goodbye BX, hello ZX ?? HELP ME!

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timbo
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goodbye BX, hello ZX ?? HELP ME!

Post by timbo »

Have just got a quote on the repairs needed for the ZX to stay on the road for another year. It's about 800 pound and another 800 pound for the next MOT. I have been offered a Citroen ZX (1.9 non turbo diesel). The ZX had done a Cam belt so the head is knackered. For 750 pound the car will be fully checked out and repaired as needed, a new head fitted and everything detailed and serviced. Give me your opinions people. I know very little about the BX but NOTHING about the ZX. I know the ZX has done 102 000 miles and only had 1 owner (until the owners son did the cam belt).
So feel free to give the opinions guys :D
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DavidRutherford
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Post by DavidRutherford »

have you put ZX a couple of times there when you meant BX?

Why will it cost £800 to put it back on the road, and another £800 next MOT? Nothing can be that expensive on a BX!
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timbo
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Post by timbo »

oops yep a typo on the ZX BX thing. I have a ZX now. It has just been diagnosed as needing:
new bearings all round
new struts
new fuel lines
new brake lines (all round)
suspension service and repair
new steering components
new clutch and thrust bearing

thats to get it on the road safely.
Rust has eaten away subframe in parts
rusted out inner front wheel arch

TOTAL AROUND 1600 pounds
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cavmad
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Post by cavmad »

Timbo, I suppose a lot of that money could be saved if you can do any of the work yourself? Failing that have you thought of asking another member of this forum to see if they could do it for you? There`s a lot of very experienced BX people on here (not me, I`m crap with mechanics!) who might be able to sort these jobs out?
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timbo
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Post by timbo »

that offer is out there as well everybody... it would be sad to see the BX go as it was inherited several weeks ago. It runs very well and the inside/outside of the car is very good for it's age. But underneath... well it needs a heap of work. I am not in a position to do any work myself as I know nothing about them nor do I have anywhere to work on it. I am thinking that the ZX may be the easiest solution at the moment. Feel free to comment..........
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Oscar
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Post by Oscar »

Hi Timbo

I had a ZX that I bought for 250 on ebay. I spent another 100 on replacing the heater matrix, before selling it for 160 and buying a BX for 30.

Why am I telling you this? Because if you have had a BX, and what you want is a BX, the ZX will not substitute. It is an economical, reliable, nippy little motor, but has zero charisma, no fun and little drool appeal (in the way that a well-polished BX can make me come over all funny...). Face it, it's indistinguishable from an Astra!

For the sort of money you are talking about, you could get yourself a well-sorted BX for 600, get into this forum and pick up the skills as you go along, in much the same way as I did.

If you don't have the time, and you just want transport, then get the (diesel) ZX and it will probably serve you well.
(Red BX 1.7TZD ("Well, it is a style icon" - Tom Sheppard)) "Was", Tom, "was"
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cavmad
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Post by cavmad »

Ahh, good point. How about buying a decent BX and keeping your old `un for spares or selling it on to someone to restore?
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jeremy
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Post by jeremy »

Timbo - the first thing I look at on a car that I am intending to buy is - how dirty is the engine (and other mechanical bits for that matter.)

Strangely I am pleased if I find quite a dirty engine - as I know that it has not had major work done on it recently. Yes - you probably think I'm mad but my reasoning is that if it has just had work done on it someone has repaired it for sale - and that's where corners are cut.

I would never buy a car for proper money if it had just had serious engine work done. If it had had a complete replacement (with secondhand or whatever) I'd judge it on its merits but buying one that's just had the head replaced or tinkered with - no.

As regards BX versus ZX - well ZX is a very nice little car - well its turning circle is worse than a BX and its actually wider! I have both a ZX 1.9D (bought late 2002 with 53,000 miles on the clock) and a BX TD estate (bought 1999, 163,000 miles then) I have to say that in its 30,000 miles odd the ZX has been the cheapest and most relaible car we have ever had. Its nice to drive and ride in and you think its excellent (unless you want to overtake up motorway hills) until you drive the BX which i suppose says it all really.

BX is simply much nicer to drive.

I agree your BX sounds like a basket case. there are many good ones for sale with MOT for low hundreds. Why not have a look at Autotrader - there are always a few there or indeed the for sale adverts on this board - and have a look at a few. Autotrader also goes for the ZX as well - and a TD will use little or no fuel more than a N/A one and has no additional vices.

