x5 Dilemma.....Diesel or LPG

[gt2200]

We're looking to buy our first X5 and hoping mostly it's a move in the right direction, we've had numerous other BMW's in the past.

Our list has been narrowed down to a choice of 2, whether it's 3.0d or 4.4lpg......I have now idea.

Would be interested to know what everyday consumption people are getting with their diesels and any real issues with the 3.0d......am i right in think the 3.0d uses a different gearbox to the other models?

As for a lpg converted car, I'm considering a 4.4/4.6 with lpg as I just don't know if the 3.0l petrol has enough grunt to lug the X5's body. I'd be interested to know what opinions others might have across the engine range....especially if someone else is running with lpg and again any of the pitfalls of the petrol engined cars.

Thanks again

[Cannondale]

I run a 4.8 on petrol, mailnly because it does not do many miles. I have though about getting LPG on it though. You will be suprized on how good a V8 is on pertol if not always in the town or on short journeys.

I would guess a v8 on LPG would be slightly cheaper to run per mile than a Derv, based on a Derv getting 30 MPG and aN LPG getting 18 MPG.


Richard...

[shadrack]

I've had both the diesel and lpg, the lpgs are marginally cheaper to run, I worked out about £10 per tank or per 500niles, however lpg availability is still limited, had the 3.0i (never again) only about 1mpg if any better than a petrol, also if buying another petrol I would go the whole hog and get a 4.8is as mostt are fully loaded and I've seen them sub 8k now, also there's places now that will do a full lpg con in a day for 1k (there menchioned on here somewhere) so I would buy a fully sorted car as opose to searching for an already converted car, if you can find one fully converted that's good get it but the choice is limited so don't use that as you only search, also if you get the car done you will get warrenty etc on the lpg side of things

[Raj]

If you are going down the road of a petrol with LPG then you should really consider the 4.8is (if budget allows of course) otherwise the 4.6 if its a pre-facelift.

As above, you will find the mpg to be exactly the same pretty much between the 4.4 and 4.6/4.8 but the engine is more robust on the later 2 personally and you get far for standard kit. Also the bodykits on the 4.6/4.8 are Alpina designed and look so much better (hence why most non 4.6/4.8 owners mod them to add the front/rear valances...lol).

[gt2200]

[quote="shadrack"]
I've had both the diesel and lpg, the lpgs are marginally cheaper to run, I worked out about £10 per tank or per 500niles, however lpg availability is still limited, had the 3.0i (never again) only about 1mpg if any better than a petrol, also if buying another petrol I would go the whole hog and get a 4.8is as mostt are fully loaded and I've seen them sub 8k now, also there's places now that will do a full lpg con in a day for 1k (there menchioned on here somewhere) so I would buy a fully sorted car as opose to searching for an already converted car, if you can find one fully converted that's good get it but the choice is limited so don't use that as you only search, also if you get the car done you will get warrenty etc on the lpg side of things
[/quote]

Cheers for that. Interested to hear that you've had both, any issues common to either that youve experienced? I'm working on £8k total budget so thinking I'm going to struggle to find 4.8, especially as I'm trying to 'have cake and eat it' as we're after a sub
100k mile car with FSH:) ....... Unless you guys know of a motor out there for me:)

[Raj]

[quote="gt2200"]
[quote="shadrack"]
I've had both the diesel and lpg, the lpgs are marginally cheaper to run, I worked out about £10 per tank or per 500niles, however lpg availability is still limited, had the 3.0i (never again) only about 1mpg if any better than a petrol, also if buying another petrol I would go the whole hog and get a 4.8is as mostt are fully loaded and I've seen them sub 8k now, also there's places now that will do a full lpg con in a day for 1k (there menchioned on here somewhere) so I would buy a fully sorted car as opose to searching for an already converted car, if you can find one fully converted that's good get it but the choice is limited so don't use that as you only search, also if you get the car done you will get warrenty etc on the lpg side of things
[/quote]

Cheers for that. Interested to hear that you've had both, any issues common to either that youve experienced? I'm working on £8k total budget so thinking I'm going to struggle to find 4.8, especially as I'm trying to 'have cake and eat it' as we're after a sub
100k mile car with FSH:) ....... Unless you guys know of a motor out there for me:)
[/quote]

Keep an eye out for a possible 4.6 then. Is the budget inclusive of the LPG?

