BX virgin in the area

DLM · Post by **DLM** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 5:08 pm

Don't want to dampen the enthusiasm, but the insurance can get it wrong.

On a couple of the BXs I've owned they've told me something different from reality when they've checked against their database, and I've had to put them right on the model. Not that it seems to makes any difference to the premium with diesel BXs nowadays.

The only discrepancies I've encountered with the DVLA seem to be around late 1989, when some early TGs were registered as R's while the models changed over - presumably both sets of models being registered during that period until the last old models were sold, thus giving potential for confusion.

Post by **Tim Leech** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 5:32 pm

Registration Number : G809DWC
VIN VF7XBXF0011XF9178 Exterior Colour RED
Registration Date 30/04/1990 Previous Registered Keeper N/A
Engine Size 01905 Make CITROEN
Model BX19 TGD DIESEL Model Year
Is Scrapped ? No Is Exported ? No
Is Imported ? No Scrapped Date
Exported Date No. of gears 5
Fuel Type DIESEL CAPCode CIBX19TGD5EDIM
Transmission MANUAL 5 GEARS Engine No. 522062

Either way its ok for a freebie!

Brian Damaged · Post by **Brian Damaged** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 2:59 pm

It's here!

Cosmetically-challenged, but that's how I like 'em. Especially when they cost £110 for the six months' rent in the window, plus £15-worth of diesel to get the 145 miles back here from Sudbury.

The LHM bits are a revelation, the suspension/brakes are simply incredible, Magic Carpet Ride is NOT an understatement, and judicious application of middle pedal results in the ability to read one's own front number plate.

Even looking like it does at the minute, I'm seriously impressed with this car.

With thanks to 2CVGB/Citroen Car Club member Martin Waldron for his generosity in letting me take it off his hands for the cost of the tax, and to my long-suffering Daddy Damaged for the lend of his beloved van these last four weeks.

DLM · Post by **DLM** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 5:05 pm

Looks the part. Congratulations! The traditional faded Venetian Red, though I've certainly seen worse. Difficult to judge exactly from the photos.

it's faded red

If you should decide to get cosmetic a judicious dose of T-CUT after the wash will get rid of the top-layer of orangey oxide on the paint and reveal a slightly more reddy red. The bumpers look to be the orange-peel plastic type (polypropylene?) and while they'll never be the same colour as the car again as they fade in a different way theyare VERY TOUGH. In fact they're far tougher than the later hard plastic type (did all the car manufacturers deliberately start making those to drum up business for the parts departmaent and the accident repairers?).

dents and scrapes on almost every panel

It's a workhorse! Matching rear door dents - now that's impressive. Round here they seem to become invisible in car parks to all but the attendants or cameras. Missing the odd bit of side trim (e.g bit of rear o/s rubbing strip's been rubbed off). I've got secondhand bits and pieces of this you'd be very welcome to gratis IF it's wanted.

and the interior is "lived in", ie some rips and stains but nothing major

,
Grey tweed seats (most likely) or herringbone red-blue-grey? Can't see from the pics. Most likely to be the former but quite possibly the latter as it's an earlier TGD . Some odd seats bits of both here (rather more difficult to post unless you just want covers ). Both kinds clean up but the grey tweed doesn't like rough treatment..or wear.

Known faults- Rev counter has never worked, clock randomly stops working, and passenger-side electric window sometimes stops halfway down...

Rev counter sensor is down the back of the block near the bellhousing. They often don't work (or sometimes just get displaced) and aren't essential on a 19 diesel unless you have a tendency towards a heavy right foot. and don't use the lazy-but-forceful torque. A good tower rather than swift goer.

The digital clocks do funny things as they age, but the electrical connector is sometimes just hanging off when you unscrew the tray it's mounted in .

If the rubber window trim has broken in the top rear corner (most do eventually) then the vertical rear section of strip may get pulled down into the door by the window. and cause an obstruction. If you're less lucky, the window runners inside the door have corroded through.

Has it got the traditional missing BX glovebox door?

And, being an earlier BX, there may be a bonus: the interior trim screws may have posidriv heads rather than torx ones...but I wouldn't count on it.

Brian Damaged · Post by **Brian Damaged** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 5:37 pm

I've just washed it, it looks worse now it's clean than it did when it was dirty! It might get left as is, it may even get 5 litres of NATO Satin Olive rollered over the top yet, I haven't decided.

The glovebox door's intact, though it looks to have been replaced at some point. Looks to have good ol' Pozidrive screws in too!!

The bumpers are indeed the hard plastic ones, and the seats are wooly (and saggy...and baggy...but still very comfortable). A couple of waterproof seatcovers will keep them from getting any worse, and save them getting any grubbier when I'm coming home from work as I'm often filthy. Everything else seems to work fine, even the stereo (stock Blaupunkt, will be evicted in favour of my trusty Kenwood CD head unit though).

It's not that quick as you say, but then I'm used to driving LGV's so that doesn't worry me. The only real pointer to the mileage is the sloppy gear linkage which, if I can't live with (unlikely), I'll sort out (I presume it's got similar nylon bushes a la 205/306/Berlingo etc etc).

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 6:43 pm

Brian Damaged wrote:I've just washed it, it looks worse now it's clean than it did when it was dirty!

It's entirely your choice - the rat look is certainly one direction to go

But if you did want to get her redder - try T-cut then that red-coloured polish you can get. It worked wonders on my pink Visa... (which also had waterproof seat covers

)

DLM · Post by **DLM** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 7:21 pm

it may even get 5 litres of NATO Satin Olive rollered over the top yet, I haven't decided.

Well, as France is back in NATO....

the seats are wooly (and saggy...and baggy...but still very comfortable

Yes, a lot more so than the velour ones that usually get put in when the covers wear out. Did that myself on a TGD, then found my back complained about it on long journeys. It's only the original cover material that wears out, and if a close relative of the those seats was good enough in the CX, then who's to complain?

It's not that quick as you say, but then I'm used to driving LGV's so that doesn't worry me.

That's right, it'll tug itself along and tug other things behind it more than adequately. The owner of the yard where I work on my BX is very happy using his to tow the caravans he repairs or breaks. He may even wash it someday.

The only real pointer to the mileage is the sloppy gear linkage which, if I can't live with (unlikely), I'll sort out (I presume it's got similar nylon bushes a la 205/306/Berlingo etc etc).

Not been there myself, but I know a man who has been (on my current car). It can be improved, but I don't know how long you need to be under the car to do it (usual uppy-downy Citroen health & safety warnings apply).

Glad to hear it's fit for purpose, though do check out the cooling system (the one thing guaranteed to make the unburstable XUD engine burst in a head-gasket way if left too long). By the sound of it, I'd be surprised if that has been forgotten, but it never hurts to check.

Post by **Tim Leech** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 9:12 pm

Each to their own BUT with lots of elbow grease and the right products you could have it looking respectable before too long, that dent in the door should push out a bit if you take the door card off.

Anyway glad it got you home ok.