Citroen C5 X7 - A Review | Part 5 | The 2.0 HDi 163

This is the unexpected fifth instalment in a series of videos reviewing the Citroen C5 X7. Why unexpected? Because the first four parts were based on a 1.6hdi, and I wasn't planning on getting rid of that car at all, because I liked it so much. But, I ended up swapping it because it had one shortcoming I had a hard time living with.

[@boban250]

FYI you can disengage the parking brake when the ignition is on, foot on brake pedal and push the e-brake, engine does not have to be on. Plus, if you break down, you can pull the inside of the armrest to find the manual release for the parking brake, you can find the instructions in the manual

[@MrMartty111]

Phrase “I’m always try to find excuses to drive it” pretty much sums up how I feel about my 2.2HDi. Having a BX estate as my first car, C5 Tourer was a no brainer. Mine is equipped with a six speed automatic which makes a better couple with the E-handbrake I guess. Probably only point i can disagree with is the one about electric boot. I find myself quite often coming to parking lot with my hands full of stuff and having the option to open the boot in advance is really helpful. Also you don’t need to wait until it’s fully open, just press closing button once to stop the motion and then again to close it. Anyway, I really enjoy your videos and hope to see more! Keep it up!

[@comcarclub]

Yes, I found out about the pressing the button to stop it moving after I had filmed everything, but I still really don't like it. I really miss my manual boot! But thank you very much for your words and for watching!

[@mr_nice.]

Indeed I concur, the hydropneumatic/hydractive suspension is a stupidly simple system, once you understand the inner workings. There's plenty of service manuals and litterature which can make things easy to understand, even for the non professional. I litteraly fixed the hydropneumatic of the GS on my own, using modern day hoses and fittings and seals. It's incredible how easy it is and how easily you can fix it. AND in such a way that it doesn't brake down again. Ever! But that's for the mechanical systems of the past. The modern hydro suspension, with all those electronics and the electric pump....they're just looking for truble. Even though....I have to say, they never had any issue in mine, and I did what Citroen was advertising back when the first C5 came out: no need for service for 200.000 kms. I'm now a little bit over that, and still it runs fine, without any issues. And without any service. Just the typical liquid level check. There, I did what the brand is claiming, and it is true. The leak on the strut might very well be a wrong doing in my part, but it's very tiny, and I can actualy live with it. I don't recomend it of course, but it can be done. Another little detail that came to mind watching this video: the electric parking brake. Lifting the liner in the cup holder cuby, there is an emergency release handle for the electric handbrake. You pull it and it unlocks the handbrake, so that you'll be able to tow the car, without the engine running. It's mentioned in the owner's manual too. I Never had to use it, so I don't know if it can be reset later, but I suppose it can, through the diagnostic tool. About that issue with the auto function not working, it shouldn't do that. I suppose you have to rev up more than 1000rpm to activate it????....I'm not sure. One thing I can say though is that if you start up the car, and have it in neutral, and press the clutch, rev up the engine over 1000rpm, and slowly release the clutch (still in neutral), it will disengage. And this works only on start up. If the car moves and you try it again, it won't disengage. You can try it, it's safe. I suppose it's another hidden function which only works in the beggining of a "driving session"? Who knows. But the normal auto release function should work all the time. As I mentioned before, there is a potensiometer in the clutch pedal, which should work all the time and inform the handbrake ecu to release or not. It can also be checked through the diagnostic. It should show the percentage of movement. And I suppose if it doesn't show proper percentage or position, it might have symptoms like you describe. Never had any problem with that, so I don't have anything to contribute to the comunity. One last thing: the fuel economy. It should be around 5.1L/100 for highway and around 4.7 - 4.8 on back roads, and that's an average. I did see 4.3 after a long jurney on non highway roads, which then turned to 4.8 on the way back. I can safely say that it hovers around the 5 littre area. It is very VERY important though, to have a good alignment. I did correct and incorrect alignment once, and the difference is litteraly day and night. The wheels should be properly aligned, in order to have proper fuel consumtion. Plus 0.1 bar on the tires don't hurt either. And it's still safe, trust me, it's within the acceptable tolerances. Keep it up 👍👍👍

[@comcarclub]

Brilliant! Just that tip on the emergency brake release is golden. I should read the manual more... I swear I need to verify the fuel consumption. I haven't been able to get time to do so but those numbers are terrific.

