My bodged Citroen BX 16v
Discussion
fantastic effort mate. i know i wouldn't be bothered attempting even 10% of that work on a bx!
my dad had one when i was 17, he let me drive it occasionally when i passed my test as it was a station car and truly fecked. the suspension regulator had gone meaning it was permanently at normal ride height but with the pressure at such a level it was as stiff as a racer. it would corner flat [until the tyres inevitably gave way] and would take off without much effort at all on back roads. tons of fun, if massively irresponsible of myy old man to give me the keys to it in that state knowing it was going to get ragged!
my dad had one when i was 17, he let me drive it occasionally when i passed my test as it was a station car and truly fecked. the suspension regulator had gone meaning it was permanently at normal ride height but with the pressure at such a level it was as stiff as a racer. it would corner flat [until the tyres inevitably gave way] and would take off without much effort at all on back roads. tons of fun, if massively irresponsible of myy old man to give me the keys to it in that state knowing it was going to get ragged!
shirt said:
fantastic effort mate. i know i wouldn't be bothered attempting even 10% of that work on a bx!
my dad had one when i was 17, he let me drive it occasionally when i passed my test as it was a station car and truly fecked. the suspension regulator had gone meaning it was permanently at normal ride height but with the pressure at such a level it was as stiff as a racer. it would corner flat [until the tyres inevitably gave way] and would take off without much effort at all on back roads. tons of fun, if massively irresponsible of myy old man to give me the keys to it in that state knowing it was going to get ragged!
Haha sounds like many BX stories I hear! The regulator wasn't fmy dad had one when i was 17, he let me drive it occasionally when i passed my test as it was a station car and truly fecked. the suspension regulator had gone meaning it was permanently at normal ride height but with the pressure at such a level it was as stiff as a racer. it would corner flat [until the tyres inevitably gave way] and would take off without much effort at all on back roads. tons of fun, if massively irresponsible of myy old man to give me the keys to it in that state knowing it was going to get ragged!
ked, the spheres were. £20 a corner, 10 mins to change! But you're not the first (or one hundred and fiftieth!) to say something like that. Theres a massive grey cloud hovering over Citroens with this suspension but most of it is just people who've been mis-informed. No doubt some joe bloggs mechanic told your Dad his regulator had gone! They're better off sticking to Fords and Vauxhalls in some garages! So would I be sometimes too I wonder!God, I'd almost forgotten about these! I had 2 of them back in the day (both 16 valvers). Pretty good to drive and I racked up huge mileages, very reliably. Amazingly well equipped for the time too - all-round disc brakes (ventilated at the front), ABS, 5 speed box, leccy windows (4), leccy roof, remote alarm/locking, alloy wheels, electric mirror (yes, singular - the driver's one was manual!) - all standard, not bad for 20 years ago.
Nice thread, I used to have a black BX Gti, makes me fel quite nostalgic. Used to really shift and super comfortable ride but cost me a lot more to run than to buy 
Ended when I took it in for it's MOT, went back for it and the chap said, "I'm not even going to try mate, just moving it inside I've seen about five things that need doing, not worth you paying for an MOT"
Nice of him not to charge me anything though, small consolation.
Ended when I took it in for it's MOT, went back for it and the chap said, "I'm not even going to try mate, just moving it inside I've seen about five things that need doing, not worth you paying for an MOT"
Nice of him not to charge me anything though, small consolation.
Kitchski said:
'It was marketed more as competition for the forthcoming Renault 21 Turbo, Ford Sierra XR4i, BMW 318iS and Vauxhall Cavalier SRi130, aswell as the yet to be announced 405'.
You missed one important competitor as most do! The MG Montego Turbo! I quite liked the BX16v with the lambo style wheels etc ( I think the same guy who designed the BX designed the Countach too!) and they were disliked by some a bit like the Monty's and later disregarded by a lot. However, in terms of standing start acceleration, the BX and Monty were neck and neck roughly and trounced the rest!
