Well, the reversing lights were fine once I started the engine and moved it around a bit. I'm wondering whether I'd actually fully engaged reverse, as I did it whilst leaning in through an open window. First proper drive in it this morning and boy did it feel strange! After 10 miles or so, I'd got back into the swing of things and it was feeling natural again. the suspension felt a bit stiff and brakes rather wooden to start with, but by the end of the journey they were feeling supple and sharp respectively.
I went to fill up before the MOT test, and as the attendant went to put the nozzle in I had to restrain myself from shouting "Careful!" No paintwork was harmed though, and £81(!) later it went in for the test. I hadn't had chance to check anything over apart from lights and wipers, so feeling slightly nervous
Happy days! Just phoned the garage and it's passed. Not sure about any advisories yet but will collect at lunchtime. I think this deserves a night off from cars and DIY...
Cheers, I've picked it up now and the only advisory was that one of the rubber strut mounts had deteriorated slightly. You can make it out on this photo where it's come away slightly.
I'd rather know than not know. IIRC it was not unknown for them to separate on Xantias and XMs to let the strut pop though the bonnet!
You could make a cage that surrounds the strut top and utilises the strut mounting bolts. IIRC our Swedish/Norwegian cousins use something similar on their XM's.
Mark Smith
Is it just me or is everything shit?
1989 BX GTi 16 valve. Blanc Alpine. Completed the Citroen Classic Challenge Ecosse and 1337 miles without a hitch.
2000 XM VSX 2.1 td Auto. Rouge Magenta.
TGD saloon many years ago.
1990 Swift 'Corniche' 12/2 aka BXClub HQ.
Honda Firestorm. Gone, but not forgotten.
2015 Triumph Tiger Explorer XC.
A strut brace is something I've been thinking about for a few years, but the only way I can think to make the bit which fix to the strut tops is by using my cutting torch. I'm not sure my hand would be steady enough for the accuracy needed. When I change them would be the ideal time to make a template though.
I'm not sure whether they fail catastrophically though - I remember doing the ones on Timex of which at least one had a fair amount of play IIRC. So it may be a fail-safe design.
After my night off yesterday it was back to it this evening - pretty much finished the stud walling and insulation in the house:
Washing machine temporarily plumbed and wired in so we can wash clothes! It'll soon be time to put plasterboard up
Then freed off and copper greased the rear brakes on the white BX, before fitting replacement tyres all round. It's a shame that the previous set of Michelins had cracked, as there was plenty of tread left.
Also put on the new exhaust, so it'll soon be ready for an MOT.
Not much to report BX wise - done 300 or so trouble free miles in the red one since the MOT and all seems well. Might try some saddle soap on the seats as they are a bit hard rather than soft and supple. Also need to look at a set of tyres for it within the next few thousand miles as I've swapped the very worn fronts to the rear to get a little more life out of them. Can't remember whether this is a no-no from the tyre police
Tasks for tonight when I get back from work are to get firewood under cover after a day spent drying it today, take off the nearside rear arm from the white BX and strip it down, and if I have chance put some wiring in place for a heated rear window for the van. It never had one when new, but I found a company in the States who make stick-on kits for pretty much any size glass. That's been on the to-do list for a while, as it can be a pain looking behind with a steamed up window.
My Cars: 1999 Xsara LX 2.0HDI (90) Hatch - Fern 2002 C5 2.0 HDI (110) Estate - Jasmine - SORN 2011 Mini Cooper D Clubman - SOLD 2016 Mercedes A180D Sport - Auto refinement 1992 TZD Turbo - Bluebell - SORN 1992 TZD Turbo Estate - SORN 1991 Gti 16V - Blaze - crash damaged, will get repaired - SORN 1990 Gti 8Valve SOLD - looks like it's been scrapped 2002 Mini Cooper S - SOLD - i miss this car 1992 TXD - Scrapped in March 2014 1988 CX 25 GTI Turbo2 - SORN 1996 - AX Memphis 1.5D - Dream - SORN
mat_fenwick wrote:Also need to look at a set of tyres for it within the next few thousand miles as I've swapped the very worn fronts to the rear to get a little more life out of them. Can't remember whether this is a no-no from the tyre police
You risk taker you
2002 C5 2.0 HDI Estate - Jasmine - Now SORN
2011 Mini Cooper D Clubman - SOLD
2016 Mercedes A180D Sport - Auto refinement
1992 TZD Turbo - Bluebell - My daily
1991 Gti 16V - Blaze - crash damaged, will get repaired.
1990 Gti 8Valve SOLD - looks like it's been scrapped
2002 Mini Cooper S - SOLD - i miss this car
1992 TXD - Scrapped in March 2014
1988 CX 25 GTI Turbo2 - SORN
1996 - AX Memphis 1.5D - Dream - SORN
...and at first glance the bearing looked visually fine - no damage to the seal. But I could feel a fair bit of play, and when I knocked the tube out I could see what the problem was
The inner race had shattered! It could just be coincidence, but this was the side which had a ruptured sphere and I'm wondering whether the lack of suspension meant that more shocks were transferred to the bearing. It would still more more of a rotational force than a direct impact though.
Next was the wiring on the van...not massively exciting but I did fit the switch and run the wires into the rear door.
Despite not being originally fitted with one, the style of switch was shared with a number of other VWs of the era (this was pinched from an abandoned Scirocco in Scotland!) so it looked pretty neat once fitted and wired in.
No paintwork was harmed though, and £81(!) later it went in for the test. I hadn't had chance to check anything over apart from lights and wipers, so feeling slightly nervous 
Happy days! Just phoned the garage and it's passed. Not sure about any advisories yet but will collect at lunchtime. I think this deserves a night off from cars and DIY...
