Talking B____X

Tell us about life with your BX, or indeed life in general!
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Philip Chidlow
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Post by Philip Chidlow »

I've never had a more eager BX (in the context of its powerplant) - with the possible exception of the legendary RLO.
• 1992 Citroen BX TZD Turbo Hurricane
• 2006 Xsara Picasso 1.6 16v
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MULLEY
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1992 TZD Turbo Estate - SORN
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Post by MULLEY »

I wonder if its the usual story of some being slower than others? Its weird how they all seem to drive so differently, i drove paul296's hurricane recently & it felt alien to my txd. Mine seems to rev into the redline quite easily which is surprising for an old diesel, perhaps she had a very easy life up until i owned her 8)
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.
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Philip Chidlow
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Post by Philip Chidlow »

Or maybe it's the good oil, simplified induction, new exhaust, BP's finest diesel and a healthy dose of Millars Diesel boosting! - Oh and enthusiastic driving :lol:
• 1992 Citroen BX TZD Turbo Hurricane
• 2006 Xsara Picasso 1.6 16v
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Paul296
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Post by Paul296 »

MULLEY wrote:I wonder if its the usual story of some being slower than others? Its weird how they all seem to drive so differently, i drove paul296's hurricane recently & it felt alien to my txd. Mine seems to rev into the redline quite easily which is surprising for an old diesel, perhaps she had a very easy life up until i owned her 8)
Oi! My cars used to being treated like a laydee! What's this 'redline' everyone keeps going on about? :shock:
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mat_fenwick
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Post by mat_fenwick »

It's a mark on the rev counter to tell you when you should change gear!
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Philip Chidlow
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Post by Philip Chidlow »

Update: I just filled the BX up and the calculation points to 46.8 mpg. Not that I'm too fussed that's easily 2 mpg better than I managed on such trips with the Bosch-pumped TXD. Funny isn't it.
• 1992 Citroen BX TZD Turbo Hurricane
• 2006 Xsara Picasso 1.6 16v
Mickey taker
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Post by Mickey taker »

Paul296 wrote: ! What's this 'redline' everyone keeps going on about? :shock:
Its a limited edition Volvo 340




Image

Image

:D
Last edited by Mickey taker on Sat Oct 29, 2011 11:56 am, edited 1 time in total.
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light travels faster than sound, thats why you look intelligent and then you spoil it all by opening your mouth !!!!!
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MULLEY
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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 »

I want that plate "Fuxxing SAD" :lol:
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.
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Philip Chidlow
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Post by Philip Chidlow »

A brief Xantia diversion:

Is a Hydractive bypass possible?

I am still having a few issues with the rear suspension on the Xantia. It is not good at absorbing bumps and it's slow to react over uneven surfaces. It generally feels like the spheres have gone hard. I am yet to Hydraflush the system although it is new LHM in there - and the filters were given a clean although they weren't overly dirty. OK, I hear you say, do that and get back to us... well I will, but I was chatting to a couple of experienced Citroën/Xantia owning chaps at the East Midland's group meet a week ago and the suggestion was made that, because the hydractive 2 system is pants (it's the gist of what was said) the following should be considered:

Fit a flat centre sphere and fit 'normal' non-hydractive spheres to the rear; this will give a much better ride and by-pass the issue I appear to be having.

Can it be that simple??? In which case, why not fit non-Hydractive spheres to the front and keep the suspension in 'Sport' mode all the time, negativing the need to replace centre spheres with flat ones? (Or is that too daft for words?)

The other thing observed was that it points to an electrovalve problem (well it's the only bit that hasn't been replaced back there)... but how likely would that be?

I should add that I've had the diode kit fitted and the car's been on a Lexia twice indicating no faults.

*As I understand it, rear non-Hydractive spheres are 400cm3, 30bar with a 1.0mm bypass valve (as opposed to 0.5mm for H2 spheres) and similarly on the front non-H2 are 55bar and 1.5mm (as opposed to 50bar and 0.6mm). This would seem to make a noticeable difference?*
• 1992 Citroen BX TZD Turbo Hurricane
• 2006 Xsara Picasso 1.6 16v
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Philip Chidlow
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Post by Philip Chidlow »

Changed the rear outer spheres for non-hydractive and all is working perfectly. Just returned from a 520 mile round trip. Averaged 61 mph and 33 mpg. And the ride's great. The Hydractive works nicely, with a noticeable change when switched to Sport mode and back. Well happy.

But, you know me....

Thing is, with another project looming, I might have to sell. Do'oh! PM me if you might be interested in a now fully sorted 84k mile Xantia with lovely beige leather interior and everything but the cruise control working well. No water, oil or LHM leaks/loss and good air con. Michelins all round. A couple of cosmetic things to sort, that's all. Long MOT and a few months tax. POA.

*UPDATE* The Xantia is performing very well now and driving in London yesterday through horrendous traffic (took three and a half hours to get from Notting Hill to Chelmsford - a trip that normally takes comfortably under two hours!) illustrated it's strengths; I must say it's reassuringly solid, with accurate steering and good road holding. A worthy car in urban battlegrounds as well as on fast A roads. I wish it had the all-round visibility of the BX though.
Last edited by Philip Chidlow on Sun Nov 20, 2011 11:55 am, edited 2 times in total.
• 1992 Citroen BX TZD Turbo Hurricane
• 2006 Xsara Picasso 1.6 16v
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Philip Chidlow
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Post by Philip Chidlow »

Just updated my web-portfolio - still work in progress, and I need to add some explanations, but here's a peek:

http://philchidlow.foliohd.com/
• 1992 Citroen BX TZD Turbo Hurricane
• 2006 Xsara Picasso 1.6 16v
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Philip Chidlow
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Post by Philip Chidlow »

Went out to the BX this morning and some b*****d had clipped the o/s corner of my new bumper. Thanks for that.

:evil:

Anyway I tidied the gouge up a bit and painted the area and it'll do for now I guess. At least the insert wasn't damaged too much and I had a spare clip to replace the snapped one. Ah well. Could've been worse.

Other BX jobettes to do today, including finishing off the n/s wheel arch repair and properly oiling the cone air filter. The battery is 100% so even though I have a fully charged (bigger) 'winter' battery, I won't bother fitting it. There's no need. Glow plug(s) on the other hand need checking. How to I find out if they're OK? One at least is very reluctant.
• 1992 Citroen BX TZD Turbo Hurricane
• 2006 Xsara Picasso 1.6 16v
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citsncycles
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Post by citsncycles »

I believe you can check the glow plugs by disconnecting each in turn and checking for continuity between the electrical connection and the engine block with a multi meter. Open circuit would mean dead, but someone with more knowledge than me will have to tell you what a healthy reading should be
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Philip Chidlow
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Post by Philip Chidlow »

Well the Red Baron is (touch wood) still behaving well, and coped with a 200-mile round trip on Thursday, averaging 46mpg. Not bad considering much of that was on A roads in traffic, sometimes at 75mph, other times with lots of stop-go delays.

This morning had a little clutch judder so maybe some oil's getting onto the clutch face. Soon went away though. But can't complain: The BX still starts, stops and goes very well!

Recently re-taxed and with an MOT until May, I'll just keep using it until a service at the same time as the MOT; it seems happy enough with that.
• 1992 Citroen BX TZD Turbo Hurricane
• 2006 Xsara Picasso 1.6 16v
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Philip Chidlow
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Post by Philip Chidlow »

10 years ago tomorrow we got some pretty awful news. We were living in France and the contract we had that we were living on - £34,000 per annum at the time - was suddenly and mercilessly pulled from underneath us as the parent company went unexpectedly into administration. It was a disaster for us, but we carried on in France for another year before throwing in the towel.

Nowadays, it's easy to just remember the horrible bits, the worry and stress and forget that, despite everything we did have some lovely times. Looking through old pictures today cheered us all up and reminds us that even in the face of financial adversity it is essential to still find time to enjoy life.

Roll on 2012. Let's live a little. :)

Here's a picture that doesn't sum it up really, but the day it was taken was one of the best. We met up with friends at 'our' (that is, our favourite from the days before we moved out there) Gîte and it was just perfect.

Even getting 19mpg from the Merc didn't upset me lol!

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• 1992 Citroen BX TZD Turbo Hurricane
• 2006 Xsara Picasso 1.6 16v
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