headlights which were ok, to a degree as they have the projector lens. I've also driven a Vauxhall Vectra and a Peugeot 407 with projector halogens. Poor! By far the best headlights I've driven with on Xenons were the MK2 Laguna. Since the Laguna has a standard lens setup without a projector it gives of better and broader light. Non Xenon headlights would be the SAAB 9-5, Peugeot 406 and the Headlights in the C5 don't seem bad. I've not driven it far maybe 15miles at night out of town so far.

Name: SAAB 9-5 SE (1998) Date Added 09 August 2014 - 11:11 PM Owner: Lex Andrews Short Description: Harnon Kardon 9 speaker Audio with 6disc changer and Amp, Full Black Leather, Cruise Control, Night Panel, Dual Zone Climate Control, Auto Dim Mirror, Headlight Wipers, P/X at £495 with 120,000 for the C5, driven to Spain and the South of France twice. Not bad for £500! http://www.citroen-owners-club.co.uk/citroen/uploads/garage_images/image_url-91513-1407622270_thumb.jpg View Vehicle