LPG anyone?

[m1key]

I was looking at an LPG conversion, just wondered what people thought of them.

has anyone converted there car ??

what kind of MPG do you get ?

M

[TOURINGDADDY]

I converted my 24v granada cossie to gas and it rocked 37.5p when petrol is 85p+ dependin on where u live the mpg is the same as petrol but if you said Ԛ£40 = 300 miles then on gas Ԛ£20 = 300 miles and it is really easy to do i did mine my self..

[Brianmoooore]

I've been running my main transport (E30 325 Touring M20) on LPG for several years now.
It's probably the only way I could afford to run it, and definitely the only way I can enjoy it.
LPG contains 20% less energy per litre than petrol, so expect an increase in consumption of 20%. Any more, then the LPG is not set up properly, any less then your petrol system was clapped.
Having said that, LPG consumption seems to be much less affected by "enthusiastic" driving than petrol.
Cost savings are greatly affected your available sources of LPG.My local BP charges 36% more per litre than a Morrisons 100 miles away from me, but if you reckon on a saving of 45%, you won't be dissapointed.
There are two distinct types of LPG set up available which will suit your car. The older "2nd generation" system, which uses a venturi to draw gas into the engine, and the newer gas injection systems.
The former will work well on your car, but will result in a small reduction in power. The later system should perform the same as petrol, but is much more expensive to install and to set up.
My car has a "2nd generation system", (injection didn't exist when it was converted), but shortly my main driver will become a M50 engined E30, which will be getting an injection system.

[TOURINGDADDY]

If u r lookin 4 some one to in stall ur injection sys i can give u details of a friend who does this 4 a livin he has the 4.4 v8 with the injection sys and he can re-map the ecu to what ever he wants as and he mods his e39 at present he is importin a supercharger 4 it and also has a nitros sys ready for when he fits the super.....

[oneblueleg]

If u r lookin 4 some one to in stall ur injection sys i can give u details of a friend who does this 4 a livin

About how much are we talking? I'm not considering it, but then if it was cheap enough, it may be... I just don't have a clue...

[TOURINGDADDY]

Depends on the sys u want Ԛ£1000 to Ԛ£2000 could'nt giv exact price till priced it up but if u do more than 12'000 miles a year then its worth doin as you'll make ur money back in no time on fuel savin.. i'll b doin my tourin soon

[JoeP]

Do they not require rather large fuel tanks thus reducing further the already laughable touring boot space?

[Danstable]

I have no cash at the moment but have always been interested in doing an LPG conversion on my 325. Tried to organise a group buy but wasn't enough interest at the time, also thought about a 'fitting day' where we all descend on Brian and get him to help us all out with fitting.

If you get anywhere then let me know please.

[TOURINGDADDY]

No u fit what is called a treoilderial tank which goes where the spare wheel should b thus loosin ur spare (no grate loss)

[oneblueleg]

Depends on the sys u want Ԛ£1000 to Ԛ£2000 could'nt giv exact price till priced it up but if u do more than 12'000 miles a year then its worth doin as you'll make ur money back in no time on fuel savin.. i'll b doin my tourin soon

Cheers... my mileage isn't enough to warrant it really... thanks though

[320Touring]

Do they not require rather large fuel tanks thus reducing further the already laughable touring boot space?

lol! i'd put the tank in the spare wheel well or put two 'saddle tanks in behind the rear arches

touringdaddy,

can you get a price for a 'group buy on the LPG?! I started a thread about this a while back-but didnt have the contacts to get a good deal....

best I got was 10% off of www.lpgkitdirect.co.uk if we ordered 10 or more..

then there was the problem of fitting.

please let us know,

Neil

[A1BMW325iSport]

i am also thinking of lpg conversion for my e34 535i sport

[TOURINGDADDY]

this is a pic of teroi
http://img274.echo.cx/img274/5118/image0003of.jpg

[Brianmoooore]

The torroidal tank in my touring gives me a range of 175 - 185 miles and occupies no boot space at all.
Not a great range, I know, but you can run it completely dry, as you get plenty of warning that it's empty, and you can then switch to petrol.

[Brianmoooore]

Whether it's worth converting or no doesn't entirely depend on your annual mileage, but more on how long you intend to keep the car, and reap the benifits of the reduced engine wear as well.
For anybody doing anything like an "average" annual mileage, then you get your money back in about two years. After that its all profit.
Into profit much quicker of course if you convert yourself.

[Brianmoooore]

320 Touring - I thought the price you got for a complete Bigas kit was a bit on the low side, so I checked with the company. The price does not include the tank, multivalve and filler as I suspected.
It's still a good price though. Some checking into the Bigas system, revealed that they had serious problems with the injectors, and I was advised not to use Bigas. Further research then revealed that the injectors have recently been totaly redesigned, and are now as good as any on the market. I then checked with lpgkitsdirect that they are supplying the new type.

