The Citroën XM Story 

Errata: The large bar in the chart should be "total worldwide" rather than "rest of the world" as it also included UK sales. The map showing the French design sites is majorly messed up!

I have a XM V6 12v 1990 and I love it. It flies through time and space.

A beautiful XM is gathering dust in my granddads garage. I should start restoring it to its original glory!

I love the look and engineering of old Citroens... I'd give almost anything to have a garage filled with an XM, a CX, an SM and a DS.

What I like the most in your videos is the extensive old footage, because it gives us an immersion on each era, helping us to understand the context on those 70's-80's-90's days!

These big Citroens and also the Renault 25 were like driving magic carpets - so comfortable.

I drove the XM Diesel Automatic. It had an 80 liters fuel tank and it used about 6,5 liters per 100 km. It had nearly the double of range, than MB 250D. That one used at least 9 liters per 100 km. What a car, and stunningly comfort.

I owned a few Citroens and i loved the ride and the strange things you got for free, special was the suspension really a class on its own !

2020, I'm 40...still love this car!

I can remember my dad wanting an XM V6 when I was a kid in the mid 90's, but being a mechanic he was always looking for a bargain repairable example, the few that did pop up in the salvage section of the Auto Trader were either way too battered or sold quickly. In the end he bought a 1995 (3 years old at the time) Renault Laguna 3.0 V6 that needed a lot of repairing (B pillar, sill, 2 doors and several hours on the jig). My mum loved the car but my dad was always nonplussed by it because it wasn't an XM!

I loved the time I owned a Citroën BX. Considering that they had a bit of a cruddy reputation.. Mine was utterly reliable and in the 4 years of ownership, it only ever failed its MOT on a broken number plate. Not bad for a 9 year old car. Got written off in a 40mph head on crash... I was doing 40.. Wallyknob in a Granada came around the corner on my side of the road. I had seat belt marks for a while but the BX sacrificed itself and saved me.

I always liked it when you got out of your car and after a few seconds it sat down. Like a good Dog making sit....

When Citroën came to Brazil in early 90's, my dad took me to a dealer to see this car. I was 7-8 years old. I'll never forget how impressed we were with its design and features. The self leveling suspension, the electronics, the comfort, the ride, the fact that it went all the way down when you lock it...amazing The seller put me on the trunk and sat beside me to show the self leveling suspension. So cool. And he gave us a cassete tape with a video clip of the XM. I hope my dad has it stored somewhere. I often recall this car, nevertheless I don't remember seeing one on the streets, at least for a long...very long time. In early 90's Brazil was in a very unstable economy, so not many people could buy expensive and foreign cars. I think that's why it's hard to find these XMs around here. And the fact that it became an unreliable car, maybe was one of the factors that change the citroen mind of keep selling it here. But as you said, I think it will be a collectable car someday, and I hope to find one in good condition to buy. I would love to have one.

I wish Citroën was as quirky today, sure the C4 Cactus exists but it’s nothing compared to cars like the XM

Always loved the “starship “ Xm it made others look old and stodgy

The old feel of Cittroens comes back. Always loved the XM - there's an estate near me

I sold these brand new and they were a brilliant car. The quality of the ride had to be experienced to be believed. It always drove level thanks to the suspension no matter what the load. The diesel version was incredible. I loved the handbrake system too that worked really well and was very practical. A great car which was very much underrated.

I remember seeing one drive passed me as a kid. I thought it was some sort of concept car at the time. I remember chasing it on my bike as it got stuck in traffic up ahead to try and see the badge. It got away and remained a mystery as to what it was. I even remember my dad being quite interested and asking me all about it when I said I'd seen a concept car on the road. The next time I saw it it drove passed again before I could see what it was. I was annoyed but at least I now knew it stayed in the area. The mystery came to an anti-climatic end when I just stumbled across it parked up one day and checked it out properly.

My parents had a xantia, i loved it! Seeing it stand up on its wheels when you start it, the very specific sound it was doing... It was so cool! I will surely buy one after my drive test done.

Another fantastic story!! I love the imagery and inside info you find.

Very successful Citroen movie about a very rare underrated car! Go XM!

Indeed hilarious translations. Thanks for another great feature. I never owned a citroen but they sure are quirky.

And i thought peugeot 205 video was a treat for french car owners. Never expected to see video about XM. As a XM owner, nice way to start weekend. Thank you!

Brilliant, comprehensive and engaging. Good car history/documentary.

Fantastic, informative and interesting as usual. Keep up the great work.

I like the personal experiences in this episode. Makes it feel much more passionate.

The C6 could easily be mistaken by anyone for a modern design.

Another great informative show, i just love Citroens, so quirky so innovative, so ahead of their time, oh and big car i was a messer as well ha ha. Keep up the great work :)

Fantastic video. I was so in love with the design of the Citroën XM when it was released. For me it was the future of car design, back then at least!

Sitting in a French car has always been as soft, plush and cozy as sitting on grandma's lap. :)

Still own a XM 2.1 diesel. I love this 1998 car. Thanks for the video!

