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Really Senior Member I
Joined: 02-May-2004
Location: Bristol/ Glos
Status: Offline
Points: 373
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 Topic: LPG/ GAS 635 csia?
Posted: 12-June-2006 at 11:21 |
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I wanted a BMW run around whilst ding up my m>335i (www.335itc.co.uk). i ended up with a 635csi!
Just wondering, ha anyone had an lpg conversion, or even better done
one themselves? my right foot has never been the lightest, and this car
is screaming for an LPG kit.
Any experiences anyone? recommendations?
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www.335itc.co.uk
Its gonna be finished for summer!!! thats the plan!!!
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AndyS
Really Senior Member II
The Last of the Few
Joined: 21-August-2003
Location: 55 � North
Status: Offline
Points: 1365
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Posted: 12-June-2006 at 11:41 |
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An LPG kit is going to cost around £2000 fitted so you'd have to save that much before you start making a saving on fuel costs. In other words, you have to have a thirsty car (you have!) and do a lot of miles or be looking at the reasonably long term (3 years+). Don't forget, the robbing bast..., sorry Chancellor, is looking to remove the duty saving from LPG as the Govt no longer thinks the clean air is worth the trade off on loss of duty. Govt grants for conversions have already gone.
Don't know how much you paid for your Six but you won't get much if any extra for having an LPG kit on it when you sell.
Since you're dropping an M30 in your E30 you might as well get used to the fuel consumption 'cos it won't be much better than the Six. Typically, I get 18-20mpg urban & 23-25mpg on a longer run. Enthusiastic driving will get that down by 15% or more.
You could transfer the LPG kit over to the E30 when you sell the Six but again it's hassle & is likely to cost you a bit in labour rates.
In short, do your sums first to see if it's worth it. Bear in mind that the saving is not 50% but nearer 30% in reality.
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AndyS Live each day as if it's your last - one day it will be. 
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Really Senior Member I
Joined: 02-May-2004
Location: Bristol/ Glos
Status: Offline
Points: 373
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Posted: 12-June-2006 at 11:53 |
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One issue,i now love the six, as a total contrast to the three, so i
think it's gonna have to stay. I picked up the six for under 1k, and
she's very solid. Bodywork wise she needs a little tlc, but nothing
rivalling the 335i.
efficiency wise, alot of people calculate a good system as being 90%
efficient compared to petrol i.e. mpg wise, so you would get 90 miles
compared to 100 for the same amount fo fuel. Cost is around half for
estimates sake. I have been quoted £500 DIY kit, and 1250 fitted. The
car has the lsd, and the sport box, so its rather revvy anything above
70 on the motorway, and i intend to do occassional long runs.
When i first got it it hadn't been used much, brakes binding a little
etc as it had been sat near the sea (about 100 yards actually). i got
driving reasonably steady £30 150 miles. is this what others are
seeing. it does appear to be improving, and apparently for m.o.t.
emmissions had to be altered, so the "mechanic" altered the AFM with a
screwdriver. i doubt he measured the changes.
I'm getting a fixed value around 3k, asi saw others on there for around
that in similar condition, 114000 miles etc, sport leathers.
I love the car, so getting a return, as per the 335i is not an issue.
I have heard bad things about these diy kits as well, and i know that
if i had lpg it would have to be sinlge point injection, not multipoint
due to the cast inlet manifolds.
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www.335itc.co.uk
Its gonna be finished for summer!!! thats the plan!!!
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AndyS
Really Senior Member II
The Last of the Few
Joined: 21-August-2003
Location: 55 � North
Status: Offline
Points: 1365
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Posted: 14-June-2006 at 14:57 |
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The problem with a cheap Six is that a repair can cost more than the car. This is ok so long as you accept that that's the price for owning a Six. After all, they aren't making any more!
Not sure how a single point LPG would work on a Six but it doesn't sound too clever. I'd use the car for a few months first to see how the two of you get on before jumping into an LPG conversion.
I seem to recall there was a BMW specialist who did LPG. Will try to find out who it was.
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AndyS Live each day as if it's your last - one day it will be.
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Really Senior Member I
Joined: 02-May-2004
Location: Bristol/ Glos
Status: Offline
Points: 373
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Posted: 14-June-2006 at 15:24 |
Yep, i didnt like the idea either. alot of cheaper cars use single point even today. I'll find the site again soon, nearer the time i'm ready, for now the main thing is to get the rust away, and general maintenance that needs to be done.
Repairs won't cost me much. After doing so much to the 335i, things like rust don't worry me much. not to say it will go perfect, but after this (see below), a bit of rust is my last worry. I'm sure i will find complications, but ive got around all to date, with or without technical knowledge....
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www.335itc.co.uk
Its gonna be finished for summer!!! thats the plan!!!
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phb10186
Really Senior Member I
Joined: 18-April-2005
Location: North London
Status: Offline
Points: 331
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Posted: 15-June-2006 at 21:13 |
I had thought about the possibility of LPG too, however the Tax situation was enough to put me off.
I know a mechanic friend with an LPG converted Isuzu Trooper ('90 I think, and 2.4 petrol). He was getting a return of about 70%, and the equivalent loss of power as acceleration. However, the engine always ran hotter, and the head gasket eventually went.
Given the fact that LPG is essentially Butane (BBQ gas), and Petrol is Octane - a molecule of twice the carbon density and also a liquid - it is safe to say that the lubricating ability of LPG is half as good as petrol at best; thus explains the hotter running.
If I was going to run a car on LPG I would alternate between fuels, each tank, and use a petrol additive to maintain lubrication when running on LPG.
Although in the long term I would have thought that the engine would suffer from premature wear (obviously top end) - although I cannot verify this, it is what seems logical to me given the properties of the 2 fuels.
-There must be an LPG owners website, try looking there for inspiration!
Edited by phb10186
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1985 635 CSI with Style 134's
1998 Z3 2.8i
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Really Senior Member I
Joined: 02-May-2004
Location: Bristol/ Glos
Status: Offline
Points: 373
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Posted: 20-June-2006 at 12:36 |
I've had a gander around, it seems that the quality ofkits vary alot, and the first generation kits we heardabout, haunt the later kits by bad reputation.
This could also be marketing spin though!
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www.335itc.co.uk
Its gonna be finished for summer!!! thats the plan!!!
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LPG/ GAS 635 csia?