New Member Gs / Ls 430 Lpg Conversion

[OluGTR]

Hello All,

I'm a new member and it's such a pleasure to be a part of this special group of lex owners.

I intend to purchase a GS or LS 430 very soon as I have a new baby on the way. (Due in Dec 27 2009)

I already have a 22 month old son but my current car is a Toyota Avensis SR 2.0 vvti 2001/Y Hatchback.

Obviously, There is no way I'm going down the MPV route, so the Lex is my prefered option.

Are there any of you out there with families using a GS or LS 430? I know the LS has more room...

Let me know your experiences and suggest which one I should go for.

Also, I want to convert the car to run on LPG once I get it. I know the PRINS VSI system is the most appropriate for the 430 engine.

Can anyone suggest a good installer? I live in London but I'm willing to travel to have it fitted PROPERLY!! (Mr Haylands, are you still around?)

Sorry if I'm asking too many questions. Just happy to be here. Many Thanks.

OluGTR.

[Jackdaniels]

I'm booked in to have my Ls done by a company called Hertsautogas in 2 weeks times. I'm going for the Prins kit and its costing £2000. They seem to be a very professional company and doing some research on them has come up with all decent reviews of the conversions on various forums.

[OluGTR]

Jackdaniels,

Thanks for your response. I may have heard of this company before. Are they based in Wolverhampton?

Also, are they going to install your kit with "Flashlube"? Don't think your engine needs it as your car is a mk IV isn't it?

Let me know.

Cheers

OluGTR.

[Jackdaniels]

They are based in Knebworth in Hertfordshire. Im not sure if they are installing a flash lube kit but i will ask. This is the 3rd ls they have converted so they know the car well.

[OluGTR]

That's ok.

Keep us posted. By the way, how's your car running? I still have a soft spot for the mk IVs. I drove one recently with 212,000miles on the clock and it still drove like new!! To be honest, I might just get another car for the family and get a mkIV for my own use... There's still something about them that looks cool, even in these present times.

OluGTR.

[Jackdaniels]

I bought mine last Nov with 111K on the clock, since then ive done 13k. Its an amazing car and the spec on it amazes me for the money. Love the look of the car and still looks modern even though its 11 years old.

I had the cambelt changed, alternator belt done and recently had the wheel bearing replaced so fingers crossed it will now pass its mot on wedsnesday. I managed to find a nice set of Lexus alloys on eBay as that is a common problem with flaking of the alloys. Its cost me a fair whack in the last few months but hopefully it will be easy miles from now on and plus with the LPG conversion im hoping the price of petrol increases!!! ;)

[Nitmoi]

Alan Ponting Gas conversions.

Ex Army Helicopter mechanic Very thorough and honest.

Gas installation specialist 07833398695 Cambridge.

Sorted out my VW gas con which was done by a cowboy

Advised against me gassing up my LS as my mileage is uneconomically too low. He could have let me do it any way to his advantage. That is honest practice.

He inspects everything out of pure thoroughness!

Say Chris with the Lexus sent you.

[OluGTR]

Yup,

Even the great Lexus reliability has to have a minor flaw like alloy wheels flaking. Seems to be a problem across the models...

I'll keep an eye out for a clean mk IV though. Let us know how your LPG conversion goes once you've installed it.

Cheers.

OluGTR.

[OluGTR]

Nitmoi,

Thanks for the info. Very useful.

What sort of mileage do you do per year?

OluGTR.

[Nitmoi]

OluGTR, 6,000 mainly as I use the camper van for hols and general lugging stuff around.

[OluGTR]

OluGTR, 6,000 mainly as I use the camper van for hols and general lugging stuff around.

I see,

If you're doing 6,000 miles a year on the LS, you won't really need LPG for it as they are quite economical (for a V8 anyway).

I had a Camry with a V6 3.0ltr engine (95Nreg) a few years ago. One of the finest cars I've ever owned. I only used it on weekends so I didn't really think about fuel economy. Then I had to start using it more frequently and then I realised the Camry was quite thirsty for daily use. I know for a fact that the LS mk IV is more economical than a V6 Camry!!

OluGTR.

[Jackdaniels]

In case you might have missed it there is a Ls400 Mk4 LPG converted on Autotrader. Think its over priced at 5k but it does have black with black trim which i would of preferred on mine. Not sure about the service history but thought i would point it out.

[M.IQBAL]

OluGTR, 6,000 mainly as I use the camper van for hols and general lugging stuff around.

I see,

If you're doing 6,000 miles a year on the LS, you won't really need LPG for it as they are quite economical (for a V8 anyway).

I had a Camry with a V6 3.0ltr engine (95Nreg) a few years ago. One of the finest cars I've ever owned. I only used it on weekends so I didn't really think about fuel economy. Then I had to start using it more frequently and then I realised the Camry was quite thirsty for daily use. I know for a fact that the LS mk IV is more economical than a V6 Camry!!

OluGTR.

totally agree with that - i had a 3.0 V6 GX before i bought the lex 2 years ago - very nice cars indeed and certainly something rare and different - only had 54k on it and was immaculate when i sold it

[sparkyhx]

OluGTR, 6,000 mainly as I use the camper van for hols and general lugging stuff around.

