4x4 bx

Cai87 · Post by **Cai87** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 5:20 pm

Does anyone know of a bx 4x4 fos sale? Or any advice in finding one?
Thanks
Cai

Post by **Tim Leech** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 9:36 pm

Hi Cai

Welcome to the forum, 4x4s are quite rare, they didnt make many and unfortunatly they do suffer with mechanical failures in the 4x4 system which renders the car immobile and has sent quite a few otherwise good cars to an early grave so do tread with caution, or maybe stick to a 2wd one?

Cai87 · Post by **Cai87** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 10:44 pm

hmm, I quite fancy a 4x4 one to be honest. Are they really that bad reliability wise?

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 10:51 pm

Worth doing some research on the forum to see if its something that you actually want to get into.

The main issue is the transfer box/splines which are a weak spot. The other issues are, because of the complexity of the 4wd system, everything is much harder to get at, so everything takes twice as long to do e.g the clutch.

Oh & the fact that exhausts are bespoke & only the 4x4 one fits, so you'll either have to borrow the part off a member of this club to get one made up, or you'll have to get a full stainless steel one, again can be pricey.

Personally, i wish you well, they are rare & deserve a place, but unless you are able to do a lot of the work yourself, you'll find that they can be a very expensive money pit & i'd stick with the 2wd variants which have less to go wrong, are quicker & better on petrol & don't require so much labour intensive time to do repairs on.

But hey, don't let me put you off

Post by **Tim Leech** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 10:52 pm

Cai87 wrote:hmm, I quite fancy a 4x4 one to be honest. Are they really that bad reliability wise?

Ive never owned one myself and with anything you always here the bad experiences more than the good, but sadly it is a common and well known occurance for it to fail, more of a case of when it goes wrong instead of if!, certain parts are bespoke to the 4x4 (exhaust for one) and are hard to get hold if at all and command a high premium over other models which are quite cheap. Unless you need a 4x4 or have great mechanical knowledge I possibly would avoid it and if you do get one try and find another one as a spares car.

A GTi (hatch) is pretty much the same car albeit in 2wd form and can do very high mileages if maintained correctly.

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 10:55 pm

Maybe this makes sense:

Cai87 wrote:hmm, I quite fancy a 4x4 one to be honest. Are they really that bad reliability wise?

The general consensus is:

Yes.

But. A modification that might prove to make the weak point* stronger is rumoured to be in the latter stages of development. It is not yet available and so is not something to be counted upon... but fingers crossed.

Another BUT: The exhaust is made of 100% Unobtainium so we await some kind heart to donate a system to a fabricator who can use normal terrestrial materials.

*pathetically weak splines in the transfer drive shaft, I believe.

Post by **Tim Leech** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 10:58 pm

Unobtanium

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 12:51 am

That's a Cavmad or Doc - ism

I think!

cavmad · Post by **cavmad** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 11:06 am

A Doc-ism I think.

Exhausts ARE available, but bloody hard to find. I'd suggest getting one knocked up by an exhaust specialist if you buy a 4x4.

Then just wait for the gearbox shaft thing to fuck up ten miles later and et voila, welcome to BX 4x4 ownership

Jayboy · Post by **Jayboy** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 9:46 am

There's a couple of us with new 4x4 exhaust systems, but only the middle and rear sections. Don't think anyone has a new front downpipe in their collection (it took me 2 years to get a secondhand one) and that's the part which fails most commonly!

Post by **docchevron** » Sat Dec 19, 2009 2:41 am

unobtainium, crapite, cheesium, all well known technical terms!

There is a fix for the bix in progress, from which any box could have the same method of adaption applied, but it's not going to be all that cheap probably..

Can't really see what the problem with the exhaust is TBH, ANY half decent stainless manufacturer could knock one up for not much more than you'd pay for a normal exhaust, if you could actually get one..

columbo · Post by **columbo** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 1:04 am

hello

on the french website 'BX WORLD FORUM' , you could maybe find some mechanical parts (second hand) for the 4WD bx , because some of the bx lovers still appreciate to drive such 4X4 bx . Some of them have some parts and could maybe help you. For example , in the north part of Paris, in the town of Aubervilliers, there is a company called ' AMG ',where you find the exhaust for BX 4WD 4X4 made by a italian well known factory called ' IMASAF ' .
IMASAF sell also in Germany, and maybe in UK ?.....
You may also find parts for the BX 4X4 exhaust system in Citroën France dealers, Citroën Belgium, Citroën Deutschland Germany, Citroën Switzerland.....I was looking for these parts a few years ago for BX 4WD Estate 1,9 Injection Monopoint Marelli from Suisse (export special model, not made in France with this engine).
The adress in France (North part) for IMASAF is :

Amg
amg93.com

100 Boulevard Félix Faure
93300 Aubervilliers
01 53 56 91 50