Talking B____X

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 10:25 pm

Buggerama. Punctured n/s rear Kleber on the GTi. Pumped it up again. Wait till morning to see how bad it is. Hope it's repairable: there's 6.5 mm plus of tread on it.

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Sun May 01, 2011 10:03 am

Academic now, as the GTI is being broken. I have the wheels, tyres, etc. here though, so it'll need to be looked at later...

In the meantime:

Took the TXD out for a couple of hundred miles on the country roads yesterday; visiting a couple of NT properties (including Bodiam, where this was shot) and dinner at Carluccios (Bluewater) - only just managing NOT to spend anything in John Lewis...

Weather was perfect. A fantastic day out. And the BX performed faultlessly...

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Thu May 19, 2011 1:13 pm

Thorough check of the BX TXD today. Up on the ramps it revealed it's 9-month old front to rear pipework etc. in gleaming cunifer. In fact, pawing through the paperwork (and there's a lot) reveals that in August last year the car had new pipes, spheres all round, Dinotrol proofing (front and rear subframes), LMH filter clean and fluid change at Chevronics. Shortly before that new brake/pads discs, coolant, battery, cam belt and tensioner, a/c/alternator and HP belts, air con gas, fuel pipes and some other bits and bobs.

So it now has new Mobil 1 Extended Life 10W/60 oil with a dose of Activ8 in it, Purflux filter, the K&N has had a clean, the gearbox now has new Total BV (again with Activ8) and we sorted the throttle linkage stiffness.

All in all this car should have a lot more life in it yet! It's 20 next year...

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 10:40 pm

Just come back from a 1200 mile holiday in France which included sustained driving on about 750 miles of autoroute/motorway.

The BX has been fine, but it's no long-distance cruiser in the same way the XM was - or indeed the Green Hornet. It's too underpowered for that of course.

In itself that isn't an issue as it honestly felt as if it could sit at 4,000rpm all day if asked to. But it's not that relaxing an affair! In the end I hovered around the 112 to 122 kph level - only hitting more than 130 on a couple of occasions (downhill sections). It's not that noisy. Well, the engine isn't, but there's quite a lot of wind noise and the most appalling vibration/resonance from the upper n/s rear quarter tailgate/roof which despite initial attempts at remedies has thus far persisted! It comes in at uphill hauls/right hand turns and any time you need some oomph to bring yourself up to traffic speed. I will have to solve it. Either the sound goes or the fecking BX does (you can probably tell it was quite wearing!).

But on balance, the BX TXD estate must be one of the most useful vehicles you could hope for. Four up, boot stuffed with luggage and goodies, pressed hard over 440 miles each way in hot weather and still managed 45 mpg, pedal to the metal.

Mind you the air con has started to make a funny noise/rattle, so must get that looked at; worked admirably though.

Now, XM 2.5 td auto... let's see... lol!

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Sun Jun 05, 2011 12:25 am

I believe the gearing on the n/a's is lower than the turbo's so unfortunately they are revving higher for the same speed. I just sit at 3000 rpm which equates to about 64mph, i'm now used to going this slow as any faster & it's just too noisey

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Sun Jun 05, 2011 9:19 am

As you get older this will seem more and more like an acceptable speed. And then will seem dangerously fast, and then 'why do cars need a 5th gear anyway?'

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Sun Jun 05, 2011 9:26 am

I'm now 50. I should, like you say, accept lower speeds.

I do miss being able to do 80 mph without effort in my XM. On reflection maybe I should've spent the money (and it wouldn't have been cheap) getting the head done on it... ah well. (Mind you getting at least 15 mpg more in the BX on a run has its advantages)

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Sun Jun 05, 2011 6:50 pm

Some pics - with the BX in most of them of course!

And what's this? a LHD Austin Maestro!

And something for hooning about in Normandy with?

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Sun Jun 05, 2011 10:15 pm

I think the gearing is the biggest downside to the BX diesels. I've had a Pug 306 with the 1.9TD lump and that always felt a bit fussy at motorway speeds too. It isn't an engine that sounds nice when revving. I cured the problem by moving to Wales, where there aren't any motorways.

The Saab 9000 I've got now is whisper-quiet at motorway speeds, but nowhere near as good as the BX on twisty roads. Which is all there is around here. FAIL.

Anyone want to swap a really tidy Saab 9000 for a BX TD?

RxBX · Post by **RxBX** » Mon Jun 06, 2011 3:45 pm

Philip Chidlow wrote:................................
Now, XM 2.5 td auto... let's see... lol!

XM 2.5 TD's - were only available with manual gearboxes !

.

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Mon Jun 06, 2011 4:36 pm

I now realise. V6 it is then! lol

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Mon Jun 06, 2011 11:25 pm

As fuel prices continue to rise, i suspect my speed will start to decrease, at the current rate i'll be rattling along doing a heady 50 everywhere by year end

Mind you, 65-70mpg will be the reward

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 10:24 pm

Kermit got the GS running today. He phoned me up and I got to hear its sweet sound. What a boost! after nearly 6 months of not turning over.

Onward and upward!

Mike E (uk) · Post by **Mike E (uk)** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 11:41 pm

I go faster as I get older.

Perhaps it's because as I have less and less time remaining, so I am in a bigger hurry.

Nice collection of tanks Phil, where abouts were they?

Mike

RxBX · Post by **RxBX** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 12:24 am

Mike E (uk) wrote:.............................
Nice collection of tanks Phil, where abouts were they?
Mike

Hi Mike,
If you like tank's and if your ever on holiday in the U.S. and passing thro' Fort Knox (Kentucky),
it's worth taking a trip around THE PATTON MUSEUM they also put on a field DISPLAY on some week-end's, that link is for the 60th Anniversary (2009), when I went to see the display and a look around the museum it was it 1998 whilst I was working in OHIO !

I also manage to see FORT KNOX where the Gold Bullion Depository is too !
I just managed to get a photo shot of myself standing near to the entrance/gates with the main building in the back ground before the security staff came over to ask any questions !

Unfortunately we ran out of time for a look around the 'Jack Daniels' distillery as the drive back to OHIO was approx. 3 hour's

.