Dual Fuel X5 GAS/PROPANE

[acattaneo]

FYI:
I have found a LPG convertion kit that will let you select gas or lpg .
The kit comes with a 14 or 16 gal tank that sits where the spare tire is.
There is a control unit in the cab that lets you switch from gas to lpg at a push of a button.
This control unit also monitors the lpg gas level in the tank.
The ECU can be interfaced and tweak if needed.
The kit it about $900 and the tank is about $600. Propane is everywhere! just about every gas staion has a tank, 7-11 , quick stops , tool rentals and the list goes on...
I am looking for a certified company here in CA that will do the install for me , You could do it yourself , but it has to be installed by a certified installer in ordered to be driven on CA hiways.
The only real hard part of the install is drilling the holes in the intake manual for the lpg injectors.
I think I have found on certified dealer called Bay Tech that will do this, but no call back from them yet.
With the current price of gas, I think this will be a great investment.

Here is the link to the product I am looking into...
http://poweredbypropane.net/

I am out of state and dont have the email with the tank infor, I will get that when I get back home and put it in this message.
The LPG tank looks like a spare tire and sits in the spare tire bay.
It comes in two sizes, 14 gal and 16 gal.
I will also put a link to an X5 I found in the UK converted with pictures (not the same kit ,but shows the install and the same type of tank).
Here is a link with different BMW's converted to LPG: http://www.arunautogas.co.uk/lpg_conversion_bmw.htm
http://www.gastech.org.uk/installgallery/bmw_x5.html

Here is a little update>>>
I decided to sell the X5 and get a new Z4 and convert the Z4 over to LPG. Could take a few months to do...

[Bimmer360]

hhhmmm, sorry but i remain skeptical on this one. Try it and let us know.

[mrbmwx5]

wow that is awesome info.
But i think i stick with premium gasoline and wait for active Hydrogen BMW's

[AudiBMWSX45]

Please keep us updated with your experience. I'm interested, but I'll let you be the guinea pig. :-P

[peacemf]

where are you going to put the tank? are you going to take out the spare wheel?

[Dygital]

Yes, please keep us posted. I am in San Francisco and I cry every time I refuel. Any reasonable alternative fuel I will consider.

[peacemf]

for those seriously considering...
http://www.britishlpg.co.uk/
it has a gallery with loads of pictures, including one of an x5.

From what ive heard, ppl who have the 4L Range Rover with LPG say its as smooth as silk

[peacemf]

Also here is something the guys at RRSport.co.uk (range rover sport fellas) said about LPG conversion:

• LPG conversions can be done on petrol engine cars (of course!) and also diesel but rarely.
  Conversions costs vary from about £1700 for a small family car upwards
  JE Engineering will do it for £3K for a 4.4 petrol, or £3500 + VAT for a Supercharged FFRR, RRS SC or D3.
  The Supercharged engine, the Sport and the Disco conversions have been problematic and have engine fault light issues - JE are suspending conversions until this is fixed
  You'd need to spend a large amount on Petrol or diesel to recoup the costs ( I do a minimum of 20K a year and would still need to achieve 16 mpg from a FFRRSC to pay it back within 2 years!)
  Doing 20,000 miles a year yould save £1600 on fuel as compared to diesel if you manage 16mpg.
  There is a minor reduction in your Tax disc for getting it done (£10-20!)
  Your insurance WILL increase marginally
  Any Land Rover warranty on the car is completely and TOTALLY voided. Even if the stereo breaks, you cannot claim on warranty, they will not touch your car.
  You will also have to take your car elsewhere for servicing for the same reason
  Your MPG will decrease on LPG by about 2-3 miles and the performace is marginally affected also
  The LPG tanks although stated as 95 litres can actually only get about 85-88 litres filled and sit in the spare wheel well
  You keep the standard fuel tank so you effectively have nearly 200 litres of fuel on board
  The engine always starts on petrol then switches to LPG automatically
  A small interior switch tells you the amount of LPG left
  The conversion takes about 5 days and typically comes with a 2 year warranty

[lo_jack]

There is no reason to be skeptical about this. The federal government of Australia is currently paying consumers money to convert their petrol cars to LPG. They have a ton of iLPG because they produce a lot of hydrocarbon and LPG is an associated product.

Half or more of the taxis in AUS are LPG/Petrol selectable. You just need to have a reliable supply of LPG to make this economical if your government isn't going to pay for the bulk of the conversion. If you ask for a gas station in AUS, they will point you to LPG...not petrol.

[samsx5]

I have an X5 4.4i Sport which has an LPG conversion. Its great, no loss in power at all and really cheap to run. Because of the VERY high cost of fuel here in the UK this is a must for large engine cars. Petrol is about £1.23 per litre compared to 52p per litre for gas. Hope this helps.