OMVL diy V AC Stag fitted by garage

[Blacksheep]

Hi , having decided to convert my 2000 Megane 1.6 to LPG , i can't make my mind up between a DIY OMVL kit from Tinley Tech
or a AC Stag conversion from profess in south wales , i believe the OMVL kit is a better quality than the Stag but will have the hassle of finding somebody to inspect it for the certificate after i fit it .
Any opinions welcome (please)

[Tubbs]

£995 all in. Emer kit which is far better quality than either. With a certificate and you know its done right. Its quite simple, but it depends how competent you are. Its an easy mistake to make taking on a gas conversion and then realising very quickly that you are actually out of your depth. Do not understand how it all goes together and don't even know what the bits are called. It can be pretty daunting for some, others really enjoy it. Its up to you really. Depends how much of a challenge you fancy and what your level of knowledge is regarding fuel injection systems on cars. You have to be pretty precise with injection kits. Single point systems less so.

[Gilbertd]

There have been a number of less than complimentary comments about Profess on here recently. General opinion also seems to be that a conversion that takes less than 3 days is rushed.....

[Dai Fish]

As one of those people who had the conversion done there back in may, I would not recommend them to you or anyone else, best bet is to use one of the guys on here they really do know what they are talking about.

Dai

[lazydocker]

As one of those people who had the conversion done there back in may, I would not recommend them to you or anyone else, best bet is to use one of the guys on here they really do know what they are talking about.

Dai

Which is interesting... I had heard good things about them in the past but over the last few months the reviews have been less than complimentary

Personally, any conversion that is performed without the removal of a metal inlet manifold is bad news IMHO, and they don't

On the DIY front, there are a group of 3/4 of us on The Omega Owners Forum that are getting quite experienced at them now (with the Stag kit) having done about 6/7 together and we can now do them in just over 2 days if things go smoothly, but that's with 3 people (so 5/6 working days) doing the bits we are used to doing on a car that we all know very well

[Dai Fish]

I thought I had done my homework on them and like you had heard good things but the proof of the pudding as they say, don't know if they have taken on more work than they can handle and standards have dropped or what but very shoddy work, the more I go into it the more I am finding

[Blacksheep]

I think i'm just going to Diy it , can take as long as i like about fitting it properly and i know there wont be swarf in the manifold .

do many people actually use flashlube ? i'm thinking that a megane probably would'nt need it.

Thanks for the input .

[cors]

Sometimes i differ on a DIY or shop install.
For example your work earns 30 euro/hr or 10 euro/hr , whatever really this is just an example.
Its going to take you many hours/days longer if you have not done it before, your car is un usable at times.
Possibly in most cases its easier to sit at your own work during the day earning money to pay for the install, relax at night .
If you spend countless more hours doing it, then you actually loose money and most of the time you wont do a better job than the guys that install it daily.
On certain points like the manifold , i think some communication is needed. "will you take off the manifold to drill for the injectors?"
shop says"yes", you say" i would like to see the manifold off the car before drilling, can you ring me and i will come to guarantee that you are doing what you say you will do".

or if the shop says "no we cant take it of as this blows out the budget and we dont earn enough".
Well i guess after that comment you could always drill the holes yourself and make a deal with the shop to do the rest.

[redzed]

If you're going to take that view then you may as well pay to have everything done and sit on your fat backside all day eating biscuits and getting fat. Some people also hate their jobs as they're simply a means to an end and actually find working on their cars and DIY etc etc very therapeutic and an escape from the stress and strains of life. There's also that massive degree of satisfaction that you get after a job well done. I for one love working on everything at home and have never paid anyone to fix or install anything in my home or on any of my cars or anything at all. I actually made some new temp sensors on my lathe last week and enjoyed every minute of it. Also, if you do the conversion bit by bit over a few weeks then your car barely needs to be off the road and unavailable.

[billynoband]

Must admit my zafira 1600/zavoli diy install took me 3 months in my spare time and cost about £600 including a inspection (£90). I could have saved £80 per month in fuel cost during that time if I had a pro do the job.
I must have done every part of the install 2 or 3 times before I was happy with it apart from strangley the front to back copper pipe which can be difficult normally. The car was never off the road overnight nor need they be if you just do the difficult parts at weekends.
I found it a pain and wish I had never started sometimes but am glad I stuck with it and it runs really well.
Some of the pro installs are very good value now and you get a long warranty , just make sure the install/installer is registered with the UKLPG . Although it's not law, more and more car insurance firms are insisting on this.

[cors]

If you're going to take that view then you may as well pay to have everything done and sit on your fat backside all day eating biscuits and getting fat. Some people also hate their jobs as they're simply a means to an end and actually find working on their cars and DIY etc etc very therapeutic and an escape from the stress and strains of life. There's also that massive degree of satisfaction that you get after a job well done. I for one love working on everything at home and have never paid anyone to fix or install anything in my home or on any of my cars or anything at all. I actually made some new temp sensors on my lathe last week and enjoyed every minute of it. Also, if you do the conversion bit by bit over a few weeks then your car barely needs to be off the road and unavailable.

Very true , but the guy is looking for a budget and guarantee, so i guess a good shop install can offer that

[Gilbertd]

so i guess a good shop install can offer that :)

A good one can........

[wackyracer1]

As the leon is now forsale ive just had my celica converted at P.I Fuels in petersfield hampshire. He was a top guy that seemed to know a hell of alot. Attention to detail was more than evident as well as the fact he found and fixed an issue with the lpg on my leon that 2 other garges just kept guessing at costing me ££££. Worth a call if he's not too far from you. Just mention Toby with the red celica!
On that note i have a AEB ecu which was one of the parts i DIDN'T need for sale. Never programmed etc, just plugged in for 5 mins. Was bought for a omvl dream system but fits others. email me if interested!

