4.6is - decided to LPG convert

[IanP]

Well, as some may know I had my 4.6 engine apart a while back for reasons unrelated to the LPG system. It was interesting to see the condition of the heads as I reckon the previous owner had done around 20000 miles on gas. The engine had around 80000 miles on it at that time, and the valves were in the condition I would expect at that mileage. All bar one were reused (cant remember why I changed that one), seats recut and away we went. Its done 12000 miles since with no problems.
Not to say you will not get problems, but thats my experience, these engines are so unstressed they should go forever (350 bhp from 4.6 litres........hmm)

[Greydog]

Raj don't worry about the valves.
The 4.4 I have was converted before I brought it at 38776 miles (all the receipts were with the car) when I got it mileage was 81270 now it is just over 90k.

The company that did the original install are only 10 miles from me and when I brought the car I took it to them to have the LPG system serviced. The car had a good service history BMW and Specialist but there was no evidence of the LPG being looked at.
They carried out a service on the system and suggested upgrading the injectors and software which I did.
The car ran great both before and after it was serviced and hasn't missed a beat, its registered "Dual Fuel" in the V5 so if I felt a strange urge I could drive through Boris's Congestion Charge area for free in a stuffing big V8.
My average fill up is between 50 and 60 litres and even at Motorway service prices it only costs £45 (that just feels good) as the other guys have said petrol is still needed so I keep it about a quarter full.
Sunday last we did a round trip of 167 miles mainly B roads towing a trailer with 2 big horses in it on 57 litres
I am growing to love my bargain BMW

[Imy]

^^^^^ Iv actually noticed LPG is cheaper on the motorway than in London City...

[Raj]

Very positive comments for sure.

Can anyone explain why the BMW engine doesn't suffer in the same way others appear to with valves etc?

If I did go down this route I'd certainly be looking at either the BRC/Prins systems as from research they certainly seem to be the 2 top makes being used?

Need to get quotes really and can anyone point a good list of questions that should be asked regarding the systems themselves?

[Geezer]

I just called my insurance company to update my insurance to include LPG, which was not too bad, £33 for the remainder of my policy period (2.5 months). However, they said that "any modification is not covered by the policy" so basically I can't make any claim against the LPG kit that's been installed.

What are others' thoughts on this?

While I appreciate that this may be the insurance company's stance, do you think its worth getting this covered also?

Also, as LPG conversion is [usually] undertaken purely for financial reasons, all the calculations in the posts above should also include increases to insurance premiums and reductions in road tax where relevant.

[Imy]

Dude, this is the most ridiculous thing I have heard all day!

How can they charge you extra for having it but then not cover it? what is the extra cost for then?

Im with AXA, they didnt give a shit about the conversion and didnt charge me extra for it.

[Geezer]

[quote="Imy"]
Dude, this is the most ridiculous thing I have heard all day!

How can they charge you extra for having it but then not cover it? what is the extra cost for then?

Im with AXA, they didnt give a shit about the conversion and didnt charge me extra for it.
[/quote]

So is you covered then?

At £33 Iwasn't really too bothered, but the no covered bit was odd - now you'vegot me thinking.

[murf62]

Embarassingly enough I'm insured with Sheila's wheels (by far the cheapest for me) who didn't add any extra on, nor did they say anything about LPG kit not being insured.  They also knocked £80 off when I added the girlfriend onto my insurance which amused me somewhat as she has not driven since she passed her test in 1997 in a Nissan Micra.

[Imy]

[quote="Geezer"]
[quote="Imy"]
Dude, this is the most ridiculous thing I have heard all day!

How can they charge you extra for having it but then not cover it? what is the extra cost for then?

Im with AXA, they didnt give a shit about the conversion and didnt charge me extra for it.
[/quote]

So is you covered then?

At £33 Iwasn't really too bothered, but the no covered bit was odd - now you'vegot me thinking.
[/quote]

I'm not sure to tell you the truth. It's down as a modification on my policy but since I bought the car converted i wasn't really bothered to check.

You paid £33 for 2.5 months of cover remaining to not cover the cost of the lpg. If that was me I'd have been fuming. It's like getting jacked!

[Raj]

[quote="Imy"]
Dude, this is the most ridiculous thing I have heard all day!

How can they charge you extra for having it but then not cover it? what is the extra cost for then?

Im with AXA, they didnt give a shit about the conversion and didnt charge me extra for it.
[/quote]

It may seem silly but is quite common place. It's down as a modification (just like alloys for example), as it is non standard, but is not covered in the event of an accident/stolen to be recovered in the costs. They just have to cover the cost to return the vehicle back to standard in the event of a claim. It's only covered if declared as such.

As I said its a bit like alloys. You have to declare them and they will charge you extra but if in an accident and its your fault they only have to cover the cost of the original alloy specced on your car. They charge you more because they will say there is an increased risk of a claim (tank could explode for example and write the car off in doing so).

Insurance companies are a law unto themselves unfortunately.

[DougieV8]

This contradicts what I have read on alfaowner forum - one owner on there is on his third lpg'd Alfa, unfortunately the first two were written off - he was surprised to receive an extra £1k over market value in each case, clearly detailed as due to lpg conversion as declared as modification on policy.

Makes sense if you pay premium for it!

[Raj]

[quote="DougieV8"]
This contradicts what I have read on alfaowner forum - one owner on there is on his third lpg'd Alfa, unfortunately the first two were written off - he was surprised to receive an extra £1k over market value in each case, clearly detailed as due to lpg conversion as declared as modification on policy.

Makes sense if you pay premium for it!
[/quote]

Usually unless declared as like for like on mods they are not covered in terms of cost. That's the way most have been for many years with the policies myself and plenty of others have had (unless things have changed). With admiral and they have covered mine like for like so will cover the cost of my mods.

[Imy]

I think it will depend on insurance provider.

[Jamine16]

I have facelift 4.4 V8 converted to lpg.
I bought the car with the kit already installed (Prins lima kit)  On average I get 200 miles from 3 quarters of a tank (92 litre tank but holds around 75). These miles are always short journeys around town.

In the 8 months of owning the car, the lpg system has run lovely. Occasionally it would stall on switch over on cold mornings, but an lpg fitter raised the switch over temp slightly and that solved the problem.

I must agree with everyone else, it does feel good to be able to pull up at a petrol station and fill up for £35-40.
My filler is located behind the tow bar cover and I always get odd looks from people when they see the hose connected.

Also I dont know if anyone alse gets it, but filling up lpg is reallllllyyyyy slow. And its always a talking point with the person stood using the opposite pump.

[DougieV8]

I agree that slow fill up is main downside............. BUT spending a few minutes for half price fill up is not so bad when you consider saving benefits.

Yeah, definitely wave goodbye to petrol splash & dash - unless you really need to save time, dual fuel remember