Space Invader: 1990 Citroen BX build

[Mudcoatedgolfer]

Yeah, accumulators (the "orbs") need pressure in the system to do their job, not to mention when you're all the way down the stroke of the cylinder is very limited in what it can do for a smooth ride.

Yeah, I think that if I raise the top mount and create a new "notch" in the ride height selector ( at the moment there's a big gap between the bottom height and the normal driving height). Between those two things and possibly moving the strut mounts too I should be able to make it driveable at about the same as its current lowest ride if not lower.


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[Mudcoatedgolfer]

I snapped a couple of shots of the car at its normal drive height last night.





Apoligies for it being so dirty, I haven't had time to even wash it properly. I didn't want pressure wash it until I've got a better idea of how the paint is.


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[Mudcoatedgolfer]

I made a start on cleaning up the interior. There was a whole load of sand and grass caught up in it so I decided to just pull it out and stick it in the washer.



I really cannot believe how easy this car is to work on. Every single fitting in the interior is either a 10mm nut or a straight forward Phillips screw. None of the pesky plastic caps which hold down the carpet in VWs.

Here's another shot of it laying down:




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[Mudcoatedgolfer]

So I havent really done alot yet but I hav this picked up yesterday:

[Mudcoatedgolfer]

Here's one showing how low it goes on stock suspension:




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[DutchStance]

You got me looking into BX's to, but thinking of going the XM route, cuz i want a auto.

[Mudcoatedgolfer]

You got me looking into BX's to, but thinking of going the XM route, cuz i want a auto.

Wow, I wasnt expecting a complement like that! I have no idea whether an auto was available but definitely go for a 16v if you can find one, those engines are awesome!

[Himlar]

Citroëns are cool, stanced Citroëns are badass cool! (Yes, I might have been indoctrinated since being a kid ...)

You seem to have figured it out yourself, but do not drive the car when it is in its lowest setting! It is only a service mode, as is the highest setting (you can change wheels without using a jack in a Citroën, that's quite nice). But if the BX is anything like the Xantia, XM or CX there should be a ride hight indicator somewhere in the suspension system. Ususally, it is like a rotating lever that you can adjust to alter the ride hight. The point is to be able to correct ride hight after having dissasembled the suspension system, so you should be able to find instructions on how to do this on your own, but it can be used for more "stance-related" purposes as well ... I think an adjustment there, and lower pneumatic pressure (to stiffen the suspension) would be a well-functioning combination.

Keep working, I need to be talked into buying a BX as a daily driver!

[Mudcoatedgolfer]

Citroëns are cool, stanced Citroëns are badass cool! (Yes, I might have been indoctrinated since being a kid ...)

You seem to have figured it out yourself, but do not drive the car when it is in its lowest setting! It is only a service mode, as is the highest setting (you can change wheels without using a jack in a Citroën, that's quite nice). But if the BX is anything like the Xantia, XM or CX there should be a ride hight indicator somewhere in the suspension system. Ususally, it is like a rotating lever that you can adjust to alter the ride hight. The point is to be able to correct ride hight after having dissasembled the suspension system, so you should be able to find instructions on how to do this on your own, but it can be used for more "stance-related" purposes as well ... I think an adjustment there, and lower pneumatic pressure (to stiffen the suspension) would be a well-functioning combination.

Keep working, I need to be talked into buying a BX as a daily driver!

Haha, I'm only just beginning a journey into citroen ownership since I always had Volkswagens.

You are definitely right, it is horrible to drive on the lowest setting. Thanks for the advice, I need to finish reading through the manual to find out where that lever is but I'm sure through a combination of that and some other suspension changes im planning I should be able to work something out.

I have a question for you, do you know if the different ride height settings are discrete or continuous? For instance, if I hold the the lever between the middle and bottom settings, will it go to a height that is between the two, or to whichever setting the lever is closest to?

