Dilemmas,dilemmas

[BX596]

My car has just failed it's MOT
Inner wings and exhaust want welding
Hydraulic leak somewhere around front O/S caliper
Related (?) steering heavy
One or 2 other little jobs
Added to that,the head gasket is on it's way out.
Heart says keep it,head says get shut.I really don't think it's a tidy enough example to warrent throwing loads of money at.
Thoughts please

[Philip Chidlow]

At the end of the day, we are here to keep the BX on the road. But not at any cost. There are still a few around after all. I suggest if you decide to get rid, maybe offer it to someone on here who can nurse it back to health in exchange for the weigh-in value. A tough one though.

[Tim Leech]

Depend on how much it will cost deano, if its under £500 then I think for a year motoring its cheap, you could buy another car for more than that which is unknown and a whole heap of trouble where with this one you know it well.

[MULLEY]

Difficult one Dean, i'd be tempted to keep the car, how about laying it up for the timebeing rather than just getting shot. Get a replacement for the timebeing & when funds improve do a bit of work on your car over time to get her back on the road.

Perhaps some club members on here would be willing to help with the more complex job's if you can't do them, if there's any parts you need, just let me know, i'm sure i can sort a few bits & bobs out for you.

As Tim say's, even that sort of expense is cheap motoring & at least you know exactly the score with your car, buying another could cost potentially just as much or you could get lucky & get a decent one cheap?

Don't lose the faith

[themildbunch]

Yes I think £500 for a years driving is good value too and if you can DIY it's so satisfying IF you have the time and some space...

I'm contemplating spending 500+ on getting the HG done on my new TZD and I've only just bought it!

I've always thought it's best to get a car you really like and enjoy 'cos you will have to spend money at some point and it's a little easier if you actually like the car....

[ken newbold]

I don't think I'd be spending any amount of dosh having the HG done.

Short term, get a price for welding and get it MOT'd (Shaune might do it if you ask him nicely) Then either look for another engine to drop in, or find another BX and swap some of your parts over.

Having pressure in the system isn't ideal but it could run for some time yet!

See you tomorrow.

[Defender110]

A decietful man would convince the wife it was beyond economical repair and it needs replacing, ''but hang about dear; wouldn't it be a good idea to buy another BX and use the old one as a parts car'' Then the decietful man would have 2 BX's and who knows he could practise his car repair skills on the parts car.

Obviously not the sort of thing a BX club UK member would consider doing!

[kiwi]

A decietful man would convince the wife it was beyond economical repair and it needs replacing, ''but hang about dear; wouldn't it be a good idea to buy another BX and use the old one as a parts car'' Then the decietful man would have 2 BX's and who knows he could practise his car repair skills on the parts car.

Obviously not the sort of thing a BX club UK member would consider doing!

Never thats just not the done thing

Says he who convinced his wife to get a parts car and ended up keeping it on the road to stop the wife nicking his until she got bored of it and has now found another car she likes

Still got a parts car though you just have to have one.

[docchevron]

Steel seal in the engine will sort the HG indefinitley, and a cracked block, or most anything else actually, and it costs £30..
Easier than pulling a head off.
Although I'd go that route rather than pull the engine as I assume we are talking about the 4x4 here?

Weldings easy enough if you know someone handy with a MiG..
Couple of leaks, well, at worst it's an octopus, but again the 4x4 is different and easier (ish) to do..

Personally, I'd keep it, but I'm in a position to do all that without having to pay someone to do it, that could tip the balance I guess..

[BX596]

Kind of looks like a plan TBH,I love my BX and can't imagine myself driving anything else(except maybe a Picasso) How good is that steel seal stuff,Doc?

[docchevron]

Well, I used to use K-seal (not for myself mind, but for mates with no money at all with screwed HG's as a "it'll do for now" measure) and that worked fine..

But then another mate who runs a garage used this stuff in a mate of his taxi. 406HDi thing. Worked a treat, so he used in a few more, and more and so on.
Never had one come back, seems permenant and does exactley what it syas on the bottle.
Bloody nasty stuff though, so dont go drinking it!

[Mark Dunmore]

I put K-Seal in mine a while back. It did the job for a while, but recently the cooling system started over-pressurising again, so obviously wasn't a permanent fix in my case. However, I carry a three-litre bottle of water in the boot, and every week or so (or before a long journey!) I bleed the cooling system and top up the water, and it's been fine. Only seems to need half a litre every time, so it can't be too bad. Did it before K-Seal for long enough...

As for deciding whether to persevere with your BX, let me say that you have my sympathies, as the estate is getting to the same stage, but I think I'll try and get another year out of it. Then I'll keep it until I can have it fully restored to as-new, because by then I'll have won the lottery...

[docchevron]

Then I'll keep it until I can have it fully restored to as-new, because by then I'll have won the lottery...

Dont get a ticket the third week in July next year then, I'm having it that week!