Citroen C5 - Air suspension - opinons thereof??

[dave_s13]

So, I've acquired my Dads 2005 Citroen C5 2.0 HDI VTR, 92k miles, owned from new by my old man.

It has the hydropneumalastic suspenders and it give a really nice cushioned ride, very plush.

Part of this system includes an up/down button in the centre console that allows you to make it go well err...up and down. I was just wondering....why would I ever need to make it go up and down?

I would usually never, ever, entertain and old french diesel car but this was cheap and it's in good nick. I'm pleasantly suprised by how nice it is to drive and how it tends to corner almost flat regardless of entry speed. Quite impressed really. Other than the odd intermitent interior trim rattle and a very, very slight whine when in gear and under load (probably a gearbox bearing) it's very nice.

Anyone else had one of these, what did you think?

Edited by dave_s13 on Friday 22 August 14:37

[dave_s13]

Great info... Thanks guys.

[dave_s13]

I like this thread, lots of love for the old Citroen.

My old man has a bit of a thing for them. Had a 2.0 petrol XM in the past that was pretty epic at the time. Also had (until very recently) an ancient 2cv tucked up the garage for many years - the very essence of quirky motoring.

I need to delv into the history then and see if there's evidence of a suspension fluid change. TBH it seems to ride fine but you do "hear" the bumps and rumbles, I'm not sure if they are supposed to be whisper quiet along with the magic carpet effect or not though. Any way to tell if the fluid need a refresh?

[dave_s13]

Top post..... I was really dubious about buying this car, no longer though I'm really liking it in fact.

[dave_s13]

flatso said:

Compareable ride quality comes only from S-Klasse and possibly top-spec E,R and GL-Klasse with airmatic, but thy cost a whole lot more and exept the S-Klasse are arguably not as cushioned. The problem even with modern adaptive suspensions (ex. VAG systems that are built under licence from GM's magnaride) is that they start with a initial hard setup and attempt to make it soft through different methods. The Citroen Hydropneumatic is conceptually soft but can be hardened.
Harcore Citroen fans have developed even softer spheres than the standard ones, tuning the other way around.
Anyone interested in a midsize car should really testdrive a exclusive spec C5 with HP, any other competitor in its class will suddenly seem medevil. Especially people that need to commute longer distances to work every day could massively add to the quality of their commute with these cars. The diesel engines are not bad either (the 3.0 bi-turbo V6 is actaully quite refined and capable).
Not exactly an exiting review but gives a good image of the cockpit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp2MtvI7jHs

I like the cut of your jib sir. Lovely turn of phrase :-)

That post nails it in a nutshell. My other dad (broken home) is thinking about changing his ford focus for something that can Tow a 'van through Europe I'm going to try very hard to persuade him to try a current generation c5.

I wouldn't have before now.

Edited by dave_s13 on Friday 22 August 22:51

[dave_s13]

BRMMA said:

Mine is a mk1 (2003) and the rear drivers side pad is rubbing on the disc, looks as though the caliper is sticking and needs replacing. A garage has told me the brakes work off the hydraulic suspension and i'll need to replace all the hydraulic fluid at £14 per litre if I replace the caliper. I'd this right? I thought the mk1 had a Peugeot brake system that ran off usual dot4?

That sounds like bks to me. Surely the pipe from the brake line to the caliper is flexible. You just pinch this off with a clamp, whip the caliper off, new one on the bleed a bit of fluid through?

Anyway, I'm liking the love for these old French boats. I fitted a parrot kit to it yesterday and was impressed with the quality of the electrical connections (all clunk home very securely) and the head unit screws home solid as a rock unlike many others that click home on springs. It's remarkably rattle free for a ten year old 92k mile car.

It could turn round and bite me in the arse though, no mistake. Has all the fabled dmf, dpf, injector etc problems waiting to happen.... Or it could do another 92k miles without issue.

Edited by dave_s13 on Monday 25th August 19:22

[dave_s13]

saaby93 said:

How do you tell which of the later C5s have wafto suspension?

I think it's only on the exclusive spec model.

With regard the seats, I've had a Saab 95 and a Volvo V70 and I would say the C5 is more comfortable than either.

Noticed a weird issue with my car since last posting anyway. The offside rear wheel is sitting slightly aft compared to the nearside and even after having the radius arm bearings replaced it's still not right! Still drives spot on though.

details here if you can be arrised to look

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.ph...

^^^good forum in you've got a french motor!

[dave_s13]

Visionist said:

Why Oh Why haven't Citroen seen fit to fit this wonderful system to any of their smaller cars? The DS5, DS4 or even DS3 would instantly become "must buy" for me, in my current situation, no questions asked. It can't be price; the DS4 specced up costs the full-fat forty thousand Euros in Italy!

Hasn't anyone considered that tight, old roads are always the worst paved?!

Indeed... I've just driven from one side of Leeds to the other. This includes an obstacle course of potholes, speed bumps and generally knackered roads. This car, although lacking straight line grunt just floats over everything. I swear it's quicker than my recently departed seat leon cupra r... That think used to make you wince at the mere hint if a bump in the road.

With regard to reliability, you've got to admit that the honest John thing is a damming insight but my car, owned by my dad from new, has never gone wrong, ever. Kiss of death obvs.