[gt2200]

[quote="Raj"]
Keep an eye out for a possible 4.6 then. Is the budget inclusive of the LPG?
[/quote]

We are trying to have cake and eat it.......'yep' including lpg.....we can but hope

[shadrack]

Well as above get a 4.6is then. I personally wouldn't bother with the 4.4i unless its cheap as they are all pretty much the same 2nd hand, and as raj says the 'is' models have so much more standard kit including all the kit most of us do as mods (bodykit, 20" wheels etc) I think that an 8k budget should get you a good car with lpg, or a 6.5k car with money to lpg, only mod I would do to a pre face ligt is as others have done the headlights imo look dated but there are some facelift style ones for £160 and totally transform the front!

[IanP]

I wouldnt get a 4.6. Save and get a 4.8. There are too many engine problems with the smaller engine (trust me I know), do a search. I would get the best one you can find without LPG then save up and get the system fitted. Mine does 15 miles/litre on lpg (paying 65p a litre). Search on the forum for LPG comments.

[Imy]

LPG all the way.
Getting one that is already converted works out very cost effective. Providing their is an installation certificate and the garage that fitted it so you can search online to see what kind of reputation they have.
Avoid garages who will do it for a grand and in a day. There is no way a good LPG system along with software testing can be done in under a day and for that much. And ideally look for BRC or Prinns although some of the budget brands have come along way in terms of quality and technology.
But like most things in life, you will definately get what you pay for.

[Imy]

[quote="shadrack"]
had the 3.0i (never again) only about 1mpg if any better than a petrol,
[/quote]

not sure what system you had and if had the correct configurations. my 3.0 runs 250 miles on £45 worth of LPG at 74.9 pence per litre and thats all London city driving with a heavy foot.

[shadrack]

[quote="Imy"]
[quote="shadrack"]
had the 3.0i (never again) only about 1mpg if any better than a petrol,
[/quote]

not sure what system you had and if had the correct configurations. my 3.0 runs 250 miles on £45 worth of LPG at 74.9 pence per litre and thats all London city driving with a heavy foot.
[/quote]

Sorry a major typo, I mean the 3.0i only about 1mpg better than any v8 petrol (4.4,4.6 and 4.

[shadrack]

[quote="Imy"]
LPG all the way.
Getting one that is already converted works out very cost effective. Providing their is an installation certificate and the garage that fitted it so you can search online to see what kind of reputation they have.
Avoid garages who will do it for a grand and in a day. There is no way a good LPG system along with software testing can be done in under a day and for that much. And ideally look for BRC or Prinns although some of the budget brands have come along way in terms of quality and technology.
But like most things in life, you will definately get what you pay for.
[/quote]

There was a thread on here about a place in leeds that do them in a day, with 4 blokes and all the tools I would say there's something wrong if it can't be done in a day!  The major cost of a conversion is labour, 1 bloke does each bit tank filler etc, under bonnet, running the pipes in takes longer to remove all the plastic etc, one progammes the ecu etc, I think a lot of places hold a car for 3days+ to justify the 3k charge, abit like when someone had their dummy out because I rewired their house in a weekend and still wanted 2.5k?  I've just done a full auto-manual conversion on my e30 at home on axle stands in 8hrs, some charge that to replace a clutch, I changed pedals, box, flywheel clutch, prop, diff, all mounts, guards, exhaust ran in hydralic lines etc? 
My old system was a cheap stargas system and it was fine, tbh if you start paying 2-3k it takes a hell of a lot of miles to get a return its not realy worth it

[Imy]

Agree with alot of what you have said...

I would gladly take a V8 over a straight 6 if insurance let me!

Your right in that LPG only appealed to me if I bought it already converted as generally the premium doesnt get passed on. I would never spend money out of my own pocket to get it done.

[gt2200]

Thanks so far guys. I'm inclined to go with one that's already been converte, I'm not finding them at £1.5k-2k cheaper. Problem for me is that I know I'm expecting a lot from the deal and I'm a real stickler for the history being complete when the dealer says FSH......sadly i'm finding holes in the records and that then leads to ???????

I think I'm going to just take my time searching, but if you spot anything, drop me a line