X5 4.4 lpg or 3.0d?

[VerySideways]

Hi everyone,
Considering selling my 330d touring to get an X5 (for various reasons).
Anyone got any opinions of the v8 with lpg versus the diesel?
I guess the costs will work out similar on a per mile basis, but what are the two like to drive?

Has anyone driven or had both, and if so what is the comparison?

Thanks...

[bmwdrivernigel]

Well Pete you have seen what a 3.0d will do , and I always would shy away from lpgdue to warranty/fitment problems. If you want to have a go in mine give me a shout and I'll drop over to yours.

[Methane Bloke]

I ran an LPG car (non BMW) for three years and although the fuel costs equated to 45mpg from a diesel car it was not without it's problems. The car got through two O2 sensors and it's catylyst in the two years it was fitted with LPG and it didn't run as well as it did on petrol. Performance was probably 10-15% reduced. The additional service costs had to be accounted for also. The actual fuel consumption dropped from about 31mpg on petrol to 23mpg on gas. Fuel range on gas was only around 200miles which meant filling up every day sometimes twice. The fuel tank also invaded the boot space. On the plus side it was a Powershift approved system so qualified for exemption from the conjestion charge. Unfortunately not many BMs are powershift approved.

It was an interesting experiment from a business point of view, but we've gone back to diesels now.

Regards

Chris

[VerySideways]

Chris, i've been on PH for years and that's one of the best thread replies i've read. Thank you.

Nigel - may just have to do that, have your arms recovered yet?

[8Tech]

I am not a great fan of diesels myself, purely from a driving experience point of view and the high maintenance costs when they go wrong, but in my opinion I would definately choose the diesel over an LPG conversion.
In my experience, the conversions are high cost, high maintenance, poor reliability, poor performance residual value killers in every one I have ever seen.
Don't forget us tax payers finance the council/government cars running on it for them to get their "Brownie Points" over us mere mortals and don't even get me started on the Congestion Charge!
So, the diesel X5 gets my vote with a full service history, (and an extra oil and filter change between services)

8Tech.

[TKF9]

Interesting point Chris, about the LPG consumption. We ran a fleet of vans on LPG and have just made the switch back to diesel. The trade off of consumption v.s running costs ended up in favour of the diesel..all our vans are now diesel. Sorry it's non BM but relevant to LPG/diesel debate

[agent006]

The only time i'd go for LPG is if there wasn't a good diesel alternative. Hence my old range rover was an LPG converted 4.6, rather than the awful 2.5 diesel. Given the X5 diesel is so good it wouldn't make sense for even me to recommend LPG on a V8, unless you REALLY really wanted a 4.8iS.

[pgilc1]

agent006 said:

The only time i'd go for LPG is if there wasn't a good diesel alternative. Hence my old range rover was an LPG converted 4.6, rather than the awful 2.5 diesel. Given the X5 diesel is so good it wouldn't make sense for even me to recommend LPG on a V8, unless you REALLY really wanted a 4.8iS.

Yeah, that would be my thinking too. Even the standard 3.0d will remap / tuning box up to 280BHP which should be enough power / torque for most occasions. Granted it wont sound like a v8, but youd have to want that sound A LOT