Four Seasons in one tat collecting mission - new BX

[dollywobbler]

The day dawned with a pleasant amount of sunshine. It actually felt a bit like spring, which is nice and this is how it's meant to feel. I went to the seaside.

 

Eventually, I dragged myself to the train station.

 

I clambered aboard an actual train and spotted much tat in Borth, including a Renault 21 Turbo and a Reliant Scimitar SE6a. However, all I got photos of was this pile of rubbish. Sorry about that.

 

At Shrewsbury, there was a whiff of summer, which is very useful for the narrative of this four-season post. I recommend you go there. It's very nice. This is just the station building.

 

After the correct amount of time, I clambered aboard another train. This one was quieter in terms of mechanical refinement, but louder in terms of idiots who like football. Eventually and thankfully, we arrived at Manchester Piccadilly. I was so utterly gobsmacked and terrified about trying to meet the chap selling the BX that I utterly failed to get a picture. Imagine a big shiny place full of people. Nothing like this in fact.

 

Finally, I got to meet my new car.

 

A 1993 Citroen BX TZD Turbo estate with ABS and a mere 305,000 miles on the clock. Having got a text message from my wife indicating that it was snowing at home, I was glad the sale included a set of snow chains. I had a very quick glance over the car, decided it was good enough (I'd already paid by bank transfer) so hopped aboard and discovered that escaping from Manchester City Centre is thankfully easily done.

 

All was not well. The turbo made a grating sort of a noise (either knackered bearings or air escaping - haven't decided yet) and a wheel bearing is very much in need of replacement. The ride was good though, and the steering spot on. The hydraulics seem absolutely fine. I prepared for a noisy drive home. Then this happened.

 

30 miles into my trip home and the sodding ABS light came on. I pulled off at some services to 'investigate.' By which I mean I turned the engine off, then back on again and the light went out. Fixed! I thought I'd grab some more pics while parked up.

 

Then I heard thunder - a reminder that I needed to get my boot down. Soon, it started to absolutely hammer it down, at which point I discovered how knackered the wiper blade was. AND how knackered the heater was. There was just no air coming through at all. Soon it looked like I'd been parked up in a Dogging car park for too long. All I had was a glove to keep the windscreen clear. The feeble heat output (I suspect the flap to allow air in has jammed shut as the blower works) meant I was bloody cold too. 76 miles to go. For the purposes of narrative, I decided that this was Autumn.

 

I started to notice that fifth gear sounds noisy as well. There was a veritable carcophony of noise going on that I utterly failed to drown out with the stereo as I couldn't fathom it out. The stereo is fitted very low down on BXs, which is a pain in the arse.

 

Then winter happened, quite spectacularly.

 

I pulled into the parking bay, noticed some slushy ice and considered it an ideal time to check if the ABS was working. I stamped on the middle pedal and the car stopped dead. It was like driving into a wall. What gives?! I got out and discovered two winter tyres on the front! Bonus! Further proof than the real magic of winter tyres is not that they let you get moving, but that they're so bloomin' good at stopping.

 

That'll do for now. Yet another To Do list to tackle but I reckon this is a sound basis for becoming the car I really wanted.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Niggles be damned, that is a very tidy looking car!

[dollywobbler]

Thanks. It is pretty nice. Some 'French' lacquer in places (notably the tailgate) but I do like these later TZDs, with their half-grey, half-body coloured bumpers.

[DVee8]

Great write up

A good looking car that

[R9UKE]

Nice write up, DW. The magic off and on again reset function is gold when it comes to quality French chod

 

Good luck with it!

 

I also think that an Autoshite compilation of collection missions should make it to paperback. It's bound to be more interesting than Auto Express.

[wuvvum]

That does look bloody tidy for 305K miles I have to say.

[dollywobbler]

I think the owner previous to this one was the key. He was very fastidious. The difference between the way this one drives and my old Mk1 is marked. I think this one must have had a steering rack replacement at some point as it steers like it's brand new. If I can get the gearbox to quieten down, there will be very little to give away how much mileage it has done.

[pandarus]

Just the 300K then? Amazing blog.

 

That is true shite'ing of the first degree sir, a story to warm the cockles.

