How much does LPG conversion cost?

[mat_the_cat]

Advocates of the system say that Polish systems being most recently designed are the best.  I don't know whether they are right.

 

Certainly Stag is very flexible, and supports a variety of injectors from different makers. But because it is cheaper, it tends to get bundled with low-end hardware, and fitted by installers who spend less time (=money) actually putting it in and crucially setting it up. Because of that, I think it gets an unfairly poor reputation amongst some people...

 

I used to run a Sierra on gas only and that started fine when covered in snow.  It was a Leonardo system, a closed loop system which uses a stepper motor controlled valve.  There are supposed to be issues with icing up but I never had any.  Perhaps I was lucky.  

 

You may get visible signs of frost (i.e. below 0 °C) on the vaporiser if starting from cold, as the coolant may not be able to keep the temperature above freezing. But as the gas (when not under pressure) boils around -40 Ã‚°C, so visible icing isn't a problem assuming coolant can flow.

[dieselnutjob]

are the blos LPG carbs still well regarded?  can you start from cold with those?

[dieselnutjob]

see http://pmxpl.strefa.pl/files/blos.pdf

[Bren]

When I was in the SD1 club years ago a few members cars had lpg.

 

Need petrol to start, a noticeable increase in performance but drop in economy - a carb 3.5 would do about 13 mpg.

 

It's your car - if you want LPG go for it.

[warren t claim]

318i SE AUTO, lucky to see 25mpg around town with 22-23 being closer to the mark. Not tooooo bad on a run at around 35mpg but I do a lot of start stop driving unfortunately. But due to other issues it had to be an auto really.

Fuckin' hell! My E36 318is never did less than 30mpg, albeit with a manual box.

[Taff]

318i SE AUTO, lucky to see 25mpg around town with 22-23 being closer to the mark. Not tooooo bad on a run at around 35mpg but I do a lot of start stop driving unfortunately. But due to other issues it had to be an auto really.

 

/\ like wazza says. my 325i was doing low 30's and that got driven like it was stolen. hand brake stuck on?

[Des]

are the blos LPG carbs still well regarded?  can you start from cold with those?

I've found Blos carbs very good, been running one for about 5 years and 50K starting cold on gas every time apart from the odd occasion I've run out and switched to petrol, Actually, my fave thing about LPG is the cold starting with it's lack of fuel enrichment bore washing gremlinoid destrction, if I should ever desire my pistons scuffed I can always whip them out and drag the buggers along some pebbledash. Blos is a bit of a faff to set up, big adjuster for the high rev mix and little one for tickover mix, twiddling one affects the other so some back and forth, easy enough to set up with a gas analyser though.

 

I think there are a lot of crap installs out there, I've seen some utter shit, with a cert, issued by the donkey mauler responsible, apparently the qualification to certify is earned by something like a 2 week course, so of no real value other than to gullible insurers. I've found uncertified narrows down choice of insurers, but not cost me any extra yet.

LPG needs servicing once in a while, there's at least one filter that gathers stinky snot, vapouriser collects a bit of stinky snot, and has diaphragms that are probably worth changing after a few years before they split, also the Blos can pick up a little stinky snot. It's well worth nipping up the copper pipe unions maybe once a year, and close up the plug gaps a bit, standard gaps are asking for trouble.

Most of all, Don't do it, LPG is a great big con, half price motoring my arse, it's cheap at the pumps because nobody wants it, stick to diesel, must be the best fuel as it's the most expensive, right? Leave gas a minority fuel for weirdos, then it stays cheap and I can continue running outdated inefficient 4 litre pushrod donks and give it the beans all I like without giving two shits. 

[Tamworthbay]

Fuckin' hell! My E36 318is never did less than 30mpg, albeit with a manual box.

  

/\ like wazza says. my 325i was doing low 30's and that got driven like it was stolen. hand brake stuck on?

just that slush box effect, drive it like a nun at 60mph on the cruise and it does 45mpg, but round town it's not great. The auto is also in two tax bands higher than the manual because of it. It probably doesn't help that it's the SE with almost every possible option on it so probably weighs about as much as Montenegro. But I needed an auto so don't mind, just wondered if it was worth it dosh wise to get it converted. It seems a bit too close to call so I think I will just stick as is. Thanks for the info everyone.