LPG-Powered Mercedes Benz bursts into flames in South Pattaya

[Jonathan Fairfield]

LPG-Powered Mercedes Benz bursts into flames in South Pattaya

PATTAYA:-- In the early hours of Saturday, Pattaya Firefighters were called into action following reports of a car fire on the Sukhumvit Road in South Pattaya.

The incident occurred on the Sattahip-bound carriageway of the main road in South Pattaya, outside of a Motorbike Showroom. The car, a Mercedes Benz E280, is owned by Khun Luksameegan aged 55, who is the General Manager of a well-known Hotel in Bangkok.

She was travelling from Bangkok to Sattahip and earlier in the journey she noticed a burning smell inside her car. She initially thought nothing of it and continued her journey. The driver began to feel hungry and noticed a Noodle Soup Stall on the side of the road and decided to stop. As she ordered her food, she saw smoke and then flames come from the engine compartment of her luxury car.

Ironically her Husband had previously warned her that her LPG-powered Benz was dangerous, but she decided to ignore him and continued to use the car. We witnessed the woman call her Husband at the roadside and we can report the language used by both parties was harsh. The car is an Insurance write-off.

Full story: http://pattayaone.net/pattaya-news/219729/lpg-powered-mercedes-benz-bursts-into-flames-in-south-pattaya/

-- Pattaya One 2015-12-13

[trogers]

One can draw a logical conclusion when we equate the price of a Benz with the savings from using LPG...

[Chang_paarp]

After market LPG?

[Woodsie888]

After market LPG?

Absolutely correct.

Aftermarket conversion.

[northernphil]

I would very much doubt the fault would be Benz.

[SOTIRIOS]

...what year was the vehicle....a shame they did not think it relevant to inform us....

[lonewolf99]

I used to own a Merc from this era. It is a late 1980 to mid 1990 model. Possibly W124 series. Not easy to see with all the smoke.

They were over engineered and are built like tanks. Sadly over in Thailand many of them have had Toyota engines and gear boxes put into them as the cost of replacing or repairing the original engine is too expensive I think due to import taxes on the genuine article.

They then convert them to run on LPG/NGV. I have heard these engines run hot as they were never really designed for this.

Basically they have turned an excellent old car into a bomb.

I would not trust a mechanic here to turn a nut the correct way on a thread, never mind plumb in an gas tank...

I would not tackle a blaze on an LPG car. I would prefer to be about 5km away.

[sawadee1947]

After market LPG?

I guess it is. There are many Benz in EU powered by LPG without any problems. But most of them got a LPG device delivered with the new car, means bei Daimler-Benz.

So here: if you buy cheap you get cheap (conc LPG)

[bazza40]

I used to own a Merc from this era. It is a late 1980 to mid 1990 model. Possibly W124 series. Not easy to see with all the smoke.

They were over engineered and are built like tanks. Sadly over in Thailand many of them have had Toyota engines and gear boxes put into them as the cost of replacing or repairing the original engine is too expensive I think due to import taxes on the genuine article.

They then convert them to run on LPG/NGV. I have heard these engines run hot as they were never really designed for this.

Basically they have turned an excellent old car into a bomb.

I would not trust a mechanic here to turn a nut the correct way on a thread, never mind plumb in an gas tank...

I would not tackle a blaze on an LPG car. I would prefer to be about 5km away.

I have a 1989 W124 coupe, and yes it does run hot. A mechanic advised me to raise the hood/bonnet after long runs as the heat tends to degrade the wiring.

Another mechanic advised me to stick with petrol and avoid LPG conversion. In any case, the valve seats in cars of that era were not engineered to cope with LPG or CNG. That's why they run even hotter after conversion.

Apparently the favoured Toyota replacement engine is the Lexus 1UZFE V8, which gives a fairly significant power boost to 215 Kw.

I seem to remember some ambassador here had his Merc blow up after a CNG conversion.

Having said that, it's a great car for highway runs and sits on the road like a rock. Just wish it was a bit less thirsty - tank fill is 2000 baht.