(especially the Beemer, but really this should be the 325i, which was still slower!)
Good luck with the resto!
'It was marketed more as competition for the forthcoming Renault 21 Turbo, Ford Sierra XR4i, BMW 318iS and Vauxhall Cavalier SRi130, aswell as the yet to be announced 405'.
You missed one important competitor as most do! The MG Montego Turbo! I quite liked the BX16v with the lambo style wheels etc ( I think the same guy who designed the BX designed the Countach too!) and they were disliked by some a bit like the Monty's and later disregarded by a lot. However, in terms of standing start acceleration, the BX and Monty were neck and neck roughly and trounced the rest!
(especially the Beemer, but really this should be the 325i, which was still slower!)Good luck with the resto!
I am loving this thread! 
My parents used to own a white BX TGS - H424 HKA, I think it was a 1.6 if I remember correctly. From what I remember, we had to sell it as it didn't have power steering and it was too heavy for my mum to use as she had RSI. I can remember the interior comfort like theres no tomorrow, not to mention the ride comfort given the wet suspension. Think I've still got 2 new old stock spheres, wind deflectors and an electric window motor in the kitchen! So sorry to see that car go, it was a minter. I think my dads still in mourning! Not sure of its whereabouts nowadays though.
My parents used to own a white BX TGS - H424 HKA, I think it was a 1.6 if I remember correctly. From what I remember, we had to sell it as it didn't have power steering and it was too heavy for my mum to use as she had RSI. I can remember the interior comfort like theres no tomorrow, not to mention the ride comfort given the wet suspension. Think I've still got 2 new old stock spheres, wind deflectors and an electric window motor in the kitchen! So sorry to see that car go, it was a minter. I think my dads still in mourning! Not sure of its whereabouts nowadays though.
Jumturbo said:
Kitchski said:
'It was marketed more as competition for the forthcoming Renault 21 Turbo, Ford Sierra XR4i, BMW 318iS and Vauxhall Cavalier SRi130, aswell as the yet to be announced 405'.
You missed one important competitor as most do! The MG Montego Turbo! I quite liked the BX16v with the lambo style wheels etc ( I think the same guy who designed the BX designed the Countach too!) and they were disliked by some a bit like the Monty's and later disregarded by a lot. However, in terms of standing start acceleration, the BX and Monty were neck and neck roughly and trounced the rest! (especially the Beemer, but really this should be the 325i, which was still slower!)
Good luck with the resto!
Quite right, the MG Montego Turbo was in there too. I knew there was one unloved car I'd forgetten!'It was marketed more as competition for the forthcoming Renault 21 Turbo, Ford Sierra XR4i, BMW 318iS and Vauxhall Cavalier SRi130, aswell as the yet to be announced 405'.
You missed one important competitor as most do! The MG Montego Turbo! I quite liked the BX16v with the lambo style wheels etc ( I think the same guy who designed the BX designed the Countach too!) and they were disliked by some a bit like the Monty's and later disregarded by a lot. However, in terms of standing start acceleration, the BX and Monty were neck and neck roughly and trounced the rest!
(especially the Beemer, but really this should be the 325i, which was still slower!)Good luck with the resto!
As far as Beemers go, it's actually had the betetr of a number of E36 325i's, let alone the 318's. But then we can't be saying things like that on PH can we, they're the ultimate driving machine afterall
Mini_Lund said:
I am loving this thread!
My parents used to own a white BX TGS - H424 HKA, I think it was a 1.6 if I remember correctly. From what I remember, we had to sell it as it didn't have power steering and it was too heavy for my mum to use as she had RSI. I can remember the interior comfort like theres no tomorrow, not to mention the ride comfort given the wet suspension. Think I've still got 2 new old stock spheres, wind deflectors and an electric window motor in the kitchen! So sorry to see that car go, it was a minter. I think my dads still in mourning! Not sure of its whereabouts nowadays though.
