New owner

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Condorman
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New owner

Post by Condorman »

I've just bought a BX, again! Over the years I've had three, starting with a nice GTi about 12 years ago. Two others were a bit scruffy , then I moved on to other things, including Xantias and XMs. I often rather fancied another BX and recently took the plunge with a 19TRS estate. Seen on the Carandclassic website, it's a 1986 Mk2 in Magnetic Blue with only 88,000 miles. It had been in store since 1999 so generally in good, clean condition. It was rescued early this year and re-furbished by a Citroen specialist, with new brake pipes, re-charged spheres, a new radiator, followed by a new head gasket.
Everything works, though further work and lubrication is needed to smooth things out and cure some rattles. The tailgate gas struts need replacing (awaiting delivery) but at the moment that's all. I'm using it as my only car and it's fine. The odd thing for such a rarity is when driving along the M4 after collecting it from Gloucestershire, being overtaken by another BX estate!
One thing I was concerned about for a car with little service history was the condition of the clutch. When I first drove it, it seemed OK though heavy and the pedal take up was low down, so I suspected it wouldn't be too long before a replacement would be needed. After a week though, gear changes were becoming difficult and then near impossible. I thought it odd, as if the clutch was badly worn it should be slipping, not dragging. Eventually I got time to look at it, thinking the adjustment may have slipped. I was pleased to find the cable accessible at the gearbox simply by removing the air filter ( oh, the joys of old, simple cars) but was surprised to find the pivot lever was splitting. When I depressed the clutch pedal, the split opened, rather than it transferring movement to the clutch.
It was easy to remove ( so unlike modern cars with everything shoe-horned in) and I took it to my local garage who did a great welding job, complete with an additional bracing plate. Back together in twenty minutes and all again is sweet in light in the gearchange.
I daresay I might not find other repairs quite so easy to do but at least it was a simple start and an easy re-introduction to repairing a car.
I look forward to BX motoring and will keep you posted.
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MULLEY
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Re: New owner

Post by MULLEY »

Is this the Ex-Rob Moss @ Chevronics one?

Welcome by the way, we also like piccies ;)
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.
bxzx16v
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Re: New owner

Post by bxzx16v »

Welcome along , and as Mulley says , we need pics .

Mark
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Tim Leech
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Re: New owner

Post by Tim Leech »

It's the D plate estate that I had then passed on to Dom.
Lots of Motors, mostly semi broken....
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Paul296
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Re: New owner

Post by Paul296 »

Tim Leech wrote:It's the D plate estate that I had then passed on to Dom.
It is indeed - I'm freezing cold just thinking about it! :( I saw it at the DSM with Dom Weston shortly after the Scottish Challenge and it looked in very fine fettle . . .

Image

Welcome aboard Condorman - nice estates are getting very rare. =D>
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Re: New owner

Post by RxBX »

Hi and welcome 'Condorman' to the BXC and well done to the acquisition of Estate (D679 XPB) !
Tim Leech wrote:It's the D plate estate that I had then passed on to Dom.
I was one of the BX enthusiasts along with Tom and his Uncle which helped Tim who initially rescued it !

Hopefully you've seen/read THIS thread and the links within ?

But you've probably not seen the one for under one of 'Tims Blogs' which includes the photos of the RESCUE-MISSION (which has plenty of photo's to look at) :wink:
bxzx16v wrote:Welcome along , and as Mulley says , we need pics .

Mark
MULLEY wrote:Is this the Ex-Rob Moss @ Chevronics one?

Welcome by the way, we also like piccies ;)
So you guys /\ , how many more photos do you need now to look at (with the links to the previous thread/postings) :?

