Yet another BX in the stable.

Mothman · Post by **Mothman** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 5:25 pm

Yes, ive gone anb bought another BX Estate. Basically for spares as its head gasket had gone. Its a BX17 TZD in red with 155k on the clock registered 30 11 93 and has 6 months mot left. It runs but the header tank is pressurised abd spews water although there is nothing in the oil.

Its had its octopus replaced as well as the rear arm bearings and i have an armful of bills so it has been looked after just not had the coolant changed enough i suppose. There isnt any rust on the front inner wings and cant see much anywhere else. Ok, there are a few niggles and dings, it isnt perfect.

Local garage has quoted me close to a grand to sort the head and do the timing belt and i i wonder if she is worth saving. Cant do pics at the moment as photobucket is seriously messing with my pc at the moment.

Andy

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 5:34 pm

Not tempted to have a go yourself? Can't say I've ever attempted a head gasket replacement, but I wouldn't necessarily rule it out just because of that. Sounds like a well-cared for motor otherwise.

The XUD turbos can blow head gaskets anyway. They're not exactly Rover K-Series prone, but a turbo does put more pressure on them.

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 5:36 pm

If it's any help, Andy here's the pic off Facebook:

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 5:36 pm

Oh, and it's too good to kill.... isn't it?

Mothman · Post by **Mothman** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 5:40 pm

Thanks for that Phil.

its a bit tatty in places, some of the varnish coat or whatever its called is peeling in places but for 100 quid i think it may be worth saving. Tyres are good too, has new front disks and pads.

Andy

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 5:43 pm

Has to be worth saving. It's even got rear mud flaps!

With values rising, now's the time to save the better ones while they still exist. The number of survivors is only going to diminish.

citronut · Post by **citronut** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 5:46 pm

pm sent Andy

regards malcolm

JayW · Post by **JayW** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 5:59 pm

Head gaskets aren't hard to do by any means. Infact, the only PITA of the job is getting to all the manifold bolts, the rest is straightforward.

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 6:14 pm

Here you go Andy - as requested:

Mothman · Post by **Mothman** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 7:02 pm

Dollywobbler wrote:Has to be worth saving. It's even got rear mud flaps!

With values rising, now's the time to save the better ones while they still exist. The number of survivors is only going to diminish.

Its even got front mudflaps too so defo worth saving.

Caffiend · Post by **Caffiend** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 8:09 pm

Yeah, but has it got a splitter?

Not even sure if they are supposed to TBH ...

citsncycles · Post by **citsncycles** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 8:23 pm

I'd have a go at the head myself if it was mine. It's been a few years since I had to do a head gasket, and I've never done one on an XUD, but if you did the strip and reassembly yourself, I recon you could do it for around £100 for parts and a head skim, less if you reused some of the gaskets.

stuart_hedges · Post by **stuart_hedges** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 8:52 pm

I've just seen this on Facebook, but because you're a friend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend I couldn't comment.

If that can be saved it would be a brilliant, brilliant car. If the engine is beyond saving, I bet there's a good XUD Turbo engine out there somewhere in a rusty car (like my old one, for example, currently in a 205...)

Mickey taker · Post by **Mickey taker** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 8:53 pm

surely it depends if the head needs skimming , thats an engineering shop job and costs serious dollar , it cost a bomb to have my petrol meteors head gasket done

Kitch · Post by **Kitch** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 8:56 pm

Try changing the rad cap for a good one first. If there are no other symptoms, it could just be boiling up because it's not pressurised. Ensure there are no air locks too - you don't know who's been playing around with it.