Got my BX

Kitch · Post by **Kitch** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 7:04 pm

Sorry, but I can't be the only wondering....did you test drive it before you handed over record breaking money?

Tourist · Post by **Tourist** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 7:14 pm

Went around a few garages today, the general opinion seems to be that the wastegate is stuck open, meaning the boost comes right out the exhaust.

- The blue smoke has stopped, perhaps because the car's being used again after a long time sat around doing not-much.

- The suspension is no longer a concern, as I've read that on the TXD it's firmer than usual to give a "sporty" feel.

Thanks for your replies, I know I'm probably seeming stupid asking these questions but I want to make sure the car's ok, and as it should be.

Kitch · Post by **Kitch** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 7:23 pm

TXD is not a sporty model mate, it should ride as smoothly as any other non-GTi BX.
Spheres are easy to change and pretty cheap so that could be your first port of call. Otherwise check the struts aren't sticky, that can have a big impact.
Tyre choice has a bigger effect than you'd think too. I never believed it, but my dad switched to Conti's rather than Pirellis on an Alfa of his and the difference was unreal! So if it has Mickey Mouse tyres, that might be worth experimenting with.

In fact....thats got aftermarket wheels on right? Guessing the tyres are 195/50/15?
If so, they do hamper the ride slightly compared with the normal inflatable rubber rings you get on the standard car. Makes a big difference to the refinement of the ride and the reaction over smaller niggly bumps.

Tourist · Post by **Tourist** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 7:40 pm

Kitch wrote:TXD is not a sporty model mate, it should ride as smoothly as any other non-GTi BX.

I believe the TXD is the sporty diesel, why else would it have a spoiler and fogs. It's essentially the diesel GTI.

Kitch wrote:In fact....thats got aftermarket wheels on right? Guessing the tyres are 195/50/15?

I think they're 14, I'm looking to get some steelies as soon as possible, then I'll try and sell these alloys. They don't look good on a BX, much more at home on a Saxo ...

BX Bandit · Post by **BX Bandit** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 7:58 pm

The TXD Turbo will indeed have the GTi spec spheres. Don't feel silly at all Tourist, these things always seem worse when it's a car that's new to us. When the turbo is fixed, be prepared for a lot of black smoke to be kicked out the first few times you drive it hard.

Tourist · Post by **Tourist** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 8:07 pm

BX Bandit wrote:The TXD Turbo will indeed have the GTi spec spheres. Don't feel silly at all Tourist, these things always seem worse when it's a car that's new to us. When the turbo is fixed, be prepared for a lot of black smoke to be kicked out the first few times you drive it hard.

Sounds fun if anything

Depending on money I might get the intercooler cleaned too, for an improvement in performance.

Here's a quick pic of the car (right) I know you've seen it already ... taken with my camera phone. Digital camera wasn't at hand:

You can't see very well but the two cars are very different shades of grey. Mine's greenish grey, the 306 is blue-grey. I like mine more

Kitch · Post by **Kitch** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 8:15 pm

Tourist wrote:
Kitch wrote:TXD is not a sporty model mate, it should ride as smoothly as any other non-GTi BX.
I believe the TXD is the sporty diesel, why else would it have a spoiler and fogs. It's essentially the diesel GTI.

Kitch wrote:In fact....thats got aftermarket wheels on right? Guessing the tyres are 195/50/15?
I think they're 14, I'm looking to get some steelies as soon as possible, then I'll try and sell these alloys. They don't look good on a BX, much more at home on a Saxo ...

Because those fogs aren't OE, and the spoiler was tacked on by Citroen in a vain attempt to boost the BX's then dated looks in and around the early 90's.

The TZD Turbo 5dr is essentially a GTi 8v with a diesel engine. It has (had from new) stiffer spheres, the option of ABS (and therefore vented front discs), front & rear spoiler, leccy rear windows and mirror and standard fogs at the front.
The TXD replaced the TGD which was a totally normal looking BX. Underneath they're both the same, with only the rear spoiler and some chrome strips the difference. Originally it had no foglamps and steel wheels with arguably the worst wheeltrims ever fitted to a BX! The TXD/S is actually based on the TGD/S meteor which came before it, and retained the fairly decent looking seats from it.

So in essence, yours should be about as soft and squishy as they come. Personally, I'd say thats the best way to have a diesel BX.

DavidRutherford · Post by **DavidRutherford** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 8:17 pm

Tourist wrote:I believe the TXD is the sporty diesel, why else would it have a spoiler and fogs. It's essentially the diesel GTI.