'Conderman' if you prefer the O/E revised reinforced clutch lever arm (Albeit you've had the existing one welded up/reinforced) I do have a least a couple available with the better type of bushing fitted too, its a pity you never join the forum earlier and placed a wanted ad. posting for one (but its here if still needed) :wink:

.
Last edited by RxBX on Thu Aug 14, 2014 8:37 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: New owner

Post by Defender110 »

Welcome along bud, hopefully you will find most repairs that may be needed will be quite simple, nothing really over complicated on a BX.
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Re: New owner

Post by Tim Leech »

Plus that car has had all new spheres, cambelt, head gasket and been repiped so its pretty much "sorted"
Lots of Motors, mostly semi broken....
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Caffiend
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Re: New owner

Post by Caffiend »

Congratulations, you got a nice example there. Hope you continue to enjoy it and can get to some events with it :)
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Condorman
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Re: New owner

Post by Condorman »

I see from these posts that the car is quite well known and certainly was revived well from its long storage. I previously had a Ford Mondeo, which was OK but really just a form of transport. The BX may not be quite as smooth as a modern car but I know some of that is because mine is 27 years old so there are some rattles etc. which I hope soon to sort out. It feels faster than the Ford but its 400kg lighter so it should.
Thanks for all your messages and I will post some up to date photos when I can
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Tinkley
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Re: New owner

Post by Tinkley »

Mondeo? The BX is relative to the Sierra! Which BTW I think was a very good Ford along with the first Focus.
Welcome to an older world, but no less innovative in its day. Personally I do not think there have been many truly innovative developments since then. Sure a lot of incredible work with fuel injection mapping and stop/start etc but that is all logical (as Spock would say), but until we have fuel cells that weigh 25Kg etc the Sierra/Mondeo and BXarestill pretty good. Again v personally I would quite like a steam engine running n wod pellets but that's just me :D

Lots of safety stuff, but it shold not be derogatory to vehicles, sorry rant coming. Good luck with new purchase, enjoy.
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Thread Bear
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Re: New owner

Post by Thread Bear »

I went back to the BX as it offers smooth in great degrees. If yours is not then hopefully fiddling with it and some minor investment will see another magic carpet ride that really makes me wonder what on earth the motor manufacturers think they are doing - well apart from making money of course. I see no advantage in newer cars on our roads and the density of their use today. My BX can keep up, is quiet and frugle. It can carry more crap than most moderns yet is smaller than the majority and it stands out in a crowd, which seems to have huge importance for many buyers. All for about £1000 for a good 'un on the road. Bargain! Where is the competition?
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Gary - 17 TZD Turbo E, 118k miles - in work

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citsncycles
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Re: New owner

Post by citsncycles »

Welcome - as another of the hands that helped revive this car (mostly from underneath!) I can say that it's incredibly solid - although you may want to do some remedial work to make sure that the odd patch of surface rust doesn't become serious.

I was talking to Tony Weston the other day and he said it was a shame they had to sell it, but they've run out of space!
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Condorman
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Re: New owner

Post by Condorman »

To all of those who helped restore this car, I offer my thanks. It's behaved well, as it should, since I picked it up from Gloucestershire with the one exception of the clutch lever on top of the gearbox. The clutch works well now but I suspect that a new one will be needed before very long. Then again at 89,000 miles, it would not be surprising.
It's several years since I last had a BX, also an estate but diesel and I'd forgotten just how much fun they are. Perhaps not as quiet as more modern vehicles but I think some of that is its age and also some rattles need sorting out.
One question someone here can probably answer is would it feel smoother with different tyres? At the moment there are Goodyear's on the front and Semperit/Firestone on the back. I remember a Xantia I had with Goodyear's on the front and it was a beast. When I changed to Kumho the ride and steering were vastly improved; is the BX as sensitive to tyre make? Would Kumho tyres work, or some other make, or would it be best to go the whole hog and get Michelin?

Peter.
Current cars:
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Rover 75 CDT Club auto estate
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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

Re: New owner

Post by MULLEY »

The make of tyre won't affect the ride one little bit, handling yes, but ride comfort not one iota. If you changed the tyre aspect ratio that would have an effect. Tyres also now come with a guide which i think is quite useful, especially the noise levels.
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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