John Dragon Man's Citroen BX Diesel Estate

Tell us about life with your BX, or indeed life in general!
User avatar
Dragon Man
BXpert
Posts: 187
Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2015 3:45 am
Location: The East Midlands, Derby
My Cars: Citroen Dispatch 2.0L HDi 2005
Fiat Panda 4x4 Sisley 1991
x 6

John Dragon Man's Citroen BX Diesel Estate

Post by Dragon Man »

Well here I am, now an owner of a BX Diesel Estate in Sliver!

so yesterday (the 20th of June 16) i took a trip down to London with a car transporter and picked up this nice little... (umm.. a little more larger than i am use to) estate car!

i am pretty happy with it, the overall cost was £400 for the car and around £350 to get it delivered here to Derby (yes i know i could have got it cheaper now :x ).

bodywork wise the car is a little "used". given what i have seen of London (first time i have been!) i think the car survived well!

the engine is dead. the bottom end may be savable but i think i am going to go down the complete engine swap fix route. i am not sure if it may have damaged anything else bar the head. so that said i am now looking for a low miles XUD engine. be it a 1.7 or 1.9 (ill worry about that camshaft pump pulley further down the line)

the hydraulics are untested. the spheres are dated 2001 so are 15 years old they they need changing but are near the bottom on my list of things to change for obvious reasons. i will try and test the hydraulics by spinning the pump using an electric motor. being as it is cam driven it does not turn very quick even with the pulley ratio. maybe even a battery drill could do it.

the LHM fluid is more of a cloudy yellow/cream colour, i have read that it should be green. so i will change that when the engine is in and connected up.

who wants to see some pictures?

now some have already seen the pre buy photos:

Image

Image

Image



now i have the car at work, i was able to take more photos. sadly its in a dark unit.. yes all the lights were on, its just most dont work!

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image



and this is what it looks like when a camshaft breaks caused by a snapping cam belt! ouch!

note snapped belt..

Image

lets take a closer look at that camshaft.. also note the camshaft journal caps smashed to hell. you can see that valve number 6 (cylinder 3's exhaust valve) was open when the piston smashed into it sending the force up the valve stem and into the camshaft.

Image

Thanks for looking and please do stay tuned! there will be frequent updates of the repair work and even online Video Log!

Image
- JohnDragonMan

Drives: Citroen Dispatch with retrofitted air conditioning 8)
Classic Fiat Panda 4x4 Sisley named Talon (long term storage)

always buy base spec. that way you have the fun of putting all the cool bit on your vehicle :mrgreen:
User avatar
JayW
1K Away
Posts: 1590
Joined: Thu Dec 07, 2006 6:40 pm
Location: Now listen here you mullet...
x 13

Re: John Dragon Man's Citroen BX Diesel Estate

Post by JayW »

Done so many of these it's getting down to an afternoons work!

Easy fix, good luck.
I have zero patience for your tedium.
User avatar
Dragon Man
BXpert
Posts: 187
Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2015 3:45 am
Location: The East Midlands, Derby
My Cars: Citroen Dispatch 2.0L HDi 2005
Fiat Panda 4x4 Sisley 1991
x 6

Re: John Dragon Man's Citroen BX Diesel Estate

Post by Dragon Man »

ohh is that a complete engine swap or just a cylinder head replacement? do you have any tips or know of any threads that would help me out?
maybe if all goes well with mine, i will write a "how too" article on it for any future seekers in the ways of BX diesel repairs. :D
- JohnDragonMan

Drives: Citroen Dispatch with retrofitted air conditioning 8)
Classic Fiat Panda 4x4 Sisley named Talon (long term storage)

always buy base spec. that way you have the fun of putting all the cool bit on your vehicle :mrgreen:
User avatar
JayW
1K Away
Posts: 1590
Joined: Thu Dec 07, 2006 6:40 pm
Location: Now listen here you mullet...
x 13

Re: John Dragon Man's Citroen BX Diesel Estate

Post by JayW »

Swapping the complete engine takes the same time as swapping the head and in my opinion is a better bet if the rest of your lump is an unknown quantity. It's one of the simplest units you can wish for and REALLY self explanatory, the only tricky bit can be separating the exhaust manifold from the downpipe.

Cliff (rutter123) had a complete unit going unless it's already gone to scrap. Find his "breaking" thread or check out ebay.
I have zero patience for your tedium.
Defender110
Over 2k
Posts: 5918
Joined: Wed Dec 16, 2009 8:02 pm
Location: Harwood, Bolton
My Cars: Land Rover Discovery Series 1 200tdi 3 door
Land Rover Discovery Series 2 Facelift TD5
2020 Fiat Panda cross 4x4 twin air.
x 27

Re: John Dragon Man's Citroen BX Diesel Estate

Post by Defender110 »

