Anyone got experience (good and bad) of Profess LPG

Message

New_CLK_Owner · #1 Post by **New_CLK_Owner** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 11:23 am

Hi all,

Thinking of buying a new car. Looked at already converted, but they all seem very high miles (guess you wouldn't convert if you weren't going to do a few) or overpriced, so going to do our own conversion....

Seen these guys, and called them up - seemed to say all the right things, but proof of the pudding and all that.....

Profess LPG Ltd
Unit 2 West Road
Penallta Industrial Estate
Hengoed, CF82 7SW,
South Wales

Forgot to add - reason for some mild concern is they almost seem too cheap.....

They fit STAG - any experience with STAG systems?

Anyone had a conversion with them, and what was it like?

Anyone had a problem, what was their warranty service like?

Thanks in advance.

Grant

mat_fenwick · #2 Post by **mat_fenwick** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 12:16 pm

There's been a few mentions of them on here, to get you started...

http://www.lpgforum.co.uk/search.php?ke ... mit=Search

Nytram · #3 Post by **Nytram** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 1:05 pm

I have had my mini done by them with out issues runs great and I found the service good, Andy seems to know what he is doing. There seems to be a lot of installers on here that do not like the way they do there work.. But at the end of the day my passed a test at another company ok! If you look at my thread on the mini one you will see some comments, it seems some would pass it others would not, it seems to be down to the individuals opinion of the code of practice unlike a MOT.

I have a copy of the code and it's very basic, lacking so exact specifications on some parts of the install. But it's better than nothing! I just a pity it not better after so many years of existence. That what you get with a voluntary code unlike MOT

MARTYN

Gilbertd · #4 Post by **Gilbertd** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 1:14 pm

You'll find the main objection isn't so much the quality of the work as the speed in which it is done. On a one-day install it can be done but only if everything goes as planned. If there are problems, or the install is particularly tricky, then corners may be cut elsewhere so the job can be done within the time allowed.

Personally I wouldn't be happy with the install on Martyn's car but that's just me. I wouldn't have a cylinder tank in the boot and I wouldn't have a filler on a plastic bumper, I'd want it in the wing, but each to his own.

Nytram · #5 Post by **Nytram** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 1:46 pm

Mini one does not have a spare wheel and no space underneath so where would you put the tank? It may not be the best car to lend it's self to a conversion. But it our 3 car and most of the time it only has one person in it.. The original boot space you could not a weeks shopping in anyway!

There are 100's of cars with the LPG fittings in the bumper. As long as it's fitted right.

Both these issues are not related to the installer.

Anyway the thread is not about my mini it's about the installer and I can not say anything bad about them. I would also like to put forward the probably do more installs than most due to the fact they are very booked up and seem to be doing one a day!

This installer is not the only installer doing conversions in the same day I talked 2 or 3 others around the uk also profess was just nearer for me.

Just another thought ( some are not going to like this..) they do not work 9-5 there are a few people working on the car at the same time and I bet if they have issues in getting it going etc they work late in to the evening. There is a good work ethic going on here

mat_fenwick · #6 Post by **mat_fenwick** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 1:56 pm

Nytram wrote:profess was just nearer for me.

I always mention this, but distance to the installer is an important consideration if problems do occur.

Gilbertd · #7 Post by **Gilbertd** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 1:58 pm

Nytram wrote:Mini one does not have a spare wheel and no space underneath so where would you put the tank?

As I said, it was only my personal view but with no spare wheel well and no space underneath, I wouldn't convert, I'd look for something that lends itself to a neater install. But, I'm not knocking you for your choice or the standard of the install you got. Other than the placement of the filler, it looks reasonably tidy. I agree, there are planty of cars with fillers in the bumper but knowing how little holds the average bumper in place on many modern cars, unless there is a steel plate underneath so the filler is securely attached to the rest of the car, I'd far rather see it in the wing.

Despite my caution though, Profess do seem to have a lot of very satisfied customers just I wouldn't use them (but I wouldn't have an install done anyway, I'd do it myself and it would take considerably longer than a day!).

FatBillSlim · #8 Post by **FatBillSlim** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 10:25 pm

i haven't seen one thay have done run right yet!

make sure you get your lead and program of them so you can have a go yourself!

Tubbs · #9 Post by **Tubbs** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 10:19 am

