Page 1 of 3

Chris's BX

Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2020 11:02 am
by White Exec
Took Will's hint, and starting a new thread/blog for the new BX...
.
DSCF3774r.jpg
.
DSCF3773r.jpg
.
Collected from near Marseilles earlier this month, and now back here at home.
All looking very sound, and rust-free (not what I was particularly expecting from that part of France).
Obviously cared for during its 170k km (106k mi) 28-year life.

Done a few checks/jobs on it over the last week or so, some of which do seem a tad familiar :? :

New oils, filters, coolant - coolant bled with an XM header bottle
New cam + aux belts
Spheres (all genuine Citroen, and the correct ones!) now Valprexed and regassed; system bled
LHM was clean
New 096 battery
H4 Philips X-tremes, to replace French yellows
Relays added for main + dip beams, and one to be added for starter solenoid
Twin fans checked and working ok
Broken dipstick top rebuilt

Still to be done:
New handbrake cables (existing ones very stiff)
New TDC/tacho sensor (instrument ok, sensor dead)
Tyres: Michelin Energy at rear, Uniroyal Rain-somethings at the front, just about passable, but will replace with Energy+.

You were right, Will, about some of the bits -
Rear light clusters are the earlier ones, for some odd reason. Don't look too bad on a light coloured car.
A good few 'special edition' Millesime BXs were fitted with chrome bumper inserts, while others got black.
Wheel trim valve covers are missing.
Black strip inserts on the top edge of the front bumper missing.
Paint code is not completely legible, but could be ECZcR Sable - which we'd called Champagne.

Process of transfer to Spanish plates is now starting; temporary plates will allow insurance and road use, hopefully soon.
The '03 RAV4 will go, so we can become a fully-LHM household again.

Re: Chris's BX

Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2020 12:23 pm
by Dieselman
It looks like you are getting well on with it and it will soon be in service.

Interesting that the colour could be ECZ Sable phenecien.

Does this car have the GTi interior?

Keep looking out for parts to transform it back to it's full original condition, it appears to be worthy.

Re: Chris's BX

Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2020 1:52 pm
by Dieselman
I've noticed your car has the shallow bonnet.
Either that is because it has standard fit A/c, or the bonnet has been replaced.

Re: Chris's BX

Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2020 5:49 pm
by White Exec
It does have factory fitted AC, hence the shallow front. AC was one of the things that narrowed the search by a huge margin.
There were around 17 S2 (another req't) BXs for sale in Spain on Milanuncios, but only 3 or 4 had AC. Looked at two of them, but rejected. Then turned to France (Leboncoin), where there were just over 80, but only around 6 or 8 with AC. Condition, price and location narrowed it down.

A bit of a surprise, the bonnet is steel, and quite heavy. I'm not sure when they stopped being GRP. Replacement? NCAP or fire improvement? Tailgate is GRP. Remember shortening the bonnet front (and fitting a deeper black air intake) on our 19RD when I fitted it with a second fan, for towing. Bonnet was definitely GRP then, and cutting it back was easy.

The AC is all there, and producing a tiny bit of heat at the condenser; fans turning on immediately, so that's good. It will have been running R12, so will convert it to 134a - some new seals, oil and converter valves. Plenty of advice on this on BXClub. Will have it checked for leaks when it gets emptied, and again when refilled. Job for the New Year.

Will post some more pix.

Re: Chris's BX

Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2020 6:16 pm
by White Exec
Just found a bit of bonnet background info here...
https://www.bxclub.co.uk/forum/viewtopi ... 73#p247873

Re: Chris's BX

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 7:03 am
by Dieselman
Where did you obtain the Valprex valves, Tecnosir, or another source?

Re: Chris's BX

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 1:58 pm
by White Exec
Tecnosir themselves.
Their ordering website was seriously misbehaving when I tried to order in October. Payment not possible.

Contacted them, and (Monica there) really helpful, and in English:

shop@tecnosirstore.com
or
monica@tecnosir.com

They took the order by email, and raised a PayPal payment request which I settled.
Valves dispatched immediately.

Re: Chris's BX

Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2020 7:28 am
by Dieselman
Thanks.
I know people have had issues when ordering from them.

Re: Chris's BX

Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2021 4:05 pm
by White Exec
My turn to plunder a 605 :twisted: !

Have done a good bit of work to improve the BX's rather dismal cabin lighting...
.
DSCF3843r.jpg
.
DSCF3855r.jpg
.
DSCF3849r.jpg
.
Found a pair of 605 grab-handles with lights on Ebay, from Belarus
and one more from N.Z. - our very own Stephen XMdownunder.
No real space for the complete grab-handle, but the light insert went in with no problem.
_________________

Lots more done on the BX - currently amassing bits (O-rings, PAO68 oil, dryer...) for conversion of the A/C from R12 to R134a, and some automatic DRLs fitted discreetly into the lower half of the front indicator lights. Some rear headrests on the way from the UK, currently at the family onward dispatch department in Bordon.

Getting plenty of use as the 'daily' now. Ride still continues to improve (and is now extremely good), and performance bordering on sprightly. It has turned into a lovely thing to drive locally, and is returning 42+mpg - not bad for plenty of mountain roads and 2nd-3rd gear work. Quite chuffed with her.

Re: Chris's BX

Posted: Sat May 08, 2021 8:01 pm
by White Exec
Few more bits and pieces getting themselves together over the last couple of weeks...

- A pair of headrests arrived from Kent, and have been fitted at the rear.

- Good few P21-base LEDs fitted, to upgrade the exterior lighting: orange ones for the indicators, white for reversing, and some red for tail lights and (now decently bright) brake lights. DRLs (in the front indicators) working nicely, with automatic dimming when the turn signal operates. For the new, low-wattage indicator LEDs, the flasher relay has been replaced with a load-independent one.

- A 1m run of warm white LED strip in the boot (under the parcel shelf) in a slim extruded channel, similar to the XM. Unplugged, the OE boot light then operates.

- All the new bits for the A/C conversion now here: oil, O-rings, drier, pressostat.

- Eathan has provided a pair of ex-XM Mixo horns. The rather mean original single one will get a mate.

- Variable interval timer for the FF wiper was fitted earlier; a small timer module will be added to the RR one.

- FF wiper fitted with a re-designed spray bar, running the full length of the blade.

- Fitting of a tow-bar planned for this month. Has to be professionally fitted in Spain, and certificated/added to the annual Test. Will do the electrics myself (permitted).

- Headlights have had Nightbreaker Silver (non-blue) H4's fitted.

- Set of NOS Citroen mudflaps from Chevronics.

- Some gear whine (BE3/5, in 5th, at an annoying 100-110km/h) has been almost completely swatted by adding a 125ml tube of Forte Gear & Diff Treatment to the 75W-80 GL-4.

Lots done - getting there.
Re-waxing is on the list - underside done by a previous owner, but unsure about cavities.
She's becoming a lovely drive. Ride quality (still on Hydraurincage) excellent.
Good bit of local and rapid motorway work (now done around 2500km) seems to be paying off. Performance has gone from sluggish to sprightly. :)
.
DSCF3827r.jpg