WANTED: My first BX!
WANTED: My first BX!
Hi to you all
As you would have gathered from the subtle title, I have finally decided to realise my childhood dream, ditch my 1995 Merc C Class and get myself a BX!
I am not fussed about which model, although I love the single prong steering wheel but judging by the supurb content on this board I would think that could be dealt with later.
As the Merc will go, the car would need to be roadworthy with an MOT and the car must be an Automatic!
I am London based but will travel a reasonable distance.
I can be contacted through PM
Thanks and look forward to meeting my BX soon!
As you would have gathered from the subtle title, I have finally decided to realise my childhood dream, ditch my 1995 Merc C Class and get myself a BX!
I am not fussed about which model, although I love the single prong steering wheel but judging by the supurb content on this board I would think that could be dealt with later.
As the Merc will go, the car would need to be roadworthy with an MOT and the car must be an Automatic!
I am London based but will travel a reasonable distance.
I can be contacted through PM
Thanks and look forward to meeting my BX soon!
- Tim Leech
- Over 2k
- Posts: 15579
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 11:12 am
- Location: Derbyshire
- My Cars: Various
- x 150
Hi Tom
Welcome to the club, depending what kind of driver may decide what kind of BX to go for, needing an auto you are well catered for as a high proportion of the models were available with the excellent ZF 4 speed auto which is very smooth and ultra reliable. For economy the 1.9D auto is best but as people will inform you its not quick (although one I had went VERY well) but can keep up with traffic. Failing that a 1.6 or 1.9 petrol auto can be a bit thirsty round town but ok on a run the 1.9 is quote nippy, even more so in the GTi auto format. The 16v, 1.4 and 1.7D/TD was only available from the factory with a manual box.
Any idea of budget and what kind of miles you will be doing, also will you be maintaining it yourself and does it need to be in good nick or just realiable!
Welcome to the club, depending what kind of driver may decide what kind of BX to go for, needing an auto you are well catered for as a high proportion of the models were available with the excellent ZF 4 speed auto which is very smooth and ultra reliable. For economy the 1.9D auto is best but as people will inform you its not quick (although one I had went VERY well) but can keep up with traffic. Failing that a 1.6 or 1.9 petrol auto can be a bit thirsty round town but ok on a run the 1.9 is quote nippy, even more so in the GTi auto format. The 16v, 1.4 and 1.7D/TD was only available from the factory with a manual box.
Any idea of budget and what kind of miles you will be doing, also will you be maintaining it yourself and does it need to be in good nick or just realiable!
Lots of Motors, mostly semi broken....
- MULLEY
- Over 2k
- Posts: 8406
- Joined: Thu Jun 22, 2006 11:10 pm
- Location: Derbyshire
- My Cars: 1999 Xsara LX 2.0HDI (90) Hatch - Fern
2002 C5 2.0 HDI (110) Estate - Jasmine - SORN
2011 Mini Cooper D Clubman - SOLD
2016 Mercedes A180D Sport - Auto refinement
1992 TZD Turbo - Bluebell - SORN
1992 TZD Turbo Estate - SORN
1991 Gti 16V - Blaze - crash damaged, will get repaired - SORN
1990 Gti 8Valve SOLD - looks like it's been scrapped
2002 Mini Cooper S - SOLD - i miss this car
1992 TXD - Scrapped in March 2014
1988 CX 25 GTI Turbo2 - SORN
1996 - AX Memphis 1.5D - Dream - SORN - x 8
Welcome, auto's are more rare than manuals, but the majority seem to be 1.6 or 1.9 petrols, i think personally the 1.9 is best, especially the Gti version which has got decent pace whilst is quite happy cruising the motorways nicely. A few members on here have various models of each, hopefully they can give you some advice on which one to possiby go for.
2002 C5 2.0 HDI Estate - Jasmine - Now SORN
2011 Mini Cooper D Clubman - SOLD
2016 Mercedes A180D Sport - Auto refinement
1992 TZD Turbo - Bluebell - My daily
1991 Gti 16V - Blaze - crash damaged, will get repaired.
1990 Gti 8Valve SOLD - looks like it's been scrapped
2002 Mini Cooper S - SOLD - i miss this car
1992 TXD - Scrapped in March 2014
1988 CX 25 GTI Turbo2 - SORN
1996 - AX Memphis 1.5D - Dream - SORN
I'm not just a username, i'm also called Matthew.
2011 Mini Cooper D Clubman - SOLD
2016 Mercedes A180D Sport - Auto refinement
1992 TZD Turbo - Bluebell - My daily
1991 Gti 16V - Blaze - crash damaged, will get repaired.
1990 Gti 8Valve SOLD - looks like it's been scrapped
2002 Mini Cooper S - SOLD - i miss this car
1992 TXD - Scrapped in March 2014
1988 CX 25 GTI Turbo2 - SORN
1996 - AX Memphis 1.5D - Dream - SORN
I'm not just a username, i'm also called Matthew.
