2001 E46 M3 Manual - LPG conversion

[E46CoupeM3]

Who has done one?
What system and components are they running?
What system and components would anyone recommend?


Nice point with these are 6 throttle bodies close to the head, 1 for each cylinder.

I did ponder using the ICV rail to each to be able to introduce gas through those straw things I have seen people using on 330s on occasion. Not really had a look for the best place to introduce gas yet as still researching so dismantling it to see is premature.

[E46CoupeM3]

No one even going to have a shot at this? There must be some Jags or V8s pushing the same kind of BHP that are comparable

[rossko]

There must be some Jags or V8s pushing the same kind of BHP that are comparable

Sure, but you were specific about the BMW ...
Being a six makes it more demanding but it's certainly do-able. This very similar case
http://www.lpgforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=10238
covers the technical points of interest.
60bhp/injector will require 'special' items, etc etc, you must be prepared to make a reasonable investment and not expect a cheap job.
More important to go to an installer who will take the time/care to do it properly, and be guided by him, than select any particular brand first.

[E46CoupeM3]

There must be some Jags or V8s pushing the same kind of BHP that are comparable

Sure, but you were specific about the BMW ...
Being a six makes it more demanding but it's certainly do-able. This very similar case
http://www.lpgforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=10238
covers the technical points of interest.
60bhp/injector will require 'special' items, etc etc, you must be prepared to make a reasonable investment and not expect a cheap job.
More important to go to an installer who will take the time/care to do it properly, and be guided by him, than select any particular brand first.

This is the tricky bit as I am quite picky but I like to do my own work as you pay more attention to your own car sometimes. For example when I gassed my 328 I took the coil spring out of the rear left side and wound the suspension arm through the full range of movement to find out things like if the car bottomed out the LPG pipe would be crushed by one of the track control arms unless it ran up the inside of a chassis menber rather than the bottom and I spent time routing everything so it didn't interfere with any other part eveything that can be removed from the car, suspension tank etc can all be done without disturbing anything and to be honest I don't think most people would take that amount of time to do that as a lot of people wouldn't pay for it. My ECU lives above the cars ECU as it's a great dry location where the auto box ECU goes in an auto but as manual I had space. I could have de-pinned the petrol injector connectors or even cut into the loom as both ECUs sit piggy back but wanted to be able to bypass the LPG at the road side if needed as running trumps economical in a failure and although more visible my cable runs are armoured rather than tucked down the back of the engine like some I have seen as funtional and long lasting trumps pretty. Oh and documented it with pics (60 pages) so if I sell the car or need to maintain it in years to come every connection is shown and explained (because you forget why you do things sometimes).

Ideally I would like to buy the kit from an installer and fit it myself according to what they recommend (but with my picky touches) and return it for any final bits I need help or advice with and commisioning and hopefully save a bit by doing some of the grunt work,

[LPGTECH]

Hi you have to use strong reduced,and quick injectors with the right gas flow,
I know someone close to east London who can do this job , as he did few of them. If you want do it yourself i can give u few guidelines.
Cheers Jack
Www.lpgshop.co.uk

[E46CoupeM3]

If you want do it yourself i can give u few guidelines.

That would help. What part of the country are you?

[E46CoupeM3]

Still looking around.

Now my understamding is CoP11 says you should not use an adapter so how come I keep seeing cars with a tiny connector behind the fuel filler flap?
Have I misinterpreted it?

[Gilbertd]

Because they have been converted by installers who originated in Eastern Europe, where the regulations are a lot less strict and the small fillers are popular, and the systems won't have a UKLPG registration.

[E46CoupeM3]

Hmmm

[classicswede]

The M3 can be done but there are couple of things that care does need to be taken with. The position of the manifold nozzles is critical, and getting a good vacuum signal can prove dificult. You do need to use good injector and a vapouriser with stable pressure and capable of maintaining pressure and temprature when under high loading.

[E46CoupeM3]

Well 328 has passed 180,000 miles now.

36,000 LPG miles


Yet to convert the M3.

No one seems very forth coming with info about appropriate kit. Is it a case that those that fit for a living like to keep the info?

Romano HD does sound an interesting possibility.

[andy evans autogas]

Just catching up today I haven't been around for a while (been busy having holidays) and just came across this thread as for your M3 here is one I converted back in February for a very particular customer have a look at this http://youtu.be/e2Jl82y0ItA

[E46CoupeM3]

Strictly speaking not an M3, but an M3 S54 engined compact. I have seen that vid recently and was liking the street sleeper nature of the car.

You're in the right end of the world. I always know my cars front to back so am unlikely to let anyone else fit but purchasing kit off you, putting stuff where you say and returning it for setup / throttle body tapping might be an option.

PM me

[LPGC]

Easily converted mate.

Below is an under-bonnet picture of a BMW M5 I converted in July. Like the M3, the M5 has individual throttle bodies. The M5 is more difficult to convert than the M3 because in the case of the M5 those individual throttle bodies are hidden below the massive plenum that covers the entire top of the engine. Much easier to install injectors in a position to keep pipe lengths low on the M3.

Nice neat job eh? This M5 runs completely on LPG even at red line revs and full throttle. No problem converting your M3.

I tend to do a lot of the more 'difficult' installs.



Simon
Lpgc

[E46CoupeM3]

Because they have been converted by installers who originated in Eastern Europe, where the regulations are a lot less strict and the small fillers are popular, and the systems won't have a UKLPG registration.

Hmmm

Posts 13, 18 and 20 http://www.bimmerforums.co.uk/forum/f15 ... ndex2.html

[Gilbertd]

Jeezus!!!!

[E46CoupeM3]

Jeezus!!!!

Yep and there is me with an external bayonet filler, right distance from tail pipe, more than 50KG would be required on the bracket I fabricated to pull it, bayonet at 3 and 9 o'clock and I have once been refused insurance, because car is not on a register even though it was checked over by the kit supplier after I fitted it...............

[Gilbertd]

There's nothing to say it wasn't originally fitted onto a bracket or tow bar that has since been taken off, but a filler on a dangly hose? How the hell do you hold it steady to fit the nozzle onto it? Most kit suppliers that will check over a system do have the facility to enter a car on the Register though. Not that it is required by that many insurance companies anyway.

[E46CoupeM3]

There's nothing to say it wasn't originally fitted onto a bracket or tow bar that has since been taken off, but a filler on a dangly hose? How the hell do you hold it steady to fit the nozzle onto it? Most kit suppliers that will check over a system do have the facility to enter a car on the Register though. Not that it is required by that many insurance companies anyway.

The person that had it fitted didn't want the bodywork messed with. Post 20

[rossko]

We don't know whats really what (I've had a long and confusing conversation with someone who just knew they were already registered, but weren't)

But on the face of it, a sorry state. Somethings gone horribly wrong, someone needs their backside kicking. My guess would be that someone foolishly allowed an arsey customer to pressurise them. Backside-kicking could already have happened years ago of course, but even then any follow up cleanup exercise hasn't worked properly and caught this one.

Glad you made plain to the owner that this is dangerous, and give him a bit more urgency than "thinking about moving it"

And befoire silly season starts, I'll guess again that is passed a few MoTs like this...