C5 Tales from the Electronic Side

[MULLEY]

I tried that as well, fuck all difference, haha...

[electrokid]

Tyre technology has moved on a smidge since 1982

Very true - and I know it's just a personal choice - but that's because there is a choice. They had the technology in 1982 to mould the steel braid in the right place in the tyre and for whatever reason couldn't be arsed to do so - and not just on my car - there were plenty of other problems with Dunlops at the time. It really pissed me off that my first year of owning my one and only brand new car was spent waddling uncomfortably along the road and being dissapointed with the car when it was just the wibbly-wobbly tyres that were to blame.

Shortly after the Michelins were fitted a friend of mine drove the car (back from the pub so I stayed on to guide other people to the party) - she had a 1300 Metro but mine was just the 1000. When I got the the party and got my car back she just said "WOW" what have you done to the engine ? The answer of course was 'nothing' - just fitted decent tyres.

There's only one eBay - so if we want to use auction sites we have to put up with small sites with limited appeal - or we have to use eBay and all that goes with it - the annoying use of pidgin English, the 'saved searches' that don't work properly, and the saved searches that send the same results several days in a row. They are learning to leave working code alone - but that was a very long learning curve.

With tyres there is a choice and mine is either Vredestein or Michelin.

[Tim Leech]

C5's are good value, I took one into today part exchange for peanuts, 2.2 HDI SX, went well but was abit of a dog.

[MULLEY]

If it's a mk1 2.2, get used to filling the car up regularly, they barely do 35mpg, shame really as the performance is apparently quite good. What was dog like about it?

[Tim Leech]

Its just been battered, dents, dings, scrapes and filthy, mechanically seemed ok and pulled well, I've traded it out.

[Vanny]

with these Dunlop tyres is the worst car i've ever had the displeasure to drive

I have a temporary car at work, Dunlop on the front, Michelin in the back, the front struggles to get around a damp round about at anything more than 15mph, absolutely dreadful things, the bald Bridgestones I had on the previous car outperformed these! Then again, it is an Alfa.

[MULLEY]

Which dunlops have you got fitted? mine are great other than on snow & then its a huge fail.

Got my vehicle tax reminder today, good news, i can pay over 12 mths at a cost of £152.25 (£12.68p/m) as opposed to a lump sum of £145 for the year, not too bad at only £7.25 extra for the year. Has anyone received their BX reminder yet, it'd be interesting to know how much they now cost to tax.

[Tinkley]

Sadly they need to be 40 years old to be free of road tax, which is really annoying as mine would be 25 next year!. Interesting that the year is now a rolling one now though. I actually expect to get hammered as usual, bet it will be £250 a year for the 1.6 after the budget, even though keeping it going is saving the carbon emmissions... Still compared to some service charges etc it's probably not too bad, or the lease cost per month on a new, or depreciation.

[mds141]

Vehicle details
6 month rate £126.50 12 month rate £230.00 6 monthly by direct debit totalling £120.75 12 monthly by direct debit totalling £230.00 Monthly by direct debit totalling £241.50 (Monthly payment of approximately £20.13) Vehicle make CITROEN Date of first registration 31 January 1989 Year of manufacture 1989 Cylinder capacity (cc) 1905cc CO?Emissions Not available Fuel type PETROL Export marker No Vehicle status Tax not due Vehicle colour WHITE Vehicle type approval Not available Wheelplan 2 AXLE RIGID BODY Revenue weight Not available
That's the monthly amount I'm paying for the valver's road tax. It's the same amount for the XM.

[MULLEY]

It's not so bad when you can pay monthly

[MULLEY]

My last tankful i only managed just under 46mpg which is dissapointing as i was hoping with the new thermostat, the engine temperature would help with the economy, nope So i decided to buy a genuine vdo siemens maf, which arrived in the post this week & i fitted it yesterday. It seemed to make the car slightly more responsive, or was it just the placebo affect? Either way, i'm hoping it helps with the fuel economy, it had better do as it cost £70+

[Way2go]

It seemed to make the car slightly more responsive, or was it just the placebo affect? Either way, i'm hoping it helps with the fuel economy, it had better do as it cost £70+

We're still awaiting news of you're planned dabbling with Nitrous Injection and its results. Or, has this fallen off the "To Do" list now?

[MULLEY]

I've got 2 bx's to get back on the road, so never say never

[MULLEY]

A visit to Barry's today saw the following done, oil change, oil & fuel filter. Cruise control fitted, just needs to be lexia'd to get it working The steering surround had to be cut to allow it to fit. A check on an oil leak, the sump bolts were checked for tightness, will have to see if the oil leak continues, its not bad, just annoying. Rear psgr side cylinder gator replaced, as they come in sets of 2, i've got a replacement once the other side goes.

Barry mentioned that he's fitted some C5 rear spheres to his BX, should last almost indeffinetly, i may give this a go on the valver when i need some spheres, makes financial sense & will probably suit it as its a firmer ride than other BX's anyway.

Some interior trim was re-fitted, so the inside looks a bit better now. Some of the plastic panels underneath the car were damaged & had clips/bolts missing, so some zip ties have sorted that temporarily, i'll see if i can get the correct bits over time. Checked why the screen wash pump is a bit rubbish, unfortunatley taking it out & dis-asembling it meant it now doesn't work Can't win them all i guess, but at least it looks easy to fit a new one, i was kinda watching, so i'll have to order one soon.

The car did pass it's mot the day before todays visit in Bourne

Not sure if i've forgotten anything else or not, & whilst i was down, i did a few bits on the valver, which i'll post up on my other blog. Weather went from raining to sunny on & off, much nicer, shame it was so bloody cold. A good day though.

The C5 still feels slowish though, i wonder if it could be something amiss, unless its just me? The mini feels so much more responsive & accelerates a lot quicker & has less power, how does that work?

[MULLEY]

I forgot to mention that the side indicator bulbs were replaced as the mot tester spotted they were more white than orange. Unfortunatly the driver side plastic cover came adrift at Barry's, i've re-glued it with some clear builders caulk, so all's well.