Hi RovermanHi Tom
Welcome to the club, depending what kind of driver may decide what kind of BX to go for, needing an auto you are well catered for as a high proportion of the models were available with the excellent ZF 4 speed auto which is very smooth and ultra reliable. For economy the 1.9D auto is best but as people will inform you its not quick (although one I had went VERY well) but can keep up with traffic. Failing that a 1.6 or 1.9 petrol auto can be a bit thirsty round town but ok on a run the 1.9 is quote nippy, even more so in the GTi auto format. The 16v, 1.4 and 1.7D/TD was only available from the factory with a manual box.
Any idea of budget and what kind of miles you will be doing, also will you be maintaining it yourself and does it need to be in good nick or just realiable!
Thanks for the swift reply!!
The car would be used for me to commute to work (4 miles so not much) and general town stuff. Motorway stuff would be fairly few and far between apart from the odd trip down the M23 to Gatwick every now and again!.
I currently drive a 2.8 Merc so I would imagine that the most thirsty BX would seem economical and would be quite a big drop on insurance which is a major plus. Problem with coming from such a big engine would be the drop in power so the 1.9 Petrol or the rather appealing GTI sounds good!. The 1.9 diesel also sounds quite interesting as autos on normal size cars are quite rare so I have never even driven one!
Budget, well with work being a bit dodgy it is "reasonable" at best. Maintainance would be done by a friend who is a top class mechanic. Only thing that worrys me is the BX suspension so if anyone knows of a good independant in South London, that would help a lot. Condition - Well I am not expecting a new car but not being mechanically minded I need to car to be sound and reliable but cosmetically I have an open mind!
What I really want to do (and perhaps someone tell me if I am being a bit too ambitious!) is put in the leather seats out of the CX which was the most comfortable car I think I have ever driven, especially with those seats! Know it was a tad bigger than the BX so I am sure it will just be an ambition!
- Tim Leech
- Over 2k
- Posts: 15579
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 11:12 am
- Location: Derbyshire
- My Cars: Various
- x 150
You will have a long way to go to beat BX seats for comfort, maybe a GTi auto would be a good bet then, they are quite rare but do show up, Ive had one myself and it was a great car, I think the guy who bought it from me was looking to sell it on but it has been off the road for a year or two.
As for the suspension, most of the jobs any decent mechanic will be able to undertake and this forum can tell you anything else you need to know and help you find parts.
As for the suspension, most of the jobs any decent mechanic will be able to undertake and this forum can tell you anything else you need to know and help you find parts.
Lots of Motors, mostly semi broken....
Hi Tom (and another welcome to the Club )
I believe that these people are not TOO far from your neck of the woods, and are run by Citroen fans who are also members of this Club!
http://www.medwaycitroen.com/
You will find that if you come across ANY BX-related problems, there are plenty of knowledgeable people on these Forums, who will be only too happy to give you advice and/or help!
Good luck in finding that "perfect" BX for you!
Regards
I believe that these people are not TOO far from your neck of the woods, and are run by Citroen fans who are also members of this Club!
http://www.medwaycitroen.com/
You will find that if you come across ANY BX-related problems, there are plenty of knowledgeable people on these Forums, who will be only too happy to give you advice and/or help!
Good luck in finding that "perfect" BX for you!
Regards
- mat_fenwick
- Moderator
- Posts: 7326
- Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2005 4:08 pm
- Location: North Wales
- x 19
- Philip Chidlow
- Over 2k
- Posts: 11594
- Joined: Fri Oct 07, 2005 1:08 pm
- Location: Chelmsford, Essex
- x 25
- Philip Chidlow
- Over 2k
- Posts: 11594
- Joined: Fri Oct 07, 2005 1:08 pm
- Location: Chelmsford, Essex
- x 25
- DLM
- Our Trim Guru
- Posts: 1620
- Joined: Mon May 16, 2005 6:41 pm
- Location: Gosport, Hampshire, UK
- My Cars: Historically, lots of BX hatches/estates in the 90s/00s - 16/19i/17td/19d
Recent scruffy diesel n/a estate - "The Red Shed" - is no longer mine. - x 9
I've never driven a 1.9 Diesel auto but in manual form they're slow but steady sluggers and make surprisingly good "creepers" in slow-moving commuter traffic. The engine has potential to be long-lived if the cooling system is properly maintained, and it hasn't come to you "pre-cooked" (all BX models bar the GTi and 16v lack a proper temp gauge).
Diesel autos do pop up from time to time, and may quite possibly have had a careful owner - ditto 1.6 autos and the non-Gti 1.9 petrol autos. The TRi/TZi estates shared the GTi's engine and trim, and some came in auto form. Nice cars even if you don't like estates, but they're rather scarce.
South London? Pretty big area - though if you do regularly go down the M23 you could check out a company called Carprep in Redhill on the specialists list on this site. http://www.carprep.co.uk/index.htm
Their quoted labour rate from their website is £45 per hour. I have no knowledge of them other than their inclusion in the list. Some on this list may sell BXs from time to time, or know customers who want to sell - a bonus, as such cars should have evidence of being looked after - and used.
I'd beg to differ from Roverman here when he says of the suspension
The parts aren't necessarily expensive, but the labour-time to do it may be and often the only people who'll agree to do it are specialists if you're not doing it yourself. If you've owned a CX you must know that already...