[@mr_nice.]

@@comcarclub ...I believe it's a safety feature. All vehicles with electric handbrake must have some mechanism, to allow for manual release of the handbrake. They don't seem to have made something for manual application though. Go figure...😆😆😆

[@HansOleBenonisen]

Thanks for another interesting video, always enjoy watching your stuff. We got a 2012 2.0 L with the automatic gearbox and I don't want to change it for many years. We normally use the Citroen for the long runs and pulling the trailer. The fuel consumption is brilliant, went about 3000 km this summer, on Norwegian roads (must have pneumatic suspension to prevent kidney damage, our roads are ... challenging to say) but anyway up and down mountains, along the fjords in rain and sun gave an measured average consumption on 0.48/49 (total liters of diesel into the tank/km ride) and I find that amazing. It's a heavy car, with an automatic transmission, on challenging roads, so wow! About the electric powered back door I disagree with you, I find it really helpful, arriving with "all sorts of stuff in your hands, click on the key and up it goes. That's helpful. The only thing is that you can't do it in reverse, then you have to click on the button on the door and not just the key. It is probably some security issue that caused this, but I have to work out a fix for this 'cus that would make it even more useful for me. I have also changed the wheels, from the 18" to 16" (winter tires) and the ride feel even more smooth. The idea of biggest possible rims never got to me so for the Citroen it is all about the comfort. Ironically I also have a Alfa Romeo GTV, and I did the same with that car and the cornering on the speed track was improved, the lap time went down so big rims seems to be a great way to empty your pocket for nothing, a sort of "the Botox for cars.." About the hydropneumatic suspension stuff, it isn't that magic to keep in good shape. But Citroen are charging a shit load of money for the parts. And I think mechanics are also milking the magic for what they can of their customers - due to the misunderstanding of the complexity of the system. Yes it is different from a Hyundais (got that to, and I shall not say so much about it but it works.) And you have to do this right or you may break the resovoar and stuff like that - but it isn't that hard to read a manual, is it? So to the comment about the stearing, I agree, it feels "safe and thrust worthy" until the stearing rack fails. Unfortunately we don't have access to refurbishes stearing racks in my country, so that can be an expensive experience - who results many times in that the car is ending it's life at the junk yard instead of being fixed. I am taking out the stearing rack in January to find out what the hack is wrong, again it isn't that complicated and different from other car makes so the difference in costs are not due to Citroens stearing rack is a piece of rocket science - it is just a normal hydraulic system as for many other cars. Two valves and a piston - so I can't understand why it shall cost 2200€ in my country. But - I love the car, even with it's "not so brilliant solutions" and think it is a better handling car than the XM (had one before) - so I will keep the Champagne express on the road and are looking forward to another Easter trip to France in 2023, with dog & wife as co-pilots. 😉👍

[@ivarlangseth2387]

Thanks for a nice ride and a pleasant lecture. I myself have both the 1.6 hdi 2009, and a 2008 2.0hdi. The latter in progress of getting av new engine. These cars are the last great Citroens, and I will not bother to acquire the new C5. Your talks and films are enjoyable and a great way to calm down after a hectic day. Please give us more. I will try to make something of my own engine project soon. I must mention that I once a DS23ie Pallas :) All the best Ivar

[@comcarclub]

Ooh, thanks! Glad to know someone else has had a similar experience in terms of C5 ownership!

[@antonionevessantos65]

Great video. I feel the same about my 2.0 HDI 163 Auto. A globe trotter.

[@stevemurrell6167]

Get the 3.0l V6 Diesel and remap it with a Bluespark chip.....goes like the clappers!

[@nigelnightmare4160]

The auto parking brake can be released without the engine running, Put your foot on the brake and press the actuation button, with ignition ON. You can also have the auto engage When the ignition is off function Disabled using a diagnostic machine. There used to be an option in the car's menu to do this on models up to 2010, after that it was removed. The parking brake works on the REAR wheels on your car. The main problem with the Citroen Hydro Pneumatic suspension was people not maintaining it properly and/or putting the wrong fluid in it. I love them too, Been driving hydro citroens since the CX . Next came the BX, Xantia, XM 2.5td and now C5 Exclusive Tourer 2.0Hdi 163.

