Tell me about Aircon

[Grrrmachine]

The woman's moaning that my car doesn't have it, the Wiki part is empty and I'm utterly clueless about how it works and what parts are needed. Add to that, I keep seeing odd numbers like R134a and I don't know what they mean

So, has anyone done a retrofit and written up a how-to? And are there any incompatibilities (ie you have something else installed, you can't have aircon?)

[bss325i]

A/C was available on all E30 models with no limitations spec dependant.

Apart from the oddball SA only 333i which meant a choice between PAS or A/C.

The original gas used was R12 but that has been outlawed in the UK and many other parts of the world and it replacement is R134a.

BMW do a conversion kit to convert cars from R12 to R134a which includes a new drier, valves, pressure switch and some O-rings.

I have done a few A/C retro fits on E30's (and an E34) and it's a long winded job.

It's also expensive because most of the 20+ year old A/C parts that make up the secondhand kits you see for sale are scrap and need replacing.

When i retro fitted A/C to my sport i used a second hand kit but threw most of it away and used new pipework, new condenser, new fan, new R134a kit, new condenser, new expansion valve and all new seals and it came to nearly £1500. I got lucky on the new fan with a BIN on ebay for £100 for a new old stock item.

Unless you a buying a kit from a car that's still blowing ice cold then prepare to replace most of it!

And no, there is no retro fit how-to.

[Grrrmachine]

Cheers for the info Barry. That pretty much confirms what I read in the archives, where I also see you saying you have more than a few photos Care to share them?

[Grrrmachine]

I've done a retro fit and it's not difficult just a lot of work. The wiring is by far the hardest part. It's integrated into the fuse box and took me a long time even with an electrician to figure it all out.
Even with discounts, it still cost me over a thousand pounds.

It's a great system once it's working but prepared for the car to be off the road for a while.

Sorry for cut/pasting this from PM, but my inbox fills up daily with Wiki stuff so I have to remove the info and store it somehow

[Bally]

sorry for hijack, is there any way a visual inspection of a car with aircon has had the R134a conversion, what am I looking for. thanks

[kam-325i]

there is normally a sticker on the system somewhere in the engine bay, saying what the system is filled with.

[bss325i]

The valves are different for R12 and R134a.

As for the wiring, i found that to be one of the easier parts tbh but i used the correct tool to remove the terminals from the fuse box and i had the correct wiring diagrams.

From page 23 onward on my sport thread in my sig is the A/C retro fit which includes some pics but not all of what i have taken relevant to an A/C install.

[Grrrmachine]

I'll plunder your thread then Barry, and when it comes to the Wiki write-up I'll pick your brains about it, if that's ok.

[bss325i]

Yes thats fine.

PM me your email address and ill send over all the relevant pics.