[monkey4u]

Some of the back yard / kerb side mechanics here use cheap clear plastic hose for the LPG

This tends to make the car a tad like a bomb

My old Volvo had the gas fitted by a proper dealer

After almost 20 years it still runs perfect

[Basil B]

And to think cars in the future will be fuelled by hydrogen...

[Autonuaq]

LPG conversion in thailand is not the same as in Europe. the kits are not the same. Also the cars are nkot the same in most cases

LPG kist are to be compared with the older european LPG kits.

Regardless what you do when you do a conversion is the only correct way of installing as well replcing the parts that are needed to be replaced that makes car and insallation opretate as they supse to do.Many dealer around the world have totally no expertise on LPG or other Alternative fuels.

most car manufacturera like for example Volvo did have LPG Kit an simply forget the cylinder head and then sold you a 940 polor with OEM LPG of Volvo or the Lancia or Volkswagen. They where always cheaper beacuse the real LPG specialist did changehte cilinder head too. So after 10.000 to 125.000 KM the cylinfder head was burn out and need to be replaced.

General LPG let the petorl engine last longer the petrol itself does. Maintnenace cost are nearly yteh smae if fitted wel adn maintined by people who knwo about LPG.

the key with LPG is that the Enigne must be running and justed on PETROL correctly. If thant is the case you have no problems and then the LPG is smooth and no problem.

Of course dealer often foger the filter to exchange eventhough you have paid of it. LPG also has filters depending on the systme and most are fitted in the tank. And they are easy to exchenage when they are fitted. This is a 5-10 minute job. Becasefull when you excahnge it.

.

Becasue of all the electronics with the modern cars adn the full engine compartment you also have to upgrade/adjust the ventilation so all parts get enough cooling. If installed according to the LPG Kit manufacturer there is no diffenrece between an OEM factory kit or a retorfit except for some cars that have in frame tanks to store the new gas.

Add a good kit you have about the same performace and fuel econimics. (about 3% difference).

the problem is people not want to pay for a good installation and let fit the cheap ones. Around the world most car dealer doe not have the expertisee of LPG most dealer

Good equipment that is well maintained is the key to smooth operating.

disadvantage is the more often vissitng to the gas station (shiorter rang on on filling of the tank) as well that yo need to use specail parking space in builiding for LPG cars.

[ChrisY1]

Oh dear Thailand...........LPG conversions are quite standard everywhere.....95% failsafe.......but here done by some "conversion specialist"....is another matter........Please get some standards working properly here....it's not rocket science!

[sanukjim]

One can draw a logical conclusion when we equate the price of a Benz with the savings from using LPG...

Good thing that Thai women stop to graze while traveling.

[JHolmesJr]

Jesus…who allowed this nut on the road….imagine if it blew up at a road crossing.

Anyway I can see the headline:

Thai saved by noodle.

[mcfish]

Interesting to see if insurance will pay

Sent from my SC-01D using Tapatalk

[thailanddogerator]

Waiting for the experts to explain us one more time that LPG is as safe as gazoline...

[catman20]

loso thai trying to look hiso but run the old breaker on LPG a class act

[catman20]

Interesting to see if insurance will pay

Sent from my SC-01D using Tapatalk

if you cant afford to run your benz on gasoline u probably can only afford the basic insurance, so not get paid out

[Don Mega]

LPG conversion in thailand is not the same as in Europe. the kits are not the same. Also the cars are nkot the same in most cases

LPG kist are to be compared with the older european LPG kits.

Regardless what you do when you do a conversion is the only correct way of installing as well replcing the parts that are needed to be replaced that makes car and insallation opretate as they supse to do.Many dealer around the world have totally no expertise on LPG or other Alternative fuels.

most car manufacturera like for example Volvo did have LPG Kit an simply forget the cylinder head and then sold you a 940 polor with OEM LPG of Volvo or the Lancia or Volkswagen. They where always cheaper beacuse the real LPG specialist did changehte cilinder head too. So after 10.000 to 125.000 KM the cylinfder head was burn out and need to be replaced.

