LPG conversion on an E39 M5? |
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UweM3
Moderator Group Joined: 11-February-2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 5445 |
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LPG has a lower caloric value that petrol, that's the power loss. But if you remap the engine software you can compensate for that. But with that map it won't run on petrol...
So catch22 really. To make the most a switchable ECU would be nice, one map for petrol (which you always need to start the car in the first place before switching to gas, or has that changed?) and a second map for LPG optimised for power. But I have to agree whith previous posters, buy something else. Or would you fit LPG to a FERRARI only because it's your dream car?? I wouldn't, but do whatever you fancy, you don't need other peoples approval IMO. Or are you worried about your reputation? (driving an m5 and can't afford the petrol....blablabla) BTW when I was looking for a daily drive I test drove a 530i with LPG. It was AWEFULLY slow. But that was more down to bad mapping. Edited by UweM3 |
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E61 520d, slow and buzzy but my wallet likes the mpg.....
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hopalong
Newbie Joined: 08-November-2007 Status: Offline Points: 9 |
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I'm certainly not worried about my reputation - bit old for that!
Just want to make sure that I wouldn't end up with a car that had been compromised due to the LPG installation, or that would suffer mechanically as a result of the conversion .... BTW thanks for all the comments / opinions so far... |
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bmw1066
Really Senior Member II GOOD OLD E23 Joined: 16-January-2005 Location: West Sussex Nr Brighton Status: Offline Points: 1095 |
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No is the simpol anser. You are A OK to run on LPG. I have driven some very poor LPG fitted car's but some thet you just coud not tell the diffrence, witch was a v6 s type, P38 RR 4.6 and a L322 RR with the 4.4 BMW V8 all were very very good |
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Mark 735 se 1982
RED BARON A E23 is for life not just for x-mas BMW e34 530 v8 Sport kit Spelling always Bad |
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thepits
Moderator Group Joined: 09-July-2003 Location: far far away Status: Offline Points: 10000473 |
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I can't afford the petrol for my E36 325i, but I'm not going to convert that - and certainly not my E30 M3 |
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hopalong
Newbie Joined: 08-November-2007 Status: Offline Points: 9 |
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Seems to me .... on balance that the general opinion is that technically and performance wise there is no reason NOT to do a conversion.
But .... for whatever reason - which no one has been able to quantify, there appears to be a prejudice against LPG. Maybe it's just not 'cool'. Probably wont stop me though... |
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thepits
Moderator Group Joined: 09-July-2003 Location: far far away Status: Offline Points: 10000473 |
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Sell it / declare it SORN & buy a diesel, but don't LPG an M Edited by thepits |
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bmw1066
Really Senior Member II GOOD OLD E23 Joined: 16-January-2005 Location: West Sussex Nr Brighton Status: Offline Points: 1095 |
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SNOB |
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Mark 735 se 1982
RED BARON A E23 is for life not just for x-mas BMW e34 530 v8 Sport kit Spelling always Bad |
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thepits
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I'm glad you put the otherwise I might think you meant it! .
