What are we going to do about rare spares?

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jeremy
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What are we going to do about rare spares?

Post by jeremy »

I'm very aware that spares for the BX are inevitably getting more difficult and that we don't seem to have a trade 'Champion' like many classics (Rimmers for BL, Craddock and Dunsfold for Land Rover to name a few).

Does anyone know what the situation is like in France - is there someone like GSF who will deal sympathetically with us and send the things by mail order for example?
tim leech

Post by tim leech »

Good point, GSF do there bit but as you ay the rare stuff isnt easily available, anyone fancy becoming a BX parts guru? Doc? :D
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Post by AlanS »

I wouldn't panic too much at this stage mainly because out here where Citroens can be spelt "Sitruns" due to their rareity and where it was once considered record breaking figures when sales hit 2% of national average, there still isn't any real problems finding parts for CXs and Ds so I would say there'll be a supply for quite a while yet.
It seems that there is always someone somewhere who has either access to bits or has an old stockpile hiding out the back.


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cauchoiskev
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Re: What are we going to do about rare spares?

Post by cauchoiskev »

jeremy wrote: Does anyone know what the situation is like in France - is there someone like GSF who will deal sympathetically with us and send the things by mail order for example?
Unfortunately, there is no real equivalent of GSF, which means that I have in the past got BX parts sent to me here in France from England.

The nearest equivalent is oscaro.com, but they are more expensive and don't have the specialised BX parts.
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Post by m_2975 »

Gentlemen,

There's no shortage of parts for the BX. Citroën still stock a lot and there are various aftermarket manufacturers (primarily in Spain) that cater for the BX.

Access to them, as mentioned, may be the problem. Short of getting the genuine stuff from a dealer there surely must be an importer somewhere in the UK that brings in aftermarket stuff too.

I am good mates with a guy who runs a Citroën imports business here in Melbourne, Australia and he has preety much everything for a BX. I can walk in and buy ABS (and non) driveshafts, every hydraulic hose and pipe imaginable, BRAND NEW GENUINE HP pumps, new headlights, body panels (such as front headlight panels, front cross members, front and rear bumper supports), genuine and non genuine spheres, engine parts and quite a few electrical things. If they don't have it I can custom order it!

All of it is excellently priced and will keep me going for years :lol: :lol:

I know of about 4 importers around Australia and Citroën's aren't a common car like they are in the UK.

Hmmm.......maybe that's the problem.....

Anyway, surely there is someone.....just a matter of looking out.


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Post by jeremy »

Had a look at 'Citparts' site - has anyone dealt with them?

I see that while they have driveshafts they don't seem to have ABS front brake hoses which look like being a problem soon (I may have had the last pair from GSF last week)

Has anyone dealt with them? What were they like and how much is carriage from Austria?

I wonder if we can persuade Aerotek or someone that the BX is a classic and get some made up - even if braided which must hide perished rubber rather well.
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Post by BX Bandit »

I've not used Citparts but they have an ebay linky at the top...not checked it out but feedback may give some incling.
There is also http://www.aepdirect.com/defaultHome.aspx in Scotland. They used to be trade only. I have used them for a rear strut boot - unavailable as far as Citroen were concerned but these guys had one. Also very helpful when I was enquiring about comfort spheres.
I will use them again tho' as they sell the Valeo TD clutch at only a few quid more than GSF sell the LUK. I make that point only as I have heard that the Valeo ones are better/last longer but I have no experience to back this up. From memory they (AEP) charge a flat delivery fee of £4 but I could be wrong.
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Post by Ian_Fearn »

As a club we have no money. One of the benefits of BXclub is that its free (unless your name is JonKW) but as we dont pay a subscription there isnt a penny to go into a parts system. I'm not aware of many/any of us that have enough money, time or space to go it alone either.

Take the Allegro club for example they have a dedicated parts warehouse and special service for members. They're still a relatively small group but have secured enough hydragas units and bumpers to keep them going for years!

If there were enough of us to do so a sub-club of BXclub could perhaps be created but i really dont think theres enough of us that would genuinely support it. Another option would be to get CCC backing and make the BXclub become part of the CCC like Semantics (the SM club) or create a proper committee run BX section within the CCC. By doing this you could gain support with enough membership to get some club money to stock pile a sensible amount of spares.

Of course making committees and such like nearly always ends up in arguments and disagreements!

