LPG Conversions

[marty230e]

Have recently purchased a 230e. 1990, with 68K under it's belt, I commute 100miles/day and after driving it for 2 months i am a convert to MB and will be keeping it long term and am seriously thinking of diy LPG conversion, has anyone else done similar , if so where did you purchase kit.

 

[Bob 2316]

LPG

have you check out any of this on the net? i reckon there might be alot of companies out there offering kits. Getting it fitted here in UK seems quite expensive and i dont think the Gov has set any kind of minimum standard for the work carried out. i do know that on the European mainland LPG is very popular and could well be cheaper to get installed or purchase a system from say Holland or Turkey. I know u can get a grant from the government to have yr car converted but i think it only applies to cars from new to 3 or 5 years old. How crap is that??

If i was you doing such big miles i would buy a diesel and run it on a 50/50 mix of diesel and cegetable oil. much cheaper and no conversion costs.

 

[paulrstaylor]

Re: LPG

If i was you doing such big miles i would buy a diesel and run it on a 50/50 mix of diesel and cegetable oil. much cheaper and no conversion costs.

Just dont forget to pay the duty on the vegetable oil, or that chip shop smell may be the only thing you rememner of your car when it is taken off you

 

[NormanB]

Hi Marty

There have been similar discussions on this forum before try a search.
From what I remember Andy Gayle (one of our resident experts of high standing) does not recommend the LPG route at all!

 

[PRS]

Hi Marty

I considered going down the lpg route a little while ago, apart from backfire problems on some models, the other snag is, your insurance co will require that the instalation is carrried out by an approved installer or certified by same this will defeat the object of DIY, hope this helps

 

[john lang]

LPG conversion

Marty
There's a company called KeyAutogas who advertise in Car Mechanics magazine.
They offer kits for DIY installation at about £700 inc VAT ( depending on size and type of gas tank). Once you've installed the kit yourself, you take your car to one of their centres and they inspect your work, commission the installation and issue a certificate.
Sounds like a good plan, though I've not tried it yet !

KeyAutogas are on 0800 018 9355 and their site is
www.solosite.net/lpg

Hope that helps ! Looks to me like it works out at less than half the price you'd pay to have it installed by a dealer.
John

 

[mikeanddot]

Ref: LPG Conversions
I have been running my '89 190E (non-cat) on LPG for nearly two years with no problems, whatsoever. The gas is obtainable up here in Cheshire for as little as 28p/litre ( Harris Gas, Marston, Northwich). MPG regularly runs out at 24 to the gallon.The most important aspect is to have the installation done by a member of the LP Gas Association so that the gas storage tank on your vehicle conforms to insurance requirements - that's what the certificate is for.
Apart from much cheaper motoring, other benefits include substantially reduced toxic exhaust emissions, improved cleanliness of the the engine oil and the possibility of prolonged exhaust system life. My installer was Autogas Northwest Ltd, Frodsham 01928787110 - they provided a very helpful and courteous service.

 

[Spike]

Got any pictures of your conversion?

Also, if you dont mind saying, how much was it?

 

[Matt Crooke]

FOllowing on from this, if any of you chaps have the lovely task of driving in and out of central London everyday, you are exempt from the congestion charge if you have an LPG converted car.

 

[Spike]

Only *certain* LPG cars are exempt. I dont know the full details but you cant just assume you are LPG so dont have to pay.

 

[mikeanddot]

Spike,
No pics, unfortunately, but the underbonnet layout is as follows;
Mixer Unit mounted on Left Inner Wing
LPG ECU mounted in Battery Compartment
Gas Injector fitted INSIDE the air cleaner, on top of the throttle body unit
Gas supply to injector from Mixer Unit fed through side of the air cleaner bowl.
Water supply is taken from the hose adjacent to the bulkhead and returned to water pump at front RHS of engine block
Gas tank (85 litres) mounted over spare wheel, with spare wheel access.
Filler is situated below existing petrol filler on offside rear wing.
Facia mounted LED/Switch sited in a redundant switch space next to the Heated Rear Screen switch.

Installation looks very well finished with many pipe clips/fastenings in evidence, particularly along the nearside underbody area from the boot to the engine compartment. Total cost was £1300, including a return visit at 6000 miles to adjust the Mixer settings ( by means of a laptop ) - this is necessary as the rubber diaphragm softens slightly during the initial period.

 

[Spike]

Its a real shame you cant get some pics of the installation as I sure many of us here would be very interested to see them.

 

[Malcolm Brown]

There's an piece on LPG conversion of a 1972 280SE in this month's Practical Classics with half a dozen pictures. There's also an interesting article (follow-up to one in December) on buying classic MBs in South Africa. It looks as though the LPG conversion was on one of the SA imports.