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hopalong
Newbie Joined: 08-November-2007 Status: Offline Points: 9 |
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'The Pits' You haven't told me WHY you feel so strongly about not doing it to an 'M' car?????? Why not? |
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bmw1066
Really Senior Member II GOOD OLD E23 Joined: 16-January-2005 Location: West Sussex Nr Brighton Status: Offline Points: 1095 |
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Whats the first thing I'm going to do to my M car ahh yes |
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Mark 735 se 1982
RED BARON A E23 is for life not just for x-mas BMW e34 530 v8 Sport kit Spelling always Bad |
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thepits
Moderator Group Joined: 09-July-2003 Location: far far away Status: Offline Points: 10000473 |
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OK - an M car is meant to be the epitome of each BMW range. M stands for Motorsport - BMW design and build 'special' M cars which are meant to to be the best in that series. Correct me if I'm wrong, but they haven't - yet? - produced an LPG M car? So, if you buy an M car then it is meant to be the best petrol car that BMW have created in that range - so we buy it. If you buy any M car it is "assumed" that you can afford to run it in the form that BMW designed it. In the currect climate I can understand why that is a problem, my E30 M3 is a daily drive and 100 miles per day is really silly I know, but convert it? Never! If you want an M car, then leave it alone, if - unfortunately - it is impossible to afford, then change it. IMHO |
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Lancastrian
Bavarian-Board Contributor Joined: 10-July-2004 Location: Lancashire, UK Status: Offline Points: 760 |
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I think you probably got that dead right. However, I don't think I would worry about the prejudice too much if I was happy that I had made the right decision. Perhaps, from my point of view, the biggest issue would be the whole cost/saving of the exercise with the biggest unknown being what somebody would give for the car when it comes time to move on. Would the car be saleable and how much below a standard car would it be worth. Maybe I am wrong. Maybe, with fuel prices going the way they are, you would have people queueing up to buy it. |
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E30 M3 Project - Specification TBC
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Dannyboy
Really Senior Member I Joined: 24-August-2005 Location: Hunstanton Status: Offline Points: 301 |
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From a financial point of view, if you can't afford to put the petrol in it what
will you do when something breaks? I here they're not cheap to fix. |
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1992 clio 1.8 16V Good
1998 Subaru Impreza Turbo Terzo Great 1987 M3 Diamond Black Awesome (Now awesomer with Billys & Eibach) |
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73touring
Really Senior Member I Joined: 16-December-2005 Location: Dublin Status: Offline Points: 299 |
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Also you will need a completely independant fuel delevery system that is going to be ching ching to fit, unless your doing 50k miles a year its not going to be worth it, you can do the cheepo 'A Grand job' on Carb cars and older Injection systems Ke Jetronic Montronic ect but an M5? Think about it, 8 new gas frendly injectors, new brain, mapping and instillation and you only get a vat rebate on it if its less than 6 months old(If that even still applies)
Edited by 73touring |
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Now
1973 BMW 2002 Touring (Algea) 1994 BMW 525i Sport Previously 1975 BMW 2002tii 1990 BMW 318i 1990 BMW 320i |
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215m3
Really Senior Member II Joined: 10-May-2003 Location: Bathgate Status: Offline Points: 2118 |
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Pop along to www.partsauction.co.uk |
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jpboost
Really Senior Member I Joined: 24-June-2005 Location: London, GB Status: Offline Points: 292 |
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sorry I was offline over the weekend. But the point I was trying to make was that having an LPG conversion is purely a money saving exersise. From a car buyers perspective, it's not the conversion that is the issue, it's the logic/mindset of the person who fitted it. Some old vehicles probably are worth more with a good LPG conversion. When you buy a car lke an M5, your ideal car is one that has had no expense spared in its upkeep/serviceing etc. A car that has had an LPG conversion may well have had every penny required spent on it... but it does look like the owner is trying to cut costs. You can see that lots of people don't like LPG. While that doesn't matter in the slightest, in terms of what you should do to your car. It's the same peopel who are your market for when you come to sell. Value will be affected accordingly.
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hopalong
Newbie Joined: 08-November-2007 Status: Offline Points: 9 |
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Jpboost
Thanks for the reply. I follow your logic ref resale values and m even inclined to agree... I'm still mulling it all over! |
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Sporty1
Really Senior Member II Joined: 18-October-2006 Location: Hertfordshire, United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 2297 |
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No one has yet asked, but how much is a LPG conversion on a M5? .......and why are manufacturers not going down the LPG route, because it's is also a finite resource? |
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Sport Evolution Schwarz #043 |
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hopalong
Newbie Joined: 08-November-2007 Status: Offline Points: 9 |
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About £2500 for the conversion...
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thepits
Moderator Group Joined: 09-July-2003 Location: far far away Status: Offline Points: 10000473 |
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for which you could get a nice (diesel) daily run-about, lay-up the M5 and only bring it out in the summer. The best of both worlds |
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Cats know your every thought.
But don't care. |
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