I had a 'K' registered XM and did just over 140,000 miles in it. Apart from all the various "bells and whistles" it came with, people always commented on the seats - how comfortable they were. I then had various other cars before going back to Citroen with a 2009 C4 Picasso the a 2015 C4 Picasso (both 1600cc Turbo Diesels). The seats are just as comfortable in the Picasso as in the XM. Thank you for the video. Brought back some very pleasant memories.

Superb video as always. Thank you.

Thanks for another great video! I found this really interesting because my first large car was the Xantia and my next was the C5 which I kept for 15 years!! It's interesting to hear the history that came before them and why finding a car like them now is so difficult.

Just one more cool car that we can't get here in the US. I was totally smitten the first time I saw one, both in pictures and in person, when I went to Europe for the first time in August 1990. I've always been a big fan of Bertone styling since the 80's. Thanks.

Your videos are getting better and better, Sir 🙂 The timing, the edit, the narration, the music....all good, stuff. Hats off. Best regards from a car detailer in Norway.

i had a 1990 2.0si as my third car when i was 19 or 20. comfort incredible, performance perfectly adequate, technology crazy. reliability ...eerrr.... but i totally adored it. it was an adventure every time you got in it. great video!

As a fan of Citroens, the XM is one of my favorites. Love the futuristic design. I wish they sold more here. Buy us Yanks are a picky lot. But I would have bought one even used. That’s why I like Swedish cars as well, they are also quirky. 😀

I had a few of these - they were pretty good apart from the problems with the ABS warning light staying on - so pleasing to see it was doing just that in your video. If you turned it off and back on again it usually went out, unless you took it get it fixed and then it would refuse to anything wrong, so no fault - until you got back home.

These are fantastic videos, i love this channel

Love this channel. Very informative. Underappreciated channel.

Citroën, one of my favorite makers. Rented many in Europe, back in the day.

You have done a great job making this short documentary. Thank you very much for your valuable effort. XM sure deserves it. Warm regards from France

I have a 2L grey XM, truly an amazing car and still going strong. Thanks for the great video!

Fab entertainment as always, thankyou big and little car!

I worked in a Citroen garage and loved driving the XM 2 litre turbo

The most beautiful car ever drawn.

When I was studying in Coventry in the 90s, I had 2 friends with Citroens, one had a base spec 1.4 BX, the other an XM V6. Both were amazing in their own way. I was always in awe of the XM though. That wonderful styling and excellent ride. Another Grande Damme.

Been waiting for this...tq so much

I know a guy who had an XM with the 2.5 turbo diesel and it was great for towing his large caravan and the comfort and the ride was sublime. After a couple of years the engine head gasket failed and he spoke to three Citroen dealers about having it repaired: only one of those dealers had ever had an XM come in for a minor repair, the other two had never even physically seen one and none of them had ever come across the 2.5 TD engine so could not give an estimate of the repair costs, how long it would take, whether the parts would be available or if they would need any special tools to do the repair. The guy then contacted Citroen UK who very nicely provided him with a service manual that covered the head gasket replacement on that engine - but it was all in French! He was able to get it translated, managed to source the correct head gasket kit and did the full replacement on his driveway in his spare time over two weeks. Unfortunately, he missed tightening one bolt and the head gasket failed again two weeks later. He had to do the replacement again, but this time it only took him two days and he made sure he tightened all the bolts up. He kept the car another couple of years and it was perfectly reliable, but eventually the transmission started playing up (it was an automatic) so he quickly sold the car to avoid a potentially ruinous repair bill.

Very good video with very good and clear narration!

Fantastic video! So enjoyed that!!

Thank you, thank you!

Love that car, owned 4 of those

Thanks for this. I've always had a thing for the XM such a very different looking car when it came out. Definitely one to keep in mind as a serious future classic.

A thoroughly excellent video as always

The Citroën XM has always been a staple car for me. I love its spaceship design, the smooth suspension and the fact that it is a large luxury car. Infact it is my absolute favorite car!

I love this Car. My dad himself owns a Xantia and both of these Designs are so nice and sleek! Why does nobody today produce cars with such a nice and sleek design?!

Fantastic video, your knowledge is amazing

Another cracking video. Love them!! 👍👍

My parents had one, I loved it :)

I had an absolutely enormous XM estate around the turn of the century. It was my 3rd Citroen and the most unreliable heap of junk ever screwed together by man. Permanent electrical problems, dodgy hydraulics and it eventually threw a con-rod through the crank case near the German border and spent 18 months living on a garage forecourt in Luxembourg before it was scrapped. It was also the smoothest, most comfortable car I have ever been in and I'd buy another now if I could find a good one.

As a teen I stayed with a host family in France one summer. The neighbors had a CX I rode in a few times. I totally forgot about the cool gauges on the dashboard!!! Thanks for posting!

Wow. Your content production is brilliant. Keeps getting better.