I was thinking of cutting an extra notch for the lever but I don't know if it would actually result in a new ride height setting.


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[Himlar]

Haha, I'm only just beginning a journey into citroen ownership since I always had Volkswagens.

You are definitely right, it is horrible to drive on the lowest setting. Thanks for the advice, I need to finish reading through the manual to find out where that lever is but I'm sure through a combination of that and some other suspension changes im planning I should be able to work something out.

I have a question for you, do you know if the different ride height settings are discrete or continuous? For instance, if I hold the the lever between the middle and bottom settings, will it go to a height that is between the two, or to whichever setting the lever is closest to?

I was thinking of cutting an extra notch for the lever but I don't know if it would actually result in a new ride height setting.


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I'm not completely sure, but I do think that a) the system is fully mechanical and b) the settings are continuous. The extra notch should work, but it would result in something like lowering a standard car by cutting parts of the stock spring away: a softly sprung car that bottoms out regularly. I think and believe, my experience in lowering cars and/or BXs is minimal.

[Mudcoatedgolfer]

I'm not completely sure, but I do think that a) the system is fully mechanical and b) the settings are continuous. The extra notch should work, but it would result in something like lowering a standard car by cutting parts of the stock spring away: a softly sprung car that bottoms out regularly. I think and believe, my experience in lowering cars and/or BXs is minimal.

That's awesome, I tried holding the lever between them and I think it worked but I wanted a second opinion.

Hopefully I can find a way to stiffen the suspension enough that I can drive at the bottom height, I am also going to put ~1" spacers in the topmounts so that I will have more suspension travel on the lower settings.

I am aiming to lay frame on the lowest setting, then add an extra setting where ground clearance will be very low for city driving and finally the middle setting will be still high enough for speed bumps/ bad roads.




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[Himlar]

That's awesome, I tried holding the lever between them and I think it worked but I wanted a second opinion.

Hopefully I can find a way to stiffen the suspension enough that I can drive at the bottom height, I am also going to put ~1" spacers in the topmounts so that I will have more suspension travel on the lower settings.

I am aiming to lay frame on the lowest setting, then add an extra setting where ground clearance will be very low for city driving and finally the middle setting will be still high enough for speed bumps/ bad roads.




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If you find your local Citroën club or a Citroën forum, they usually know someone who refills the suspension spheres and who could help you adjust the pressure towards a stiffer suspension. Just don't hope for any standing ovations; Citroën people seems to have very little understanding for wanting to compromise comfort ...

[Mudcoatedgolfer]

If you find your local Citroën club or a Citroën forum, they usually know someone who refills the suspension spheres and who could help you adjust the pressure towards a stiffer suspension. Just don't hope for any standing ovations; Citroën people seems to have very little understanding for wanting to compromise comfort ...

Thats a great Idea! Ill see what I can do. Once I get a little time in the next couple of weeks im going to make a serious start on trying to get suspension changes figured out.

It would be awesome to see another citroen on here, hint hint. Even Saxos which have a terrible reputation here in the UK get a good reception on here.

[Mudcoatedgolfer]

So I got the front carpet back in.



It's not quite perfect but alot better than It was.

I forgot to take a photo of how it was before, but here's a picture of the back carpet that I havent got around to doing yet. The front was much worse than this.






I dont think I ever posted up any photos but this car is full of nifty features such as factory sun blinds built into the parcel shelf and adjustable bolsters/ lumbar support.

Overall Im pretty impressed with the interior, The seats are super comfortable and although the interior pieces are a boring grey plastic they feel pretty robust.

I actually really like the whole modular style of the dash but one thing really messes the whole interior up for me is this:



The center console/ heater control area is just rediculously bland and basic. I really feel like I need to do something about It. Maybe some kind of tablet install or something? Anybody got any Ideas?

[loekaaz]

Some kind of retro panel like the old W116 Mercedes-Benz's got!

Just to keep it old skoolish