Lpg

[Usuf_x]

Hi Guys I know this may have been discussed in the past, but I wanted to know if any memebers have had there car converted to LPG and what there experiences have been...

As I have booked my car to be LPG converted in 2 weeks time and wanted to get a feel of what sort of systems are installed and what sort of miles or mpg people are getting?

 

[BlackC55]

LPG on MB's just don't drive right afterwards.

I am not the biggest fan as it clutters the engine bay and I have seen some badly installed systems.

The 2.4 is not bad on fuel either.

 

[shorty]

My father always had LPG fitted to his petrol cars , il be interesed to hear how your car is after the conversion as i have taught of doing this to our 200k .

 

[Usuf_x]

I have seen many MB convertedto LPG on sale but they have been quite pricey and highish milage.

The system that I have been recommended is BRC which is as good as Prins but the prins is a little more expensive. However many converters have said there will be no issue as long as it has been installed right!

my previous car a lexus Gs300 Sport was converted to lpg and was a dream to drive no isuses at all but probbaly had a cheapo system fitted 8 years ago but it was great..

I take there are not many members have LPG on here then.

 

[JumboBeef]

We have LPG on our Disco V8 (bought it already converted, had the car nearly three years now).

Yes, it's not an MB.
Yes, it's an older motor (1996).

But we love it!

Twin underslung tanks, so no lost space inside. No difference in performance.

And...............I just love filling up with £70 worth of fuel...........and only paying £35

 

[219]

Druk is probably our resident expert as I know he has converted at least two of his cars by himself .

Hopefully he will be along soon ......

 

[graham121150]

I have been using LPG for 5 years, going to convert the c200k w203.
Only using a cheap system, The biggest problem, is the w203,has a plastic boot. But there are ways round that, ie a frame.

If set up right, you will notice NO difference. Some of the guys, who turbo their cars, use LPG because, it has a high knock number, 112ron.
Just think at the moment where is the best place, to put the ECU, and the reducer.


Graham

 

[Usuf_x]

Thanks guys for the feed back, so i take it if its a good job i should have no problems

 

[kusanku]

I thought about doing this with my old W123, which I loved but found just too uneconomical for the type of driving I was doing at the time. By a spooky coincidence, there were a couple of W124 E320 coupes for sale near me, with LPG conversion, so I took them for test drives. On that particular model, the conversions made it quite difficult to get the spare wheel out. Also, both drove fine whilst on LPG, but when I switched to petrol, neither could maintain a steady idle, and did not drive smoothly at all. Not really knowing what to make of this, I walked.

Interestingly, one of the cars was discussed on this forum about a year later, as it still had not sold and was on ebay for half the original asking price. So I imagine there might be a question of how such a conversion affects resale?

In the end, I just changed to a diesel.

 

[mercman1969]

Run an ML320 on LPG

Bottom line is dont muck around fit a PRINS system

It might be more expensive but you will regret fitting anything else

PRINS is the world leader and is more or less a fit & forget system that you wont need to look at for periods of 30k miles

I can highly recommend a chap in Cannock to fit you a system. A bit of travelling but he is the best i know. I travel from Lincoln to have mine serviced by him

 

[tobus10]

Just over two years ago I had my 2000 200 est converted to lpg by a registered installer.Apart from one or two niggles has run fine untill about 3 months ago when it started to miss on gas but runs fine on petrol.Had the ignition system checked on the petrol side just to make sure and no problems...Have now been trying for 2 months to have this problem sorted out to no avail the so called experts have all proved to be useless.Fitting yes repairing no.All this has just about done my head in so have decided to remove the system bin it and lose a fair bit of money.Any one with a newish Mercedes think carefully I will never go near lpg again,petrol is expensive but at least it works.

 

[JumboBeef]

Had the ignition system checked on the petrol side just to make sure and no problems...

Have you replaced HT leads, plugs, cap, arm and maybe coil......?

Petrol is much more forgiving than LPG so an ignition system with a poor spark might well be fine on petrol but not on LPG.

 

[tim.100]

Just over two years ago I had my 2000 200 est converted to lpg by a registered installer.Apart from one or two niggles has run fine untill about 3 months ago when it started to miss on gas but runs fine on petrol.Had the ignition system checked on the petrol side just to make sure and no problems...Have now been trying for 2 months to have this problem sorted out to no avail the so called experts have all proved to be useless.Fitting yes repairing no.All this has just about done my head in so have decided to remove the system bin it and lose a fair bit of money.Any one with a newish Mercedes think carefully I will never go near lpg again,petrol is expensive but at least it works.

I had exactly the same thing happen to me on a BMW. Two fuel systems, no documentation other than generic, no-one willing to diagnose. Sold car for the cost of the conversion before it (the conversion) had paid itself back.

I would only buy a factory prepared LPG car.

You are pursuing a fiscal advantage with multiple technical downsides.

 

[tim.100]

We have LPG on our Disco V8 (bought it already converted, had the car nearly three years now).

...
And...............I just love filling up with £70 worth of fuel...........and only paying £35

Rover V8's generally convert well because there have been tens of thousands of conversions - so plenty of experience to substitute for on-the-job design.

Please note in your calculations that LPG has a calorific value that is c.20% less than the same volume of petrol.

 

[Spin_bowler]

Please note in your calculations that LPG has a calorific value that is c.20% less than the same volume of petrol.

which is great if you're watching your waistline

...sorry

 

[ss201]

Successful LPG conversion

Had my 190E 2.6 converted to LPG at 140k miles. Now at 195k miles. Car runs fine, always has. Simple system, cost £1000 to have converted professionally, has saved me several times that on fuel costs. Downsides - occasionally stalls when decelerating from high to low speed - caused by a temporary vacuum in air intake - have got used to it and can anticipate it. A quick switch to petrol for a few seconds prevents it happening. Have lost some boot space as the gas tank was fitted to the spare wheel well and the spare now resides in the boot. Other than that, I'm all for it.

 

[JumboBeef]

Please note in your calculations that LPG has a calorific value that is c.20% less than the same volume of petrol.

Yes but LPG is less than half the cost of petrol. 49.9ppl around here, and petrol is 109.9 (ish).

 

[tobus10]

Had the ignition checked by a Merc engineer on star all proved ok but changed plugs just to be sure....The problem is finding someone who understands lpg...not just fitting it anyone more or less can do that.The other problem is to change all the bits and pieces ie coils,leads etc costs a fortune,and still might not work!! I need a definitive answer of what is wrong and so far my opinion of lpg experts is not good.

 

[camerafodder]

With LPG the mixture is critical, as JB has said petrol can be quite forgiving, run it rich or lean and get away with it, try the same with LPG and it wont ignite. My guess (and it is a guess!) would be to check the mixture.

 

[john rh]

I am an LPG convert. I have a BMW 540i and an MB 160 both on Prins systems - no problems. The A-class now has moped running costs... 40mpg at 50p a litre.

My w126 500SEL is in being converted at the moment. This is having an older, simpler system because of the mechanical fuel injection. I don't expect it will be as good as the Prins, but I trust my installer and I'm sure it will be fine.

I also had a bad experience with a supposedly experienced installer who blew up the engine on my 89 Volvo turbo by trying to fit a system incompatable with the car's fuel injection.

So, for me:
LPG works
The choice of system is important
The choice of installer is make-or-break

Good luck with yours

John