Good save and well worth it for the condition of the bodywork alone, you have caught that rust on the n/s just in time. This rust comes from mud trapped in the rear subframe mounts / rear of the sill where there is a cavity behind and underneath the door shut so make sure you attack this from underneath and not just the bit on show in the door closure. The mechanicals are all very simple so no worries on that score.
Kevan
1997 Mercedes C230 W202
2003 Land Rover Discovery Series 2 Facelift TD5 - Daily driver / hobby days and camping.
1993 Land Rover Discovery 200tdi Series 1 3 door - in need of TLC
2020 Fiat Panda 4x4 Cross Twin Air.
rutter123
Over 2k
Posts: 2695
Joined: Sun Sep 02, 2012 9:54 pm
Location: South Lincs
My Cars: 90 Bx Tzd turbo ven red 295k
74 D Super 5 black
05 Volvo V50 2.0d 180k
65 Peugeot Boxer work van 280k
x 137

Re: John Dragon Man's Citroen BX Diesel Estate

Post by rutter123 »

Hi Dragon man i still have the complete engine here if your'e interested, i know its high miles but it can be heard running still in the car, trust me these engines are bullet proof if they have been well looked after-which this one has being serviced every 9k . To be honest i think you will be hard pushed to find another bx t/d lump on offer-plenty of n/a's available, even if you strip it down for the head and use your original turbo, pump etc. It has the lucas pump and kkk turbo on it and all the intercooler and associated pipework, all it would need is a set of gaskets replacement as a precaution, its up to you the choice is yours, my t/d is near on 300k's now and still fine with no issues only needing a turbo rebuild @ 250k. let me know either way if your'e interested as the car will be going to get canned soon.
90 BX Tzd turbo 294k SORN undergoing major surgery
90 BX Tzd turbo estate 46k awaiting surgery
65 Peugeot Boxer Van the new workhorse
52 Toyota Rav4 180k Bulletproof Jap reliability
User avatar
Tim Leech
Over 2k
Posts: 15617
Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 11:12 am
Location: Derbyshire
My Cars: Various
x 160

Re: John Dragon Man's Citroen BX Diesel Estate

Post by Tim Leech »

Hi John

I didn't realise you were also from Derby, Im very local
Lots of Motors, mostly semi broken....
User avatar
Dragon Man
BXpert
Posts: 187
Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2015 3:45 am
Location: The East Midlands, Derby
My Cars: Citroen Dispatch 2.0L HDi 2005
Fiat Panda 4x4 Sisley 1991
x 6

Re: John Dragon Man's Citroen BX Diesel Estate

Post by Dragon Man »

hmm i'm really going to have to think this over.. i have so many ways i can repair this and each one would be good but its figuring out the best.
i really would like to go down the whole new cylinder head, belts, water pump and pulleys route.

anyway.. i made my first video on the car. i hope it embeds in this forum:

- JohnDragonMan

Drives: Citroen Dispatch with retrofitted air conditioning 8)
Classic Fiat Panda 4x4 Sisley named Talon (long term storage)

always buy base spec. that way you have the fun of putting all the cool bit on your vehicle :mrgreen:
User avatar
morningglory
Confirmed BX'er
Posts: 81
Joined: Tue Jul 23, 2013 10:32 pm
My Cars: 1994 TZD Estate in 'Canal-Boat Green'
x 4

Re: John Dragon Man's Citroen BX Diesel Estate

Post by morningglory »

Perfect colour for that car I love it. Good luck with the restoration.
1994 TZD Estate in 'Canal-Boat Green'

Image
User avatar
Dragon Man
BXpert
Posts: 187
Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2015 3:45 am
Location: The East Midlands, Derby
My Cars: Citroen Dispatch 2.0L HDi 2005
Fiat Panda 4x4 Sisley 1991
x 6

Re: John Dragon Man's Citroen BX Diesel Estate

Post by Dragon Man »

i have the front end up in the air now.. enough to get any access i would need to do anything on the engine. sadly one of the hydraulic lines went pop when i did it though and i made damn sure i was no where near any of them when i lifted it up too. i really want to replace all of them.

oh before i jacked the car up i did test the suspension by unbolting the pump and spinning it over with a battery drill.
i am happy to say it lifted up perfectly.

i am still undecided on what i am going to do engine wise.. i think a good start is to remove the engine and gearbox from the car completely. that way i can get access to ALL of the steel hydraulic lines.. and replace them. i have no faith in old steel brake lines so old steel "everything" lines.. no no no! get them all changed! looks like a big job as there's quite a few lines to do :mrgreen:
should give me quite enough time to source a replacement maybe..

the underside is a little scored where we dragged it onto the recovery truck but its nothing really. i do plan to give it the full works in rust proofing, cavity wax and underseal. ill get the mechanicals good first though.. but i may rust proof the engine bay when the engine is out.. just to make it more easy.

any tips and things folk can recommend me replace, let me know!
- JohnDragonMan

Drives: Citroen Dispatch with retrofitted air conditioning 8)
Classic Fiat Panda 4x4 Sisley named Talon (long term storage)

always buy base spec. that way you have the fun of putting all the cool bit on your vehicle :mrgreen:
User avatar
Dragon Man
BXpert
Posts: 187
Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2015 3:45 am
Location: The East Midlands, Derby
My Cars: Citroen Dispatch 2.0L HDi 2005
Fiat Panda 4x4 Sisley 1991
x 6

