Mat's BX Blog

Tell us about life with your BX, or indeed life in general!
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mat_fenwick
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by mat_fenwick »

Well, the reversing lights were fine once I started the engine and moved it around a bit. I'm wondering whether I'd actually fully engaged reverse, as I did it whilst leaning in through an open window. First proper drive in it this morning and boy did it feel strange! After 10 miles or so, I'd got back into the swing of things and it was feeling natural again. the suspension felt a bit stiff and brakes rather wooden to start with, but by the end of the journey they were feeling supple and sharp respectively.

I went to fill up before the MOT test, and as the attendant went to put the nozzle in I had to restrain myself from shouting "Careful!" :oops: No paintwork was harmed though, and £81(!) later it went in for the test. I hadn't had chance to check anything over apart from lights and wipers, so feeling slightly nervous [-o<
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by saintjamesy89 »

Good luck Mat! I'm sure with all your hard work it'll pass with flying colours and everything.
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mat_fenwick
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by mat_fenwick »

:D :D :D \:D/ Happy days! Just phoned the garage and it's passed. Not sure about any advisories yet but will collect at lunchtime. I think this deserves a night off from cars and DIY...
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by Dollywobbler »

Congrats! The Welsh red TZD estate collective has a fully working one! (Mine still knackered, Citro-Geoff's on the mend).
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by TizzyD »

Nice one, well done =D>
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by mat_fenwick »

Cheers, I've picked it up now and the only advisory was that one of the rubber strut mounts had deteriorated slightly. You can make it out on this photo where it's come away slightly.

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I'd rather know than not know. IIRC it was not unknown for them to separate on Xantias and XMs to let the strut pop though the bonnet!
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by Dollywobbler »

Very true. I've even seen a C6 where that had happened!
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by mds141 »

Congrats on the MOT pass Mat. =D>

You could make a cage that surrounds the strut top and utilises the strut mounting bolts. IIRC our Swedish/Norwegian cousins use something similar on their XM's.
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by Mickey taker »

:D You could fit a strut brace while your at it Mat
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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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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by mat_fenwick »

A strut brace is something I've been thinking about for a few years, but the only way I can think to make the bit which fix to the strut tops is by using my cutting torch. I'm not sure my hand would be steady enough for the accuracy needed. When I change them would be the ideal time to make a template though.

I'm not sure whether they fail catastrophically though - I remember doing the ones on Timex of which at least one had a fair amount of play IIRC. So it may be a fail-safe design.
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by mat_fenwick »

After my night off yesterday it was back to it this evening - pretty much finished the stud walling and insulation in the house:

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Washing machine temporarily plumbed and wired in so we can wash clothes! It'll soon be time to put plasterboard up :)

Then freed off and copper greased the rear brakes on the white BX, before fitting replacement tyres all round. It's a shame that the previous set of Michelins had cracked, as there was plenty of tread left.

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Also put on the new exhaust, so it'll soon be ready for an MOT.

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1993 1.9 TZD Turbo Estate
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1993 VW LT35 campervan
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by mat_fenwick »

Not much to report BX wise - done 300 or so trouble free miles in the red one since the MOT and all seems well. Might try some saddle soap on the seats as they are a bit hard rather than soft and supple. Also need to look at a set of tyres for it within the next few thousand miles as I've swapped the very worn fronts to the rear to get a little more life out of them. Can't remember whether this is a no-no from the tyre police ;)

Tasks for tonight when I get back from work are to get firewood under cover after a day spent drying it today, take off the nearside rear arm from the white BX and strip it down, and if I have chance put some wiring in place for a heated rear window for the van. It never had one when new, but I found a company in the States who make stick-on kits for pretty much any size glass. That's been on the to-do list for a while, as it can be a pain looking behind with a steamed up window.
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1993 1.9 TZD Turbo Estate
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by Dollywobbler »

Just fit an indoor and outside wiper. Sorted! I've seen a tram with that feature.
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by MULLEY »

mat_fenwick wrote:Also need to look at a set of tyres for it within the next few thousand miles as I've swapped the very worn fronts to the rear to get a little more life out of them. Can't remember whether this is a no-no from the tyre police ;)
You risk taker you :wink: :lol:
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mat_fenwick
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by mat_fenwick »

Got the rear arm off no problems...

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...and at first glance the bearing looked visually fine - no damage to the seal. But I could feel a fair bit of play, and when I knocked the tube out I could see what the problem was :lol:

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The inner race had shattered! It could just be coincidence, but this was the side which had a ruptured sphere and I'm wondering whether the lack of suspension meant that more shocks were transferred to the bearing. It would still more more of a rotational force than a direct impact though.

Next was the wiring on the van...not massively exciting but I did fit the switch and run the wires into the rear door.

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Despite not being originally fitted with one, the style of switch was shared with a number of other VWs of the era (this was pinched from an abandoned Scirocco in Scotland!) so it looked pretty neat once fitted and wired in.
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1993 1.9 TZD Turbo Estate
1996 3.9 V8 Discovery
1993 VW LT35 campervan
1985 Hyundai Stellar V8
2016 Hyundai iLoad
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