[No longer] For Sale: Citroen BX RD Estate

[RobT]

Time to move this one on, so here goes...

 

Mileage - 133,850

MoT - 3rd April 2013

Tax – 30th September 2012

Location – Beckenham, South-East London

Price: £300

 

Overall condition

 

Body has some dents and scratches (the nearside having most) and paint has lifted in a few places on the roof, but the only notable rust is some bubbling on the rear arches and a few spots on the lower section of the driver’s door. The underneath is sound, if I were keeping it I’d do the wire brush and waxoyl treatment to further preserve it, and the hydraulics are in good order – it sinks at the back quite soon after parking up but rises back up fine. Mechanically is good due to being regularly serviced since new.

 

History

 

1 owner from 1988 to 2008 who serviced it at her local Citroen dealer every 6 months/6000 miles, or even sooner on a few occasions. She was French (and probably still is) so I reckon she did trips over to France in it every year when the services were close together.

 

2008 to September 2011 – second owner who replaced the octypus (receipt available) and the cambelt and waterpump, but I only got his verbal confirmation on the latter two items.

 

September 2011 onwards. I’ve done 2,000 miles during which time I’ve treated the car to several new parts to bring it up to scratch, it was a bit neglected when I bought it. Parts include oil and filter (twice to give it a clear out), air filter, coolant replaced, new accumulator and front spheres, drained the LHM and replaced with new after cleaning the reservoir and the filters, glow plugs, alternator voltage regulator, NS front suspension ball joint for MoT, new boot struts and two Uniroyal tyres (other two are at about 3mm).

 

It has a few niggles but nothing that detracts from the fact it drives rather well. Reason for selling is I’m looking to replace this with an automatic, preferably large and French. It also comes with a set of five correct wheel trims for the RD model.

 

PM if interested, cheers.

 

 

 

 

[messerschmitt owner]

That was the very colour of my very first bx - a 17rd d328 pus. Glws.

 

I'd love to buy it but no space, only car to swap is French, automatic and the same size but with 70000 miles less on the clock.

[RobT]

Fancy swapping for your XM, plus a few quids your way? I wish I'd bought that R25 now but the sensible thing is to try and move this on first.

[catsinthewelder]

That's a good deal tidier than AS's other resident BX estates

 

GLWTS and all that

[messerschmitt owner]

Fancy swapping for your XM, plus a few quids your way? I wish I'd bought that R25 now but the sensible thing is to try and move this on first.

I won't part with the xm. I'm still recouping the benefits of a head gasket. And I love it as a car. I'm unlikely to be without an xm now. Which reminds me. I must speak to the estate agent about his dads xm estate in the garage.

[dollywobbler]

Looks nice and tidy that. Also the colour of my first BX...

 

This weekend has reminded me how great these non-turbo diesels are. They just slog along - often pulling from 30mph in top gear, and delivering over 50mpg if you keep the speed below motorway levels.

[Cavcraft]

With that seat combination I will actually guarantee that will be the most comfortable car ever. Brilliant things these BX estate and you can get absolutely shit loads of stuff in the back.

 

'Standard advert response':

When you say you want something 'automatic, large and French' did you actually mean something 'small, automatic and Vauxhall'?

[RobT]

 

'Standard advert response':

When you say you want something 'automatic, large and French' did you actually mean something 'small, automatic and Vauxhall'?

 

If it's a Chevette then yeah, otherwise errr, no

 

I'm not expecting to sell this in a hurry, so might as well use it for a bit. Am off to the coast tomorrow to give it a good run, and will commute to work in it rather than get the smelly, overcrowded train.

 

If it comes down to the ebay route, what do you reckon about this for photography skillz (sorry, try as I might I couldn't get it out of focus!)

 

[Guest]

Swap the wellies for white mocassins and you'll win EBAY FOTOGRAFER OF DA YEAR, top in the fictional awards category.

 

Top bus, GLWTS etc.

[forddeliveryboy]

Good simple cars, I've had my share of 19RDs and preferred them overall to the turbos - with just enough power you end up really having to drive it, which with a hydraulic Citroen always used to be fun with awesome brakes and roadholding. Nicest I owned was a galvanised '92 hatch, it used to suck small roundabouts (regular ring-road journey in the late evening) right out of the road with a quick left-right-left flick of the wheel. The spheres were a bit less compliant on faster models.

 

Turbo-dizzler BX was often so quick you were always annoying posh German shite, who then got in your way on the twisty and nasty bits. Plus the plastic bonnets always looked a bit flimsy above 100. CX bonnets always used to flutter nervously round their one fixing, even a mate's Xantia has similar problems at speed - something I've never known with a Kraut.