[hairnet]

you shoulda said - yer 2 miles from here

 

theres a pug/cit breaker in old trafford too...........

[Rod/b]

Great blog for a great car.

 

That first photo makes me very nostalgic too. I miss Aber.

[Mr Lobster]

Got to say that looks a really nice car. Colour works well against the black trim.

 

Excellent write up as well, ta!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Excellent work Wobblington_Smythe, I must say you're highly intrepid when it comes to repatriating old shite which may or may not make it home.

 

Where is that seaside photo taken? It looks jolly nice there wherever it is.

 

I'm also liking the 'rubbish by the railway line' pic and would like to nominate it as an 'outlier' for the 2014 shite calendar, I reckon a single 'surprise' shot like that would add a touch of 'class'.

[Spiny Norman]

Cracking pics DW, and an excellent write up. Really could do with some French chod in my life just now.

[KruJoe]

Looks nice'n'posh, this one Ian. Especially for a 300+ mile BX.

 

Where is that seaside photo taken? It looks jolly nice there wherever it is.

Aberystwyth innit.

[warren t claim]

That looks just like my much missed BX. Top bombing. Can we see some continental strength, held open, interior pics please?

[shedvan]

That looks ace Dollywobbler looks loaded with all the top end x's, esp like the chin spoiler to facilitate sure-footed planting of raging TD stallions, nice

[flat4alfa]

Excellent. Looking good.

 

/ I've just bought a TD XM. Is that worthy of bloggage?

[skattrd]

Looks good DW.

I'm not sure about Citroens, but older VW's with crunchy/noisy boxes can respond well to good fresh gearbox oil. Failing that does the TD use the same box as the diesel?

 

/ I've just bought a TD XM. Is that worthy of bloggage?

Really, you have to ask?

We demand pics ....and words ... but pics mainly

[dollywobbler]

Gearing is taller on the turbo diesels. Fluid is pretty easy to replace and a lot cheaper than a gearbox. I'll see how it responds. Mind you, I'm feeling all full of cold this morning and I've got tons of work to keep on top of. Further updates may take a while to arrive, but interior shots will be a part of it.

[dollywobbler]

For one week only, I own two BXs. Deposit taken on the silver one, which I will later be customising to the lucky buyer's tastes (ie replacing the stupidly oversized rear speaker parcel shelf for the original not-butchered one).

[dollywobbler]

Sun came out, so moar pics.

 

"Repaired" glovebox.

 

Posh technology.

 

Engine bay is tidy.

 

Security fail. Reg number is for a different BX.

[Spiny Norman]

It's maybe an odd thing to get worked up about but I always really liked using the later BX steering wheel with that lovely triangular cross-section shape, made it very comfortable to hold. That one looks like the top-notch GTi style wheel on that one.

[greengartside]

When I saw the title thread I thought you'd kidnapped these guys....

 

 

but sadly(?) not. Loving how clean the BX looks! Really nice for a car of that many miles Nice to see the door ajar warning system still works too

[fordnut]

I enjoyed reading this, I can see my old flat in the first set of pictures and I can definetely concour that there is a lot of old chod floating around in Borth.

[vulgalour]

Truly you are one of the Chod Meisters of Autoshite.

[Shep Shepherd]

That is super nice. I cannot remember ever seeing a late model BX Break painted solid red

[RedSparrow]

Appropriate use of B&Q hardware to fix a car - good shiteing.

[dollywobbler]

That is super nice. I cannot remember ever seeing a late model BX Break painted solid red

 

I thought they weren't uncommon, but that might just because my pal in north Wales owns one. Incidentally, he also drove home in a BX estate with no heater on Saturday night, but his only cost £160 (and needs a fair degree of fettling).

 

 

The one above has a Xantia 1.9-litre TD. It may have the same power rating, but better torque means it bloomin' shifts! It now has a full leather interior too.

[Shep Shepherd]

I think that the colour and the sporty/luxury bits and pieces make the BX Break look a million francs

[dollywobbler]

It's a great combo. The silver one I like, but it just looks a bit too silver in a world of silver cars.

 

Making plans to get the wheel bearing sorted and hoping to feel well enough to investigate the knackered heater. Sounds like a fairly common fault - the cable fails which opens the air inlet vent.