Finally a proper introduction

[encargado]

Finally I thought I would introduce my latest acquisition, a 1989 BX GTI (8v) auto, purchased on a whim as a shared project car between myself, my son and his friend. Speedo shows just over 79k miles, but the speedo cable has been broken for at least three year (now fixed). At the price we paid, it seemed too good a bargain to turn down, especially with tax until Feb 2011 and MOT until June 2011 and I needed a run around anyway.

Needs some work (drivers side drive shaft and some earthing problems) but pulls like a train, does not burn any oil and the hydraulics all seem to be in order bar a slight leak from the accumulator sphere on the front. Now in daily use and a delight to drive, reminds me of my first BX 16RE back in 1988

Pics now posted

[Oscar]

Slightly jealous. I'd love a GTI...

The leak from the accumulator can probably be cured by tightening the unions a 1/4 turn each - a good pre-MoT procedure.

[MULLEY]

Nice car, with original wheel trims as well

[Philip Chidlow]

That's a nice example, by the look of it. It's actually quite rare - a pre-facelift Mk2 GTi auto with Jetronic fuel injection and ABS too (I think it was an option until the 1990 facelift?). Lovely colour - special order Gris Dolmen possibly (the same as 16v dark grey) possibly?

Note it's pipework won't be as protected as the later models (which had plastic-coated pipes) unless of course your BX's have been replaced since...

Anyway............ Enjoy!

[Tim Leech]

I have one very similar coming this weekend, welcome to the club!

[Jayboy]

Looks the same as my old GTi apart from that had the early ignition set up and herringbone interior. Gris Axinite

[encargado]

A little progress since the last post, the flaky rear spoiler has now been treated to a couple of coats of Matt Black paint (looks much better now that it matches the rear boot panel) and some of the electrics have been sorted (clock and boot light now work). Spent this weekend taking the instrument panel to pieces and applying grease to the speedo internals to stop the horrible grating noise and the speedo reading 90 when I was doing 30!!, all the switches have been cleaned and now work correctly instead of getting stuck, just need to refit the panel. Also received a replacement o/s drive shaft as the inboard joint on mine has gone and vibrates at anything over 15mph and started the job of replacement (see other post in technical), got the hub end off no problem, but the thing will now not shift out of the intermediate bearing. Given up for the day as it is dark and freezing cold, may have another go tomorrow!!

[kermit the frog]

Hi
Have you undone the two eleven mm nuts on the retaining bolts these are hooked bolt and once you have removed the nuts(which are on the inboard side of the intermediate bearing) you need to push them towards the hub end and turn them through 90 degrees then the bearing will come out.
Soak the bolts and the bearing with penetrating fluid.
Once you have fitted the new drive shaft refit the bolts in the reverse order
Note these bolt get very tight and somtimes bent BE CAREFUL

[encargado]

Oh well, time for an update, new shaft did not solve the vibration issue and managed to break the top fixings when re-fitting the dash. Time to re-think the front end.......

[Jayboy]

I'll eat my hat if I'm wrong but that looks very much like Gris Axinite and the paint code is ETM.

Here's my old one in the same colour....