[scooters]

This is seriously.nice...bx estate is vastly practical superbly comfortable and on this flavour basic cheap and reliable. Any shitter who wants a safe practical family car which you can service yourself ...this is it amd the suspension is superb especially when load lugging .

 

If I had the cash etc etc etc

[RobT]

Anyone fancy this for £300?

 

Issues/quirks are a heavy clutch, oil leaks (but around the top of the block, so don't drip on the ground), passenger door hinge weld come away a bit, and the NS outer CV gaitor has a split which has only happened recently (last couple of weeks or so). Near side also has some scrapes/dents, and the clock is constantly ticking but once on the move you don't notice it above the din of the engine!

 

But apart from all that it just keeps on going, and 50mpg on a run can't be sniffed at! I do like the old thing but the itch for a change is getting rather strong now.

[dollywobbler]

Gah! It would have made much more sense to buy this than revive my 'Safari.' Really can't understand why you didn't get a sniff even at the higher price. Are people scared off my the alleged complexity? Don't be!

[RobT]

Gah! It would have made much more sense to buy this than revive my 'Safari.' Really can't understand why you didn't get a sniff even at the higher price. Are people scared off my the alleged complexity? Don't be!

 

I do wonder if that's what scares off Joe Public about these, or any other Citroen for that matter. I took a gamble buying it blind off ebay in the first place, but it's essentially a good 'un.

 

Forgot to mention the front struts are a bit grumbly too which detracts slightly from the overall ride quality. On the plus side it's got new front pads, all tyres are good (replaced two last December), and the hydraulic pump clicks in about every 20 seconds whereas when I bought it was going all the time - a new accumulator sorted that out.

 

And rust is minimal (which is more than I can say for my Montego, gawd bless it!).

[scooters]

don't sell it Rob! mothball it instead, you'll regret it...

 

seiously though had I not just agreed to buy that giffer 9000 I'd be all over this - a car that is truly cheap to run -

 

Dunc- mate this is the car for you!

[whitevanman]

HMMM.....indeed it would..... it reminds me of my old 89 model estate in shittists beige, I fear it would end up destroyed if I owned it though, the mud around here is a car killer, no matter how often you wash it.....mind you by the end of the month I may change my mind

[catsinthewelder]

Bloody hell £300, I'm rather tempted to upgrade to a better example

[Cavcraft]

When you say you want to replace it with something automatic, preferably large and French, do you actually mean small, sporty, manual and British?

[RobT]

When you say you want to replace it with something automatic, preferably large and French, do you actually mean small, sporty, manual and British?

 

Wot, the TR7 Are you getting rid then? I've probably missed the bit of News 24 where you've talked about it!

[RobT]

No longer for sale this one as I'm doing a swap with skattrd for his Renner 25, thanks for the interest though PMs have been replied to.

 

I've measured my garage and it should fit, just!

[dollywobbler]

Excellent. Another Autoshiter brought into the world of BX ownership. Quite envious of you though. That 25 seems lovely.

[RobT]

Excellent. Another Autoshiter brought into the world of BX ownership. Quite envious of you though. That 25 seems lovely.

 

I've wanted a 25 for yonks (ever since I was a kid really), and I'm very much looking forward to the drive home!

[messerschmitt owner]

If you're quick and need some good panels there's a 25 txe auto in my local scrappie

[RobT]

I'll need a speedo sensor, so sounds like a good enough reason to go for a drive! I presume they cube cars pretty quickly there then?

[messerschmitt owner]

They cubed an xm last week. It had been there less than 4 weeks. Harry buckland churchdown has a website. Call them and ask them not to break it just yet.

[skattrd]

I'm quite looking forward to driving the bx as well ... I've never driven a Citroen with magic suspension

[dollywobbler]

You'd better have a read here then. www.bxclub.co.uk

 

Nowt to be scared of, but some stuff you need to know. Like when it says STOP, it usually means it!

[RobT]

I'm quite looking forward to driving the bx as well ... I've never driven a Citroen with magic suspension

 

I do hope you'll like it. I gave it a wash and interior tidy up earlier, and although not perfect it's looking not too bad for it's age I'm also really looking forward to driving and owning a 25 at last, I should have done this years ago!

[Pete-M]

Reason for selling is I’m looking to replace this with an automatic, preferably large and French

 

 

[RobT]

Yes, I should apologise for not buying this off you Pete as it does fit the bill. It would have involved raiding the savings pot to pay for it though, and 'er indoors would make my life unpleasant if I did that!