Yeah, a TGS would have been a 16TGS. One of the lower spec models, but also one of the most comfy versions of BX going. My parents used to own a white BX TGS - H424 HKA, I think it was a 1.6 if I remember correctly. From what I remember, we had to sell it as it didn't have power steering and it was too heavy for my mum to use as she had RSI. I can remember the interior comfort like theres no tomorrow, not to mention the ride comfort given the wet suspension. Think I've still got 2 new old stock spheres, wind deflectors and an electric window motor in the kitchen! So sorry to see that car go, it was a minter. I think my dads still in mourning! Not sure of its whereabouts nowadays though.
The spheres might be dead if they're a few years old, but the wind deflectors generally fetch good money on fleabay.
Managed to plod on with a bit more welding on Sunday. By 2am my eyes were in intense pain due to some intense stupidity with a welding mask, or lack of! Basically, even you've got a really difficult spot you need to weld and the mask keeps getting in your way, find another way. DON'T take it off and carry on by squinting! Arc eye is bastid painful!!
Anywho...proving to be a real ahole to weld a BX. Some of the metal, even rust-free is paper thing and just keeps blowing clean open. The welds I've come out with are looking pretty shabby, which is a shame. But they also seem very strong, which is good.
I just kept going until I couldn't see daylight through any of it! If it blew a hole, I just built up on the existing weld in layers until it bridged the gap. That's why it looks ste, although it does seem to have worked. Got alot of grinding to do in the engine bay now though 
On a positive note, I had a play with a grit blaster today. It's possibly the best invention to be found in a workshop, along with a plasma cutter and a dremel-multi!
A spare fuel rail originally looked like this:
And after 10mins looked like this:
Ready for some paint. Wonder what else I can grit blast?!
Anyway, 4 holes done, 5 more to go. Including the big A-pillar one, but I'll need to remove the door to do that and I figured it's better to leave removing the door until the last minute because of things like wet weather and wildlife! So the less that's off the better!
But the BX is moving along, just very very slowly.
Anywho...proving to be a real a
hole to weld a BX. Some of the metal, even rust-free is paper thing and just keeps blowing clean open. The welds I've come out with are looking pretty shabby, which is a shame. But they also seem very strong, which is good.I just kept going until I couldn't see daylight through any of it! If it blew a hole, I just built up on the existing weld in layers until it bridged the gap. That's why it looks s
te, although it does seem to have worked. Got alot of grinding to do in the engine bay now though On a positive note, I had a play with a grit blaster today. It's possibly the best invention to be found in a workshop, along with a plasma cutter and a dremel-multi!
A spare fuel rail originally looked like this:
And after 10mins looked like this:
Ready for some paint. Wonder what else I can grit blast?!
Anyway, 4 holes done, 5 more to go. Including the big A-pillar one, but I'll need to remove the door to do that and I figured it's better to leave removing the door until the last minute because of things like wet weather and wildlife! So the less that's off the better!
But the BX is moving along, just very very slowly.
CarlosV8 said:
Love this car, can't wait to see it back on the road! I miss my BX 16v, the Xsara VTS isn't quite the same!
Xsara VTS is quicker though, believe it or not! Off the line they're neck and neck, but only because this BX is chipped and can rev higher. If I was changing up at the standard rev limit the Xsara would have nosed ahead.After 80mph, the Xsara starts pulling off. After *ahem* 120mph, the Xsara just f
ks off! Not even close! Mi16 1.9 might be cooler etc, but the GTi-6 lumps definately have more grunt!Mini_Lund said:
....My parents used to own a white BX TGS - H424 HKA, Not sure of its whereabouts nowadays though.
The tax hasn't been renewed since November 2004, so guess it was cubed along with most other BX's over six years ago! Being a Citroen, it fared well to last fourteen years. My neighbour had one and it was always on a ramp being repaired. Rust and electrical gremlins finally led to it being put down.
Martian O said:
Mini_Lund said:
....My parents used to own a white BX TGS - H424 HKA, Not sure of its whereabouts nowadays though.