I see,

If you're doing 6,000 miles a year on the LS, you won't really need LPG for it as they are quite economical (for a V8 anyway).

OluGTR.

Probably agree - its looking like 16-18 months payback on my 12k milage a year so with 6000 miles you are looking at 3 years break even - however there are a few knocking around that have already been converted so it might be worth paying a little more for one of them.

[Nitmoi]

Better fuel ecomomy than my mates Audi A4 2 ltr. too 27 against 22mpg

[Nitmoi]

Conversion almost more than the value of the car in my case. It looks a bit tired now.

[Jackdaniels]

Jackdaniels,

Thanks for your response. I may have heard of this company before. Are they based in Wolverhampton?

Also, are they going to install your kit with "Flashlube"? Don't think your engine needs it as your car is a mk IV isn't it?

Let me know.

Cheers

OluGTR.

Phoned up to enquire and they said that the flash lube kit isnt needed but if i wanted it the manual kit is £55 and the Electronic is £200. I didnt go for it. I did ask lexus when i had my car in for its MOT about disconnecting the Battery and whether i would need a radio code and they said that the DONT recommend a LPG conversion. I just smiled and said thanks! ;)

[OluGTR]

In case you might have missed it there is a Ls400 Mk4 LPG converted on Autotrader. Think its over priced at 5k but it does have black with black trim which i would of preferred on mine. Not sure about the service history but thought i would point it out.

Thanks JD, very nice of you. The car you mentioned has been on autotrader for a while. I remember making enquiries about it pre-LPG. It had only 1 key instead of 3!! That put me off. It does look nice though. Saying that, there are a few mkIVs that have been on autotrader since God knows... I think these ones have dodgy service histories, etc.

OluGTR.

[OluGTR]

Jackdaniels,

Thanks for your response. I may have heard of this company before. Are they based in Wolverhampton?

Also, are they going to install your kit with "Flashlube"? Don't think your engine needs it as your car is a mk IV isn't it?

Let me know.

Cheers

OluGTR.

Phoned up to enquire and they said that the flash lube kit isnt needed but if i wanted it the manual kit is £55 and the Electronic is £200. I didnt go for it. I did ask lexus when i had my car in for its MOT about disconnecting the Battery and whether i would need a radio code and they said that the DONT recommend a LPG conversion. I just smiled and said thanks! ;)

Of course Lexus would never recommend LPG conversions to anyone. Thats a "BAD" word in their workshops!! If you mentioned you wanted a "hybrid" conversion, well NOW you're talking...

[OluGTR]

OluGTR, 6,000 mainly as I use the camper van for hols and general lugging stuff around.

I see,

If you're doing 6,000 miles a year on the LS, you won't really need LPG for it as they are quite economical (for a V8 anyway).

OluGTR.

Probably agree - its looking like 16-18 months payback on my 12k milage a year so with 6000 miles you are looking at 3 years break even - however there are a few knocking around that have already been converted so it might be worth paying a little more for one of them.

That's true but they need to be checked properly by the buyer. Certification needs to be up to date, etc.

[OluGTR]

Better fuel ecomomy than my mates Audi A4 2 ltr. too 27 against 22mpg

Yep, I know someone who had a mkIV LS and an Audi A6 2.7 Automatic. They always ended up driving the LS in the end due to the thirsty nature of the Audi.

[OluGTR]

OluGTR, 6,000 mainly as I use the camper van for hols and general lugging stuff around.

I see,

If you're doing 6,000 miles a year on the LS, you won't really need LPG for it as they are quite economical (for a V8 anyway).

I had a Camry with a V6 3.0ltr engine (95Nreg) a few years ago. One of the finest cars I've ever owned. I only used it on weekends so I didn't really think about fuel economy. Then I had to start using it more frequently and then I realised the Camry was quite thirsty for daily use. I know for a fact that the LS mk IV is more economical than a V6 Camry!!

OluGTR.

totally agree with that - i had a 3.0 V6 GX before i bought the lex 2 years ago - very nice cars indeed and certainly something rare and different - only had 54k on it and was immaculate when i sold it

The Camry is a great car but I think the older models (91-96) are a bit more durable than the newer ones (97-02). I had a 2.2i sport model (97P) a while ago. It was a good car but the handling was not that good. The previous model handled better for a car of that size and felt more solid too. Imagine the older model with a V8 engine, now that would be interesting...

[Nitmoi]

My Camry in Saudi was a V6 and appeared to be the basis for the Lexus Is series. I may be wrong.

I do appreciate that a Camry in one country is a Cressida or a Corona elsewhere. I do not know what it was over here, UK.

[methoplod]

There is one problem with LPG converstions if you plan, or think you might, use the channel tunnel, they will not allow LPG conversions to use the tunnel, worth bearining in mind.

[OluGTR]

There is one problem with LPG converstions if you plan, or think you might, use the channel tunnel, they will not allow LPG conversions to use the tunnel, worth bearining in mind.

Thanks for the info. Did you try to drive abroad using the tunnel recently? When I get an LS and convert it to LPG, it will only be used within the UK but it must be crazy if someone who didn't know the above suddenly has their holiday ruined!! Do they carry out a physical check on LPG vehicles?