BX Club Forum

Gentlemen - may I please direct you to THIS thread for all your pedantic needs.

Matt H wrote:People seem to be making a lot of assumptions here.

I guess this is aimed at me, seeing as this is the thread named Matt H's BX 14.

No... Not at all. Really.

It's more a case of information, in the most relevant place. I appreciate that it might look like it's become a bit of a witch-hunt for anyone with unlawful number-plates, but I genuinely only intended this to be a bit of useful information, hence not going overboard with "OMG THOSE PLATES ARE ILLEGAL! YOU ARE BREAKING TEH LAW!!!11!!!!eleventy!" rather enquiring and making sure that you were aware that that "french" plates aren't actually road legal.

Far better to be informed of the law and know where you stand than be pulled over for something you weren't aware was unlawful. After all, ignorance is no defence in the eyes of the law.

Matt H wrote:I know they are illegal... But thank you for pointing that out, because If I didn't know, I would most definitely want to.

.. and that's all I was trying to achieve. Honest!

I'd just like to add that the number plate thing is NOT for 'our' protection imho, it's so the police can make sure they nail you when you go past ANPR equipped police vehicles or speed cameras. That would explain why they had a huge clampdown on any illegal looking number plates when all these speed cameras (especially the digital ones) started cropping up.

As regards the French symbol on number plates if it's illegal, it's illegal and personally speaking I'd sooner spend two weeks locked in a lift with Carol Thatcher and listening to Cilla Black records than display the flag of any other country but my own.

Okay then, I think that is all sorted now...

Back on topic, there should be some news regarding my car within the next week or so, so stay tuned.

Hi Matt,

look forward to hearing further news on your car.

I think the reason why this was such a hot topic was that there was more than one thread about this, so myself included decided to post in yours, so apologies, certainly wasnt having a personal dig at you, just providing info & asking some questions for personal clarification.....

Forget the bloody number plates, I want some green brake lights!

Whoops...



I've actually taken them off now. I originally fitting them in a sort of opposing way to the thousands of Dubs and Audi's which wear fake german plates. Seeing as French cars, particularly BX's aren't viewed in the kindest way in the UK (even though so many French cars are sold each year!) I thought it would nearly qualify as a piss take!

I did actually get pulled over while it was wearing them once, but it was for rinsing it away from some lights late at night! After I'd been breathylised etc etc they went round the car trying to pin something on me, but found nothing. Then he saw the plates....

Copper: I notice your number plate there.

Me: Oh yeah.

Copper (in a cockey voice): French car is it then sir?

Me: Yeah, it's a Citroen.

Copper called me a twat or something, they both got back in their traffic car and drove off! Didn't even get a producer!

On a better note....hows the car going away? You built than power house TU yet? I just sold my 106 XSi (to a guy in blackburn....he DROVE it back....been off the road for two years, covered in moss, dodgey tyres and wheel bearings....nutcase!) and he rang me back to say how insanely quick it was! And that was just from bolting a 1600 block to a 1400 high comp head....the possibilities are endless

Kitch wrote: I just sold my 106 XSi (to a guy in blackburn....he DROVE it back....been off the road for two years, covered in moss, dodgey tyres and wheel bearings....nutcase!)

Unsurprising there then. Blackburn, Blackpool and Liverpool have the highest numbe of unisured drivers in the North West.

Ah no he was covered I think....he had trade plates. But the legalities were the least of his worries I reckon. It was a mess!

Errr, well the car hasn't moved an inch since the HG went. I've been tooling around in that AX... But now it's been sold, so will have to get a move on with the BX...

I was thinking big valve head and AX GT Carb... maybe a new cam. Another possible strategy is to leave it as standard... for now. and pile the rest of the money into a brand new set of tyres. 195/60/14s are seriously hard to find Good tyres for. It's got Arrowspeeds on the front at the minute... Made in Poland. Actually not bad in the dry but appaling in the wet.

I was wondering actually, will my BX sound as good as the AX GT if I stick the twin choke carb on it?

But... and this is the sticking point, I still haven't been paid, and after some enquiries, it may take up to another 2 weeks for any money to come through. I started at the start of September by the way... Oh well. What can you do eh?

M wrote:

Kitch wrote: I just sold my 106 XSi (to a guy in blackburn....he DROVE it back....been off the road for two years, covered in moss, dodgey tyres and wheel bearings....nutcase!)

Unsurprising there then. Blackburn, Blackpool and Liverpool have the highest numbe of unisured drivers in the North West.

Blood Northerners

It's okay, I can say that... I'm from Blackpool!

Save a few quid & get 185/60's instead, they wont make any difference on a 14tge but will certainly be a lot better than the standard sized tyres that were originally fitted.

Mine's fitted with vredesteins, which came in handy the other day if you've read my thread?

Just my two penn'orth: I've always found BXs a bit under-tyred on the standard fit 165s, but 185s do the job nicely (I'm running Uniroyal Rain Tyres on the advice of several from this forum and am really impressed with them). I've never driven a BX on 195s but I honestly can't see that there would be a massive improvement under normal road conditions... in other words, Mulley's right: you can save a few quid by buying decent 185s without losing much in the way of roadholding.

Easier to get the rear wheels in too with 185s...what difference is 10mm going to make? (Said the bishop to the actress)

The only BX I ever drove with 185's on was my 14 wearing 205 GTi 1.6 pepperpots, with IIRC are only 5.5 across anyway. It didn't grip or handle as well as the 195/6J speedline combo, the valver obviously having the advantage of bigger ARB's etc, but with them fitted the the estate it still hung on like it was hanging off a cliff! I think it actually lifted a rear wheel at one point!

As far as the head etc goes....you know the score with the bigger valves mate. The only mod needed will be to adapt the inlet manifold to fit nicely...not a major job. Your BX will sound exactly the same as an AX GT with the twin choke carb and inlet fitted, provided you use the same ducting the AX uses. If you want noise fit a pancake filter, but they do suck in some hot air, so without something hidieous visually like a bonnet vent they don't do much good!

If the engine is the same as the 205XS 1.4 lump, a K&N filter that replaces all the ducting does work surprisingly well.

I had one of these on a 205, and it made it fly.
With the 1st carb butterfly only, it made little difference in sound,
but it roared when the 2nd opened.

I still have the air filter, but a replacement carb jet is also needed before it can be fitted on another car. The jet comes with the kit normally.

Mike