Citroen BX 1.9 petrol 11mnth MoT £235 needs saving

[murdock]

www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C327256

Has a hydraulic fluid leak and apprently the replacement pipe isn't available

But for £235 it must be a cheap and easy fix for someone, it has 11 months MoT and apparently a recent cambelt and tyres. I'm tempted myself, but not sure if it's driveable any distance with the leak.... Does anyone with more knowledge of BX's know the score with this?

Ian

[PandaSelecta]

When my old BX sprang a leak i used Maplins self fusing tape until i could get the car to a garage, it held up very well. www.maplin.co.uk/silicone-self-fusing-repair-tape-227649

If you DO use it though, don't chance the motorways, as the fluid controls the steering, suspension, and brakes, so if one goes, the whole lot go

[stinkwheel]

Its the low pressure main pump feed. Easy as anything to sort out, find a scrap xantia/XM/BX or whatever and chop out a section of pipe, some jubilee clips and metal connector tubes, job done.
I'm even tempted to give him a ring now.........

[Brian Damaged]

That looks clean and tidy. Shame it's not a year older, in which case it'd have the original 'mad as a box of frogs' dashboard!

[murdock]

I'm seriously tempted, it's scrap money after all. I have e-mailed him. Not using the motorways wouldn't really be an option with me taking the car home though, even the 'A' roads on the way back would be really quite busy....

Are the pipes the same from the XM then? I just can't figure out why that type of pipe isn't available! I haven't made a fix like this before, so would be relying on getting it right first time for the drive back!

Ian

[murdock]

Just got an e-mail from him, he's wanting £300 including tax until end of January. He also says that he's now heard the part if available for £50 + VAT.....

Any thoughts?

Ian

[welshpug]

DOOO EEET!!!


unsurprising if the part is not available, its an old Citroen!

[eternaloptimist]

Shouldn't be a safety issue - it's on the low pressure return side - if it's pouring out, eventually the reservior empties and the big STOP warning light comes on. Last thing to go is brakes.

There are probably moulded ends on the pipe that makes it specific to the BX - but if the split is in a straightish section of the pipe you can cut the pipe in half, push a short length of copper pipe in, reconnect the two halves and use a jubilee clip either side to seal the pipe.

Buy it!

[murdock]

Eternaloptimist, I just realised that I haven't read/replied to your PM, sorry, will do so

I really don't need to read people saying 'buy it' ;D when I already really like these, have already bought a 230CE I hadn't intended on buying and am eyeing up a very cheap E30 with MoT and Tax.... On the other hand, £300 for this with 11months ticket and 5 months tax is a steal!!!!

I've only ever heard the horror stories about Citroen Hydraulics, can anyone shed some light on the truth of this or not? How thirsty is the 1.9 petrol going to be? I can't really justify it if I'm not going to be able to waft about in it very much....

Thanks,

Ian

[murdock]

Well got an e-mail today from the guy. Another chap who runs a Citroen repair centre came and bought it today! No doubt to sell it on at a huge mark-up, curse me working weekends! Earliest I'd be able to have got down was tomorrow afternoon!

Still the guy was a real gent to deal with and I'll be keeping an eye out on those websites as bargains evidently still surface!

Thanks everyone

Ian

[Phil H]

90-odd% of BX fluid leaks are the Octopus pipe. Common failure as one pipe (I've done 2 of the sods) has a 180 degree bend in it which goes over time. Class them as consumable.