The tax hasn't been renewed since November 2004, so guess it was cubed along with most other BX's over six years ago! Being a Citroen, it fared well to last fourteen years. My neighbour had one and it was always on a ramp being repaired. Rust and electrical gremlins finally led to it being put down.
Kitchski said:
CarlosV8 said:
Love this car, can't wait to see it back on the road! I miss my BX 16v, the Xsara VTS isn't quite the same!
Xsara VTS is quicker though, believe it or not! Off the line they're neck and neck, but only because this BX is chipped and can rev higher. If I was changing up at the standard rev limit the Xsara would have nosed ahead.After 80mph, the Xsara starts pulling off. After *ahem* 120mph, the Xsara just f
ks off! Not even close! Mi16 1.9 might be cooler etc, but the GTi-6 lumps definately have more grunt!tali1 said:
Kitchski said:
CarlosV8 said:
Love this car, can't wait to see it back on the road! I miss my BX 16v, the Xsara VTS isn't quite the same!
Xsara VTS is quicker though, believe it or not! Off the line they're neck and neck, but only because this BX is chipped and can rev higher. If I was changing up at the standard rev limit the Xsara would have nosed ahead.After 80mph, the Xsara starts pulling off. After *ahem* 120mph, the Xsara just f
ks off! Not even close! Mi16 1.9 might be cooler etc, but the GTi-6 lumps definately have more grunt!The Crack Fox said:
Funny, I loath the majority of modern french cars, but stuff of this era really floats my boat. I've always fancied a BX, quirky styling and pretty quick too. A mate had a Gti or turbo (?) version for a few weeks back in the day, bonkers quick for the time.
Thanks for sharing the pics.
I have to admit the modern French stuff is a bit off the mark for me. Modern Peugeots are nearly down with Korean stuff for me now and are an embarrasing shadow of their former selves! Citroen are trying, but the DS3 is too chintzy for me. The facelifted C4 looks more dulled down than the great looking original and the C5 was marketed as being German.....that's really not cool. French are French, German are German! C6 is the only cool one, and it's only a matter of time before it gets pulled.Thanks for sharing the pics.
The BX GTi was mk2 Golf GTi 8v sort of quick, there were no turbo petrols, only the turbodiesels. They did raise the bar a bit performance-wise back in the day for this kind of market. Otherwise you may have been graced by the 16v version
A bit more progress today, still chasing rusty holes with a welder!
Tackled the speedhole down by the bumper mount. Decided to cut the plate the same shape as the hole rather than plate it with a sqaure as I wanted to mess with as little as possible down there. Came out well though, so bumper should line up exactly as it did before:
Attacked a couple of other tiny holes before going for one of the three tricky ones (probably the easiest of the three though!) but it's one of the ones that you can see through behind the dashboard with:
Did it in shorter bursts and managed to find a BX setting on the welder, so I marked it on!
Was a bit of a result as unless you seamed for 3 seconds or more, it doesn't blow through the paper-thin tin too badly! Welds are coming out tidier, but still as strong so that's a result. Got ALOT of grinding still to do in the inner wing under the bonnet though, if I want to stand any hope of keeping the engine bay pigeon st-free!
Tackled the speedhole down by the bumper mount. Decided to cut the plate the same shape as the hole rather than plate it with a sqaure as I wanted to mess with as little as possible down there. Came out well though, so bumper should line up exactly as it did before:
Attacked a couple of other tiny holes before going for one of the three tricky ones (probably the easiest of the three though!) but it's one of the ones that you can see through behind the dashboard with:
Did it in shorter bursts and managed to find a BX setting on the welder, so I marked it on!
Was a bit of a result as unless you seamed for 3 seconds or more, it doesn't blow through the paper-thin tin too badly! Welds are coming out tidier, but still as strong so that's a result. Got ALOT of grinding still to do in the inner wing under the bonnet though, if I want to stand any hope of keeping the engine bay pigeon s
t-free!Edited by Kitchski on Sunday 7th November 21:59
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