The TZD turbo was the top-end Diesel model. The foglamps are simply a dealer option, and the "spoiler" is nothing more than cosmetic... almost all later BX's have them. Your TXD turbo model was more a "mid-range" model, well above the lesser non-turbo models, but not quite the TZD.

TXD models should still have a soft and comfortable ride. If the ride feels even slightly harsh, I'd be changing the spheres. Fairly quick, easy and cheap to do.

Hurricane · Post by **Hurricane** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 8:19 pm

Kitch wrote:TXD is not a sporty model mate

Tourist wrote:I believe the TXD is the sporty diesel, why else would it have a spoiler and fogs. It's essentially the diesel GTI.

When we went to insure the Hurricane it cost more to insure than the TXD because they said it's classed as 'a sports car'.

Well done on getting the car, hope the problems are sorted out soon!

BX Bandit · Post by **BX Bandit** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 8:24 pm

DavidRutherford wrote:
Tourist wrote:I believe the TXD is the sporty diesel, why else would it have a spoiler and fogs. It's essentially the diesel GTI.
The TZD turbo was the top-end Diesel model. The foglamps are simply a dealer option, and the "spoiler" is nothing more than cosmetic... almost all later BX's have them. Your TXD turbo model was more a "mid-range" model, well above the lesser non-turbo models, but not quite the TZD.

TXD models should still have a soft and comfortable ride. If the ride feels even slightly harsh, I'd be changing the spheres. Fairly quick, easy and cheap to do.

Right, so I thought that irrespective of equipment, all Turbo Diesels (be they DTR T, TZD T or TXD T) had the GTi spec spheres. Is it just the TZD Ts then? I'm confoosed!

Kitch · Post by **Kitch** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 8:43 pm

Hurricane wrote:
Kitch wrote:TXD is not a sporty model mate

Tourist wrote:I believe the TXD is the sporty diesel, why else would it have a spoiler and fogs. It's essentially the diesel GTI.
When we went to insure the Hurricane it cost more to insure than the TXD because they said it's classed as 'a sports car'.

Well done on getting the car, hope the problems are sorted out soon!

That could be because the mincers who work at some VRM lookup companies recorded my 16v as a Hurricane but still slapped the hefty premium on. Because quotes which bring it up as a GTi, not a Hurricane result in cheaper premiums!
Right now it's down as a 19GT, even though no such car exists on that year, but it didn't seem to bother the broker!

Try sayings it's just a TZD Turbo or GTi next time....might work out cheaper!

Kitch · Post by **Kitch** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 8:45 pm

BX Bandit wrote:
DavidRutherford wrote:
Tourist wrote:I believe the TXD is the sporty diesel, why else would it have a spoiler and fogs. It's essentially the diesel GTI.
The TZD turbo was the top-end Diesel model. The foglamps are simply a dealer option, and the "spoiler" is nothing more than cosmetic... almost all later BX's have them. Your TXD turbo model was more a "mid-range" model, well above the lesser non-turbo models, but not quite the TZD.

TXD models should still have a soft and comfortable ride. If the ride feels even slightly harsh, I'd be changing the spheres. Fairly quick, easy and cheap to do.
Right, so I thought that irrespective of equipment, all Turbo Diesels (be they DTR T, TZD T or TXD T) had the GTi spec spheres. Is it just the TZD Ts then? I'm confoosed!

Just the TZD Turbo. RD, DTR and TGD Turbo's should ride soft like a regular BX.
TZD Turbo with GTi spec was something Citroen jumped on when the car was recieved by the press as having "hot hatch" performance. Thats why the TZD Turbo estate is a soft riding plush mobile without fogs or anything like that.

Tourist · Post by **Tourist** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 3:04 pm

So where do I get the right spheres for my car, looked on eBay but they're all for general models? Where can I find the soft ones.

maxgreenwood · Post by **maxgreenwood** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 3:17 pm

I got mine from Plieades who have a good reputation
http://www.citroen-hydraulics.com/
but from what i've heard on here the GSF Amtex? ones seems perfectly ok
http://www.gsfcarparts.com/

And ask for the normal saloon versions

BX Bandit · Post by **BX Bandit** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 5:00 pm

Not wishing to be a party pooper but I've heard mixed stories about the Amtex ones (available via GSF and Ebay) Plaeidies may work out a trifle more expensive but as far as I am aware they are gassed to order so you know you have a 'fresh set' rather than ones that have been sat on a shelf for a few years.....BUT....it's an exchange system and if your old spheres are knackered, then you get no refund!

Basically, you pay £26 + VAT per sphere.
If the spheres you send back to them are OK, you get a £10 + VAT refund.
You pay for delivering the spheres to them (prob around £8 + VAT)
I believe the postage of the spheres to you is included.