LPG Conversions

[Half Colin]

I've had a few LPG cars over the years (Range Rovers and Jeeps mainly) and the only way you really benefit is buying a used car that has already been converted. From my experience converted cars carry very little premium over non-converted so you shouldn't plan on recovering any of the instalation costs on resale.

 

[cj10jeeper]

tannera - good post and some interesting stuff in it.

Can I clarify how you have 'saved a fortune'

Based upon your numbers of an £1,800 conversion and LPG at your average of 70p. I we say petrol is £1.40 then the saving is around 70p per litre. Turn that to gallons is £3.17 per gallon. If we go on 30mpg then the cost of the conversion equates to 567 gallons and 17,000 miles. Add back the 20% loss in MPG from LPG and gets me give or take at 20,000 miles to break even.

Frankly that represents 3 or 4 years motoring for most people in a Zed, so unless you have put that sort of mileage on then you are still well out of pocket. I don't doubt if the combination of high mileage and long ownership you will break even.

As I've posted before I'm in no way against LPG on the right application, but for me the numbers don't stack up unless you're a high mileage user or a really low mpg car.

It can be tricky to work out the sums, when I looked at this as an option I didn't see the conversion cost as totally lost money as a converted car will usually be worth more. However conversions registered with TFL for the free London congestion charge after 24th Dec 2010 will not qualify so that will change future values.

The calculations are fairly simple if you want to get into ball park figures and work out break even times, etc. If you want to be more accurate which I did on my Jeep you can simply use a spreadsheet of actual costs of LPG and petrol at the time of purchase and various other MPG fifures and table it.

In tems of residual value I actually see almost nil. Perhpas on big 4x4's you might realise a little bit more or sell it quicker, but on a Z4 I'd say it was a very limited market and likley actually make the sale harder (in the UK) and have negative impact on values. You could take the kit off and sell parts of it.

 

[teamemmenracing]

Im speechless .........

 

[Jokin]

This is my LPG-Z4:

http://www.spritmonitor.de/de/detailansicht/102013.html

You can see ... round about 200.000 km running on LPG. And I have had half cost of fuelcosts!

A few years ago we drove through GB to our Scotland-Tour, where was no problem to get over with the ferry.

Tha only problem now I have: I can't decide for another car to these costs per funfactor.

There's nothing better when drive a fun-car below 8 Euro per 100 km

Or with other words: I have the double of fun as you with petrol at the same coste. The double ...

best regards,
Frank

 

[tannera34]

Well it has been a while since I posted about converting my z4 to LPG many years ago.

A quick update over the last 3/4 years. I have done 65,000 miles now post conversion and the car is still running without any faults.

The handling is not affected in any noticeable way, it still drives beautifully and you can push the tail out if that is what you want to do.

Given the price of LPG and the fact that I managed to find a supplier that would sell to me at 40ppl (Calor) for quite a long while means I am up about £3,000 and counting . Sadly back to paying 70ppl now. I did go away for two and half weeks camping in Europe (all the way down through France to Italy and then back up through Switzerland and Germany) with my partner in the car and with some very careful packing everything went in. (LPG is even cheaper in most of Europe).

With regard to fuel costs, there is a difference between LPG and petrol. Roughly the Z4 (2.5i Auto 2008) does 11ppm on LPG and 19ppm on Petrol.

For me the greatest advantage is lower servicing costs than diesels, higher reliability than diesel (BMW petrols are more reliable than their diesels counterparts due to the diesels complexity), cheaper than diesel. All of this is nice to know, but the real difference is I don't worry about the cost to go and see friends and family so I do that more than I would otherwise.

I normally change my car every 18 months. I bought the Z4 back in 2009, I don't want to part with it and I still haven't. I can't find a car with better performance, that is nicer to drive and more economical. I still don't believe it exists. The new Z4 looks nice, but the reliability issues reported and the huge weight gain does put me off. Every time I drive it I smile. It has been an absolute bargain.

I have no idea if when I come to sell it will be worth ore or less than an unconverted car, but all the kit comes off so if necessary I will do that and sell it separately.

Would I do it again after 4 years of owning an LPG z4. In a heartbeat. Thoroughly recommended for anyone with high mileages.

