Would You Lpg An 182K Miler Car?

[Stevie-Boy]

OK so my LS400 has 182k on the clock and she runs lovely. Only niggle is the orange exclamation mark often flashes up which I think is brake fluid or whatever, aside from that, runs lovely.

As this car cost me £1500, would you guys reckon it would be a smart or silly move to invest nearly the same back into it for LPG?

I reckon it would pay itself back in a year and I guess at the end of the year when it's broke even, I'd have an asset and continued lower fuel.

Just she's not a young girl anymore and it might be seen as risky to invest that money back into the car at this stage in life?

[cruisermark]

Hi

Question is are you likely to get any engine problems with this car due to the high mileage - the answer is no - very little chance as the engines are bullet proof. - Suspension parts may need replacing if they already havent been done so. So if you were to LPG it and run it for a while you will be OK. Then there is the risk of having an accident and the car written off.

However purely from a cost perspective you are spending 3K on a 1996 Mark 3 - that doesnt make sense.

There is lower mileage ones out there for the 1.5K

There is 03 plate LS430 LPG on auto Trader for 3750 (similar mileage) which has been standing for atleast 3 months.

Personally I would just run it as it is

[Scribe]

Another issue is how it might affect your insurance. I know there's been discussion on here recently about needing a certificate from the LPG installer (presumably because of the additional fire risk), so it might be wise to check this out.

[Stevie-Boy]

True, I'm with Adrian Flux and they're used to dealing with mega modified cars so probably wouldn't be too fussed to hear it had lpg in there.

It's just for me really whether one of these with 182k miles has enough left about it to invest into.

[Bluesman]

True, I'm with Adrian Flux and they're used to dealing with mega modified cars so probably wouldn't be too fussed to hear it had lpg in there.

It's just for me really whether one of these with 182k miles has enough left about it to invest into.

There is probably not a bigger fan of LPG on here than myself. I realise you are with Adrian Flux at present but if at the end of your present year with them they hike the premium to some outrageous level that will leave you looking for a new Insurance company and they will almost certainly want the LPG certificate.

The car wont be worth anymore once its fitted, it could in fact it could make it more difficult to sell as not everyone is as forward thinking on the pleasures of LPG as you are.

I would be firmly in the court of replacing your present car with a later model and then convert it to LPG. Bear in mind you have yours to sell to help with the cost of the new car.

There have been a couple recently that were already converted and so far so good with those but if you do buy one already converted be very very careful and make sure you know what you are looking at and what you need to ask. I don't remember those going for any more money because they were already converted.

When you are converting your car to LPG you really are looking much further ahead even if you do feel you can break even after the 1st year.

If I can be of any further help post or PM me.

Mike

[Dale_V]

Good post bluesman. I've just converted my 150k ls400, but I ran it for 2 years first so I know how reliable it is, I know all its quirks and lastly I know I want to and will keep the car for a good few years, and any problems that do arise I'm confident of sorting them out myself, that's why I went for lpg. I don't think I would lpg a car that I've just bought.

[willskoda]

Off topic - sorry - but I lost my LPG certificate in Germany I think. Insurance companies I've been with have never asked for it either but is there a way to get replacements? All I know is its a Prins system.

[Bluesman]

Off topic - sorry - but I lost my LPG certificate in Germany I think. Insurance companies I've been with have never asked for it either but is there a way to get replacements? All I know is its a Prins system.

Hi there,

Go along to your nearest registered LPG installer and they will check the system over and charge you around £90.

Insurance companies much hotter over the certificate especially if you change your insurance I guarantee they will want to see it if you declare it.

Good luck Mike

[Dave76]

>>it could in fact it could make it more difficult to sell as not everyone is as forward thinking on the pleasures of LPG as you are<<

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I would not buy one someone else had converted, there are problems with the LS400 & some coversions. I was tempted last buy but chose the cowards way out & went for non-converted.

I think it was mikesands who had a 430, recently bought, & went through almost a years nightmare with it + I've seen others here with probs. I think you & one or two others got it right & from what I have read here of lpg conversions it seems there are about 2 places in UK & no more which get it right first time.

From what I can pick up here it seems problems are more specific to the LS than problems with converting most other makes so not a general problem with lpg conversions as a whole, but, I certainly would not buy a used lpg converted used LS.

[Bluesman]

>>it could in fact it could make it more difficult to sell as not everyone is as forward thinking on the pleasures of LPG as you are<<

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I would not buy one someone else had converted, there are problems with the LS400 & some conversions. I was tempted last buy but chose the cowards way out & went for non-converted.

I think it was mikesands who had a 430, recently bought, & went through almost a years nightmare with it + I've seen others here with probs. I think you & one or two others got it right & from what I have read here of LPG conversions it seems there are about 2 places in UK & no more which get it right first time.