[@thebadtemperedbrit]

The thing I will say about 'regular' suspension catching up with hydroneumatic, or not being able to tell the difference between one Cit & another, is that the driver of any old Citroen which floats, never really knows the condition of the system, good or bad, unless they renew everything. When I bought my 2005 UK C6 petrol around 2015, it was in lovely condition and seemed to drive really well, but, I still wanted to renew as much as I could, and changed all the spheres, plus £6,000 of other jobs!! With the new spheres and LDS it was indeed a superior drive to before, and one that I refer to as a hovercraft crossed with a tank, quite incredible. I also had a V624, 2000 year XM at the time, and whilst I love XM's, having had 19, the C6 made the XM feel like an elderly aunt, whose days of glory had long passed. Even though I have a 'restored' CX25 Safari in my garage, the best Citroen to buy are a DS, if you want classic and a C6 if you want modern, the rub as you say being, where the hell is your mechanic?!!!!!!! Also, in other words, get new balls ;-) Visiting you, as I'm considering a C5 Tourer, hydro of course, in Ireland as my daily driver, current cars like this available...... 1. Certainly Interesting Technology Rather Odd Engineering Niggles.

[@BStrapper]

Those cars are hard to find with reasonable mileage now! I have been looking for one for a while. Eclusive package, right engine right color, cross tourer, later years... i ll have to wait months im afraid... im patient!

[@comcarclub]

Ooh, that's tough, a cross tourer. Didn't sell in huge numbers. But Good luck!

[@henrywhittaker2519]

I've a 2.2 L diesel that's done 250,000 Km. I can fill the tank & drive between Sydney & Melbourne not have to stop (870 Km) in comfort.

[@henrywhittaker2519]

I may have to record a drive out to Mt Hay to show how brilliant the C5 is. A real dirt road !

[@comcarclub]

Please do! I'd love to see that!

[@ronjohnson4566]

thanks

[@MrMolova]

Whilst on the subject of breakdowns, regarding the handbrake, never forget that you can't flat tow a C5 with hydro. 😵 Still, once you've had a C5 with one I genuinely don't think you can have one without it. The electronic handbrake is the trade off unfortunately. All hydropneumatic equipped C5s have the electronic handbrake. Currently with my 2.2 saloon C5, the auto handbrake has a fault too, so it doesn't auto at all. So now I have that slow on and off, but I have to be on the brake to be able to change it too, which makes hillstarts, of which i frequent, really challenging with a heel and toe manoeuvre as the hill hold doesn't work at all with auto handbrake fault. This isn't a problem with a manual handbrake. My current plan is to save and get a euro6 C5 estate. I just can't afford the 2.2s thirst anymore, it's not horrendous but it is worse than the 2.0 140 and 2.9 160 I had. The 140.being powerful enough and frugal enough to be my favourite. Change in my circumstances AND our first baby means I need 60+mpg ideally. And less tax 🤯 Oh and also I see in the comments you know you can stop the boot lid for quick ins and Outs which helps but I agree with you, it's just lazy. Assisted ones are ok to make the actual lift easier but.... Nah. Mind, I say that's my saloon has a boot popper fitted by the previous owner and I absolutely love it 🤣 it's wired to the lights button on the key fob, so you can pop it remotely when hands are full of baby or shopping etc. LOVE IT. But its an instant pop, not a slow lift.

[@jayartz8562]

I drive on dirt roads just about everyday in rural Australia, the hydro suspension is absolutely brilliant at it, most modern cars are too firmly sprung for this. I have the same engine, I just ride the torque for it's smooth effortlessness. Brilliant long distance tourer. I hated the e-brake at first, but now I'm fine with it. My main gripe is that the Exclusive has 18 inch wheels, I think 17 or even 16 would've been more appropriate, whoever thought 19 would be a good idea was mad.

