love to have a citroen bx 4x4

[Kevin B]

Whilst it is true a diesel option was never available in the UK. N/A diesel options were available in France, also the Estate version was available in Norway with the fuel injected engine option.

Further more a Turbo deisel version was made as a one off special which featured in the CCC magazine some years ago, though I would be doubtful if the transfer box splines lasted very long.

PM me if your interested in a BX 4 x4 (estate or hatchback) as I know somone who has a few, but they would require some work before they could be returned to the road.

[Pug405BX]

There seems to be a general lack of understanding of the purpose of driving all four wheels on a vehicle.A front wheel drive car will perform well in icy or slippery conditions because it has greater weight on its driving wheels giving greater traction.This was the reason for Mini (the REAL one) being an excellent rally car when first introduced. The steerable front wheels enable a driver to correct any slip or skid WITHIN LIMITS. Permanent four wheel drive is useful if A LOT of power is to be applied to the road wheels.Put simply if an average car puts 100hp into a pair of front wheels the tyres are readily able to put the power into moving the car without wheel slip (Boy Racer Syndrome)Uprate engine power to 200hp and wheelslip would be difficult to prevent.Split power four ways and we are back to no wheelslip but have a car putting more power into the road.Having driven Land Rover and other 4x4 vehicles in icy conditions as well as (yes) Austin 1300 and Minis I agree I prefer the front wheel drive! The 4x4 BX was very much a marketing ploy by Citroen as other manufacturers like Audi introduced their bigger and more expensive models.like most other marketing attempts we all know the product didn't meet the hype. As a novelty it may be worth having as an example, as a workhorse anyone is likely to end up throwing telephone number money at one.

[Vanny]

BX 4x4 diesel estate was available in the UK as best i know, think i have the magazine kicking about.

It is interesting to see how the media has warped peoples minds about 4 wheel drive, its clear that most people writting within this thread equate 4x4 with off roading, they are not the same. The all wheel drive BX is a road car, it can not magically go places that a regular BX can not, if you get stuck with 2 wheel drive BX you'll get stuck with a 4 wheel drive off road. The 4 wheel drive is heavier and has no greater or lesser articulation than a 2wheel drive, if your going to use the arguement that the rear wheels will push you out when the fronts get stuck then you've probably only been off roading in 4x4 off roaders! Especially with road tyres. Infact it is a myth that 4wheel drive will give you any better or worse traction on ice and snow, its the tyre choice that makes the impact.

A '4x4' BX is a road car, they are good because you get a bit more control over what the rear end does, and you can generate a lot more dust on country/dusty/dirt roads. I find i have more confidence in a BX 4x4 when travelling in the twisties at speed, but peobably overall less than the 16v which is a little more forgiving as it has so much less tail weight.

I guess this is a personal view, but i've spent a lot of time on farms and driving off road in landies and tractors and i'm incredibly proficient at getting them stuck, even a modern 4 wheel drive tractor with magic (or not) traction control. I also test drive incredibly high powered vehicles on ice and snow tracks in Canada, so have some experience there. My view is simply that the 4x4 is a nice comfortable toy, but if you want to off road in a BX then a 14tge with decent mud terrain front tyres will get you a lot further than a 4x4. Or if you want to wade, get a 19rd with suitable tyres!

[Tim Leech]

No diesel 4x4 BXs were ever imported into the UK by citroen but Im sure some must have been. If they had strengthened the oily bits and attached it to the TD engine it would have been a great piece of kit, especially in estate form.

[MULLEY]

Never knew they even did a n/a 4x4, it must have been total crap with that lack of power, extra weight & the power sapping 4x4 system, no wonder they must all be dead.

[assembled]

Further more a Turbo deisel version was made as a one off special which featured in the CCC magazine some years ago, though I would be doubtful if the transfer box splines lasted very long..

I wonder whether it wound be possible to see some pictures or the article.

[docchevron]

I'm pretty sure I had a brouchure that listed a diesel estate 4x4 in this country

[JayW]

Still think 16Vx4 is the way to go in hatch form.

The only real benefit of the 4x4 is roadholding and that's not going to be utilised with an oil burner in there.

Anyone know what the f/r split value is on the system?

Didn't early MI16x4's have a cable operated diff instead of a TorSen? If you could lay your hands on one of those and a BX GTi4x4 you could have a viable project on your hands.

I don't think i've heard of the spline-wear issue on the Pugs, if that'sthe case, what was the difference? There's still a fair amount of MI-4x4's about...

As a footnote, there's only roughly 30 BX 4x4's of any guise left!

[assembled]

Anyone know what the f/r split value is on the system?

53/47 open differential, 50/50 closed if I get the French manual right.

[mat_fenwick]

I'm guessing the front to rear difference when open is down to the extra transmission losses in the rear drivetrain biasing it to the front slightly.

[Kitch]

Still think 16Vx4 is the way to go in hatch form.

I don't. It's not exactly a grunty engine, and as demonstrated in the Mi16x4 the system rinses all the power out of the engine. You end up screaming around not going anywhere.

4wd cars need a turbo lump IMO. But BXs don't need 4wd, which is the most crucial element for me

[Vanny]

But BXs don't need 4wd

Try going 140mph sideways in a 2WD BX, then tell me they don't need 4WD.

Though in defense of the BX, i blame the lardy passenger!

[Kitch]

But BXs don't need 4wd

Try going 140mph sideways in a 2WD BX, then tell me they don't need 4WD.

Though in defense of the BX, i blame the lardy passenger!

I had mine up to 143mph once (hit the limiter in 5th) but alas did not go sideways so am not qualified to comment

[JayW]

But BXs don't need 4wd

Try going 140mph sideways in a 2WD BX, then tell me they don't need 4WD.

Though in defense of the BX, i blame the lardy passenger!

I blame the drivers inexperience of lightweight FWD's on track!

Yes, 4wd will drop power but what you gain in traction & cornering ability cancels the losses out.

The BX may be fun on the road but in standard form isn't that fast on track.

[flub1jag]

drive is great had one for 20 years just about to get it back on the road been in a garage for 10 years . hold the road like glue