mad thought, whats the catch with a BX 4x4

bikeboyz · Post by **bikeboyz** » 16 Apr 2005, 19:23

OK so I must of had borning morning but the BX 4x4 Estate 1.9 petrol has caught my attention. If I feel mad enough I might plump for it. I know the pro's of this furnature moving machine, but for an H 1990 whats going to be the problems. Thanks Mat.

NiSk · Post by **NiSk** » 16 Apr 2005, 20:40

Very special gearbox, torsten center diff and rear diff. Only made in VERY small numbers so spares are difficult. Not a particularly robust 4WD solution unfortunately, so if anyone has pretended he's on the Safari rally with it, you wouldn't want to know. Very few mechanics know anything about them, especially Citroëns own.
You not diswaded yet . . . ?
//NiSk

Dave Bamber · Post by **Dave Bamber** » 16 Apr 2005, 20:50

How about £500 for an exhaust system and a transfer box that can cost £1000 to fix?

Post by **martyhopkirk** » 16 Apr 2005, 21:25

Buy a Fiat Panda 4x4, or if you want to stay true to the Cit get a 2CV 4x4.

bxbodger · Post by **bxbodger** » 17 Apr 2005, 01:15

They are VERY cheap- no one wants them.I remember a working one going free on the forum a year or so ago, with no takers ( I believe it went to the crusher in the end ) so its possible if you want a 4x4 BX to get several and keep them as donors if you have the space- they pop up on ebay quite often.
They are not as rare as some other 4x4's- I bet there are more BX's left than, say, Austin Gypsies, and when did you last see a 4wd Cavalier??

bikeboyz · Post by **bikeboyz** » 17 Apr 2005, 04:26

OK see what you mean, but why £500 for an exhaust, I assume this is the 125hp version of the 8v 1.9, so DIY about £170 +vat+del for the whole lot from Bosal.
Think I've gone off it anyway, adding up a TU engined 1.4 would be cheaper, as I only want it as a run around whilst the 504 gets some pampering in the summer. Seriously thinking 2CV6, as got a £95 insurance quote! Oddly AX 954cc was more expensive than 106 954cc.

nick · Post by **nick** » 17 Apr 2005, 18:40

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by bikeboyz

OK see what you mean, but why £500 for an exhaust, I assume this is the 125hp version of the 8v 1.9, so DIY about £170 +vat+del for the whole lot from Bosal.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
It is the 8v 1.9 125 bhp engine, but all the 4x4 gubbins gets in the way so it has a different exhaust system to the standard fwd 8v 1.9 versions.

BX-Basis · Post by **BX-Basis** » 18 Apr 2005, 01:47

I used to have a 4WD, installed a 1.9 Diesel instead of the 1.9 petrol and drove it for 4 weeks. It was really fun to ride, but after no more than 2000 km (the car had only about 130.000 on the clock) the connection between the gearbox and the central differential broke down. That's what happens to every BX 4WD sooner or later. As I found out later, the central differential was replaced at least twice before on that car (@ 20.000 and 29.000 km). Would have had to pay 1200 € only for the spare parts, so now I have a "normal" BX... (but also have a very good 4WD Break exhaust, TORSEN rear differential and many other 4WD parts for sale...)

czenda · Post by **czenda** » 18 Apr 2005, 02:07

This is somewhat directed to BX-basis, but it may be of some use for the English members as well.
I thought that the trouble with the 4x4 BXs in UK had more to do with unavailability of spare parts, which caused their bad reputation.
I more or less expected that they were sold mostly for the markets of Switzerland, Bavaria, Austria and Scandinavian countries.
If you say that 4x4 BX did not serve you well, does that mean that its bad reputation is caused by the design, not by the availability of service/spares?
The thing is that we have a few members of our local forum who own 4x4 BXs imported second-hand from Germany and Switzerland, and they do not complain about their 4x4s at all...

