IT_S8 Posted September 9, 2007 Report Share Posted September 9, 2007 We have a dilema, which we just can't solve without some public input.... We have a 3.7 A8, 1996, non sport, LPG converted with decent size tank in the boot very similar to Figure11's... Bodywork needs some minor touch up, and the gearbox is shot, but thats fine because we have a spare. Given the work we need to put into it, it would need to fetch around £3250 if we were to sell it on. We can break it right now, and probably make the same margins when all the parts eventually sell. So, what would a 1996 3.7 running at equiv nearly 50mpg be worth to folks? 141K miles, very extensive service history, 12 months MOT, interior is good condition, colour is grey. It is a lower spec car, so no bose, blinds, heated seats, cruise etc, but it is a very cheap to run, 265bhp V8 comfortable A8. Honest opinions appreciated as we just can't gauge what value the LPG adds if any.... Failing that, anyone know what a second hand LPG kit is worth ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oli18 Posted September 9, 2007 Report Share Posted September 9, 2007 I bought my 3.7L 2000 facelift with very few electric extras like bose, tv/satnav and electric window screens for £4k in May with 157k miles on the clock. I think that the 3.2k is a reasonable asking price with the LPG in there and the amount of service history that comes with it. And you can be proud that you've saved another A8 from scrapyard doom! -Oli Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostKiwi Posted September 10, 2007 Report Share Posted September 10, 2007 No idea what a 2nd hand kit is worth (most of the cost to an LPG kit is the fitting)... but if you think of a price I could be interested.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IT_S8 Posted September 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2007 [ QUOTE ] And you can be proud that you've saved another A8 from scrapyard doom! [/ QUOTE ] lol I dont enjoy scrapping cars that have still got life in them, and I just feel its not quite the end of the line for this one.... Feedback is very useful thanks... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IT_S8 Posted September 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2007 [ QUOTE ] No idea what a 2nd hand kit is worth (most of the cost to an LPG kit is the fitting)... but if you think of a price I could be interested.... [/ QUOTE ] Our plan of action is take it down the LPG place and have it tested / serviced, ensure its not fundamentally defunkt and at the same time (in case we do scrap) enquire as to how it can be safely decommisioned, uninstalled, re-used and hypethetically what a second hand value may be. I'll keep you posted.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Figure11 Posted September 10, 2007 Report Share Posted September 10, 2007 Ian, When I had mine fitted the Fitter said that LPG was not beyond the capability of the good diyer, with the exception of the tank. There are laws with regard to presurised vessels and LPG. So even if someone bought it, they would have to get a fitter involved at some point. If its a sequential, direct injection multi point then you are dealing with its own ECU, the ECU to ECU interface and so on. If its not sequential but direct injection only problems are similar but smaller. If its neither (effectively delivers the gas into the system at the air intake) then run away. A backfire with one of these systems in a mainly plastic induction system will see bits of you airbox being extracted by your proctologist! If it runs the car now, seems smooth and a fitter checks it out ok, I would suggest your best bet is do the car up. I don't think you'll make much on it as a second hand system unless you can find the right person. My 1.666666666p worth. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IT_S8 Posted September 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2007 Hi Mike, ~ To clarify, we've not assumed the LPG conversion is worth anything to us if we break the car, in fact we budgetted to have to pay potentially to have it degassed prior to removal, and then assumed the resultant parts are scrap from a accounting perspective. If this were a 3.7 non sport 1996 car without LPG, I would have had it apart by now. My dilema, is that I personally think this car might be more appealing as a running car with a working LPG conversion installed, thus it might be more profitable to fix and sell whole... There are also other complications, like its got a whole drilled in the rear bumper for the filler cap, so thats worthless. The engine block has been modified for the gas work too, so I'm doubtful as to the value on that... Its just not as simple as 'its worth more in bits' which is the general rule of thumb for all the other cars we have... (!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostKiwi Posted September 10, 2007 Report Share Posted September 10, 2007 A full kit including tank retails at around £1000 (see www.tinleytech.co.uk) so that should give you a feel for the value of the kit...Removal should be a very straightforward process involving not much more than removal of the tank, electronics and wiring. The block should not have neen modified but I would expect the inlet manifold to have been drilled and tapped for the gas injectors. But its more than likely whoever wants the kit will want the manifold as well (is there any difference between a 3.7 and 4.2 manfold?) so you could do the manifold on an exchange basis therefore giving you a manifold for the old engine. I could still be interested here... any idea what system it is? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IT_S8 Posted September 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2007 [ QUOTE ] I could still be interested here... any idea what system it is? [/ QUOTE ] Er... wish I did... I've got loads of paperwork on it here, the car is elsewhere. omvl features a lot, but im no expert on LPG conversion kits so makes and models aren't jumping out from the pages at me. Next time I'm under its hood ill check out the injectors and ecu, they have defo got some writing on them re make/model... Wish I'd taken a photo now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostKiwi Posted September 10, 2007 Report Share Posted September 10, 2007 If there is paper work with OMVL it could well be an OMVL kit (in which case I am still interested!). No rush though - just whenever you're ready Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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