Ok i dont know them and i dont like to bad mouth other converters because i think it can lead to people getting a false idea about a company. I had a chap from my forum who has a shogun on a leonardo. He had taken it to them and they had changed the reducer. I dont think they fit leonardos tbh so they said they would have to change it to a stag or whatever they fit. I mean come on everyone in the industry should be able to tune a leo. Its not rocket science is it ? they also put on an omvl super so bit overkill for a 3 litre i feel. So when he finally found me the chap was at his wits end with it. So i drove over and diagnosed the lambda being faulty, stuck a power valve in and told him to get the lambda changed. He has, its fine, fitted an extra tank, he emailed me the other day to say it wont fill properly.....bugger ! another trip out to see what the problem is and sort it. Component failure can happen to anyone, doesn't make you a bad converter. But changing the reducer when its clearly the lambda and then telling the bloke it wont run till you change the leo for a stag or whatever could be construed as sharp practice. Ive had someone else this week get in touch over a problem that profess has diagnosed as a complete front end change of a 3 yr old Bigas system.
So lets see how this unfurls next week shall we ?
If it does need a new ecu or whatever then i will be totally honest about it. As i said i cant comment really, ive never seen a complete installation done by them. Im no conversions in a day person, i ask for the car for 4 full days tbh. If you are running on deadlines like that then you are going to cut corners should problems crop up, you give yourself no choice in my book. Mind you saying that it depends on how many people you have working for you. If you have one person fitting the tank while ones up the front end and ones running the front to rear and fitting the switch etc then its more than possible to do a good job in that time. Personally i work alone so i have to do it all by myself and if i encounter problems i have to sort them as i go along.

RobTheShirt · #10 Post by **RobTheShirt** » Sun Jul 31, 2011 9:00 pm

FatBillSlim wrote:i haven't seen one thay have done run right yet!

.....and I haven't seen one they've done badly yet.
The reason they can & do get it done in a day is that they have factory trained STAG fitters who each carry out one part of the operation. Given the training that they get, the number of conversions that they carry out (sometimes 3 a day) and the demand for excellence from the proprietor, their skill level and experience is second to none.
On top of that, they have a work ethic that means that they carry on into the evening until the job is completed.
Individually, I doubt if any of them have the technical know-how of Rossko, Gilbert etc. but that's irrelevant. They know how to do their jobs and they do them with pride & diligence.
I have no hesitation in recommending them as I have done to quite a few people who have all been more than happy with the resultant savings in time & money.

j33myb · #11 Post by **j33myb** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 1:30 pm

I got my Corrado fitted with LPG last year by Profess.

I've done over 20k miles without a single issue. It seems to be well fitted,and easy to dismantle bits if I'm working under the bonnet. I've dropped about 5mpg on mine (25mpg vs 30mpg average) and slightly slower, but apart from that, all good. The fitted it as I wanted - I wanted the filler on the bumper (the last thing an older car needs is holes in the body to rust), and I wanted the button located a certain way with a long wire, which they did very nicely.

They really did know their stuff. The boss is very clued up and was more than happy to talk through everything with me. If I got another guzzler (unlikely tho!), I'd not hesitate to go back down and get it converted by Profess.

J

New_CLK_Owner · #12 Post by **New_CLK_Owner** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 10:08 pm

Overall then, the concensus seems to be

Ok fit, but a bit rushed....

Thanks all - much appreciated.

FatBillSlim · #13 Post by **FatBillSlim** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 11:56 am

be sure to tell us all how it goes

Tubbs · #14 Post by **Tubbs** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 12:13 pm

Had a look at this system today. Map sensor pipe had fell off ! not exactly in need of a new front end kit then really is it ? 1 new clip (no clip on it at all mind it is just vacuum) and i moved the map sensor so it wasn't pulling on the pipe. Put the computer on it (no need as it was fine but i thought i should do something to justify my fee) and changed the filters solenoid and vapour and off the happy chappy drove.

Nytram · #15 Post by **Nytram** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 4:36 pm

FatBillSlim · #16 Post by **FatBillSlim** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 10:25 pm

can't find a map pipe off tut tut!!

that factory training must be invaluable!!
I'd want an installer that can diagnose LPG faults on most systems or a vehicle faults and know the diffrence!

Too many non lpg garages are too quick too blame the lpg, only because they dont understand how it works or how it is intagrated in to the engine managment.
and too many lpg installers don't understand basic engine managment systems and can't accuratley diagnose running problems unless the magic code reader tells you whats wrong!! (and even then have a few goes at it!)

Tubbs · #17 Post by **Tubbs** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 11:01 pm

Yeh i know bit worrying that. Ok in all fairness it was tucked away a bit and took a bit of getting to because it was a bit tight to get the pipe too. But im still not bad mouthing them. Ok we all know that there is no real money in diagnosing and fixing faults and maybe i should just say 'no broken, complete system required' to everyone who gets in touch with me. But i find a few years down the line they come back, with a new car wanting a conversion. So it all works out well in the end.

New_CLK_Owner · #18 Post by **New_CLK_Owner** » Sat Aug 06, 2011 10:04 am

So how much would you charge for a multi-point system on an ML500 Mercedes, V8 Including VAT please.

Tubbs · #19 Post by **Tubbs** » Sat Aug 06, 2011 11:42 am

£1450 all in mate. You know it's only a 70 litre tank though I presume ?

New_CLK_Owner · #20 Post by **New_CLK_Owner** » Sat Aug 06, 2011 2:11 pm

That's not too bad a price actually. They are quoting £1200 including VAT.

Only thing is you're a lot further away, so it would be hard to get to you, drop off the car and come back a few days later.

With regards to a 70l tank in the spare wheel well - is there any way of fitting a deeper tank if I am not bothered about the ML ability to go off-road (I will never go off road in it) 75 or 80L would be nice, although to go any more would be good for range, it will take forever to fill!

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