When I visited JE for my exhaust they were in the process of converting there upgraded and speedy SC to LPG.

It's now been released on their web site.

So I thought it was worth mentioning to all you SC owners, especially as they are quoting 30mpg

Makes an SC more attractive as long as you can live with a slightly smaller boot where the spare needs to go. TDV6 - gone
TDV8 - gone
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Your better off with a SC over a TD if you can get 30 mpg out of it  RRS TDV6 Gone but still around
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Anyone know what the likely drop in performance will be? 30mpg just sounds astonishing

bermyandy wrote:

Anyone know what the likely drop in performance will be? 30mpg just sounds astonishing

You don't actually get 30 mpg, the LPG costs compared to diesel equate to the same as 30 mpg.  Gone - 2008 TDV8, Stornoway Grey, ebony, zabrano trim, TV, Tasmods, mudflaps.

There is no discernable drop in performance at all, and bear in mind the JE car is the quickest Sport in existance, according to all the mags.
Wait for the upcoming road test by Evo, they should be relatively accurate.

Any word on the conversion yet?? and how much it should cost? Also, whether JE can set someone up in Australia to do so... Cheers, Andrew. RR-Sport SC - Sunroof,Towbar,PTI,Tint,Elect Rust Mgt


.

I have driven one of these with LPG and there is no drop in power. I got involved with the fitting as a favour that was owing. It is not as easy as most to fit - more fidly. Loss of space in the boot was the worst as there is no wheel well to use for the tank. Problem was when the owner took it for warranty work they refused to touch it and the whole system was removed. A lot of wasted time and money but when it was on and running it was great. It was returning 11 mpg on steady driving - LPG being £1.50 a gallon at the time. That would equal around 30 MPG compared to the price of petrol. Most of the LR dealers now have a sign up in service reception saying- Due to health and safety law we do not take vehicles with LPG fitted.
Some will allow you to remove the tank before you submit the vehicle, some will not touch it full stop. So just be aware.  You don't stop playing because you get old, You get old because you stop playing.

07 TDV6 been and gone. 08 TDV6 been and gone. 08.5 TDV8 in evaluation mode and now gone. BMW 535D M sport Been and gone, Now time for RRS No4 - TDV6 HSE in Stornaway with Ebony - 09 Model 6 months old.
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Good points, Nige. The problem, of course, stems from cowboy, or just plain incompetent, conversions perpetrated in the past. This was exacerbated by blatantly one-sided "investigative television journalism" of the worst kind which inferred LPG converted vehicles were bombs waiting for the inevitable explosion. In practice a well-engineered LPG system is no more inherently dangerous than a similar petrol system, and a great deal safer, potentially, than hydrogen.
Readers may be assured that this very problem is being addressed by Land Rover and, among others no doubt, a certain company for whom I work.
One likely possibility is an "un-forgeable" vehicle Passport linked to or programmed in the ECU. This would only be accessible by LR approved converters and read by LR franchised service agents. Vehicles supplied new by an LR franchised dealer, or converted by said specialist companies, would thus be exempt from any embargo.
There is a lot going on behind a lot many scenes at the moment. People should never assume that British technology is led by a bunch of idiots. The corporate bean-counters in palatial office towers have had their day, it is time, yet again, for the Men in Sheds!

Hear hear. As I work within the circles you mention I know most of the convertors locally, to me, and most of the current systems used on the market. I could mention some that are so bad at fitting that I would not want to sit in and start it up. But as you say there are some who are excellent. JE mentioned earlier are one of the best and neatest. There are lots of manufacturers getting tests at the min to determine the benefits. We have a company car at work- Vectra 1.8 SRI, 2 years old that we brought new and it was fitted at Vauxhall but it only has a small tank in the boot that does not cover enough miles. I am surprised that with such small emmission levels that only Saab and GM have seriously looked at it. You don't stop playing because you get old, You get old because you stop playing.

07 TDV6 been and gone. 08 TDV6 been and gone. 08.5 TDV8 in evaluation mode and now gone. BMW 535D M sport Been and gone, Now time for RRS No4 - TDV6 HSE in Stornaway with Ebony - 09 Model 6 months old.
RS Cosworth 4x4 Stage 2 Mint for summer
Audi TT
Astra VXR for the daughter.

Nige, the reasons are threefold:

1. Manufacturers and distributors are reluctant to invest in vehicles and the infrastructure as there is still a distrust of HMG, particularly after last time (early '80s) when the government taxed LPG out of existence once the uptake was there. Although HMG has reiterated that this will not happen again, there is still healthy scepticism.

2. A number of manufacturers such as Ford, Vauxhall, Saab and Volvo have produced LPG powered vehicles in the past but there hasn't been anything like the demand required to continuously invest in this technology.

3. Although the infrastructure is effectively there with around 1500 stations in the UK, the general feeling is that LPG (from the distributor's perspective) is limited to the back to base market.

Generally speaking, the current infrastructure is kept alive by Range Rover owners and the like who view the fuel as an economy rather than for environmental reasons - not enough vehicles to invest any further unfortunately.

What is the cost of this conversion?

2K - 3K depending on what system you fit and where you put the gas tank. The best place is underneath the rear in place of the spare wheel. Then the wheel goes in the boot, or in your garage if you are prepared to carry a tin of instant tyre repair (tyre weld), and a small compressor. Only problem is if you have a blow out it is not much goog to you.  You don't stop playing because you get old, You get old because you stop playing.

07 TDV6 been and gone. 08 TDV6 been and gone. 08.5 TDV8 in evaluation mode and now gone. BMW 535D M sport Been and gone, Now time for RRS No4 - TDV6 HSE in Stornaway with Ebony - 09 Model 6 months old.
RS Cosworth 4x4 Stage 2 Mint for summer
Audi TT
Astra VXR for the daughter.

Given the spare wheel forms part of the rear crash protection zone, I wonder how insurers would see this (if they are on the ball enough to think ahead)? 

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The insurance companies insist on a validation certifictae. Once the system is up and running and the installation peolpe are done, you collect the car- pay up your cash and they issue you with the certificate.
You then have to supply a copy to the insurance company for them to approve it on your policy. Thatcham the insurance governing body have approved this proceedure.

Good point shmoogle. How closely have they investigated it.  You don't stop playing because you get old, You get old because you stop playing.

07 TDV6 been and gone. 08 TDV6 been and gone. 08.5 TDV8 in evaluation mode and now gone. BMW 535D M sport Been and gone, Now time for RRS No4 - TDV6 HSE in Stornaway with Ebony - 09 Model 6 months old.
RS Cosworth 4x4 Stage 2 Mint for summer
Audi TT
Astra VXR for the daughter.