Guest georgexs Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 Hi all, Thought I'd start a Chodject (Chod Project) for my latest acquisition, a Venetian Pink 1988 Citroen BX 16RS. After being sat for 13 years unused on a drive and then garden, I (and Mr Schwifty of this parish) saved it from being sent to the scrappy, which i'm glad I did as it's FAR too clean to scrap! Been looking for a BX for a little while, but almost completely opposite spec to this, really was looking for a high spec late turbo diesel estate, buuuutttt this one was 3 miles from my house and needed rescuing so it's the BX I have! 1 owner from new (fastidious nuclear physicist), 98000 miles on the clock, as straight and honest a car as you could ever ask for! So, this how we found it: Very leafy and full of cobwebs. After a couple of hours we had it up and running, threw a battery on it, a clean up of a few crappy ignition connections and some fuel in it and it fired right up for the first time in about 5 years! The suspension all seems to work as it should, the brakes working fine, even the central locking and electric windows working without fault. In the background is my daily driver 405 estate and my friend Ben's 305 estate. The above happened on a Saturday afternoon, we returned to next day to actually buy the car and get it home, I completely forgot to take any photos of this, but we flat towed it back behind the 405, number board strapped on the back. Back at home and it was time for an immensely satisfying couple of hours with the pressure washer! Before:After: Looked great whilst it was still wet, but it is desperately in need of a polish in the future. It's remarkably free of rust, considering it's been sat on it's belly on grass and under a tree for the last few years, a couple of patches needed in the boot floor corners and maybe a little on the firewall and one of the inner wings, but it's really very rot free. Since that initial weekend I've been mostly parts gathering, large overhaul required in the engine bay having sat for so long, cambelt, oil, filters, plugs, leads, dizzy cap etc etc. This last weekend I finally got my teeth stuck into it, more to follow.... Lord Sterling, wuvvum, brandersnatch and 45 others 48 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davehedgehog31 Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 Brilliant. Will be following this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulscavalier Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 A great rescue. Interior looks pretty good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
500tops Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 Ah, so you're who bought my rotor arm and dizzy cap! Great write up - I shall look forward to its resurrection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D Spares & Tyres Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 I had one like that many years ago! Spent all weekend t cut and polishing it until it was mint. Next week, pink again yellowperil 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulscavalier Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 Sounds like vauxhall flame pink Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skizzer Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 This is grand. I nearly bought a 16RS twice - the first time I bought a breadvan Polo instead, the second I bought a faulty but comfy 14RE that remained faulty long after I’d sold it to my sister (who took several years to forgive me). I don’t know why I didn’t get a 16RS but I think it might have been my deep-seated horror of sunroofs. Anyway, very well done and can’t wait for updates. They look good in that red, it’s not too orange. 1 owner from new (fastidious nuclear physicist)This is good. You really, really wouldn’t want to buy a used car off a slapdash nuclear physicist. chodweaver, Twiggy, The Moog and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tadhg Tiogar Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 Hopefully new headlamps are relatively easy to find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangeangel Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 Another knackered Citroën thread... yessssssss. As ever, will be following this one The Moog 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrSchwifty Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 This is rubbish and I'm not interested at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazfr69 Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 Many years ago I ended up driving a BX for a while when my ex wife bought one in a hurry. It was beige and scabby and I hated it on sight. The first time I had to drive it I waited while it went through its suspension shenanigans and determined it was going to be awful. It’s one of my fondest driving memories now, wafty and relaxing and quirky and I’d have another in a minute. Fabulous cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs6C Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 Well saved! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve79 Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 Damn you, i'm now really hankering after another one. Had a 91' tzd hurricane all through uni, infact had it for 6 years. Green with green interior. Bloody loved it. Now checking ebay grrrr! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulgalour Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 Do it! All the cool kids are buying broken driveway BXs this year. You do want to be a cool kid don't you, Steve? somewhatfoolish, Christine, The Moog and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meter rat Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 Yeah, I’ve never been a cool kid before. The Moog 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulplom Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 I was going to say do not wash. Till you washed it. Twiggy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat_the_cat Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 Hopefully new headlamps are relatively easy to find.I have some available for postage and a drink if you want? Watching the thread with interest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SierraMikeHotel Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 I absolutely love BXs. At first glance this looked just like one of my old ones, but yours is actually far nicer - mine was extremely battered and rusty! I had them at the age when rubber hoses were perishing, I was pretty much always snipping the end off a hose and reattaching it. Really like the seats in that one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tadhg Tiogar Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 Do it! All the cool kids are buying broken driveway BXs this year. You do want to be a cool kid don't you, Steve?Yeah, I’ve never been a cool kid before. Of course, if you later discover GS/GSAs, you might be even cooler.