LPG - GPL - Autogas for Z4 (E85/E86)

[Jokin]

Hi there,

with the search-terms "lpg", "gpl", "autogas", "flüssiggas" I didn't found anything about LPG-Z4 in this forum.

Is this correct? Nobody in UK (or USA) did the conversion to LPG?

... I think ... it's a little bit unbelievable ... really?

Because in Germany we have round about 30 known Z4 running on LPG.

Is LPG in cars like the Z4 no discussion in this forum?

Best regards,
Frank

 

[Dav the wheel nut]

Did you say LPG?

 

[bigshurv]

It should be a fairly straightforward conversion as the engine is used in the more high mileage BMW models.The only issue is the amount of boot space the tank would take up,also most Z4's don't do big mileages,so no one bothers to fit it.

 

[Tommo Two]

I've looked into it, quite seriously aswell! been offered a new job, which is an 80 mile round trip rather that 20 mile, roughly £15 a day on petrol in a 3ltr Z4.

personally i think i have 3 options:

LPG

buy a cheap diesel daily and keep the Z for weekends

Sell the Z and buy a cheap to run car for a couple of years then buy a caterham / westfeild as a weekend driver.

On the LPG front, did some maths and for a conversion profesionally done for 1200 should pay for itself in a year to a year and a half with LPG @ 75p per litre

 

[Taz]

the advantage of LPG is obviously cost

the disadvantages are lose of boot space, inconvience of having to fill up lots more times and possible issues when re-selling

 

[Jokin]

My Z4 has now 223.000 km (ca. 140.000 miles), because I use it daily to drive to work.

boot and re-selling are no reasons against LPG in my case

I just want to have high fun at low costs ... in Germany LPG costs ca. 0,75 Euro, Super costs ca. 1,60 Euro.

I wonder, the Z4's is not so often an all-day-car in UK like in Germany? ... low milages, weekend-Driver?

best regards,
Frank

 

[Newbers]

Hi Frank,

I have a Coupe, it's only done 11k miles (<18k km) but it's about to start doing twice that each year so LPG is interesting. Can you share some details of your conversion? Which kit you have, what your boot looks like, any impact on performance?

 

[steve853]

I would also be very interested in this conversion, as my divorce is about to get expensive!

 

[Jokin]

I converted my Z4 in 09/2005 at 40.000 km ... now: 5 1/2 years and 180.000 km later.

Name of the kit: "Prins VSI" for a standard-price of 2.500 €

Here are some pictures:

In between much better conversations are possible ... but: This is the second internet-known Z4 with LPG-conversation ...

The switch is installed unvisible - I never need to know huch much LPG is in my tank ... after round about 400 km I have to fill up ...

The filling under the plate because in 2005 it was the best option.

And now the boot - it's enough for weekly shopping for a 4-person-family.

In 2009 we done a trip through UK to Scotland für 2 weeks ... no problem for 2 persons


Performance Impacts? Not really ... it's an Z4 2.5 ... running downhill, tailwind, wanted to come to home

... normally he does round about 230 km/h ... switching to petrol doesn't make the car faster.

The savings with LPG instead petrol in these 180.000 km: round about 11.000 Euro .... Investment: 2.250 Euro ...

I think, it's a big deal for 5 1/2 years.

BUT ... it's not only the money ... in case of the conversion I take a job with 60 miles to drive one way ... the effect of this job: I build my one house without the need to sell this car.

Much funny roudtrips with the Z4 are cheaper then with petrol, so we do much more roadtrips in the past and today. The really savings are not countable ...

But life will be happier

best regards,
Frank

 

[AlanJ]

Looks like a neat conversion but not for me.

 

[Taz]

I would not convert a Z4 but then I would not put anybody off, I converted a Ford Galaxy, after 18 months it had paid for itself and then it ment i was getiing the equivilant of 40 mpg, my biggest issue was having to fill up so often, the tank i fitted was underneath, in place of the spare wheel, the spare wheel was then carried in the boot

 

[a11y]

I just don't do enough miles to ever justify an LPG conversion (only 4-5k p.a.), but if I did then the thing that would concern me is that the UK government don't heavily tax LPG in the same way as petrol/diesel: I guarantee if it became more popular then LPG would be taxed more heavily, i.e. higher price.

I also occasionally use every single inch of bootspace in my Z4 roadster and couldn't sacrifice any of that space for a tank.

 

[Newbers]

Thanks for the info/pics Frank. I think that looks like an interesting idea. I might have a look into what different tank options might be available......

 

[Tommo Two]

These are the people i was looking at to convert mine http://www.autogassolutions.co.uk/lpg-prices

for me boot space isn't an issue, if i need boot space or 4 seats i just swap the z with my dad's A4 for a day or 2.

 

[Jokin]

tank options ...
... my 55 Liters are good for 450 km.

 

[Gargybloke]

I had a factory fitted Vectra 1.8 lpg car for 3 years. Mainly used to go up and down M3. Drove me round the bend!

Got fed up with the small range. Small number of fill points. Very many bad experiences filling up at stations due to:

Broken fill pipe/valves where someone had been heavy handed with them
Pumps not working or going very slow. Would take an age to come in to a station and get filled up even if straight on a pump.
Queues for slow pump
Waiting for people who parked next to pump thinking "I'll do my shopping, this pump won't be used" to return.

Switched to a nice Citroen C4 1.6HDi vtr+ EGS (paddle change). £30 road tax. V reliable. 650 mile range. Cheap to buy. Can fill up anywhere. Quiet and cruises well at speed. Fine for 1 person general commuting. Quite roomy anyway.

Don't get conned