[320Touring]

320 Touring - I thought the price you got for a complete Bigas kit was a bit on the low side, so I checked with the company. The price does not include the tank, multivalve and filler as I suspected.
It's still a good price though. Some checking into the Bigas system, revealed that they had serious problems with the injectors, and I was advised not to use Bigas. Further research then revealed that the injectors have recently been totaly redesigned, and are now as good as any on the market. I then checked with lpgkitsdirect that they are supplying the new type.

result brian!was aware of the lack of tank etc, but not about the injectors etc...

think we really need to get lots of folk involved so we can get the stuff cheap and fit it ourselves... Ԛ£700 for fitting an lpg system is a bit expensive?!

[m1key]

i have a quote for ;

Full DIY kit with instructions and 70ltr tank. OMVL single point system with back fire protection and injector emmulation. Ԛ£485.00 carriage Ԛ£25.00

(includes vat)

Mike

[320Touring]

i have a quote for ;

Full DIY kit with instructions and 70ltr tank. OMVL single point system with back fire protection and injector emmulation. Ԛ£485.00 carriage Ԛ£25.00

(includes vat)

Mike

is that from LPG kits direct?! sounds a good price!!!

reckon the fitting looks easy enough?!

think we should have a 'mini LPG fitting' meet...

[Zayyan]

i have a quote for ;

Full DIY kit with instructions and 70ltr tank. OMVL single point system with back fire protection and injector emmulation. Ԛ£485.00 carriage Ԛ£25.00

(includes vat)

Mike

is that from LPG kits direct?! sounds a good price!!!

reckon the fitting looks easy enough?!

think we should have a 'mini LPG fitting' meet...

Ԛ£510 is an excellent price if it includes everything you need and reduces engine wear as well....you'd be saving after only about 10,000 miles

I'd be up for the LPG fitting meet....I can see one person figuring it out and doing everybody else's though!

[TOURINGDADDY]

I don't need 2 figure it out i have already fitted 2 of my own and a couple of others 4 mates and will b doin me tourin soon

[Zayyan]

I think someone might've just volunteered themselves!

[Danstable]

Portsmouth eh......from Sheffield that would be a wallet killer, the journey back should be less so though!

We do need someone/somewhere with space and tools.

[320Touring]

I don't need 2 figure it out i have already fitted 2 of my own and a couple of others 4 mates and will b doin me tourin soon

you up for 'hosting' a fitting session?! assuming we can find someplace to congregate?!

you can share your knowledge and recieve many ales?!

[TOURINGDADDY]

Tools not a problem space ah......... 1 way street and u really need it in the air to run the gas line. need ramp do ave acess but cant take piss (work)

[Danstable]

Another thing, is that kit for a 6 cylinder? Also, assuming that one day I upgrade my engine to a more modern 6 cylinder, could I just transfer the LPG system over?

[Danstable]

Well I could bring a set of axle stands and I guess others could do the same. If the fitting is done as a DIY job, what are the implications for certification and insurance?

[320Touring]

Tools not a problem space ah......... 1 way street and u really need it in the air to run the gas line. need ramp do ave acess but cant take piss (work)

cool! was meaning doing a 'bulk' order of LPG kits for some 'zoners then meeting somewhere covered (and relatively central for all)...


having say a weekend to fit them all-and us all helping?!

should get install down to not too long at all, then we could all go and get cert's from local inspector?!


thanks for the offer of the tools!!

[TOURINGDADDY]

OOOOOH YES... To a certain limit unless u fit direct injection

[TOURINGDADDY]

A 2 man crew can fit a kit in and have runnin in 8 hours aprox.. gremlins about a week...

[320Touring]

think we have to get an idea of all who are interested...

can see it costing Ԛ£700 all in

Ԛ£500 for kit and

Ԛ£200 for petrol to location, odds and ends and accomodation...

maybe a mod could sticky a list for us?! i'll try and find the email for the kit discounts...

[Danstable]

The gremlins that you mention, are we all likely to experience the same gremlins if we are running the same engines.....or are they likely to be more freaky random gremlins?! Once it's set up and running nicely, do they have a tendency to go out of tune and need setting up again, or once they're done are they done for good?

[TOURINGDADDY]

I'll get hold of my mate and c what prices i can come up with... by the sound of things your not going 4 the direct injection version.....

Any people worried about losin power dont worry my old granada cossie was 270bhp and the only time u noticed any diff is in the wet (dint spin up all the time)

[TOURINGDADDY]

The gremlins r only teethin propb ....once set up u should b fine unless u run a sh*t load of bass then i would prob lock thght the mixture and idle (had a fiew minor moments) coz of the bass

[TOURINGDADDY]

One more thing i have negelected 2 mention is u got to cut a hole in ur pride and joy for the filler and have a takky green sticker so the fire bregade know u got gas