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zelandeth Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 If she's been parked on grass for that long you'll probably be wanting to take out shares in a company supplying 3.5mm pipe then! Given how disasterous a total loss of hydraulic fluid is on these cars can be it's worth spending time going over all the lines with a microscope. Remember if patching any of the low pressure returns that you'll need to use appropriate types of rubber hose as LHM does some funky stuff to many types of rubber. Probably the biggest headache these days is simply the lack of availability of some of the more intricate pre-formed pipework such as the bundle of return hoses to the tank. Nothing to stop you making your own of course, just gaining access to some bits without dismantling the entire car can be tricky. I'd love one of these I have to say, only thing which really puts me off (aside from their ability to hide some quite exciting rust traps) is the parts availability issues thanks to PSA pretty much entirely washing their hands of models out of production for ten years or more. To that end quite a few bits for Xantias (lower radiator hoses for the TCT engine is one I know of) are getting trickier to find now, imagine the same will be true for the BX. Other areas to check carefully as I recall would be the rear axle swing arm bearings and all ball joints. These all live quite a hard life because of the amount of travel in the suspension compared to a lot of cars. The Moog and LightBulbFun 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat_the_cat Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 Probably the biggest headache these days is simply the lack of availability of some of the more intricate pre-formed pipework such as the bundle of return hoses to the tank.Chevronics are now getting these remanufactured, so that's one less worry The Moog 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleon-Fonte Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 There's also a Dutch company that'll supply them for rather less money than Chevronics, or you can do what Pleiades the hydraulics specialists do and make your own with T-pieces and diesel leakoff pipe. The BX parts supply situation isn't the best but it's getting better, even in the couple of years I've had mine a lot of stuff has become available that previously wasn't. Anyway, I'm just happy that abandoned BXs like this one are being saved and given a new lease of life rather than going over the bridge. This one looks quite good beneath the grime. Good luck with the recommissioning. The Moog, Burnside, LightBulbFun and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tadhg Tiogar Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 There's also a Dutch company that'll supply them for rather less money than Chevronics,.... Garage Hydraulique? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zelandeth Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 I thought it was diesel fuel hose you could use, didn't want to say though in case I was wrong as I couldn't remember for certain. Nice to hear that more bits are being remade now...have to hope that as time moves on the same will become true for the Xantia, as it only seems logical that they'll develop a bit more of a following as the years tick by. That red really suits the BX I think, and is definitely a colour in the running for when my Xantia gets resprayed (whenever that happens). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangeangel Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 It was beige and scabby With a bit of luck you will be able to re-live the experience of seeing such a stylish automobile before too much longer... GrumpiusMaximus and The Moog 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangeangel Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 There's also a Dutch company that'll supply them for rather less money than Chevronics I had a 'bargepole' experience with a Dutch company over the rear height adjuster on mine... which one is this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest georgexs Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 Thanks for all the kind words! I'm really enjoying owning it so far, lots of satisfying jobs to be done to bring it back to road-worthiness. Ah, so you're who bought my rotor arm and dizzy cap!Great write up - I shall look forward to its resurrection. Ah no way, I was super chuffed to find a genuine Citroen one sensible money, cheers! This is good. You really, really wouldn’t want to buy a used car off a slapdash nuclear physicist. That made me laugh a lot, excellent point well made. This is rubbish and I'm not interested at all. Good, I shan't bother letting you have a go when it's working then. Damn you, i'm now really hankering after another one.Had a 91' tzd hurricane all through uni, infact had it for 6 years. Green with green interior. Bloody loved it. Now checking ebay grrrr! The hurricanes are lush, interiors are such a treat. Do it! All the cool kids are buying broken driveway BXs this year. You do want to be a cool kid don't you, Steve? Broken driveway BX's are where it's at. I was going to say do not wash. Till you washed it. Yeah, it was just a bit too spidery for my liking, they needed to be destroyed. I have some available for postage and a drink if you want? Watching the thread with interest Arse! I've already bought some, for folding money as well, balls. Cheers for the offer Mat, I like your estate, it's the spec I'd ideally have! I absolutely love BXs. At first glance this looked just like one of my old ones, but yours is actually far nicer - mine was extremely battered and rusty!I had them at the age when rubber hoses were perishing, I was pretty much always snipping the end off a hose and reattaching it.Really like the seats in that one! The seats are cool, uber soft and squishy, zero side bolsters, as someone who enjoys a brisk drive this may prove to be annoying in the future, time will tell. If she's been parked on grass for that long you'll probably be wanting to take out shares in a company supplying 3.5mm pipe then!Given how disasterous a total loss of hydraulic fluid is on these cars can be it's worth spending time going over all the lines with a microscope. Remember if patching any of the low pressure returns that you'll need to use appropriate types of rubber hose as LHM does some funky stuff to many types of rubber.Probably the biggest headache these days is simply the lack of availability of some of the more intricate pre-formed pipework such as the bundle of return hoses to the tank. Nothing to stop you making your own of course, just gaining access to some bits without dismantling the entire car can be tricky.I'd love one of these I have to say, only thing which really puts me off (aside from their ability to hide some quite exciting rust traps) is the parts availability issues thanks to PSA pretty much entirely washing their hands of models out of production for ten years or more. To that end quite a few bits for Xantias (lower radiator hoses for the TCT engine is one I know of) are getting trickier to find now, imagine the same will be true for the BX.Other areas to check carefully as I recall would be the rear axle swing arm bearings and all ball joints. These all live quite a hard life because of the amount of travel in the suspension compared to a lot of cars. It'll be getting a good going over, as I am suspicious of how good the pipework will be as well! However, one good point is that the reason it came off the road in the first place was to replace bunch of hydraulic pipes, which the owner did (faded Citroen parts bag still in the boot as evidence). For some reason it never made it back to the road after this though! Rear arm bearings seem ok, I've owned many similar era PSA cars now so know the camber signs to look out for, balljoints and bushes need checking over but nothing was screaming out at me as being terrible from a glance. The only thing visibly fucked is a pair of CV boots have perished through. With a bit of luck you will be able to re-live the experience of seeing such a stylish automobile before too much longer... That is gloriously beige, Mk1's are rad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UltraWomble Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 Pogweasel pinkFTW The Moog 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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