Citroen C5 Ownership Experience
Discussion
In these days of often mediocre service, I have had a truly difficult time with my new C5 2.2HDI estate, the ownership experience has been made just about bearable by a truly superb dealer. 
The problems I have had with the C5 include 
: -
No turbo (50 miles)
Wet O/S front foot-well
Indicator control switch failed
Tail gate access window lock failed
O/S front seatbelt not retracting
Premature wear to rear tyres
Rear sub-frame required replacement
ESP and Environmental Control warning message
N/S front seatbelt not retracting
Front O/S seat dropping foam debris
Tailgate not lifting fully
Audio volume control knob worn prematurely and “UP” key failed
Erroneous washer bottle messages
Replaced stereo
Driver’s seat support chafing underneath of seat cushion
Automatic headlights not coming on but lights on dash dimming as if they are
Repeated and more frequent ESP and Environmental Control warning message accompanied by low engine power
Through all these problems the dealer has maintained perfect manners and a sense of humour...absolute respect to them!
Incidentally, the C5 has an exceptionally quiet and torquey engine. The ride comfort is outstanding. Space and value are amazing, as is the fuel economy. It is a shame that the vehicle data bus system and associated software and processors weren't designed to be a bit more robust...I bet it will be a brilliant car by the time it is ready to be superceded by a new model! E-mail me if you want to know who the fantastic dealer is!
PS. Who was it said TVR have reliability problems
?
The problems I have had with the C5 include : - No turbo (50 miles)
Wet O/S front foot-well
Indicator control switch failed
Tail gate access window lock failed
O/S front seatbelt not retracting
Premature wear to rear tyres
Rear sub-frame required replacement
ESP and Environmental Control warning message
N/S front seatbelt not retracting
Front O/S seat dropping foam debris
Tailgate not lifting fully
Audio volume control knob worn prematurely and “UP” key failed
Erroneous washer bottle messages
Replaced stereo
Driver’s seat support chafing underneath of seat cushion
Automatic headlights not coming on but lights on dash dimming as if they are
Repeated and more frequent ESP and Environmental Control warning message accompanied by low engine power
Through all these problems the dealer has maintained perfect manners and a sense of humour...absolute respect to them!
Incidentally, the C5 has an exceptionally quiet and torquey engine. The ride comfort is outstanding. Space and value are amazing, as is the fuel economy. It is a shame that the vehicle data bus system and associated software and processors weren't designed to be a bit more robust...I bet it will be a brilliant car by the time it is ready to be superceded by a new model! E-mail me if you want to know who the fantastic dealer is!
PS. Who was it said TVR have reliability problems
? The dealer called yesterday and arranged a fault finding diagnosis session on the C5 and the crafty thing is not playing ball...working absolutely perfectly again having cleared its faults on its own! Spookily, the faults can not be accessed on the information panel...its as if it never happened! 
Toffer - Interesting post. I got mine in March '03 with 9k showing. I have just replaced it with nearly 50k on the clock.
Probably the most frustrating car I have owned. If it beeped at me once more it was going to end up in a canal. Drove me mad.
Mine too had to have the rear end replaced. Killed the outside edge of a new set of tyres. Info screen kept throwing up spurious faults (I just ignored them in the end) I turned off the auto-lights and wish it had a decent intermittent wiper setting. Why would I want max speed in a steady drizzle?
On the plus side. I had the 2.0d estate in SX trim. It ate motorway miles for fun. Even with roof rack and ladders etc gave 35-40 mpg. Would carry 4 big blokes and tools with ease! Going to Inverness or Le Mans never gave an ache or strain. (And it beat all other cars in the Ultima owners trip there and back!)
Happier with the Nissan Navara now though. Done 8.5k in it and it has not beeped once
It is fitted with an intermitent wiper setting and I can still judge when to turn my lights on. Oh, and it'll tow a fecking great trailor. Could be handy that this summer
As for dealer service. Average at best, not outstanding and did leave two greasy foot prints on the o/s/f mat after the rear sub frame/axle was changed. Oh hum!
Best of luck
Paul.
Probably the most frustrating car I have owned. If it beeped at me once more it was going to end up in a canal. Drove me mad.
Mine too had to have the rear end replaced. Killed the outside edge of a new set of tyres. Info screen kept throwing up spurious faults (I just ignored them in the end) I turned off the auto-lights and wish it had a decent intermittent wiper setting. Why would I want max speed in a steady drizzle?
On the plus side. I had the 2.0d estate in SX trim. It ate motorway miles for fun. Even with roof rack and ladders etc gave 35-40 mpg. Would carry 4 big blokes and tools with ease! Going to Inverness or Le Mans never gave an ache or strain. (And it beat all other cars in the Ultima owners trip there and back!)
Happier with the Nissan Navara now though. Done 8.5k in it and it has not beeped once
It is fitted with an intermitent wiper setting and I can still judge when to turn my lights on. Oh, and it'll tow a fecking great trailor. Could be handy that this summer
As for dealer service. Average at best, not outstanding and did leave two greasy foot prints on the o/s/f mat after the rear sub frame/axle was changed. Oh hum!
Best of luck
Paul.
Thanks Paul...
Well the super dealer found what the problem was...moisture being picked-up in the air intake ducting from the N/S wheel arch.
Evidently, some compromise had been made in the installation of the 2.2HDi engine in the right hand drive version of the car. I guess the UK N/S is the French O/S so is teh drier part of the road when it rains (supposition only!). Anyhow, all the moisture had wrecked the air intake sensor (which I understand is a hot wire and prone to failure on other diesel cars). The air intake ducting has been modified and the sensor replaced. Ironically the "TRAFFICMASTER" system failed the day before I took the car into the dealer, so they replced the "TRAFFICMASTER" box at the same time! 
I am absolutely delighted to report that the C5 is running perfectly...no faults reported, fast and comfortble with 46.7MPG average fuel consumption since the last visit to the dealer...I love the car and the dealer is marvelous,
...but what a pain the problems have been!
Well the super dealer found what the problem was...moisture being picked-up in the air intake ducting from the N/S wheel arch.
Evidently, some compromise had been made in the installation of the 2.2HDi engine in the right hand drive version of the car. I guess the UK N/S is the French O/S so is teh drier part of the road when it rains (supposition only!). Anyhow, all the moisture had wrecked the air intake sensor (which I understand is a hot wire and prone to failure on other diesel cars). The air intake ducting has been modified and the sensor replaced. Ironically the "TRAFFICMASTER" system failed the day before I took the car into the dealer,
so they replced the "TRAFFICMASTER" box at the same time! I am absolutely delighted to report that the C5 is running perfectly...no faults reported, fast and comfortble with 46.7MPG average fuel consumption since the last visit to the dealer...I love the car and the dealer is marvelous,
...but what a pain the problems have been!
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff