Mat's BX Blog

Tell us about life with your BX, or indeed life in general!
Post Reply
User avatar
mat_fenwick
Moderator
Posts: 7326
Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2005 4:08 pm
Location: North Wales
x 19

Post by mat_fenwick »

toddao wrote:if you do have any problems I suggest you switch that big grey button to 'ON'
:lol: :lol: Nope, no problems with the install! The thing that goes against the regs slightly is me using the black core of the brown/black/grey cable as the neutral, whereas the recommendation (not mandatory) is to use the black as the earth. Seems bizarre to me when the old colours used black as neutral...
Oh, and re the wine - size isn't everything (especially on a February night in a tent!) I was actually pretty warm in the night, but getting out of the sleeping bag and putting icy cold clothes on was an 'experience'. Still had frost on the tent when I unpacked it at home...
Image

1993 1.9 TZD Turbo Estate
1996 3.9 V8 Discovery
1993 VW LT35 campervan
1985 Hyundai Stellar V8
2016 Hyundai iLoad
scarecrow

Post by scarecrow »

If only Barrymore had known they did them in a 'snug' size...



Now where did I leave my coat..?
User avatar
mat_fenwick
Moderator
Posts: 7326
Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2005 4:08 pm
Location: North Wales
x 19

Post by mat_fenwick »

Is it really 2 months since the last update? Time flies when you're having fun, or so I hear at least.
Managed to sort the rough running on the BX after a cold start, with advice from BX Bandit. The Xantia engine has 'afterglow' type glow plus which are designed to stay on after a cold start - the BX ones will go out as soon as the starter is operated. As I was using the BX glow plug relay the plugs in the replacement engine were turning off straight away, which is not a problem on the old engine as the BX pump advances the timing when cold. The Xantia pump doesn't, and instead relies on the afterglow to keep the engine running smoothly. Fitted a Xantia relay, and perfect starting! 8)

I've also been doing some tree felling, we want to plant a few more broad leafed trees to replace the ageing pine trees planted by the Forestry Commission when they owned the place. We've had several blow down so now is the time I think. It'll be a while before it looks good with new trees but hopefully be worth it.
Image

Unfortunately one starting leaning the wrong way, and sort of fell onto the caravan we are using as a log store...
Image
No damage done, but a reminder that it's not as easy as it looked on Axemen!

We've now got a dog, who is taking a bit of time to train, but it's all worth it. He's so friendly and good natured.
Image

I've also been re-laying the floor in the van - it will be more practical to have the most used area in laminate, and we have some nice carpet left over from our previous house to do the rest in. That will replace the existing carpet that suffered whilst using it to carry building supplies.
Image

What else have I been up to? Well, I've finished a job (which is a miracle in itself) that I started about 2 years ago, putting some steps into the lower part of our garden. All the bits of slate were found nearby, and the advantage of living where we do is that slate chippings are £3.50 per ton, so the whole job cost less than £20! Lots of blood and sweat though.
Image

Lastly, I noticed that the towing sockets on the BX looked a bit crusty, although the trailer lights still worked (dimly). After taking them off I found they looked a good deal less shiny than when I fitted them 6 years ago!
Image
Looks like a combination of galvanic corrosion between the brass terminals and the aluminium bodies, coupled with the electrolytic corrosion from the fact the terminals are live has not done the bodies any favours. I had a spare (plastic!) set which went on fairly smoothly and all is sorted now.

The BX is going back on the road next weekend, Lana is taking the dog to work with her so she has pinched the Discovery - as a result I have to squeeze into her Megane! Not my favourite car although considering it's a 2 litre 16v petrol I've been averaging nearly 40mpg on mountain roads which is quite impressive.
Image

1993 1.9 TZD Turbo Estate
1996 3.9 V8 Discovery
1993 VW LT35 campervan
1985 Hyundai Stellar V8
2016 Hyundai iLoad
User avatar
jonathan_dyane
BXpert
Posts: 975
Joined: Sat Feb 09, 2008 7:15 pm
Location: Liverpool

Post by jonathan_dyane »

mat_fenwick wrote: We've now got a dog, who is taking a bit of time to train, but it's all worth it. He's so friendly and good natured.
Image
Ooh, he looks lovely! Is he a Rhodesian Ridgeback?
"Boring damned people. All over the earth. Propagating more boring damned people. What a horror show. The earth swarmed with them." -Charles Bukowski
User avatar
mat_fenwick
Moderator
Posts: 7326
Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2005 4:08 pm
Location: North Wales
x 19

Post by mat_fenwick »

Thanks. He's actually a Doberman, although I've never seen one other than the usual black and brown colouring. I am assured by she who knows more about these things that it is a 'proper' colour...
You will hopefully get to see him soon anyway!
Image

1993 1.9 TZD Turbo Estate
1996 3.9 V8 Discovery
1993 VW LT35 campervan
1985 Hyundai Stellar V8
2016 Hyundai iLoad
User avatar
jonathan_dyane
BXpert
Posts: 975
Joined: Sat Feb 09, 2008 7:15 pm
Location: Liverpool

Post by jonathan_dyane »

