Thanks David!..You really are "Mr XM"!
You are correct in that the pictured hose is off an English Import vehicle that Doesn't have an engine oil cooler...Evidently, they didn't get them in the UK til around 94. That English import XM is a "Parts car" for my Australian delivered Series 1, which does have the engine oil cooler...The hoses on both cars are internally degraded..like you say, they are old now & these two examples certainly haven't had love splashed about on them in their past..both cooling systems were a mess, with rusted pipes in the valley, blocked/leaking radiators etc.. I'm not too concerned if I run an oil cooler or not, as the car will only be a weekend car now, oil technology has improved since 1990 & the sump holds quite a lot of oil, so I don't feel it is of as great an importance as it was when the car was new. Running without an engine oil cooler opens up more opportunities to get the hoses from the UK or Mainland Europe models as well.. I'll see what turns up & make a decision from there.
Thanks for the tip about Addo & making up a new hose..I will go & search for the thread.
Talk again soon
Jason