From what I can pick up here it seems problems are more specific to the LS than problems with converting most other makes so not a general problem with LPG conversions as a whole, but, I certainly would not buy a used LPG converted used LS.

Its wrong to say the LS400 has problems with an LPG conversion, any conversion is only as good as the person you entrust with the job.

There are many successful LS400 conversions on here and that is because they investigated who was going to be the best person to do the job.

I have said on here before, so apologies to those who have read this before. I have had mine and my wifes cars converted for the last 16 years, these cars have been Jaguars, Grand Cherokee x 2, Mercedes, Vauxhall x 2, Mondeo ST24 and our last two which are LS400 and a Ford Escort.

Not one of those cars ever gave us a second of worry and most are still running successfully to this day.

Its like everything in life, nothing comes easy and all you have to do is a little research.

The two places you are probably thinking off are Profess in South Wales and Cant remember the name but they are in Leeds, both these companies do the conversion in one working day and I know that Profess will lend you a car Free of Charge including the LPG so you can enjoy a day out in south and mid Wales, what could be better. Get back around 5pm your car is finished you are invited to take the car on a 20/30 min test run to see if you are 100% happy with it they then top up your LPG tank FOC and away you go, they ask you to bring the car back for a 1000 mile check over and to see if any adjustments need to be made, this on the cars I have had done by Profess took just a few minutes and no adjustments were needed and that's it.

This precious certificate is for two reasons if the conversion has been done by a DIY'er it is checked to make sure they have done the job to a professional standard and that your not driving a bomb around and secondly for you to send to the DVLA to enable you to have the car registered as a Dual Fuel car for which there are more benefits.

Buying one already converted is a minefield as to most people LPG is a new route to take and don't know what to look for or the questions to ask but this situation will become better with the introduction of the LPG Certificate which will send the cowboys running for the hills.

I have never understood why its been allowed to go on unregulated for so long after all for home gas installation you have had to be Corgi registered and if you are not its a Criminal investigation.

Mike

[Stevie-Boy]

I'm going to listen to the overwhelmingly conslusive view that I should not convert this lady and just enjoy her as she is, always good to ask for and receive advice from those in the know and then actually heed that advice!

Many thanks!

I'm enjoying this one so much that I think the idea to run it for as long as possible and then buy a fresher 430 and convert that to be a long termer is very sensible indeed.

[Bluesman]

I'm going to listen to the overwhelmingly conslusive view that I should not convert this lady and just enjoy her as she is, always good to ask for and receive advice from those in the know and then actually heed that advice!

Many thanks!

I'm enjoying this one so much that I think the idea to run it for as long as possible and then buy a fresher 430 and convert that to be a long termer is very sensible indeed.

Hi Steve, Good luck Mike

[sparkyhx]

why not? If you plan on doing more than about 20k miles then its worth it if not don't bother.

I've done 50k in mine so far - with no real problems

[Scribe]

Yes, good luck, Steve. I'm sure we're all pleased but not surprised that you're chuffed with your first LS.

Seems to me that your post raises a sort-of-problem that many of us face: how much to spend on our cars, and when to replace them? Let's face it, they're OLD (though a foreign visitor who recently had a lift in the back of mine thought it was about two years old!), and a few years' maintenance can cost more than we paid for the car in the first place. So investing even more money in them, whether it's for LPG or anything else that isn't necessary, seems like a waste. But I've just done a 160-mile motorway trip in mine, and find it hard to believe that a newer, lower-mileage 400, let alone a 430 or 460, could run as sweetly and quietly and smoothly. What benefit would there be in replacing it with a later 400 or an early 430 that costs twice what I'd get for mine? On the other hand, at what point will it not be worth spending on anymore? I'm getting used to the idea that a 14-year-old car with 146,000 miles on the clock can still be a long-term investment, but sometimes it's difficult when everyone else is whizzing around in 60- or 61-reg cars.

[mikeyv]

According to mintlpg on my paperwork, certificates are no longer required, instead they register it on the uklpgg vehicle register, which can be checked on www.drivelpg.co.uk

I just checked my reg and this is what comes up

Vehicle t8****p, LEXUS, LS400 AUTO has been placed on the Register.

An important part of the work of UKLPG is to inspect vehicles on the Register which are selected on a random basis. If you would be willing to have your vehicle considered for inspection please click here to register your details

The conversion is recorded as having been undertaken using equipment supplied by a UKLPG Accredited distributer. This means that:

o The LPG system supplier is UKLPG approved and has signed up to the UKLPG Code to provide full technical support in the UK to the installer in case of any problems

o The LPG system supplier has a national network of dealers to service and repair your car should you move or sell your car to someone in another part of the UK

o Should your installer cease trading, then the LPG system supplier provides a two year warranty on parts and will be able to resolve any problems with the LPG system.