I've never seen one that colour either, but I can't claim to be an authority on the subject... Looking forward to meeting him!
"Boring damned people. All over the earth. Propagating more boring damned people. What a horror show. The earth swarmed with them." -Charles Bukowski
User avatar
mat_fenwick
Moderator
Posts: 7326
Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2005 4:08 pm
Location: North Wales
x 19

Post by mat_fenwick »

Talking of lessons learnt, from another thread; perhaps the lesson from this is to never lend the keys to your wife' car to anyone after they've had a few drinks.
Image

In fairness to the guy he has been a complete gentleman about it so I don't want a word said against him.
Image

1993 1.9 TZD Turbo Estate
1996 3.9 V8 Discovery
1993 VW LT35 campervan
1985 Hyundai Stellar V8
2016 Hyundai iLoad
User avatar
rayfenwick
1K Away
Posts: 1718
Joined: Sat Mar 27, 2010 9:16 am
Location: Kingston upon Hull
Contact:

Post by rayfenwick »

Permission to say "Oops.", sir? :shock:
Ray

The Fleet (most recent first):
2000 Citroën XM 3.0 24V V6 Exclusive Auto (pre-MOT)
1997 Citroën XM 2.0 TCT Exclusive Auto (for sale)
1979 Citroën CX 2.4 EI Cmatic Prestige (slowly being restored)

1992 Alfa Romeo 164 Lusso 3.0 v6 12v Manual (on the to-do list)

www.citroencarclub.co.uk
Defender110
Over 2k
Posts: 5917
Joined: Wed Dec 16, 2009 8:02 pm
Location: Harwood, Bolton
My Cars: Land Rover Discovery Series 1 200tdi 3 door
Land Rover Discovery Series 2 Facelift TD5
2020 Fiat Panda cross 4x4 twin air.
x 27

Post by Defender110 »

looking on the bright side, the welding of the boot floor on your jobs to do list can now be crossed off!
Kevan
1997 Mercedes C230 W202
2003 Land Rover Discovery Series 2 Facelift TD5 - Daily driver / hobby days and camping.
1993 Land Rover Discovery 200tdi Series 1 3 door - in need of TLC
2020 Fiat Panda 4x4 Cross Twin Air.
Dollywobbler
Over 2k
Posts: 3940
Joined: Sun Dec 04, 2005 2:25 pm
Location: Wales
Contact:

Post by Dollywobbler »

Crikey - though it's had not to say something against someone who drinks and then drives.
User avatar
mat_fenwick
Moderator
Posts: 7326
Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2005 4:08 pm
Location: North Wales
x 19

Post by mat_fenwick »

It's not as bad as it sounds (the drinking and driving) - it was just a short trip up the gravel track behind our house. I was in the car at the time and he had my permission (he didn't seem drunk otherwise I may have thought twice).
Lesson 2 would be to always wear a seat belt - I wasn't. After being rattled around as it rolled I decided I wasn't enjoying the experience and made my exit though the (now smashed) passenger window. Fortunately it stopped rolling before I was crushed...
Regarding the welding, well I think it will still need doing. Fingers crossed te plan is to repair rather than replace. Reason being that what we could get is unlikely to have been as well looked after, and I've spent a lot of time and money on it so wouldn't want that to go to waste. Most if not all the panels are bolt on (including I think the roof) and there is no sign at the moment of chassis damage. We'll know more tomorrow when the crane arrives to lift it out, but we've identified a few donor vehicles.
Image

1993 1.9 TZD Turbo Estate
1996 3.9 V8 Discovery
1993 VW LT35 campervan
1985 Hyundai Stellar V8
2016 Hyundai iLoad
User avatar
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

Post by MULLEY »

:shock: Blimey, sounds like you were lucky, fingers crossed the chassis is straight & not in bits.
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.
Dollywobbler
Over 2k
Posts: 3940
Joined: Sun Dec 04, 2005 2:25 pm
Location: Wales
Contact:

Post by Dollywobbler »

Jeepers. You were lucky then!
User avatar
Philip Chidlow
Over 2k
Posts: 11594
Joined: Fri Oct 07, 2005 1:08 pm
Location: Chelmsford, Essex
x 25

Post by Philip Chidlow »

You lucky man! Won't make that mistake again - I hope!
• 1992 Citroen BX TZD Turbo Hurricane
• 2006 Xsara Picasso 1.6 16v
scarecrow

Post by scarecrow »

Shit happens! Trying to get out of a vehicle that's rolling or about to roll is usually the worst thing to do, but staying put is totally counter intuitive. Grab a hold and don't let go!

How did he manage to roll it Mat?

I know what you're saying about the drink driving too. I used to live miles up a forestry commission track and it was occasionally unavoidable, and not the same as driving on public roads.

I once hit a bullock at sixty in a Range Rover, it was lying on the track and I mistook it for a puddle!. The car took off and spun 360 Deg. in the air. The worst part was having to go and tell the farmer and then go back with him in the middle of the night to pull the poor bloody thing into a trailer with the rest of the herd standing around us in a semi-circle baying for our blood. It certainly made for an interesting insurance claim.
Post Reply