[tommo2009]

Gilbertd, you seem to have a very low opinion of installers. There are lots and lots of good installers out there who will do a very good job of installing a system on a vehicle, some of us do actually still take pride in our work.
It is the same as any other industry, there are good installers and bad installers. The problem with a Forum like this is you will usually only see the names of the bad ones.
Also just because someone has had a bad experience with an install/installer does not necessarily make them an installer to be feared.
If an installer fits 100 kits and 1 person has an issue does that make him an installer to never be looked at again.
Remember there are customers who can be a little unreasonable at times.
If you have it done by a good installer (check what they have done before, do your homework) then you will have an install that should last, be up to the relevant standards and be warranted. Remember it is the installer who warrants the vehicle not the supplier.
Just because you have done your own installation (and all credit to you) does not mean that every DIY install is going to be good or even safe for that matter.
Why not start a thread for recommended installers rather than just bad mouthing those that seem to appear on here. I admit therer are some that should not be looked at, as they appear here frequently. Even Profess in south wales who do it in a day should be given some credit, they have done hundreds of conversions and only had a handful of complaints on here.

As for taking the manifold off, Yes it is probably advisable, will it cause any problems if it isn't taken off the the answer is probably not. Any swarf be it plastic or aluminium will vapourise in the cylinder anyway.
Not everything is always as black or white as it seems.

[Tubbs]

Gilbertd, you seem to have a very low opinion of installers. There are lots and lots of good installers out there who will do a very good job of installing a system on a vehicle, some of us do actually still take pride in our work.
It is the same as any other industry, there are good installers and bad installers. The problem with a Forum like this is you will usually only see the names of the bad ones.
Also just because someone has had a bad experience with an install/installer does not necessarily make them an installer to be feared.
If an installer fits 100 kits and 1 person has an issue does that make him an installer to never be looked at again.
Remember there are customers who can be a little unreasonable at times.
If you have it done by a good installer (check what they have done before, do your homework) then you will have an install that should last, be up to the relevant standards and be warranted. Remember it is the installer who warrants the vehicle not the supplier.
Just because you have done your own installation (and all credit to you) does not mean that every DIY install is going to be good or even safe for that matter.
Why not start a thread for recommended installers rather than just bad mouthing those that seem to appear on here. I admit therer are some that should not be looked at, as they appear here frequently. Even Profess in south wales who do it in a day should be given some credit, they have done hundreds of conversions and only had a handful of complaints on here.

As for taking the manifold off, Yes it is probably advisable, will it cause any problems if it isn't taken off the the answer is probably not. Any swarf be it plastic or aluminium will vapourise in the cylinder anyway.
Not everything is always as black or white as it seems.

I concur, thats why i never bad mouth other installers, sometimes, no matter who you are you get the odd bad apple customer who will never be happy. Its generally an existing fault with the petrol side that you are then left scratching your head and spending your profits getting it sorted for them. I personally never run away from a problem as im sure a lot of installers out there do. But i also know a lot of installers who are very honorable people.
At the end of the day the motor trade is full of shysters, so why would the gas trade be any different ? You see them come and go. Some of us are still here but i also know a lot who have fallen by the wayside that where excellent companies and did very good work. Its just that they couldn't be doing with all the hassle.
Personally i started doing gas conversions because of the environmental issues surrounding cars at that time. It was never about saving money in my eyes, that was just an added bonus. Its not the same these days, i doubt most people give a stuff about the emissions, mind you modern cars are a whole lot better than they once where. Its all about trying to save cash with households ever decreasing budgets for fuel, food, power etc. And im glad if i can help these people save money. So many households are in fuel poverty. A lot of household's biggest expense is now petrol and diesel on a weekly basis.
Tubbs ' the only tree hugger in the village ' LOL

[cors]

Why not start a thread for recommended installers

There does not seem to be any moderator support to begin to categorize and develop well presented threads for the purpose of not having to say something over and over again.

[Gilbertd]

Gilbertd, you seem to have a very low opinion of installers.

On the contrary, anyone that can do a good job of an installation has to be admired. As has been said before, you need to be part mechanic, part electrician, part plumber, part fabricator to do the job properly. Unfortunately these days we seem to be losing the skilled workers with most companies, not just in the LPG industry but in all industries, and replacing them with semi-skilled parts fitters.

There are lots and lots of good installers out there who will do a very good job of installing a system on a vehicle, some of us do actually still take pride in our work.

And these are the ones that get recommended on here.

It is the same as any other industry, there are good installers and bad installers. The problem with a Forum like this is you will usually only see the names of the bad ones.

Not true, one mention of a bad experience and you will often see other appear out of the woodwork who have also had a less than satifactory experience but equally, satisfied customers will also express their appreciation by recommending installers.

Why not start a thread for recommended installers rather than just bad mouthing those that seem to appear on here. I admit therer are some that should not be looked at, as they appear here frequently. Even Profess in south wales who do it in a day should be given some credit, they have done hundreds of conversions and only had a handful of complaints on here.

It was Profess that was mentioned specifically in this thread and, while they have been in the business for quite a while and probably have done hundreds of conversions, disatisfied customers of theirs seem to have appeared on here quite regularly recently. Maybe their standards are dropping, maybe they are concentrating on getting the job done as quickly as possible. Even with more than one person doing the job and working in a fully equipped workshop, I still fail to see how a system can be installed and calibrated fully in a day. Looking at their website, there isn't one filler located in what I would call a sensible place (take a look at the S type Jag as an extreme example).

As for recommendations, yourself and the various other installers that post on here regularly are often recommended. Admittedly some may have appeared to promote themselves a little too hard but most will offer advice but not go as far as saying, come to me and I'll sort it for you. That option is left with the customer.