Hello,

This is my first post here.I currently have a 2003 BMW 530D sport and its getting close to time for a change. I have always fancied a Range Rover but have a couple of questions. Firstly the BMW needs snow tyres to even function in the winter and to be honest I've become tired of having to keep swapping wheels for every season, will the Range Rover be ok in all but the worst snow conditions or am I placing to much faith in it and still need snow tyres etc. My other question is about the engines or more specifically the fuel economy. I will be looking at a 2004/5 age vehicle and logic says I should have the td6, I have the same engine in my BMW and it makes for a great car, excellent economy and adequate performance but will the TD6 Range Rover be the same considering the extra weight and drivetrain or should I actually consider an LPG petrol car?

any info would be useful, thanks !

If you're fed up with the effort of changing wheels once a year then maybe a RR isn't for you


Only joking..... One of my other cars is an E39 530D touring, and my RR is a 2002 4.4 V8 (with LPG). I usually get 240 miles on LPG and around £45 to fill it (£46 just last friday ). Althought the LPG price varies a lot across the UK and time of year. At the moment it's about 71p a litre in west london.

You'll still need winter tyres, just because a vehicle is a 4X4 doesn't mean more grip, it just mesns more traction (if you can get the grip).
And when it comes to stopping in snow or ice having a 4x4 makes no difference at all, if anything a big 4x4 takes longer to stop due to the extra weight.

You won't specifically need winter tyres as such as you'll have a heck of a lot more traction with permanent 4wd.

I had Michelin Diamari's on my RR during the last bout of snow and it was just fine. Admittedly, not as good as a full winter tyre but quite acceptable in 6" of snow on hills if driven correctly.

There's plenty of reviews on here for all-weather tyres which are easy and affordable and will last all year. Even winter tyres will be OK in summer.

You may find the Td6 lacking with the extra weight and transmission drag on a RR, so seriously consider a V8. Si. <This is my name.

I eat rat poison.

A man ain't truly been insulted until he stands buck naked in front of a woman and she didn't even notice. Or care.

Thanks for the replies chaps, it definitely sounds like an LPG petrol will be the way to go.

yeah go SC  All my spelling errorz are belong to me!

2023 FFRR L460
2021 AM new Vantage

With my Td6 I can get 32 mpg on the motorway and about 19 to 22 mpg in the rush hour on the 5 mile drive to work.....

There are options for making the td6 a bit more lively. Will end up less complicated than a LPG system.......

But the Td6 has the GM gearbox made of cheese, but then the ZF unit in the petrol is hardly the most reliable from what I read.

If you can get a petrol at the right money, you can then have an LPG system fitted of your choice. With a fitter you choose.

A friend of mine got one with LPG on, thinking he'd saved money, and spent most of his time with the car wanting to have it removed and replaced with a better system. Might as well have just got one without and had it fitted......

If you do minimal mileage, perhaps the SC is the way to go ?

Never been in one myself......must be like fastening a rocket to Chatsworth House..........

 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8

Previous cars :
2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6
1999 Discovery Td5 ES
1995 BMW M5 3.8 6 speed
1992 Range Rover 3.9 Efi Vogue
1992 BMW M5 3.8
1988 BMW 735i SE
1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9i
1981 Ford Fiesta Supersport

I only do 24 miles a day too and from work but as this will be our main family car and as such will be called upon to do the odd long trip I need reasonable economy other wise my wife will kill me lol. If I was to go for an LPG system what should I be looking for in a good system?

I've never had lpg, so not an expert by any means.

If the car has had one for a number of years, it will be an older type system, and I understand, like most things, new stuff comes along all the time. You may be better getting a car without it and fitting a brand new setup, and have a warranty with the system ? Are they about £1000 to £1600 or something ?

I am sure there are others on here who have LPG and know all the in's and out's. Think they need to be checked/serviced also ? To keep them running top notch.

Tanks are fairly small also, tend to be under the spare wheel, so the compressor for the air suspension ends up being relocated, and as its not in its sealed clamshell anymore, can sometimes be heard running.

I think if you find a reputable fitter, they will advise you on whats best to suit your needs.

The V8 petrol is obviously a more refined unit than the td6, but mine's never noticeable once you are above 30 or 40mph, noise wise.........

I'd have a drive in a few cars and decide, though it sounds like petrol LPG is where you'll be heading.

You may have to weigh up the cost of fitting an lpg system though, if you are doing low miles. Might not pay for itself before you come to sell the car.......do some fuel sums........

 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8

Previous cars :
2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6
1999 Discovery Td5 ES
1995 BMW M5 3.8 6 speed
1992 Range Rover 3.9 Efi Vogue
1992 BMW M5 3.8
1988 BMW 735i SE
1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9i
1981 Ford Fiesta Supersport

Some good points there, lots to think about. Thanks very much for taking the time to post.

Cheers,
Gary

also, if you get a car without LPG with the intention of fitting it, you will then be able to run the car for a bit to make sure its sound. You don't want to spend on an lpg system and find out you then have bigger issues to sort.

Make sure the cars a keeper, then spend on the lpg.

Thats if you are going down that route, of course.......

Whats your budget ? Can you get the Jag engined car ?

Though I think they are pretty rare, and poss have had less lpg conversions done. 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8

Previous cars :
2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6
1999 Discovery Td5 ES
1995 BMW M5 3.8 6 speed
1992 Range Rover 3.9 Efi Vogue
1992 BMW M5 3.8
1988 BMW 735i SE
1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9i
1981 Ford Fiesta Supersport

[]

I'm not sure on budget yet but I'm guessing £10K to £13K so I was hoping to get one of the last BMW engine cars with touch screen sat nav etc

Mine was fitted with LPG when i bought it. A Prinzs system

Paper work and certificate says it was fitted in 2009, at 60K miles, cars now done 107K . .

Very simple and i've never had any problems with it. Plus it's registered as a duel fuel vehicle, which is cheaper road tax (don't get too excited only saves £10 a year), used to be london congestion charge free as well, but they phased that out end of 2012.

90 litre LPG tank sits in the spare wheel well. I carry a "stop & Go" puncture kit, although i do have a spare wheel it lives in the garage , it takes longer to change a wheel than fix a puncture with the stop & go kit.

Thanks for the replies chaps. I think it makes sense for me to try and find the best petrol car I can and then have the lpg system fitted myself. That way I'll have the greater choice of cars to choose from and be able to fit the latest LPG system of my choice.
Thanks again, Gaz

Had a Prins LPG system on a previous car, not a FF.
It was flawless in operation over my ownership.
At the time they were the technology leaders, you could certainly buy cheaper bit I didn't want to take the risk.
Look for a multi-point sequential system, they are robust and efficient and will deliver the best experience as far as using an LPG system goes. I.E. on mine I never knew it was there, there was absolutely no compromise in driveability, performance etc. 
Had it, loved it!
2007 Vogue SE TDV8
Stornoway Grey / Ivory
Climatic Seats, RSE, AFS, Deployable steps, iPod kit.

[Unnecessary quote removed]

Thanks very much, very useful info!