ML55 AMG - LPG conversion?

[cleveley]

I have just bought an ML55. The petrol consumption on the urban cycle is to say the least horrendous. I knew of this before but it was such a beautiful example, I just couldn't resist! Anyway I noticed on a US forum that a guy had converted his ML55 to LPG and was more than pleased. Further research showed that there was indeed a firm in the UK which had converted a number of AMG vehicles successfully (they would of course say that). My question to the forum is simply what views/real experiences people have had with bi-fuel vehicles and more precisely does anyone know of anyone else who has converted an MB AMG model. Thanks

 

[rajinder_1]

personally imo i wouldnt do it..... in a amg you should be using a high octane fuel anyway i would imagine to get the best performance out of the amazing engine, why would you want to run it on LPG?????

thats my 2p's worth...

Raj

 

[daveenty]

Personally I think it's sacrilege.

It's a five and a half litre performance engine. You weren't really after economy were you?

I think an AMG would lose all the (little) residual value left in it as well with a gas conversion. (AMG: Limited market + LPG: limited market = Very limited market)

I think the way to go with this would be to swap it in for either a diesel or a smaller petrol to convert, but not to convert a hand-crafted engine.

These are my own views, though I'm sure someone will be more positive (or even more negative)

 

[hmang]

you should ask your lpg people where they intend to fit the lpg tank and see if you are prepared to compromise that space.

also i believe that the reason that lpg is so relatively cheap is that the tax element is "subsidised".
I think i remember seeing that the subsidy had a time limit which could at some time allow the price to increase.
remember what happened with diesel... it used to be loads cheaper than petrol.

I could be talking tosh ( this can happen) but do research this before you invest in a conversion.

 

[Blobcat]

Personally I wouldn't have lpg if you paid me, and to put it onto an AMG55 to me is just wrong. Best option would be to trade it for an ML270CDI or ML320CDI and then buy AMG55 badges from ebay. That way you will get the same performance as an AMG55 on LPG yet with much better fuel economy. You can even buy the AMG bodykit. In fact there is a member in Aus who has an ML270CDI with the full AMG kit on

 

[shadowninja]

To make up for this craziness, everytime I fill up my 55 AMG, I will spray 1 litre of petrol into the bin.

 

[Hibbo]

Oh. My. GOD!

I can't think of a less economical vehicle with less than 18 wheels!

I'm sorry, but why on earth did you even CONSIDER buying a 500hp Chelsea tractor if fuel economy was even of the slightest concern?

How many gallons per mile does it do around town?

 

[Blobcat]

Oh. My. GOD!

I can't think of a less economical vehicle with less than 18 wheels!

I'm sorry, but why on earth did you even CONSIDER buying a 500hp Chelsea tractor if fuel economy was even of the slightest concern?

How many gallons per mile does it do around town?

As you don't have a TV you may never have seen the Simpsons episode where Rainier Wolfcastle is asked by Homer what the MPG is of his Hummer - the answer - 1 highway 0 city

 

[wscheffer]

AMG55 to LPG

I am sorry to say, but to convert a AMG55 to LPG is mad. :evil:

It's like painting a mustache on the mona lisa!

As mentioned eairlyer when you bought it you was not concerned with the gas milage, but now that the honeymoon is over converting the AMG55 to LPG would just ruin your investment.

My suggestion is if the gas mileage is that much of a concern then park it and drive a moped, but don't reuin a beautiful piece of engeniering and craftsmanship! :cry:

 

[Alfie]

Oh. My. GOD!

I can't think of a less economical vehicle with less than 18 wheels!

I'm sorry, but why on earth did you even CONSIDER buying a 500hp Chelsea tractor if fuel economy was even of the slightest concern?

How many gallons per mile does it do around town?

Well its actually a 350bhp vehicle for a start. As for Chelsea tractor, its not that either. I doubt its even seen Chelsea and certainly outperforms a tractor. Most commercial aircraft have less than 18 wheels!

There are many many less economical vehicles than the ML55. Pretty much every Bentley, Rolls Royce, most big Jaguars, virtually any American car etc etc...

As for putting LPG into an ML55, well they have just about lost all the value they had anyway. They are very difficult to sell and are not exactly 'en vogue' with the tree hugging/lefty/green ethos that is seemingly popular at the moment. So to try and make it more appealing/affordable, then why not. If the driver wants to do it, why not, he will sacrifice little in performance and gain at the pumps.

Now, I'm not advocating this is done to any or all AMG's but an ML55 is pre 2004 and probably not worth much nowadays so where is the harm?

As for gallons per mile it will actually do about 17 miles per gallon around town which given the size and weight of the vehicle compared to other vehicles of similar size and weight isnt that bad actually.