Maybe it would be an idea to create a list of parts we think will be needed to keep the cars going into the next decade and work out if it would be sensible to put something together? Somebody who might be able to help with CCC support would be Chris Salter.

Oh and finally i've not said any of this to put down the already excellent efforts of the BXclub organisers! Thanks men.
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tim leech

Post by tim leech »

Ian_Fearn wrote: If there were enough of us to do so a sub-club of BXclub could perhaps be created but i really dont think theres enough of us that would genuinely support it. Another option would be to get CCC backing and make the BXclub become part of the CCC like Semantics (the SM club) or create a proper committee run BX section within the CCC. By doing this you could gain support with enough membership to get some club money to stock pile a sensible amount of spares.

Oh and finally i've not said any of this to put down the already excellent efforts of the BXclub organisers! Thanks men.
The problem with that in my view Ian is that I dont think alot of the CCC members/organisers class the BX as a "classic Citroen" just yet and theres hardly any interest. I dont remember seeing much about the BX challenge is the CCC magazine?
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Post by Ian_Fearn »

tim leech wrote:
Ian_Fearn wrote: If there were enough of us to do so a sub-club of BXclub could perhaps be created but i really dont think theres enough of us that would genuinely support it. Another option would be to get CCC backing and make the BXclub become part of the CCC like Semantics (the SM club) or create a proper committee run BX section within the CCC. By doing this you could gain support with enough membership to get some club money to stock pile a sensible amount of spares.

Oh and finally i've not said any of this to put down the already excellent efforts of the BXclub organisers! Thanks men.
The problem with that in my view Ian is that I dont think alot of the CCC members/organisers class the BX as a "classic Citroen" just yet and theres hardly any interest. I dont remember seeing much about the BX challenge is the CCC magazine?

I totally take your point but its all about the amount of effort people put in. If it wasnt for Chris Salter there wouldnt have been anything about the 25th anniversary. If we'd got a group of dedicated members then it'd be different.
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Post by tom »

The group exists. It is here, not in the CCC because the CCC couldn't care less unless you own a Traction, DS or SM. Their attitude to later cars is patronising and dismissive and they only want your money. That is why there is no spares support from that quarter.

Forming the club into a properly constituted body was an idea that nearly got me lynched a couple of years ago but a little financial muscle, even to
buy old inventory from those dealers shedding stock would have been a good thing to have had.

A few BXs will survive. The high mileage cars will be broken for spares and the rest will be scrapped. Some spares are now very difficult to find for the TDs and a simple breakdown can put the car off the road for days.
This hasn't stopped owners of much older and rarer cars from keeping them going but the time when a BX can be considered an everyday car is coming to an end.
That is the price of classic status. Even the best restored example cannot be relied upon to be available for use every day. Fortunately, there are other cheap cars that are a generation younger for the car freaks and great though the BX is, this is the 21st Century and 15 years is very old in this market where new cars cost less in real terms than they ever did.

The Bx was succeded by the Xantia and then the C5 which is itself due for its third incarnation. In car terms it is five generations old and has had a good run for its money.

Delighted as I have been with mine, I won't be keeping it much longer.
It will be replaced with something characterful and more modern in the new year as a result of a 400 mile per week travelling commitment.

I bet the replacement won't be as comfortable, though.
tim leech

Post by tim leech »

Fair point, keeping a BX on the road and using it as a everyday car is not as easy anymore, there still in cheap banger territory for now.
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Post by MULLEY »

Dunno, i've been driving mine everyday doing my commute which is 200 miles per week & i've only broken down once in around 2yrs, so pretty reliable on the whole.

But yes, they do require maintenance, not necessarily because of their age or mileage, but from previous owners not getting work done or garages doing bodges etc....

I hope to continue doing many more miles & using as an everyday car, but perhaps when spares are scarce then they will be a weekend or show car only....
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Post by jeremy »

I completely agree with Tom - things will only become increasingly difficult as time goes on and while parts will be obtainable - they will take time to materialise which can mean a car-off-road problem. Anticipation can help but inevietably won't always be successful.

I had to decide if my own DTR Turbo Estate was still viable when it failed its MOT a couple of weeks ago. I was fortunate and may have had the last LHS ABS driveshaft from Eurocarparts and front ABS brake hoses from GSF - which rather brings the situation home!

Anyway I'm pleased to say that it now has a MOT for another year so you won't be getting rid of me yet.
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