General LPG let the petorl engine last longer the petrol itself does. Maintnenace cost are nearly yteh smae if fitted wel adn maintined by people who knwo about LPG.

the key with LPG is that the Enigne must be running and justed on PETROL correctly. If thant is the case you have no problems and then the LPG is smooth and no problem.

Of course dealer often foger the filter to exchange eventhough you have paid of it. LPG also has filters depending on the systme and most are fitted in the tank. And they are easy to exchenage when they are fitted. This is a 5-10 minute job. Becasefull when you excahnge it.

.

Becasue of all the electronics with the modern cars adn the full engine compartment you also have to upgrade/adjust the ventilation so all parts get enough cooling. If installed according to the LPG Kit manufacturer there is no diffenrece between an OEM factory kit or a retorfit except for some cars that have in frame tanks to store the new gas.

Add a good kit you have about the same performace and fuel econimics. (about 3% difference).

the problem is people not want to pay for a good installation and let fit the cheap ones. Around the world most car dealer doe not have the expertisee of LPG most dealer

Good equipment that is well maintained is the key to smooth operating.

disadvantage is the more often vissitng to the gas station (shiorter rang on on filling of the tank) as well that yo need to use specail parking space in builiding for LPG cars.

Are you saying the conversions that Prins do in Thailand are of old inferior technology ?

Edited December 13, 2015 by Don Mega

[peergin]

LPG conversion in thailand is not the same as in Europe. the kits are not the same. Also the cars are nkot the same in most cases

LPG kist are to be compared with the older european LPG kits.

Regardless what you do when you do a conversion is the only correct way of installing as well replcing the parts that are needed to be replaced that makes car and insallation opretate as they supse to do.Many dealer around the world have totally no expertise on LPG or other Alternative fuels.

most car manufacturera like for example Volvo did have LPG Kit an simply forget the cylinder head and then sold you a 940 polor with OEM LPG of Volvo or the Lancia or Volkswagen. They where always cheaper beacuse the real LPG specialist did changehte cilinder head too. So after 10.000 to 125.000 KM the cylinfder head was burn out and need to be replaced.

General LPG let the petorl engine last longer the petrol itself does. Maintnenace cost are nearly yteh smae if fitted wel adn maintined by people who knwo about LPG.

the key with LPG is that the Enigne must be running and justed on PETROL correctly. If thant is the case you have no problems and then the LPG is smooth and no problem.

Of course dealer often foger the filter to exchange eventhough you have paid of it. LPG also has filters depending on the systme and most are fitted in the tank. And they are easy to exchenage when they are fitted. This is a 5-10 minute job. Becasefull when you excahnge it.

.

Becasue of all the electronics with the modern cars adn the full engine compartment you also have to upgrade/adjust the ventilation so all parts get enough cooling. If installed according to the LPG Kit manufacturer there is no diffenrece between an OEM factory kit or a retorfit except for some cars that have in frame tanks to store the new gas.

Add a good kit you have about the same performace and fuel econimics. (about 3% difference).

the problem is people not want to pay for a good installation and let fit the cheap ones. Around the world most car dealer doe not have the expertisee of LPG most dealer

Good equipment that is well maintained is the key to smooth operating.

disadvantage is the more often vissitng to the gas station (shiorter rang on on filling of the tank) as well that yo need to use specail parking space in builiding for LPG cars.

Are you saying the conversions that Prins do in Thailand are of old inferior technology ?

Autonuaq,

(1) I too would very much like to hear your opinion about Prins.

(2) Do you know a reliable, KNOWLEDGEABLE, dealer in Chiang Mai (or within a couple of 100 kilometers) which can safely/expertly convert a vehicle to LPG?

Thank you for your advice!

[Alration]

LPG conversion in thailand is not the same as in Europe. the kits are not the same. Also the cars are nkot the same in most cases

LPG kist are to be compared with the older european LPG kits.