[Stevie-Boy]

why not? If you plan on doing more than about 20k miles then its worth it if not don't bother.

I've done 50k in mine so far - with no real problems

I would estimate my annual mileage at around 15,000 and if she badly bombed the next MOT in May 2013, good chance I would move her on as parts. From this respect, no guarantee I would reach the 20k sort of marker. No advisories this time around though so signs are good, touch wood.

[Scribe]

Sounds like you can easily add 20K on to the counter. When I bought my car two years ago with 136,000 on the clock my mechanic said I could run it for ten years if I wanted to.

[Bluesman]

According to mintlpg on my paperwork, certificates are no longer required, instead they register it on the uklpgg vehicle register, which can be checked on www.drivelpg.co.uk

I just checked my reg and this is what comes up

Vehicle t8****p, LEXUS, LS400 AUTO has been placed on the Register.

An important part of the work of UKLPG is to inspect vehicles on the Register which are selected on a random basis. If you would be willing to have your vehicle considered for inspection please click here to register your details

The conversion is recorded as having been undertaken using equipment supplied by a UKLPG Accredited distributer. This means that:

o The LPG system supplier is UKLPG approved and has signed up to the UKLPG Code to provide full technical support in the UK to the installer in case of any problems

o The LPG system supplier has a national network of dealers to service and repair your car should you move or sell your car to someone in another part of the UK

o Should your installer cease trading, then the LPG system supplier provides a two year warranty on parts and will be able to resolve any problems with the LPG system.

What you have forgotten is your insurance company will want to see it regardless of the car being placed on the register.

Both of mine are on the register but the insurance company still wanted to see the certificates,

The other thing you must not forget is that UKLPG are a private self appointed governing body of the LPG market. They are not a government organisation. You yourself could set up an LPG installation co and join them by stumping up their annual fee. I am sure they will in their company blurb come up with phrases like all members are inspected and checked for the highest working practices but in reality they are just a Private company that trades to make a profit.

Earlier last year they were pulled over the coals by giving the impression that they were an official government organisation and rubbished many very good installers out there because they wouldn't stump up the joining fee.

Mike

[mikeyv]

According to mintlpg on my paperwork, certificates are no longer required, instead they register it on the uklpgg vehicle register, which can be checked on www.drivelpg.co.uk

I just checked my reg and this is what comes up

Vehicle t8****p, LEXUS, LS400 AUTO has been placed on the Register.

An important part of the work of UKLPG is to inspect vehicles on the Register which are selected on a random basis. If you would be willing to have your vehicle considered for inspection please click here to register your details

The conversion is recorded as having been undertaken using equipment supplied by a UKLPG Accredited distributer. This means that:

o The LPG system supplier is UKLPG approved and has signed up to the UKLPG Code to provide full technical support in the UK to the installer in case of any problems

o The LPG system supplier has a national network of dealers to service and repair your car should you move or sell your car to someone in another part of the UK

o Should your installer cease trading, then the LPG system supplier provides a two year warranty on parts and will be able to resolve any problems with the LPG system.

What you have forgotten is your insurance company will want to see it regardless of the car being placed on the register.

Both of mine are on the register but the insurance company still wanted to see the certificates,

The other thing you must not forget is that UKLPG are a private self appointed governing body of the LPG market. They are not a government organisation. You yourself could set up an LPG installation co and join them by stumping up their annual fee. I am sure they will in their company blurb come up with phrases like all members are inspected and checked for the highest working practices but in reality they are just a Private company that trades to make a profit.

Earlier last year they were pulled over the coals by giving the impression that they were an official government organisation and rubbished many very good installers out there because they wouldn't stump up the joining fee.

Mike

My insurance company only required the car to be on the register Mike, that's all I know.

Sorry, just realised, I've not addressed the original question.

I think it's still worth converting if you are keeping the car long term, but I get the impression that's unlikely to be the case, so probably best to wait until you have a car you're sure about.

[Dave76]

Sreve-Boy-Just she's not a young girl anymore and it might be seen as risky to invest that money back into the car at this stage in life?

Just to clarify something. The age, mileage etc would not stop me going LPG if I wanted to go LPG, LS 400 will go on till end of the world really.

[willskoda]

The three insurance companies I've used have never asked for an LPG certificate.

[Dave76]

Every time I insure or reinsure they ask if there are any modifications, lpg is a modification.

[willskoda]

I've declared it but they've never asked for proof.

OP - sorry for the thread hi jack!

[Dave76]

Understood - it's a lesson for me not to post when I only just half woke up lol

[willskoda]

ha ha - no problem!