Sphere changes, however only need
(1) The spheres themselves (hopefully still around cheaply at Eurocarparts, and German Swedish and French, as well as other sources)
(2) a 12mm spanner
(3) a £15-ish sphere removal tool and the spanner/wrench to tighten it up
(4) a jack and stands (for the rear ones, or possibly the accumulator, depending on model)
(5) an ability to follow instructions, and
(6) most importantly, a willingness to get your hands dirty
Other hydraulic work varies from straightforward through time-munching and neck-cricking up to "needs-considerable-time-enthusiasm and-expertise" (or money if you're paying someone else to do it). A well-maintained and regularly used car pays dividends on that front.
Diesel autos do pop up from time to time, and may quite possibly have had a careful owner - ditto 1.6 autos and the non-Gti 1.9 petrol autos. The TRi/TZi estates shared the GTi's engine and trim, and some came in auto form. Nice cars even if you don't like estates, but they're rather scarce.
South London? Pretty big area - though if you do regularly go down the M23 you could check out a company called Carprep in Redhill on the specialists list on this site. http://www.carprep.co.uk/index.htm
Their quoted labour rate from their website is £45 per hour. I have no knowledge of them other than their inclusion in the list. Some on this list may sell BXs from time to time, or know customers who want to sell - a bonus, as such cars should have evidence of being looked after - and used.
I'd beg to differ from Roverman here when he says of the suspension
Some suspension jobs as above, yes, but the hydraulics in general? Ask "any decent mechanic" who doesn't normally service these cars to quote for changing an octopus return-pipe assembly, replacing the four front-to-rear hydraulic pipes or one of the major hydraulic components and see what kind of quote you get and their degree of enthusiasm for it..... what does your guy say about BXs?As for the suspension most of the jobs any decent mechanic will be able to undertake
The parts aren't necessarily expensive, but the labour-time to do it may be and often the only people who'll agree to do it are specialists if you're not doing it yourself. If you've owned a CX you must know that already...
Sphere changes, however only need
(1) The spheres themselves (hopefully still around cheaply at Eurocarparts, and German Swedish and French, as well as other sources)
(2) a 12mm spanner
(3) a £15-ish sphere removal tool and the spanner/wrench to tighten it up
(4) a jack and stands (for the rear ones, or possibly the accumulator, depending on model)
(5) an ability to follow instructions, and
(6) most importantly, a willingness to get your hands dirty
Other hydraulic work varies from straightforward through time-munching and neck-cricking up to "needs-considerable-time-enthusiasm and-expertise" (or money if you're paying someone else to do it). A well-maintained and regularly used car pays dividends on that front.
Back on two wheels and pedal power for the moment.
Presumably this spanner/wrench is to undo the sphere in conjunction with the sphere removal tool?DLM wrote: Sphere changes, however only need ..................
(3) a £15-ish sphere removal tool and the spanner/wrench to tighten it up
I had to re-read this David to understand what you meant as the re-fitted spheres are only supposed to be tightened HAND tight.
1991 BX19GTi Auto
- DLM
- Our Trim Guru
- Posts: 1620
- Joined: Mon May 16, 2005 6:41 pm
- Location: Gosport, Hampshire, UK
- My Cars: Historically, lots of BX hatches/estates in the 90s/00s - 16/19i/17td/19d
Recent scruffy diesel n/a estate - "The Red Shed" - is no longer mine. - x 9
The sphere removal tool was the intended object for spanner or wrench , if it's like the Pleiades one ... though I didn't really mean wrench so much as socket or those double-ended "clés à pipes" which the French are so keen on and I have a set of.
If I'd been talking about spheres, I'd have used the plural, unless I were hoping to create a new Olympic sport of synchronised sphere-cracking using a pair of sphere removal tools.
If I'd been talking about spheres, I'd have used the plural, unless I were hoping to create a new Olympic sport of synchronised sphere-cracking using a pair of sphere removal tools.
Back on two wheels and pedal power for the moment.
unless I were hoping to create a new Olympic sport of synchronised sphere-cracking using a pair of sphere removal tools
Imagine a BX "pit stop", where a BX was driven into a box and jumped on by a gang of willing bodies, jacked up, and all 5 spheres swapped in about 4.7 seconds!!! (I wouldnt fancy being the guy assigned to the accy, due to being in direct line with the exit lane!!!)
Nice mental pic DLM!
- DLM
- Our Trim Guru
- Posts: 1620
- Joined: Mon May 16, 2005 6:41 pm
- Location: Gosport, Hampshire, UK
- My Cars: Historically, lots of BX hatches/estates in the 90s/00s - 16/19i/17td/19d
Recent scruffy diesel n/a estate - "The Red Shed" - is no longer mine. - x 9
That's another nice mental picture, though god know how you could get system pressure fully released/reinstated in 4.7 seconds - perhaps another reason to pity the poor guy working in the accumulator/regulator area...
I see we're getting guilty of the usual thread diversion practices here, in typical bxclub virtual flow diversion....
I see we're getting guilty of the usual thread diversion practices here, in typical bxclub virtual flow diversion....
Back on two wheels and pedal power for the moment.