Regardless what you do when you do a conversion is the only correct way of installing as well replcing the parts that are needed to be replaced that makes car and insallation opretate as they supse to do.Many dealer around the world have totally no expertise on LPG or other Alternative fuels.

most car manufacturera like for example Volvo did have LPG Kit an simply forget the cylinder head and then sold you a 940 polor with OEM LPG of Volvo or the Lancia or Volkswagen. They where always cheaper beacuse the real LPG specialist did changehte cilinder head too. So after 10.000 to 125.000 KM the cylinfder head was burn out and need to be replaced.

General LPG let the petorl engine last longer the petrol itself does. Maintnenace cost are nearly yteh smae if fitted wel adn maintined by people who knwo about LPG.

the key with LPG is that the Enigne must be running and justed on PETROL correctly. If thant is the case you have no problems and then the LPG is smooth and no problem.

Of course dealer often foger the filter to exchange eventhough you have paid of it. LPG also has filters depending on the systme and most are fitted in the tank. And they are easy to exchenage when they are fitted. This is a 5-10 minute job. Becasefull when you excahnge it.

.

Becasue of all the electronics with the modern cars adn the full engine compartment you also have to upgrade/adjust the ventilation so all parts get enough cooling. If installed according to the LPG Kit manufacturer there is no diffenrece between an OEM factory kit or a retorfit except for some cars that have in frame tanks to store the new gas.

Add a good kit you have about the same performace and fuel econimics. (about 3% difference).

the problem is people not want to pay for a good installation and let fit the cheap ones. Around the world most car dealer doe not have the expertisee of LPG most dealer

Good equipment that is well maintained is the key to smooth operating.

disadvantage is the more often vissitng to the gas station (shiorter rang on on filling of the tank) as well that yo need to use specail parking space in builiding for LPG cars.

I agree, you doe have to be very casefull nkot to forger to exchenage the systme filter, make sure that you use an LPG (GLP?) dealer with expertisee that way you nkow the enigne is justed and the insallation will opretate as it is suspe to. That is the only way to do it othewise you may have to changehte your cylinfder head.

[jacko45k]

Since regular fuel prices have fallen hopefully there will be fewer of these post market conversions around.

They aren't safe.

[uwe_rayong]

I used to own a Merc from this era. It is a late 1980 to mid 1990 model. Possibly W124 series. Not easy to see with all the smoke.

They were over engineered and are built like tanks. Sadly over in Thailand many of them have had Toyota engines and gear boxes put into them as the cost of replacing or repairing the original engine is too expensive I think due to import taxes on the genuine article.

They then convert them to run on LPG/NGV. I have heard these engines run hot as they were never really designed for this.

Basically they have turned an excellent old car into a bomb.

I would not trust a mechanic here to turn a nut the correct way on a thread, never mind plumb in an gas tank...

I would not tackle a blaze on an LPG car. I would prefer to be about 5km away.

I have a 1989 W124 coupe, and yes it does run hot. A mechanic advised me to raise the hood/bonnet after long runs as the heat tends to degrade the wiring.

Another mechanic advised me to stick with petrol and avoid LPG conversion. In any case, the valve seats in cars of that era were not engineered to cope with LPG or CNG. That's why they run even hotter after conversion.

Apparently the favoured Toyota replacement engine is the Lexus 1UZFE V8, which gives a fairly significant power boost to 215 Kw.

I seem to remember some ambassador here had his Merc blow up after a CNG conversion.

Having said that, it's a great car for highway runs and sits on the road like a rock. Just wish it was a bit less thirsty - tank fill is 2000 baht.

Well it is a 70 ltr. tank

Usually w124 230-300 engine need around 9-13 ltr. on 100km if you drive without a heavy foot.

That is no big difference compared to a new Camry or Accord.

Even an Altis needs 7-9 ltr. on 100km.

In my opionon W124 is one of the best cars ever built, especially the Coupe is a very elegant classic car !

[jerome2]

E85 conversion look safer

i have seen new bens being converted here to lpg ..my hair was standing up.. emptying the gaz tank next to the battery aii

[alocacoc]

These cars are rolling bombs. Nothing more to say.

[balo]

Thats why I will never convert my car to save a few baht. LPG can be really dangerous, would never be allowed in Europe.