The expensive bit on a ZX is the rear trailing arm bearings. These can be replaced on a DIY basis but it is common practice to get an overhauled subframe form a specialist. This may mean a day out as there is one in Plymouth.
timbo
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Post by timbo »

This is my dilemma.... the person who has given the quote for the car (I don't want to give names here), is a specialist Citroen mechanic. He is very reliable (according to this forum). He seems to be a genuine, honest family man and seems to be giving us as much help as he can. He has this ZX that he is prepared to do an engine head replacement on and a thorough going over (and MOT). This for around 750 pounds. He is NOT prepared to give quick, cheap service and sacrifice safety or good service. But at the same time I need to make sure that if the money is paid I have got something reliable out of it all.
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Ian_Fearn
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Post by Ian_Fearn »

timbo wrote:oops yep a typo on the ZX BX thing. I have a ZX now. It has just been diagnosed as needing:
new bearings all round
new struts
new fuel lines
new brake lines (all round)
suspension service and repair
new steering components
new clutch and thrust bearing

thats to get it on the road safely.
Rust has eaten away subframe in parts
rusted out inner front wheel arch

TOTAL AROUND 1600 pounds
I would say there are things on this list that can be done cheaply without sacrificing safety. Things like hydraulic pipes are cheap, struts can be sourced 2nd hand or rebuilt but try to lubricate them first.

Suspension service must be just an LHM change

New clutch, fair enough this is a 250quid job.

Which bearings need changing?

Which steering components need replacing? Generally steering parts are pretty reliable.

I'd stick with the BX, look into what is ACTUALLY needed on your car as the BX is a far more satisfying car to own and drive.
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Post by mnde »

My thought is that there are plenty of ZX's (or for that matter BX's) out there - you don't have to be tied down to this particular ZX... and to me, £750 seems a trifle much to pay for a ZX - and as you say, you need assurance that you're going to get something reliable out of it all.

It may sound harsh - and I'm not making allegations here - but I've heard before of a car being all costed up high to repair, to put off the owner from getting it done. Does it *really* need new struts? all four wheel bearings? (or is it arm bearings...)

Fuel lines - yep they rust
Brake lines - yep ditto
Suspension service and repair: what's that mean exactly?
New steering components: prob the rubber powersteering coupling - when it splits it's an MOT failure - I had it done on mine - not much £
clutch and thrust bearing - yep as Ian says
rust on subframe and repair to inner wing... hmm

but £1600??

I talked to the owner of a BX Mk1 that was written off by an insurer because a bodyshop quoted them a horrendous amount to repair a bashed-in driver's door!!

Difficult because I obviously don't know the car, but when you first described it, you didn't think it was too bad!

Mark.
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Post by tom »

Ow! A difficult dilemma. I haven't yet seen a car that needed struts all round and bearings all round before and when I look at the list you have posted, I am much inclined to seek a second opinion on your BX. Certainly I would think that a ZX that has just been reheaded wouldn't have cost your man anywhere near £750 so I would be a little suspicious of the motives. There are plenty of good BXs out there for less than that sort of lolly, as well.
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Ian_Fearn
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Post by Ian_Fearn »

Bear in mind i paid 500quid for my BX TZD Turbo with 30k on the clock.

All it wanted was a good service.

I'm expecting years of service out of it now.
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timbo
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Post by timbo »

The BX is great on the outside and great on the inside... but underneath.. man, I looked at it all under the hoist and it's "BAD". I can poke my finger throught the trailing arms (think that's what they're called). Yeah all bearings need doing (I can't reverse in a given direction it's like 4 wheel steering). All the bits about the suspension that I've read is what has been quoted for. etc etc ... This ZX seems to be in good condition (body wise). The motor hit the fan when the timing belt went and the head is US. Therefor it's a rebuild for the motor, a full inspection of the rest of the car and repaired as needed. Does it still sound like a ripoff guys? feel free to comment... :D
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Post by Ian_Fearn »

I personally sware by the BX, i've had a lot of cars and driven hundreds more.

I even drive brand new BMW's, Merc's etc that belong to my colleagues at work and they're not a patch on the BX (in my obviously warped opinion!).

I'd hunt out a nice spec BX and pay top money (500quid) to get a nice one. Forget the ZX.
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