Thanks for reading

 

[gingertosser]

nice one

 

[Grumpyowl]

nice one

X2

 

[Oli T]

Well it has been a while since I posted about converting my z4 to LPG many years ago.

Do you have any photos of the tank in the boot? Interested to see how much space is taken. Also how do you fill it? Does it have an extra filling point on the outside or do you fill the tank direct?

Thanks

 

[tannera34]

Well if I knew how to get photos on here, I would.

Step by step guide for an idiot anyone - I can't see the attach button?

 

[shortfuse 2]

don't do it :thumbsdown:

 

[johnnnnnnyy]

Has anyone had their car converted to LPG?

I've had a quote which would be for around 2000ukp to have the conversion done (Dual Fuel), presumably this would mean a tank in the boot which would be a bit inconvenient but the saving for me (even doing just 8000 miles a year) would then be about 500quid/year. After 4 years that's my money back and starting to save...

You'll also need to equate extra servicing and maintenance of the LPG equipment too over that 4 year period. For the miles you do and the current MPG you're already getting, I'd say it's not worth it at all. You'll be looking at maybe 5 - 6 years until you get your money back?

 

[Oli T]

You need to upload them to a host like http://www.photobucket.com then copy and paste the IMG tag.

 

[oli445]

I am in the super exclusive Z4 LPG club

Here's a link to my install http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=39997

 

[ESP]

I've read through all posts here....
Lots of negativity from most, but I'd guess most of the haters (no offence) don't know what there talking about.
As for the tank ruining the driving experience and ride, that just the opinion of people that read too much of Top Gear magazine! Lol
Don't get me wrong, I love a good blast in my Zed, but 9 times out of 10, me personally I'm in traffic or doing 19mph in a 40mph zone. I'm not doing the 35-39mpg I've seen my car can do, it's more like 25mpg.

Do it

 

[tannera34]

Well I hope this works with the pictures.

The first picture is us half packed to go around Europe. You can see the tank is tucked in over the rear wheels. It is 50 Litres. The filler is mounted in the bumper and is invisible unless you know where to look. (about a foot to the right of the number plate)

The second is fully packed for two of us to tour Europe. 4,500 miles in 18 days. No motorways. Roof down the whole way.

Fantastic trip.

 

[tannera34]

Has anyone had their car converted to LPG?

I've had a quote which would be for around 2000ukp to have the conversion done (Dual Fuel), presumably this would mean a tank in the boot which would be a bit inconvenient but the saving for me (even doing just 8000 miles a year) would then be about 500quid/year. After 4 years that's my money back and starting to save...

You'll also need to equate extra servicing and maintenance of the LPG equipment too over that 4 year period. For the miles you do and the current MPG you're already getting, I'd say it's not worth it at all. You'll be looking at maybe 5 - 6 years until you get your money back?

If it helps I worked out that my pay back was at about 25,000 Miles, but I did go safe and buy the most expensive system. At 8,000 Miles a year it will take a while. I was doing 30,000 a year when I had mine done so financially it was a simpler decision.

With regard to the gent who commented on those that have no experience putting opinion with no experience of fact, you might just be right. It would be interesting to here from someone that had a (properly done) conversion and didn't end up thinking it was a good idea for balance. Anyone out there?

 

[123BillyB]

I am in the super exclusive Z4 LPG club

Here's a link to my install http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=39997

Having read your post and Tannera34's long term test results, this now does seem like a very good option if planning to keep the car for a number of of years. Tannara34 and yourself as ACTUAL USERS have stated that power loss is not that noticeable and lets face it, most of us are stuck in traffic most of the time anyway so with that in mind if you can get the conversion done for about a grand as you have done, your quids in.

If you enter 8,000 miles in the LPG savings calculator using a figure of 25mpg as a very generous annual average if your stuck in town most of the time (http://www.drivelpg.co.uk/about-autogas/savings-calculator/) you get a saving of £639pa based on today's fuel costs so you will recoup your costs within the first 18 months

In real terms that means a lot more blasts over the continent for the next few year so I'm defiantly in

P.S. I have only been using Shell V+ for a while now and have noticed the difference but as LPG is a cleaner fuel, It should actually be better for the engine regarding carbon build up's