Citroën C5
PSA V6 petrol with timing belt. Refined running and good power, but high consumption. Timing belt replacement complex and expensive due to V arrangement.
Rare V6 cruiser
207 hp V6 in the C5 I with hydropneumatics — silky-smooth touring power running almost silently. Rare and special: a 3-litre six-cylinder with the typical Citroën comfort philosophy.
Engine Weaknesses 6
The ES9 3.0 V6 has a timing belt whose replacement is very labour-intensive due to the V6 architecture. The belt also drives the camshafts of both cylinder banks. Neglected intervals lead to total engine damage on failure.
Symptoms: On failure: immediate engine shutdown, metallic hammering from the engine, bent valves, no compression
The slim pencil coils on the V6 are prone to wear, especially the factory-fitted original types. A coil failure causes misfires in individual cylinders and rough running.
Symptoms: Engine stumbling, misfire warning light, rough running at certain revs, power loss
Sealing rings and gaskets on the V6 camshaft cover become brittle and start leaking. Oil can drip onto hot engine components and in the worst case cause an engine fire.
Symptoms: Oil spots in the engine bay, burning smell, visible oil traces on the cam cover
The complex exhaust system with two pre-catalysts and two lambda sensors each is failure-prone. Pre-cats can fail early; genuine replacement parts are very expensive, and aftermarket parts often trigger fault codes.
Symptoms: Engine warning light, exhaust fault message, increased fuel consumption, power loss
The Sagem ignition coils on the ES9 3.0 V6 are a known weak point. Individual coils fail. The rear three coils under the intake manifold are considerably harder to replace. Denso coils are recommended as replacements.
Symptoms: Vibrations and rough running, engine check light, power loss, stumbling under load, fault codes P030x for affected cylinders
The water pump on the ES9 V6 can leak or wear out. Being difficult to access in the V6 engine bay, labour costs for replacement are considerable. A failure leads to V6 overheating.
Symptoms: Coolant level drops regularly, leakage at the engine block, temperature gauge rises on motorway driving, overheating warning STOP
Vehicle Weaknesses 5
The Hydractive 3 suspension on the C5 I is a known money pit at higher mileages. Spheres lose their nitrogen charge and the ride becomes hard and uncomfortable. Leaking cylinders or a failed hydraulic block leads to complete failure and expensive replacement.
The BSI central control unit in the C5 I is notorious for complete failures in which fault messages for the immobiliser, gearbox, brakes, ABS and ESP appear simultaneously. Moisture in the ECU or corrosion at earth points are the most common causes.
The 4-speed AL4 automatic in the C5 I is well known for shift problems. Failed slide valves prevent pull-away from a standstill; a software update or gearbox flush usually only helps short-term. Full overhaul frequently required from 150,000 km.
Tie rods and tie rod ends on the C5 I have below-average durability. MOT reports document elevated tie rod wear as one of the most common defects on this model. Driveshafts and joints also show premature wear.
Vehicles from the early production years (2001–2004) show corrosion problems on the underfloor and front subframe. Brake lines and subframe welds rot through, especially in areas where road salt is used.
