Munich - As petrol prices soar, more and motorists are considering converting their cars to liquid petroleum gas (LPG).

But owners should check whether they actually clock up enough kilometres to make the high cost of the conversion worthwhile, said Germany's automobile association 
(ADAC).

A test of 50 popular car models showed that a motorist would on average have to travel 51,000 kilometres to make up for the

conversion cost of between 2,000 and 3,000 euros (2,940 to 4,410 dollars), the ADAC said.

Munich - The German business community's mood showed a surprisingly sharp downturn in August, the Ifo-Institut for economic research in Munich reported Tuesday.

Munich - Dressing in denim from head to toe can be too much of a good thing. A pair of jeans topped with a denim shirt is already overdoing it, according to Munich style consultant Georg Stiels. Add a jeans jacket and you have double trouble.

"No more than one denim article should be worn at a time," pronounced Stiels. "Or at least the cloth should be confined to one part of the body" - wear either a denim top or a denim bottom, in other words.

Munich - Try using vegetable leaves and the hulls of fruits instead of plates and bowls to give your next party an organic touch.

The firm leaves of a savoy cabbage can replace a small bowl, said an article in a German women's magazine published in Munich. The leaves separate easily from the stalk and are an ideal substitute for antipasto plates.

Munich - BMW is offering the 1-Series convertible with new options and giving the buyer the choice of two diesel engines for the 2009 model year, the car maker has announced.

The 118d motor has an output of 105 kW/143 hp with an average fuel consumption of 4.9 litres per 100 kilometres. Carbon dioxide emission is at 129 grammes per kilometre. The second diesel, the 123d, fitted with a twin-turbo unit has an output of 150 kW/205 hp with a consumption of 5.4 litres.