Dave Bamber · Post by **Dave Bamber** » 18 Apr 2005, 02:56

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by bikeboyz

OK see what you mean, but why £500 for an exhaust, I assume this is the 125hp version of the 8v 1.9, so DIY about £170 +vat+del for the whole lot from Bosal.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
The cost was so because the 4x4 was only imported in tiny numbers and it was a different system that the 2wd. The system would never sell in large quantities so the cost went through the roof.

nick · Post by **nick** » 18 Apr 2005, 03:34

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by BX-Basis

I used to have a 4WD, installed a 1.9 Diesel instead of the 1.9 petrol and drove it for 4 weeks. It was really fun to ride, but after no more than 2000 km (the car had only about 130.000 on the clock) the connection between the gearbox and the central differential broke down. That's what happens to every BX 4WD sooner or later. As I found out later, the central differential was replaced at least twice before on that car (@ 20.000 and 29.000 km). <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Citroen had planned to introduce a turbo diesel version of the BX 4x4, and apparently had even gone as far as printing the brochures for it. Then they realised that the extra torque of a TD engine would kill the transmission even quicker than on the petrol versions, so the plan got shelved.

BX-Basis · Post by **BX-Basis** » 19 Apr 2005, 01:11

I don't think that there were ever plans to install the TurboD into a 4WD. In France, some 1.9D (71 hp) were sold in 1990/91. The TurboD would never fit, because the central transmission is installed dirctly behind the engine (as well as the turbocharger...). I even had problems to install the central transmission behind my non-turbo diesel engine !
The real problem of all BX 4WD is the connection between the gearbox and the central transmission. The surface of the shafts (the teeth) gets worn out and as soon as there is a little amount of looseness between the teeth, they wear out more and more until one day you release the clutch pedal and the only thing that happens is a rattling noise from underneath the hood. I think that the driver has a big influence on how long the 4WD system lasts. If you drive the 4WD like a sports car (fast clutch releases), the transmission will fail very soon. My Ex-4WD had the central transmission changed at 20.000 and once again at 29.000 kms ! These changes were paid under warranty, that's the reason why I could check this (I work at a Citroën dealer...). I don't know if it was changes once again. If anyone should have this problem on his 4WD and wants to fix it, never forget to change BOTH shafts. That's what they forgot to do on my Ex-4WD...

yangreen · Post by **yangreen** » 20 Apr 2005, 02:49

Go 2cv!! Fit £60 Mud and Snow tyres and have some fun!
Just watch the crossbox on the exhaust as it is a bit vulnerable (as is the sump) as I found out when I walloped it on a green lane.
Or get one of these >>>http://www.2cv4x4.com/
I'm still saving...

nick · Post by **nick** » 20 Apr 2005, 03:32

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by BX-Basis

I don't think that there were ever plans to install the TurboD into a 4WD. In France, some 1.9D (71 hp) were sold in 1990/91. The TurboD would never fit, because the central transmission is installed dirctly behind the engine (as well as the turbocharger<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Ah, I must have been thinking of the 1.9 atmo D then. I'm sure they were planning to launch that one in the UK but it just never happened...

Ian Fearn · Post by **Ian Fearn** » 20 Apr 2005, 17:32

My mate owns a 4x4 and after many conversations with Mark Lightfoot and John Hannam the general thought on the 4x4 is that they are a specialist car for an enthusiast!
The main problem is that the shaft between the gearbox and the transfer box has a very fine spline. This spline gets stripped very easily and hence no drive... This spline costs in the region of £500 from citroen but the chances are that the input on the acutal tranfer box will also be damaged. I'm unsure whether this can be replaced without completely stripping the transfer box
Other problems are that the transfer box isnt the strongest of units. A recon unit IS available from Citroen at £2500.
Exhaust wise its a case of getting a specialist to make you one up. A company that advertises in the CCC mag will make you a FULL system in stainless for roughly £500.
The BX 4x4 was strange in that Citroen seem to change almost everything mechanically from the standard BX. My friend has build cards telling you how to convert a 2wd into a 4x4. Its incredible!!!