Citroen to scrap their HydroPneumaticSuspension

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grober

grober

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For all forum members who are fans of the Citroen's HydroPneumatic Suspension system it would appear its days are numbered!. Available on the top spec C5 saloon models at present production is due to cease in the PSA plant in Caen in Normandy. Maybe time to stock up on spares?
PSA.jpg&MaxW=622&cci_ts=20150605060634


http://europe.autonews.com/article/...-hydraulics-in-cost-cutting-drive-report-says
 
Perhaps , in time , Citroën owners will be forced to come to Mercedes , or even Rolls-Royce , both of whom have used the same system , to keep their cars running .
 
Citroen don't give much parts support for older cars so numerous suppliers continue to make the necessary bits and technicians with the necessary skills can be found all over. The head of Peugeot announced this about a year ago, hardly surprising given that it was an option on one model only, running two types of suspension could hardly be thought efficient.

I'd certainly not let an MB or RR technician loose on my SM. They wouldn't have the first clue how to deal with the bits not fitted to their cars. They'd probably find the ride too good too...
 
I hadn't realised it was only available as an option on the C5 and no other model...what a pity. Still have fond memories of a BX I had in the 80s.
 
Presumably spare parts will be available for as long as there is demand....?
 
renault12ts said:
I hadn't realised it was only available as an option on the C5 and no other model...what a pity. Still have fond memories of a BX I had in the 80s.
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I drove a couple of BXs and the base model's ability to absorb surface irregularities that I knew the severity of having driven other conventionally sprung cars over was astonishing. Loved the ride, hated the windscreen wiper.
 
RR use citroen parts apparently (the spheres any way)
 
I think RR (and Bentley have moved on to air suspension) but certainly they used the rear self levelling and the braking system.

I still find myself amazed by the sheer brilliance of the SM's ride (and braking and steering).
 
I had a C5 from new and it was the car from hell. It was always going wrong and had 17 or 18 warranty repairs according to the service department including leaks in the suspension. The car was sold on 3 months after the warranty ran out as it was starting to cost me a small fortune.

I never forgot that car, which is why I would never touch another Citroen.
 
Charles Morgan said:
Citroen don't give much parts support for older cars so numerous suppliers continue to make the necessary bits and technicians with the necessary skills can be found all over. The head of Peugeot announced this about a year ago, hardly surprising given that it was an option on one model only, running two types of suspension could hardly be thought efficient.

I'd certainly not let an MB or RR technician loose on my SM. They wouldn't have the first clue how to deal with the bits not fitted to their cars. They'd probably find the ride too good too...
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I know the French don't offer anything like the parts backup of MB , VW or Porsche , hence I was only meaning that a Francophile stuck for spheres for his Citroën might end up knocking on the door of MB or RR for parts which might adapt to his car .

I know of a Citroën specialist in Glasgow which sometimes has Shadows in his yard when I drive by , but I doubt it would work the other way round .
 
Wonder if Watchdog had anything to do with it?
Citroen tackles C4 Picasso suspension issues | Auto Express




Bonecho said:
I had a C5 from new and it was the car from hell. It was always going wrong and had 17 or 18 warranty repairs according to the service department including leaks in the suspension. The car was sold on 3 months after the warranty ran out as it was starting to cost me a small fortune.

I never forgot that car, which is why I would never touch another Citroen.
Click to expand...

My mate had a top spec Exclusive which was very problematic.He was selling it 50% below list.And he would'nt sell it to me as he valued our friendship more!
 
tali said:
Wonder if Watchdog had anything to do with it?
Citroen tackles C4 Picasso suspension issues | Auto Express
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C4 never had hydropneumatic suspension - that one is a Peugeot derived air bag system of sheer utter uselessness.

The C5s that replaced the XM were utter shockers of cars. Apart from the HDI engines, just poor in every respect, even the suspension was compromised.

Shame that after Peugeot took over Citroen in 75 ish the quality ended up going downhill. My SM is a beautifully put together car, much higher quality construction and materials than the W114 I have.
 
Charles Morgan said:
C4 never had hydropneumatic suspension - that one is a Peugeot derived air bag system of sheer utter uselessness.

The C5s that replaced the XM were utter shockers of cars. Apart from the HDI engines, just poor in every respect, even the suspension was compromised.

Shame that after Peugeot took over Citroen in 75 ish the quality ended up going downhill. My SM is a beautifully put together car, much higher quality construction and materials than the W114 I have.
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Unusually though, modern Peugeots seem to have almost Germanic levels of trim quality.
And the current C5 was rated on quality and build -even including those ambitous 'Unmistakably German' ads.It's certainly a step up from the first gen C5
 
Undoubtedly quality has improved. Talking to my Citroen indy in Holland (an SM specialist but also does bread and butter servicing) the quality is much better but it is still quite brittle (literally so for the plastic trim - he calls it click or crack - it either fits or breaks!), and where engines are shared (the 1.6 diesel with Volvo) you find the PSA servicing standards are much lower, so engine failures very common, but not in Volvos.

I tested a C4 Picasso last year, engine was good, ride was lovely, liked the design, but in interior fitment and ease of use, it was lacking. Tiny and awkward toggles to fold the thin seats.

No car maker can simply listen to nostalgics like me, but make a nice comfy car, with nice comfy seats and ride and I'll buy it (if efficient and reliable enough).
 
Bellow said:
I drove a couple of BXs and the base model's ability to absorb surface irregularities that I knew the severity of having driven other conventionally sprung cars over was astonishing. Loved the ride, hated the windscreen wiper.
Click to expand...
As a frenchman I can tell this was the ugliest car ever made... Citroen has been improving recently.
 
I suppose this will leave ABC as the only (nearly) mass-market hydraulic suspension system.
 
I believe that Britains main battle tank the FV4034 Challenger 2 still has a form of hydropneumatic suspension one unit per wheel on each track -- makes for a very stable gun platform evidently:thumb: ---- the fuel consumption figures aren't very good however !:(
 
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