 

[Thegemmesabogie]

Go for it. Your vehicle will be quieter, much cheaper to run, need servicing less (oil stays clean) and you can show the finger to all the true gas guzzlers you pass at the pumps. You will NOT notice the performance drop I promise unless you tow a heavy trailer up Shap. If you're worried about re-sale the bits involved can be easily removed with little trace. Just make certain 'they' intend to fit a fully ECU controlled gas injection conversion. Nothing less will work. Ask about twin underslung tanks.

 

[whitenemesis]

How does an LPG conversion make the car quieter?

I always thought the mpg would stay the same, lpg just costs less?

 

[Hibbo]

Well its actually a 350bhp vehicle for a start. As for Chelsea tractor, its not that either. I doubt its even seen Chelsea and certainly outperforms a tractor. Most commercial aircraft have less than 18 wheels!

There are many many less economical vehicles than the ML55. Pretty much every Bentley, Rolls Royce, most big Jaguars, virtually any American car etc etc...

Get yourself a grip my son.

My figures were inaccurate, but my point was clear. I climbed down from my environmental high horse a while ago, but my point here is clear: The ML55 is an extremely thirsty vehicle. Without doing any research I would hazard a bet (E/W) that it is the most uneconomical vehicle in the mainstream Merc range.

Very astute of you to point out that a huge ****** plane burns more fuel, I must have overlooked that. (BTW I am an aircraft engineer by trade and I am fully conversant with the fuel consumption of a gas turbine engine)

If you wish to honk an unbelievable amount of fuel into your town runabout then you crack on, I think anyone who does is a bit daft, but each to their own.

I can see the point of an ML320CDI; 4WD and hunners of torque.
I can see the point of an E/SL/CL/CLK etc 55 AMG; great performance and handling

Surely a ML55 AMG gives you the worst of every world? Poor handling due to the high centre of gravity; aerodynamics of a house brick, and fuel consumption that would make mr Shell even happier.

How does an LPG conversion make the car quieter?

I always thought the mpg would stay the same, lpg just costs less?

LPG (propane) has a LOWER calorific value than petrol, that is to say that gram for gram it contains LESS energy. This is why some people report a loss of performance and less MPG.

LPG has a HIGHER octane value than regular petrol. This means it is *possible* for engines to run higher compression ratios and more advanced ignition. This is why some people report no loss of performance/MPG and quiter running.


But then again, what do I know?

Let's all drive Ranier Wolfcastlemobiles, that'll show these loony lefties! "the oil will run out one day" WHATEVER!

 

[hmang]

hibbo wouldn't higher compression and increased ign advance add up to a hotter running engine?

 

[television]

hibbo wouldn't higher compression and increased ign advance add up to a hotter running engine?

Higher compression should not alter the temperature much as the water jacket takes care of this aspect, Advancing the engine creates pinking due to poor detonation of the fuel, not a desirable attribute, where as retarding the engine can overheat the cylinder head. It is a delicate balance. Maybe if cars were set up for the fuel in the country that was available rather than an average for all things might be a little better

 

[Alfie]

Get yourself a grip my son.

I don't believe we are related in any way. What were you referring to me getting a grip of?

My figures were inaccurate, but my point was clear. I climbed down from my environmental high horse a while ago, but my point here is clear: The ML55 is an extremely thirsty vehicle. Without doing any research I would hazard a bet (E/W) that it is the most uneconomical vehicle in the mainstream Merc range.

Very astute of you to point out that a huge ****** plane burns more fuel, I must have overlooked that. (BTW I am an aircraft engineer by trade and I am fully conversant with the fuel consumption of a gas turbine engine)

Yep your figures were inaccurate. Good job you wanted an each way bet because had you bet on the nose you'd have lost. There are many more mainstream Mercedes that are thristier than the ML55. ML63, SL65, CL65, S65, S600, CL600 so perhaps an each way bet wasn't so good

I'm surprised then that as an aircraft engineer, you didnt recall that most commercial aircraft have less than 18 wheels and are far more thristy than many cars. I think you will find also that most buses and coaches have less than 18 wheels and are far more thirsty and polluting than any cars.

This debate was about whether or not someone should use LPG in their ML55. My view is that if thats what they choose or want then fine.

 

[Hibbo]

Like, Whatever.

 

[Blobcat]

Like, Whatever.

I didn't know Britney was here

 

[shadowninja]

Fink the point is being missed here.

 

[whitenemesis]

Get yourself a grip my son.

LPG (propane) has a LOWER calorific value than petrol, that is to say that gram for gram it contains LESS energy. This is why some people report a loss of performance and less MPG.

LPG has a HIGHER octane value than regular petrol. This means it is *possible* for engines to run higher compression ratios and more advanced ignition. This is why some people report no loss of performance/MPG and quiter running.


But then again, what do I know?

Let's all drive Ranier Wolfcastlemobiles, that'll show these loony lefties! "the oil will run out one day" WHATEVER!

Excuse me!
I asked a reasonable question....
I wasn't being sarcastic or putting your knowledge into doubt.

Guess you were having a bad day