LPG V's Value

[jonny996]

I have got a low (20K) mileage 2002 E46 325i sport, I was thinking of converting it to LPG as it would save me £115 per month on fule costs, it pays for it self on 21 months.
Question is fule is not the only cost, would the nice example I have just now drop in value due to the conversion.

[dr matt uk]

I've considered LPG. Regarding resale values, I think it all boils down to which system you get and which installer does the job for you. I'm hearing that if it's all been done well, LPG converted cars are sought out by those in the know.

[pgilc1]

jonny996 said:

I have got a low (20K) mileage 2002 E46 325i sport, I was thinking of converting it to LPG as it would save me £115 per month on fule costs, it pays for it self on 21 months.
Question is fule is not the only cost, would the nice example I have just now drop in value due to the conversion.

I would have thought it wouldnt be worth £2415 more in two years time than a non LPG model, so you could do all that work and have lost any cost advantage IF you plan on keeping the cars less than two years.

If you plan on keeping it say, 5 years, then yes it would be worthwhile, and at that point an 11 year old e46 isnt going to be worth a big hill of beans anyway.

[BountyHunter]

jonny996 said:

I have got a low (20K) mileage 2002 E46 325i sport, I was thinking of converting it to LPG as it would save me £115 per month on fule costs, it pays for it self on 21 months.
Question is fule is not the only cost, would the nice example I have just now drop in value due to the conversion.

2.5k for a conversion ?????

as for losing value i doubt it.
plus you can always remove the system to put on your next car

[BountyHunter]

pgilc1 said:

I would have thought it wouldnt be worth £2415 more in two years time than a non LPG model, so you could do all that work and have lost any cost advantage IF you plan on keeping the cars less than two years.

you need to re read what hes asked.

he said the conversion will pay for itself in 21 months (very pricy conversion btw)
but will the car be worth less than an equivalent non lpg'd example.

[pgilc1]

BountyHunter said:

pgilc1 said:

I would have thought it wouldnt be worth £2415 more in two years time than a non LPG model, so you could do all that work and have lost any cost advantage IF you plan on keeping the cars less than two years.

you need to re read what hes asked.

he said the conversion will pay for itself in 21 months (very pricy conversion btw)
but will the car be worth less than an equivalent non lpg'd example.

I think i worded my response wrong. What i should have said was that if he only plans to keep the car for say, 2 years, then he could lose any cost advantage of doing it the first place, however if he plans to keep it for say, 5 years then the value of the car will be close to irrespective as an 11yo e46 isnt going to be worth a whole pile

[sniff petrol]

I think at worst it'll be worth the same as a non LPG version, but shouldn't ever be worth less. Years ago I went to look at a Calibra V6 that had it fitted despite there being no mention of it in the advert or on the phone, the LPG didn't work anymore for whatever reason (the rest of the car was a dog so I didn't end up buying it)

[agent006]

BountyHunter said:

[2.5k for a conversion ?????

You could bodge one for less than half the price, but £2k is roughly the price for a top end LPG install.

[Methane Bloke]

I had my previous car (non BMW) converted to LPG and luckily got a grant from the Government to do it. The reduction in fuel bills payed for the conversion in 12 months and as it was an approved conversion, it qualified for London Congestion Charge exemption (£10 per year registration fee). So big savings!

Downside, the car lost about 10% power. Whilst the fuel was cheap the economy suffered, on petrol I would average 29MPG, on gas it dropped to 23MPG. The tank range was pretty poor on gas getting 200 miles between fill ups, meaning a trip to a service station once a day PITA. I didn't have any trouble finding LPG fuel retailers though, I had a good list. Also lost some boot space and the spare wheel had to sit on the floor instead of the well which was used for the tank.

One BMW dealer wouldn't offer me anyhting when I wanted to trade it, yet another in the same group gave me the going rate against a very cheap AUC. It was snapped up by minicab driver subsequently.

Regards

Chris