[@comcarclub]

18-inch must mean the Atlantique rims. I'm sure they're firm but by God, they look good

[@RealMcCall]

Great video. Keep it up. Having a 2.0 c5 myself with conventional springs I was interested how different the ride would be.

[@comcarclub]

Thanks!

[@MasinacCcC]

Nice video as usual! Are you happy with headlights performance? Mine seems weak, probably burned projector (not sure) or old xenon bulb.

[@comcarclub]

Thank you! I am indeed. In fact, the only car I owned before this one with Xenon headlamps was a Mazda 6, and I thought its lights were very unimpressive, and then I got this one and I honestly think they are much stronger

[@MrMolova]

Just realised your new one is a 160. The 160 I had got scrapped due to black death around the injectors. You'd be well to have a look as a preventative 🤞

[@andrewross6863]

Please could you explain what went wrong and how to avoid it?

[@DM-dq1mh]

Nice to see a video on this car ( have one) - your boot lid hasn’t broken yet, then you have to struggle to open it … until you get it fixed. As you love taking the dashboard apart 😢 would you think of installing one of the aftermarket apple carplay displays ?

[@comcarclub]

I have actually (though not apple, android in my case), but I haven't seen an installation where it's properly demonstrated. All I want to know is does the answer phone button work?

[@DM-dq1mh]

@@comcarclub I m sure someone has experience with a good system, I think it would add an interesting layer to a great car, Do you also have the laminated screen / side windows and the revolving head Lamps? Mine is 2010 2.0 hdi exclusive in ( not as clean as yours ) 😞 dark blue

[@comcarclub]

@@DM-dq1mh yes, laminated side glass and bi-xenon headlamps. Forgive the ignorance, bit what's the revolving head? I thought that was for Tools

[@DM-dq1mh]

@@comcarclub I don’t think I used the correct term, the headlamps move with the steering ( like the DS)

[@comcarclub]

@@DM-dq1mh no, they stay in place.

[@timoteidanut5244]

Your next c5 should be the 2.2 hdi 204 ps, going from 2.0 to 2.2 its like the difference from 1.6 to 2.0 ;)

[@ecommercetainment]

Can you disclose how much is the IUC in Portugal? Thank you.

[@comcarclub]

Well since July 2007 it's a formula that calculates emissions, age and engine displacement. I paid 266€ last year for my 2.0hdi (it goes up every year). My 1.6hdi (same car, smaller engine) was about 170€ a few years ago.

[@attilahorvatth7469]

Hello.Thanks for the videos,they are very good..I want to ask you a question?I have a citroen c 5 1.6 htp 156 hp from 2011 it has 120.000 km my grandfather brought it new..So it was in our family,now I drive it,and I heared that they are very bad engienes?!Is that true?Because from november last year I drove about 5000 km and it was no faulty exept anti pollution faulty but only 2x and its gone now.The citroen service said yesterday that I must change the chain etc because that is the week point at this type of engienes...It costs 1500 euros here in Germany...Its relativly expensive,so my question is should I change this 1.6 htp maybe for a newer diesel or 2.2 benzin or 1.8 petrol?Thank you

[@comcarclub]

There's a video on this channel called Petrol Vs Diesel where I talk about the 1.6THP. Essentially, it has a reputation as a bad engine. My mechanic, who is a citroen specialist, told me to stay well away from it. I don't know about the 2.2 diesel because it's so rare where I live, but the 1.8 petrol is supposed to be good. Be aware I have no direct experience, but many people who have it in their 1st gen c5s seem to be happy with it even when converted to run on LPG. The ones I can recommend are the 1.6hdi which I had, which was very reliable, and this 2.0hdi which has been reliable SO FAR. A lot of the reliability is simply down to how well you take care of the engine.

[@attilahorvatth7469]

@@comcarclub Thanks.Now I m totally dissapointed I mean the bad things for this engiene..The exactly thing the belt tensioner and chain replaicment what I have to do.I was thinking first that a NMW or a Mini is a good engiene,its a long history of car manufacuring,but,,it seems no.Anyway than you for your response and have a nice day.Greetings from Germany

[@comcarclub]

@@attilahorvatth7469 Vielen Dank!

[@user-ey9ks9xw4h]

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