It never ceases to amaze me that while Citroen and Toyota have both utilized the same basic aerodynamic shape, the XM makes it look classy and futuristic while the Prius looks like something my cat hurled up on my Persian rug. Great video!

Citroen has the most beautiful elegant design ever and much better than new cars these days .

I saw one of these like 12 years ago driving around San Diego California... super rad! =D

Hooray! Not just a new Big Car video, but one of my favourite cars! Yeah!

An uncle in law had one of these for some years. Don't think he has it now think he has a C5 now. He only ever drives Citroens as he works on them too and knows everything about them.

Excellent presentation as always! I enjoy every one of your videos. I've always been a fan of these big Citroens. I'm stunned at the level of electronic sensor tech that they were using in the mid 80s, as well as the overall cost of development. Then that later model you mentioned, before the turn of the century, with wireless and internet? Wow! Seems they may have spent too much money trying to be too far ahead on technology while neglecting the basics like reliable engines, competitive horsepower, and the driving characteristics customers actually wanted at the time. If they had put their genius to work on those issues, what might they have wrought? An early hybrid, revolutionary power output, a pneumatic suspension more suited to a sport saloon?

My overriding memory of those big Citroens is that the seats were more comfortable than my sofa. I didn't drive them very much but had a mate who had a CX followed by an XM as company cars so rode in them a lot.

Thanks, Big car! Very Helpfull and Interesting Serie 💖 🚗🚗🚗💖

I hope the electric fairy appears in my suspension someday

I loved my XMi Turbo. Great acceleration and really comfortable for driving across Europe. It could sit comfortably and quietly at 200kph on the German autobahns. It also had a huge petrol tank. But I admit I bought it because of depreciation, it was cheap at 2 years old. It replaced my Renault 25, which my ex girlfriend called the Enterprise. I thought about replacing the XM with a Citroem Xanthia but it was very mundane.

One of my favourite cars ever. And definitely a must have in my "dream garage".

Great video! I remember how fascinated I was as a child with the XM futuristic design + I love these 80’ graphics!! I love how Citroen did they’re stuff so different (sometimes crazy) then other more ‘conventional’ car companies. Perhaps it was a financial failure back then, but as time moves forward and things are seen from different angle - the more you appreciate them.

My uncle had one of these purely down to him having a bad back so the sofa like driver's seat was ideal

2:40 That map is very accurate ^^

Had one in the 90s, loved it to bits.

My dad was a Citroen car dealer!

Ha! I used to have a Majorette version of the Citroen XM, it had an opening bonnet.

I really like your car history videos!

well made! iam a big fan from germany - youre channel ist great!

Everytime I see an XM I can't help but picture Jeremy Clarkson's 3-story RV attempt Correction: it was a CX. I am a dumb yank :(

Great video. How 'bout Simca/Talbot Horizon? Another "lost" car.

I learned a lot of lessons in my Dad's new 1982 Volvo 265GLE. When I pressed the windscreen defrost button on the over simplified HVAC and turned the heat on the windscreen instantly fogged up completely...at 110 km/h...I'd never heard him swear that much...then I learned about live rear axles and Michelin high profile tyres....I've distrusted Michelin since then. I sure learned a lot about vehicle undynamics in that car. These Citroens have always appealed. Thanks. Great presentation.

A blast from the past. My parents bought 2 of them; the first at launch. This after 2 BXs I remember the comfortable seats, cossetting ride and contrived footbrake

"powered by a 2.1 Diesel from the BX" ?? BX never had 2.1 engine only 1.7 and 1.9 Diesel AFAIK ??

Insta-clicked when I saw this.

Another superb well researched video..Wonderful !!!

Thanks for subtitles!. From Chile

My old cx turbo diesel familiare are one of the best cars i will ever have owned, my dad bought a xm and had it for 10 years and only did service on it so they are great cars to have!

I voted for this one! Thanks so much for doing this! Don’t suppose you’ve done a CX video at any point? I used to dream as a kid in the 1980s of having a CX estate because it just looked like some enormous spaceship

I had one and I named mine Battlestar Galactica because of the amount of buttons in the dash. I absolutely loved it.

thanks for your job, this car is wonderful

As always a great video. A few mistakes: the 2,0 l petrol engine was never used in de 205 GTI, the 2,1 l diesel was never used in the BX. Both engines were the successors of the petrol and diesel engines with 1.905 cc displacement.

Oh oh oh!!! Follow up video of the Citroen suspension and how it ended up in the Rolls-Royce 🤓

Another excellent video, close to my heart as I have a MK1 XM V6, had the car for over 16 years, it's had niggles but nothing serious and other than a dead battery it's never let me down, sits in the carport for a couple of months between uses and always fires straight up, may well end up keeping it forever, damn things like the family dog now.

I had mine for 5 years and loved it.

Beautiful looking car. For some reason, the Citroen XM was never sold here in North America. Probably because of its complex hydropneumatic suspension, among other things, it wouldn't have sold well. There'd probably have to be specialty shoppes all over the country that could service the car.