Re: John Dragon Man's Citroen BX Diesel Estate

Post by Dragon Man »

does anyone know the size of the pipes on the BX? they seem to be.. metric? is that right? also how many different sizes are there?
- JohnDragonMan

Drives: Citroen Dispatch with retrofitted air conditioning 8)
Classic Fiat Panda 4x4 Sisley named Talon (long term storage)

always buy base spec. that way you have the fun of putting all the cool bit on your vehicle :mrgreen:
rutter123
Over 2k
Posts: 2695
Joined: Sun Sep 02, 2012 9:54 pm
Location: South Lincs
My Cars: 90 Bx Tzd turbo ven red 295k
74 D Super 5 black
05 Volvo V50 2.0d 180k
65 Peugeot Boxer work van 280k
x 137

Re: John Dragon Man's Citroen BX Diesel Estate

Post by rutter123 »

I wouldn't waste money changing all the steel pipes unless they are corroded or look suspect in any way, i would go down the lines of replacing all the pipe seals tho as a precaution if you are going to be stripping them all out, generally all the steel pipework under and behind the engine will have survived quite well, this would also work out quite expensive to replace all the lines unless you have access to a pipe bender and flaring tool.
I believe the pipes are 3.5mm and 4.5mm.
90 BX Tzd turbo 294k SORN undergoing major surgery
90 BX Tzd turbo estate 46k awaiting surgery
65 Peugeot Boxer Van the new workhorse
52 Toyota Rav4 180k Bulletproof Jap reliability
User avatar
Dragon Man
BXpert
Posts: 187
Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2015 3:45 am
Location: The East Midlands, Derby
My Cars: Citroen Dispatch 2.0L HDi 2005
Fiat Panda 4x4 Sisley 1991
x 6

Re: John Dragon Man's Citroen BX Diesel Estate

Post by Dragon Man »

hmm.. i didnt realise that Citroen made all of the pipes "only Citroen" sizes. i guess thats why theres hardily any old Citroens around now.. because no one can repair anything or even get hold of replacement pipe or fittings!


ill look to see if i can find a way to adapt ALL lines to common pipe sizes. i work next door to a hydraulic specialist, they make custom pipes and even do converting from metric to imperial so maybe they can help me out.
it would be nice if i can get some adaptors made up to take the silly 3.5mm pipe to something like the 3/16" pipe commonly found on everything.

sadly i know i have a few pipes on mine that look very crusty. so i think it is a worthy thing to do.
- JohnDragonMan

Drives: Citroen Dispatch with retrofitted air conditioning 8)
Classic Fiat Panda 4x4 Sisley named Talon (long term storage)

always buy base spec. that way you have the fun of putting all the cool bit on your vehicle :mrgreen:
User avatar
jamescarruthers
BXpert
Posts: 579
Joined: Wed Nov 07, 2012 2:11 pm
Location: Cambridge
x 25

Re: John Dragon Man's Citroen BX Diesel Estate

Post by jamescarruthers »

Pleiades in Sawtry will sell you pipe related stuff, mail order. Telephone Martin.
1987 Volvo 480 ES
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG

Previous BX's:
A966 XRL -- BX 16 TRS
H767 BEG -- BX 14 TGE
B316 AMP -- BX 14 E
User avatar
Dragon Man
BXpert
Posts: 187
Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2015 3:45 am
Location: The East Midlands, Derby
My Cars: Citroen Dispatch 2.0L HDi 2005
Fiat Panda 4x4 Sisley 1991
x 6

Re: John Dragon Man's Citroen BX Diesel Estate

Post by Dragon Man »

so when taking the engine out, the best way is from the top? and also i am guessing you can leave the gearbox attached and just pop the drive axles out of the gearbox?
i watched a video of some lads fitting an XUD to a BX estate and they just drop it all in with the wheels still on so i am guessing that they will all just come out fine.

it needs all the CV boots doing as the 2 outer ones have split.

also has anyone ever gotten away with using a standard flare like the ones used on brake lines for the suspension pipes? the idea of the rubber seals mixed with flares seems a little... not advanced (well not future proof!) for saying how advanced Citroen was back in the day. i cant see what is wrong with the good old standard flare? i have done loads and even completely renewed all the pipework on both of my pandas and never had one leak! is it something to do with the thin sizes of the pipes?
to me the way i see it is the pipes being thin was just a way to help reduce costs.
i really hope i get a chance tomorrow/today ( :shock: i need to get some sleep!) to speak to the guys next door about the adaptors.
- JohnDragonMan

Drives: Citroen Dispatch with retrofitted air conditioning 8)
Classic Fiat Panda 4x4 Sisley named Talon (long term storage)

always buy base spec. that way you have the fun of putting all the cool bit on your vehicle :mrgreen: